Talk about a change in the weather

So this time of year we usually have what we call our dry season here in Trinidad, and this year it's not dry, it's sweltering. Usually we get a bit of rain but not this year, no sir. We haven't seen rain in months.

By contrast, the end of 2008 till early 2009 was rainy all the time, which is unusual. Normally we don't see constant heavy rainfall till May, June. But this year, oh man we are having a heat wave and we are in trouble.

Our water supply is running low and I think everyone is a bit worried. I mean when exactly is it gonna rain? Trees and grass are drying up everywhere and our mountains are on fire, literally burning in the day and night. It's rather sad and downright scary. When will it rain? It can't come soon enough.

I love the rainy season more than the dry season, especially on days when it rains the whole day through. The place gets really cool and everything seems just to slow down a bit more. Everyone seems to be more chilled out when it rains here. Some people won't even venture out their house on rainy days. Yes sir, it's that much of a deal.

On days like that, a good movie, a book or even a few hours playing guitar is all good relaxation really.

Here's hoping and praying that it rains soon, because our lil twin island of Trinidad & Tobago needs it. I heard that our fellow Caribbean islanders are also suffering from a very dry season.

For all of us here in the West Indies, rain can't come soon enough.

Let it rain! Soon!

Two things missing here in Trinidad: Common Sense and Efficiency

So I'm gonna use this post to bitch about two things that happened to me recently.

Friday I parked in a car park on Tragarete Road to go play guitar for a yoga class, and there was nails and broken wood all in the car park. I went over some wood, luckily my tires were okay. All of this was left over from a few porter potty stalls that were built so patrons of Carnival could have a bathroom facility. Now, all of that is cool and all, but couldn't the same people who put up the stalls, couldn't they remove all the debris after they demolished the same said stalls? You think? Where's the common sense here? Did they use any at all? Common sense that is.

And now today, I go to Office Express on same Tragarete Road - 12 cents a copy, to make a few copies, probably about 50 pages in all, of four (4) not 40 guitar books, just four books. The level of bad service and attitude I got when I showed the sales clerk the books was uncalled for. I was told to leave it and pass back later, we agreed on 2PM. When I went back at the agreed time, nothing was done, no apology, nothing. When I took my books back and complained how nothing was done, I was told that the sales girl hadn't eaten yet. Now I can empathize with a heavy workload, but even a heart-felt apology would've been okay. I'm still waiting to receive it. So clearly Office Express doesn't know how to spell much less deliver efficiency in their productivity and service to customers. Don't think I'll ever go back there.

I asked someone on friday at Yoga class, 'why can't we trinis be efficient in what we do? why can't we have common sense? His answers to both my questions were 'Yuh forget where yuh living or wha? Is Trinidad!'

Yeah, for sure we heading for first world status, by 2300 probably.

Now if I don't laugh, I will cry. Lord, please help?!

Jam-It: 3 Canal's show

So I normally don't write about music, so here goes.

I went to see 3 Canal on Saturday past at Queen's Hall.

Every Carnival season they put on a show that runs for about two weeks leading up to our annual celebration. It's not a fete with soca artistes, it's a show. It's musical theatre if one can even call it that.

So I went on Saturday. Now I have been to a few plays now and again, and I've lost count the number of concerts I've been to, especially over the last seven years but this was something totally different.

First off: the story line - the history and the subtle double meaning behind everything that was happening was just intense, comical and as real as life could get for us here in Trinidad & Tobago.

Add to that the music of 3 Canal - infectious, groovy rapso sung by three charismatic singers in their own right, backed up by solid guitar riffs, heavy bass lines, intense samples/mixes/re-mixes, as well as a few guests including one of the few great kings of modern day Calypso music - Maximus Dan; and you have one heck of a show.

In all honesty it was one of the best shows I've ever been to in my entire life. It was blow mind. It was all Trinbagonian. It was all about us and it was just beautiful.

Thank you 3 Canal for creating such great music and for putting on an amazing show like this. I just can't believe I never went to see guys do this sort of thing before.

Keep on making great music and see you next year.

We must help any way we can

In this time of terrible crisis for all our brothers and sisters in Haiti, the first thing that should come to mind is, how do we help?

We've got to help, because this could easily be us. Anything we can give them will help ease their pain and get them back on their feet. The Haitian people are tired, scared, frustrated, hungry and who can blame them? They've lost everything. I'd probably be doing the same thing if I was them, fighting for survival with everything that was left in me.

We've got to help our Caribbean brothers and sisters, we have to help them. It's our duty to our fellow man and woman.

May God be with them in their hour of need.

Here's to a new year, a new decade

So here's 2010. It came quickly, before we all knew it 2009 was over and out.

We all make new year resolutions, most of us don't keep them, most of us can't even remember what we resolved to do.

I've decided on just one resolution this year, to be more honest with myself, even if it means facing the painful truth sometimes. Even if it means telling someone off, even if it means making myself uncomfortable while I try to find peace and truth in my own life, in some little way.

Being totally honest also means taking ownership for what's working, and what's not and getting rid of any unnecessary waste and stress in my life. There's things that we all do that aren't good for us, but we do it because we claim to not know any better, or worse yet we're scared to get rid of it (whatever it may be).

So this year, I'm gonna try my best to be more honest with myself and try to live at peace with myself, honestly speaking.

Consume less and share more

We live in a materialistic world....we're a people that unfortunately have to consume a number of goods & services in order to survive and exist, we're consumers....

Now why is it from since our childhood days, we've been brainwashed into thinking that buying more toys, or at least convincing our parents to buy more toys for us, will make us happier and the most popular kid on the block?

Why is everything about consumption of goods?

Why this chronic need to buy more, always more. It's a hunger that is never satisfied. Some people can control it, others let it control themselves. Some people hoard what they have and deprive others from having it. Why? because there's not enough to go around, at least not enough so that few people can stay filthy rich.

What's 'it'? - goods and services, material wealth, a decent standard of living?

So we consume. We feed the machine. We're brainwashed to consume by companies, the media, ad agencies, the government.

Advertisements fill our brain with one thing - BUY! Because when we buy, the economy turns.

Now why are advertisements aimed at one thing: Making us consume more? Why can't we have more ads that teach us to conserve, use wisely, repair if broken, do not upgrade, use to last drop and spend only if necessary.

Why can't we be taught to give more to charity, preserve our earth, use less of our limited resources, turn off unused lights, power bars, cell phones. Why can't we car pool? why can't we all install gas converters in our cars so we can use cooking oil instead of diesel? Why can't we all eat less meat.

Why can't our respective governments sign a deal that would save our planet, why was Copenhagen a shame, why was it such a betrayal of the people of this world? Because of greed. Because the simple fact is: it would take more to fix the problem than it would to just have everyone keep on consuming; as the rulers of this world would have us consume, to fatten their pockets.

And shame, shame, shame on the rulers and governments who attended that meeting, shame on them for failing to pass anything of value that would save our planet, because if the environment was a bank, it would've been save a long time ago (to borrow a slogan said at that summit).

Why can't we just consume less and share more with our brothers and sisters around us.

Our world is dying and those killing it have names and addresses....

We can all do our part, seeing as our elected leaders have failed us....consume less and save our dying world.

What can get accomplished on any given day

It's amazing what can accomplished in a day, any given day. We can either do something really productive or waste the entire day.

Nothing is wrong per se with lazing around once in a while, but when that is the norm, well then, thats just wrong. Life is meant to be lived on the frontlines, not sitting on the fence watching events go by. If we do that, then we're just a spectator, giving unnecessary comments on opinions on things that may not concern us.

I'm no expect on how to live but a day well spent is a great day, one that may never be repeated so better make the best of it while the day is young.

There's no better time to do anything, than right now.

Carpe Diem!