Just Me, MocaGyrl

Exhausted! In just 10 days, what I’ve been waiting 7 years for will finally be here - TRINIDAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It’s not just exhaustion from the Rupee fete last night. This month of classes 6 days a week and my extreme boxing for Carnival has left me tired - but not run down. I’ve been taking 8 kinds of vitamins (everything from A to Z, hee hee), incl. echinacea to ward off the colds that are going around. I’m especially wiped now after Coach put me through my most intense workout yet this morning. I brought in the picture of my costume to show him what I’ve been working towards, and he said you are ready. I told him thanks (for the compliment), & that’s why I’m paying him the big bucks.

I continue to gain muscle, but I’m losing inches - the test for that was I tried on pairs of jeans from ‘03 when I was my leanest, & they are roomy!!!! Success!!

I’m as ready as I’m gonna be - & going to our “before-we-leave” Rupee fete really helped, got me to forget the stubborn sheet of ice on this one car window that won’t scrape off, and focus on FUN! It’s so true as Saucyd said, free fetes are the best! We had the “VIP” treatment all night. (Started for hubby earlier with company box seats to the Leafs game, which included all you can drink booze & a variety of food. Companies pay between $140,000-240,000 for them, insane!) I joined him & others at a “pre-fete” reggae/soca/hip-hop club, free cover. Then we went across the street to where Rupee was playing, free cover again, & bypassed the ridiculously super long & unmoving coat check line that was at least 40 people deep, gotta love this treatment! I have always enjoyed me some Rupee, & he was his usual self… when he performs in TO, it’s without his band, just him on a small stage singing to his CD. I can handle this kind of night again, no prob!

So let’s see, I have my outfits & shoes sorted out; I’m in the midst of delaying my period, which is scheduled for Ash Wednesday , so I’m not taking a chance there, hope this works!! We won’t have the “safety” of a resort, but I didn’t bother getting the twinrix vaccination (Hep A&B), I figure I’ve been to 4 Caribbean countries & Mexico 9 times without any shots, & all is well, so…*crossing fingers*.. Plus, the cost, over $100, is foolish, it should be covered under our health plan, sheesh (steups)!!

Sunscreen sticks, check. Gold, copper & bronzy makeup, check. Monday wear, check.

Still left: buy face jewels. Bake, & buy gifts for the relatives. I’ll buy my stockings in T’dad. $8(CND) is SUCH a steal, they’d be $20+ here.

I was stressed with the work load at school, but luckily got through my 1st simulation fine, & could relax immediately after that. Some of what is pending before certification can be done when I return, which is a major relief, plus, I confirmed that I have to wait to take semester 2 in May. So I have several months of no classes, but to do my 1 week practicum. I can even look for work - I do need the second semester & that certification to work at the places I want, but I can always work temporarily or part-time elsewhere.

As I sit here listening to Jumbie download, I’m getting more & more excited, so even though my body is tired, I can’t go sleep, I’ve got Carnival fever!!

Read this about a child who is called a ‘Pillow angel’:

http://www.thestar.com/Life/article/169916

The article title in the newspaper caught my curiosity and the accompanying photograph of the girl grabbed my attention. The 6 year-old girl is pictured lying on a bed staring emotionless into a camera. (unfortunately, it’s not on the website) I kept glancing back to her photo while reading her story. She didn’t look 6 years old. It was a startling picture, her head look disembodied. She looked like her teenage head was placed on a 6 year old’s body.

Reading the first several paragraphs, I was of course outraged, as the writer intended her reader’s be, by what this child’s parent’s did to her. The comparison to a lap dog is a strong visual that really brought it home to me - she’s treated like a toy to be kept on display! This is a human being, for f’s sakes, how can parents actually do this to their own child????!

I mean, halting her physical growth including the natural production of her breasts & development of a period? That’s inhumane, isn’t it????

But then I read on, & from what the parent’s say, I began to see it from their point of view, started to see how they could make that decision. It was unsettling to hear it was not a difficult decision for them though. I would like to think they took the time to contemplate it long & hard, have sleepless nights, not just automatically say it’s a no-brainer.

Sometimes in life with moral dilemmas, you think you know how you would react. But if there’s one thing I have learned, things are not always black or white. Until you are faced with this, or something extremely similar, who’s to say what you would decide?  

So were the parents cruel or kind to turn her into a pillow angel?

Finished my first week of classes, & I hesitate to say it’s been tiring, because I know what workload lies ahead, so I think the first week must be a breeze in comparison. I’m taking TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language). Besides classes, my next 4 weeks will be filled with assignments, simulations, tests, observations, a final project & a practicum. There’s 12 of us in the class, all with mixed backgrounds & goals. The usual question, “what is your background?”, was asked of me, & I said “guess”, but also this time I thought I’d add, “it’s not an easy one, no one has ever guessed correctly”. So they were more thoughtful with their guesses, didn’t quickly blurt out the standard Italian or Greek. Responses included Armenian, Mid Eastern & Central American. When they finally gave up & I told them, they said “I never would have guessed” & “yeah, that’s not an easy one to figure out”.

So I don’t owe anyone a lunch.

I feel many in my class have an advantage over me, as they have taught English overseas before. Some are fluent in other languages, which at first, I didn’t think mattered, but after Friday’s class, I discovered it does give you somewhat of a lead. A guest teacher taught a beginner Japanese class to us (entirely in Japanese) so we could experience what it is like to learn a new language. This terrified me because I realized how frightening it is for beginners learning a language. I think I will be just as afraid as the beginner students the day I teach them! I don’t have that same fear thinking of teaching intermediate or advanced students - it’s the students with no use of English at all that I figure is the most difficult to teach.

It’s not only this major discovery I’ve learned this week. It’s been a long time since I was in school full-time, so I forgot the “all knowing” label we put on teachers. A teacher has to know so much about not only the subject they are teaching, but many other issues that their students are dealing with. I have to brush up on not only my Canadian culture, but proverbs (i.e. I was thinking, I can have fun explaining “don’t look a gift horse in the mouth”, but what how do I explain “cold turkey”?) From my years working with immigrants, I thought teaching ESL to them would be a natural progression. I knew I would be learning a lot, which is really a bonus for me since I love education, but this is proving to be quite a challenge, maybe my most challenging career move yet.

The first semester finishes Feb 9 & second semester starts Feb 12. During my interview I was told it was possible for me to get into the second semester (late, as I’ll be back from my vacation Feb. 22) which I really hope will happen. Otherwise, the next second semester is in May. After the first semester, you can be certified with TESL Canada, which permits you to teach at private schools, & as a tutor. My goal is to get TESL Ontario certified, which is accomplished from the second semester, so I can teach immigrants at government funded programs. The pay is better if you are provincially certified, more incentive!

Have you gone back to school to get a certification, or taken courses after university or college? Are you working in the field you got your degree or diploma in?

Yes, oh yes, in just 1 month, were on our way to Trinidad! Now it’s a ongoing battle between Hubby & I about who is more excited. On team Karabana, I say I am more excited, afterall, it’s been 23 years since I was there! On team Trini-in-TO, he would say he’s more excited since he was plucked from his island in the sun to come live in cold Canada. I know if I moved there, I’d get a job at a certain newspaper. Hubby says if he lives there, he’d get in shape from all the dancing (wining). So we may or may not be seen on that return BWIA flight on Ash Wednesday.

This is a big deal for us not only because it’s our 1 & only vacation for ‘07 (we really have to save our loonies for this one), but I’m finally playing (Carnival) mas!!!!!!!! I’ve been telling Hubby for 6 years we must go play mas before I’m 40! Why’d it take so long?, w e l l, long story, I can just say I’ve been warming up for 7 yrs. with Caribana! But no worries, all good things come to she who waits, & we will make this our most sensational long awaited 2 week jump up vacation ever!!!

To put things in perspective, for Caribana, costume choice is a big deal, but Saucy wow (like that?, hee hee) for Carnival, it’s a monumental decision! When Hubby was referred to Trinidad Carnival Diary a Carnival blog, I checked it out too, & discovered holy chit!, you should be dedicated daily for 5 months to learning about all things Carnival!!! We didn’t know what band we were playing with, for awhile we thought it’d be the new “It” band Island People because of their ultra sexy costumes & younger masqueraders - but when we heard about their foolish prices, we then briefly considered Trini Revellers. Their reputation for having an older rougher crowd was not for us though, & Tribe registration opened first, we liked practically all of their costumes, so our decision was made. I was up with Cow Mas & Fireman, & would have been happy playing in many others really. We registered with Cow Mas, the section Hubby’s Cousin’s crew said they were going in. Turns out they changed their mind at the camp, & went with Fireman, LOL! Since September there’s been plenty bigging up & bashing of the costumes, which is to be expected. I find it so interesting that many Trini gyrls think Cow Mas is too sexy, it was even called a stripper costume! It’s not the typical bikini bra & bottom, true. But it’s all a matter of perception, because I’ve seen much more (or less!) scanty costumes, this year for example, Goddess (wire bra) is something you’d definitely see a peeler wear. But like I posted on Saucyd’s on October 24 after a poster who said several times they like Cow Mas, but are playing in another section, “why aren’t you joining us Cow folk, Buublenut, Trini-in-Toronto, Trinigee, & I? Yeah, it rocks, yeah, it’ll look hot. I have no fear -

“I’m bringing sexy back.

Yeah.”

CarnivalTribe picture

(Hey Christina, imagine me in makeup, I think I look like her, whaddya think? LOL!)

No matter how much cloth is on my costume, GAME ON!, I still knew I’d be working my ass off to be my leanest. From boxing this morning, I can still feel how tight my abs have become, success!! My inspiration is my picture from Caribana 3 yrs ago when I was in my best shape. It’s not about just losing weight for me, the results on the scale will be different for me since I’m gaining muscle. I’m looking for more definition in that line on my thighs, an outline of my abs, & firm arms. Not to mention an increase in endurance!!!! Even though boxing was closed for 12 days, I didn’t gain a pound from my holiday indulgences. I’m just 4 lbs off from my goal weight. Then I’ll lose 5 safety pounds, the extra all-inclusive weight. I’m yet to decide what I’ll wear for Monday wear, since unfortunately Tribe are such gougers they aren’t giving us a mere tank top, STEUPPS!! I’m doing real well with fete outfits thanks to my second home Winners & boxing day sales. Buuble, we must chat about accessories! Now that the countdown is truly on, I’m thinking of what would make my Carnival experience ideal, what I would really love. Here is my wish list from Saucyd’s blog:

Dear Tribe, Being my 1st time playing mas in T’Dad, I want it to be an exceptional experience that will guarantee I return again, & refer many others.
As it’s 4 weeks till Christmas, this wish list is perfect timing:

* Start our Cow Mas experience off right with a beach bonfire Cow Mas fete. It’ll be all you can drink bourbon & whisky, and delic dutch oven meals prepared by chuckwagon cooks.
* For Monday wear, denim mini skirts & l’il short vests, a beaded cow print bra & tan suede cowboy boots so comfortable & light, they feel like pillows. The fellas can wear chaps & a cowboy hat.
* Kindly offer a choice of footwear - a few leather & suede sneaker options & cowboy boots to choose from.
* Provide carriages, that have the right of way, to pick up & drop off all Cow Mas players on Mon & Tues.
* Please put costume colour coordinated nail polish, coppery brown is appropriate, in goody bags.
* Include a lasso, suede canteen, & a small leather saddle bag along w the costume.
* Provide makeup artists on Tuesday for the cowgyrls… and I guess any cowboys who wanna pull a brokeback mountain.
* Masseuses on Monday evening & Tuesday evening, thank you.
* To wrap up our adventure, give vouchers for an afternoon of horseback riding, no expiry date.

You know what they say about word-of-mouth? So make it happen & you’ll get all kinds of loyal customers!
Alrighty then?
TIA,
Karabana

These are two “identical” pictures. Look closely though, there are actually three differences.
If you can find three differences, then you are part of an elite group of individuals. This has been tested on 8000 people including the US army, and only 19 people out of 8000 found the three differences.
I Have found only 2 differences : Check out this link…….  Turn up your volume

http://members.home.nl/saen/Special/Zoeken.swf