And yes, still no luggage. Hopefully, no one will steal any of my clothes or shoes.
As promised...
Here are pics from two of the forts on the island...
I like the way my arm muscles are coming in below.
Friday, February 20, 2015
Still Iced In, therefore still no luggage :-(
I am still iced in!!! :-( Sigh. Someone came to my rescue yesterday and I was able to go to a local neighborhood restaurant. I had sautéed spinach and mushrooms, a hot toddy and a Bailey's with coffee. I should be working out but as you know the weather has a tendency to make me want to snuggle up in bed. Amazingly, I still seem to be losing weight but I guess when you have limited food options that happens. Lol!!! I updated my last post with a pic I finally received and will continue to do the same as I gather my pics from around the globe. If I actually do a work out, I will update this post as well. There's not much to say but want to get in the habit of updating daily.
And yes, still no luggage. Hopefully, no one will steal any of my clothes or shoes.
As promised...
Here are pics from two of the forts on the island...
And yes, still no luggage. Hopefully, no one will steal any of my clothes or shoes.
As promised...
Here are pics from two of the forts on the island...
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Iced In - Start of Lent Postponed
I am currently iced in and have been since I got back to town. I'm low on food so one benefit has been some weight loss but other than that I'd rather be out and about. I can't get to the market to buy the foods I need for Lent. I can't get to the airport to pick up my suitcase which has my new dress and shoes. Who knows if people are going through it and deciding to shop.
I am off for the week and this time legitimately as most people are iced-in in this city; and precipitation and freezing temperatures continue to be predicted throughout the weekend. My goal is to get my car up and running tomorrow although the likelihood that my complex will have done anything to make the roads manageable is quite nill. For the last several days I have heard nothing but wheels spinning on ice and people getting nowhere. Including now as I write this. I have no pictures to add to today as I've been home, doing work, and taking the time to relax because trust me, next week will be CRAZY at work. I am going a bit stir crazy as I have been in the house since Sunday night and looks like I will be here for a while but we'll see if I can get out and about tomorrow.
Being stuck in my house does not do much for my mental state as one can imagine so here I am going over all of my flaws which people assure me only I can see. I suppose so. I am basically quite close to my mid30's, depending on what number constitutes that age, that's where I am, and oftentimes I can feel lost and just overall like I just float through life. I'm equally humble and prideful. I am equally composed and yet raging. I've been talking about releasing my book for quite sometime and so I will just shut up and do it because really if I'm not writing and being creative, I feel like I am not really doing much of anything. Of course this is irrational, as I know that in some small ways, I have touched my students' lives.
OKay... so I've gone from blogging about weight loss to doing more introspection. But is it really a digression? Isn't the weight loss, the journey of it, the trying to always be so damn positive about myself, and life, and others, isn't it all a part of me? And yes, there are bumps along the road where I face disappointment of myself, from others, but there are also triumphs. Sometimes simultaneously. And I am at the point where I care and don't care what people think. Well, okay I care but I can't in the moment care sometimes because most of the time, 99.9% of the time, I care about my appearance, about being professional, about not acting a damn fool, but sometimes all the rage boils over and there I am in my BCBG and glittering gold...
I am off for the week and this time legitimately as most people are iced-in in this city; and precipitation and freezing temperatures continue to be predicted throughout the weekend. My goal is to get my car up and running tomorrow although the likelihood that my complex will have done anything to make the roads manageable is quite nill. For the last several days I have heard nothing but wheels spinning on ice and people getting nowhere. Including now as I write this. I have no pictures to add to today as I've been home, doing work, and taking the time to relax because trust me, next week will be CRAZY at work. I am going a bit stir crazy as I have been in the house since Sunday night and looks like I will be here for a while but we'll see if I can get out and about tomorrow.
Being stuck in my house does not do much for my mental state as one can imagine so here I am going over all of my flaws which people assure me only I can see. I suppose so. I am basically quite close to my mid30's, depending on what number constitutes that age, that's where I am, and oftentimes I can feel lost and just overall like I just float through life. I'm equally humble and prideful. I am equally composed and yet raging. I've been talking about releasing my book for quite sometime and so I will just shut up and do it because really if I'm not writing and being creative, I feel like I am not really doing much of anything. Of course this is irrational, as I know that in some small ways, I have touched my students' lives.
OKay... so I've gone from blogging about weight loss to doing more introspection. But is it really a digression? Isn't the weight loss, the journey of it, the trying to always be so damn positive about myself, and life, and others, isn't it all a part of me? And yes, there are bumps along the road where I face disappointment of myself, from others, but there are also triumphs. Sometimes simultaneously. And I am at the point where I care and don't care what people think. Well, okay I care but I can't in the moment care sometimes because most of the time, 99.9% of the time, I care about my appearance, about being professional, about not acting a damn fool, but sometimes all the rage boils over and there I am in my BCBG and glittering gold...
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Back from Tobago - My Bestie is Married!!! Happy Mardi Gras
Wow. So many things to say and so little time. First of all, other than my bestie getting married, all the travel involved to get to this small island is 100% not worth it. This is my least favorite Caribbean island. In fact, had I never been to the Caribbean many times before, I'm not sure I would even give it a second chance. Why?
Other than the beautiful weather (and the weather is beautiful - hot, sunny with a nice refreshing breeze), there is nothing else to to speak highly of when it comes to this island...
Their main industry is tourism yet they are RUDE, rude, rude rude. Ironically, most of the cabbies are nice but they have no idea where anything is. The island is tiny and they have lived there their whole lives... HELLO!!!!
There is no fresh fruit, fish, or generally edible food on the island. Their favorite foods are fried and BBQ. What?!?! Who goes to the Caribbean wanting to eat BBQ? I currently reside in a US city that is known for BBQ and I don't want it then. I ate more fast food there than when I am in the US. Granted I also have food allergies, many of which were not taken into consideration by anyone, so there was that, but I mean really - not even a piece of good salmon or tuna.
The Magdalena Grand, where the wedding took place was the least friendly, and shabby of them all!!!! You have at least two hundred people here who have spent thousands of dollars just to come and stay in this small island that does not even deserve to be any representation of the Caribbean, and these folks are not friendly, and do not want to work not even a little a bit... They don't know where something is on their own property. People are spending $500/night to stay there and the hall/reception is closed off, no oceanside views. What's the point of having a wedding at the beach if you can't see it??!! They did not arrange for proper transportation and this was the icing on the cake, they stole a cab I had flagged down for my mother, bestie, and I. I was beyond furious with just about everything.
To be fair, I did like the bartending staff and I think the wedding coordinator was doing her best but she had no help from management or the the front desk.
All was not lost however... the bride looked beautiful. I ended being the MC very last minute, and everyone said I did a great job, asked if I did it for a living, and said I was a professional. On that note, I must confess I totally got out of character and had an absolute shit fit meltdown when that worker came up and stole our cab!!! It was the icing on a very shitty shit cake all week, which by the way - I still do not have my luggage. Another story there. I know I am great at hiding my emotions and not caring. Most people have no idea what I think or feel, but for five minutes I literally was just raging - just absolute raging. Then I was good. I found us another cab. I was the raging one, but still got the job done. I guess everyone else was just in shock. My diva self had come out of hiding, definitely hitting all the angry American black women diva stereotypes but whatevs...
And final travel annoyance... my bag did not make my last connection and as a result of the weather, it has yet to arrive... Sigh...
Okay, enough ranting as my blog is generally positive so here are some positives:
I fit into the Kwe Kwe skirt. I was quite concerned about that as you may recall. I actually fit the dress I bought at Flip for the wedding. Another concern as well. I got complimented a lot in that dress but who knows what I look like on camera, especially on the video as I had no intention of actually MCing. I will post the pictures I do have but there aren't many. There are so many pics of me skattered all over the place. I absolutely dislike that.
I feel like I have been filled with negative energy - all this hate/dislike on this page. Starting tomorrow, Ash Weds, I am going to celebrate Lent by giving up Carbs. I need to get back to my spiritual even keel self. My bestie (who stayed with me and mom and was one of the maids of honor) and my Mom think I am completely not myself and I agree.
I swam one day and did crunches another but honestly I had no real time or true desire to work out. I did climb a waterfall. All these pics will be shared and as I receive more, I will share and update this page.
I saw a poem yesterday on a site I frequent, which I think speaks to the flood of emotions that spilled out of me late Saturday night (Happy Valentine's Day). Thank you. You know who you are and it was much needed. (Italics are mine)
If you are after a perfect person in me
Then I am afraid you will be disappointed
If you after someone who will never hurt you
Never let you down
Never misunderstand you
Who will never fall short of your expectations of me
Then I must let you know
I cannot promise you this
If you expect to find me without flaw
Without anger
Without selfishness
Without stupidity
Then the standards you are setting for me are too high
For I realize I am human
Perfect in my imperfection
For in my life I will succeed and I will fail (sometimes simultaneously)
I will love and I will hate (try not to do this much)
I will be selfish and selfless
I will laugh, cry,
Rage (not often but beware when unleashed)
I will be lonely and I will offer comfort
I. Am. Human
Okay... Here are the pics as promised....
Other than the beautiful weather (and the weather is beautiful - hot, sunny with a nice refreshing breeze), there is nothing else to to speak highly of when it comes to this island...
Their main industry is tourism yet they are RUDE, rude, rude rude. Ironically, most of the cabbies are nice but they have no idea where anything is. The island is tiny and they have lived there their whole lives... HELLO!!!!
There is no fresh fruit, fish, or generally edible food on the island. Their favorite foods are fried and BBQ. What?!?! Who goes to the Caribbean wanting to eat BBQ? I currently reside in a US city that is known for BBQ and I don't want it then. I ate more fast food there than when I am in the US. Granted I also have food allergies, many of which were not taken into consideration by anyone, so there was that, but I mean really - not even a piece of good salmon or tuna.
The Magdalena Grand, where the wedding took place was the least friendly, and shabby of them all!!!! You have at least two hundred people here who have spent thousands of dollars just to come and stay in this small island that does not even deserve to be any representation of the Caribbean, and these folks are not friendly, and do not want to work not even a little a bit... They don't know where something is on their own property. People are spending $500/night to stay there and the hall/reception is closed off, no oceanside views. What's the point of having a wedding at the beach if you can't see it??!! They did not arrange for proper transportation and this was the icing on the cake, they stole a cab I had flagged down for my mother, bestie, and I. I was beyond furious with just about everything.
To be fair, I did like the bartending staff and I think the wedding coordinator was doing her best but she had no help from management or the the front desk.
All was not lost however... the bride looked beautiful. I ended being the MC very last minute, and everyone said I did a great job, asked if I did it for a living, and said I was a professional. On that note, I must confess I totally got out of character and had an absolute shit fit meltdown when that worker came up and stole our cab!!! It was the icing on a very shitty shit cake all week, which by the way - I still do not have my luggage. Another story there. I know I am great at hiding my emotions and not caring. Most people have no idea what I think or feel, but for five minutes I literally was just raging - just absolute raging. Then I was good. I found us another cab. I was the raging one, but still got the job done. I guess everyone else was just in shock. My diva self had come out of hiding, definitely hitting all the angry American black women diva stereotypes but whatevs...
And final travel annoyance... my bag did not make my last connection and as a result of the weather, it has yet to arrive... Sigh...
Okay, enough ranting as my blog is generally positive so here are some positives:
I fit into the Kwe Kwe skirt. I was quite concerned about that as you may recall. I actually fit the dress I bought at Flip for the wedding. Another concern as well. I got complimented a lot in that dress but who knows what I look like on camera, especially on the video as I had no intention of actually MCing. I will post the pictures I do have but there aren't many. There are so many pics of me skattered all over the place. I absolutely dislike that.
I feel like I have been filled with negative energy - all this hate/dislike on this page. Starting tomorrow, Ash Weds, I am going to celebrate Lent by giving up Carbs. I need to get back to my spiritual even keel self. My bestie (who stayed with me and mom and was one of the maids of honor) and my Mom think I am completely not myself and I agree.
I swam one day and did crunches another but honestly I had no real time or true desire to work out. I did climb a waterfall. All these pics will be shared and as I receive more, I will share and update this page.
I saw a poem yesterday on a site I frequent, which I think speaks to the flood of emotions that spilled out of me late Saturday night (Happy Valentine's Day). Thank you. You know who you are and it was much needed. (Italics are mine)
If you are after a perfect person in me
Then I am afraid you will be disappointed
If you after someone who will never hurt you
Never let you down
Never misunderstand you
Who will never fall short of your expectations of me
Then I must let you know
I cannot promise you this
If you expect to find me without flaw
Without anger
Without selfishness
Without stupidity
Then the standards you are setting for me are too high
For I realize I am human
Perfect in my imperfection
For in my life I will succeed and I will fail (sometimes simultaneously)
I will love and I will hate (try not to do this much)
I will be selfish and selfless
I will laugh, cry,
Rage (not often but beware when unleashed)
I will be lonely and I will offer comfort
I. Am. Human
Okay... Here are the pics as promised....
Views from Villa
From the beach
@ 2 of the forts on the Island
@ the waterfall
having climbed up the waterfall. quite slippery...
just came back down.. even more slippery and treacherous
Happy to be back down
The blogging will be back to a day by day play by play starting tomorrow as it begins Lent and no carbs... Feel free to join me. The more support, the better. Even if you give up something else like sweets or meat, it's great to have a group of supporters helping us all out.
Today is Mardi Gras and I am at home unfortunately. I was invited to my cousin's annual Mardi Gras extravaganza in NOLA but I decided not to as this week was intended to be a major week at work except we have had two days of snow and no work soooo.... I could have gone, although I have no suitcase so don't exactly know how I would have managed such.
With that said, while not happy to be back in the cold, snowy weather, I am actually happy for once to be off of a Caribbean island. This is a first for me. If I were you, I would not go to Tobago. I can't speak for Trinidad but Tobago is a Hell to the Nah....
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
My Actual Bday - 2/9
Yesterday was my actual bday. I am now ______ years old. Lol!!!! Anyway, it was not a particularly special day until I got to work and received these... Thank you sincerely!!! You know who you are and why these are so special.
Don't like that poof so gotta straighten things out...
Check out the accessories....
So of course I had to have a photo shoot. Thank you to my awesome co-workers who let me indulge for a bit!!!!
Or more than a bit.
And of course once you start a photo shoot, can you really stop...?
Check out the accessories....
Things that make you go hmmm......
I might as well enjoy this day before I'm off to my bestie's wedding later and I'm sure I'll be the chubette in the bunch. It can be so frustrating to eat right, drink right, work out and still just be bootilicous curvy...
Here I am doing weighted leg lifts. That's 10lbs on each ankle.
Bring up then down (an inch above the ground) Do 30. Repeat 3x
Since it was my bday, I did treat myself to my favorite cuisine at my favorite locale in town. That would be Virago. Quite yummy!!!! And that pretty much ended my bday celebrations until I am back from Tobago. Wish me luck fitting into these outfits!!!
Thank you to all my family and friends that called, texted, or sent cards to wish me a Happy One. It's great to feel loved!!! I love you all!!!!! What an honor to have you in my life....
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