This year Carnival Nationz has decided to pay special attention to one of the greatest figures in Caribbean history, something that has never been done before. An entertainer who needs no introduction… the "KING OF CALYPSO"… will be honoured in true CNz fashion for all the awe inspiring music that he has provided to us over the years. Call him by whatever name you know him: "Slinger Francisco" ~ "D'Birdie" ~ "The King"... we at CNz will simply call him "SPARROW D'LEGEND"

As was done last year, the theme for Toronto Carnival is also used in the Miami Carnival competition. The Miami Carnival Nationz information is as follows:

Carnival Nationz Miami:  [Taken from their Facebook Information]
CNz Miami is an all-inclusive band.
On the road with CNz - Miami: D'Bandit (Toronto), DJ Dorenzo (Miami), Hypa Hoppa (Red 96.7 FM Trinidad)
INFO:
Band Leader - Lesley lesley@carnivalnationz.com ~ 954.298.3381
DJ Dorenzo - dorenzo@carnivalnationz.com ~ 954-701-5655
Savanna Thomas - savanna@carnivalnationz.com ~ 954-809-8024
Nigel Braithwaite - nigel@carnivalnationz.com ~ 305-975-4703
Wilfred @ 954-478-6873 - will@carnivalnationz.com or Annie @ 786-469-1478 - annie@carnivalnationz.com
Marsha - marsha@carnivalnationz.com ~ 954-732-8257
You can see the CarnivalNationzMiami facebook group here. The Toronto Carnival Nationz launches May 1st, so we will be able to see the costumes that will be used in Miami also.
.-Disclaimer-

I did makeup for a CY Evolution photoshoot recently. Here is one of the images. YAY!
When I have the others Ill post them. A girl gotta hustle!! Trying to build a portfolio. I wanted her freckles to show...they wanted a natural face with BRIGHT eyes...so I just used tinted moisturizer.  I think though I'm becoming the Vibrant Eyeshadow girl. Thanks Homer. Here is the link to CY's Facebook page.
  -Disclaimer-

After a While

After a while you learn
The subtle difference between
Holding a hand and chaining a soul
And you learn that love doesn't mean leaning
And company doesn't always mean security.

And you begin to learn
That kisses aren't contracts
And presents aren't promises
And you begin to accept your defeats
With your head up and your eyes ahead
With the grace of a woman
Not the grief of a child

And you learn
To build all your roads on today
Because tomorrow's ground is
Too uncertain for plans
And futures have a way
Of falling down in mid flight

After a while you learn
That even sunshine burns if you get too much
So you plant your own garden
And decorate your own soul
Instead of waiting
For someone to bring you flowers

And you learn
That you really can endure
That you are really strong
And you really do have worth
And you learn and you learn
With every good bye you learn.

Veronica A. Shoffstall

I hear you in music...
Your smile intermingled between the melodies...
your eyes float in between the chords of songs imagined...not realized...
a fragment of you in a suspended chord...
Suspended...
Lyrics come to me ..out of nowhere...from floating bits of emotion...
moments remembered..or conjured from somewhere outside of cognitive memory......






----and then it left me...

hahaha

Island music..MOVES me. Don't get me wrong. I'm a Soca head, a Kaiso head probably is more accurate. My taste in Island music is eclectic and runs the gamut. I'm especially appreciative of a lavway...a groove beat..and especially if the music captures the traditional elements of Kaiso but adds a contemporary twist so that it remains relevant.

Rembunction does this perfectly in his "Ah digging Horrors". A perfect Combo of old and New. Mighty Sparrows classic Ah digging Horrors, infused with a a current rhythmn line..with Rembunction's unforgiving, unrelenting TRINIDADIAN ACCENT [god i love that...no twanging..lol]. Horns intact. Gotta love it. The video itself is amazing..produced by Rembunction himself. A perfect balance of color and drama. Simple and remarkably effective. Cameos by Mr Roy Cape himself and Sparrow doing his trademark dances. Doesn't hurt that he is a yummy chocolate rasta trini masterpiece either :).

See the video after the jump


Check out his youtube channel here. His other videos are animated videos..equally amazing. So distinctly Trinidadian. I especially like Samantha Claus. Book Mark Em. Its worth it.

-Disclaimer-

Ive loved Tessanne Chin for ages. While her sister hit main stream a few years back, she has remained a little underground in her following and appeal. Her voice is a powerful instrument...like Nadia Batson's... and it gives me goose bumps. When she rocks out on the reggae tracks...you know for sure that you're experiencing a MOMENT.

So imagine how happy I was when she collaborated with my second place Soca Addiction [after the BOY] Kes the band..specifically Kees in this case. Its my favourite genre of music - Island Hybrid Music. How do you classify it? It's distinctly Island Music - infused with Tessanne's Rock styling and Kees R&B style.

Ive been demanding this type of music for ages [HINT HINT XOXO]. We don't have enough Soca/Island Love songs. Too much dig out, jump and jump music when we're sooooo obviously capable of more. So enjoy. Loving You. I'm sure you guys may have seen it already on face book ...for those that didn't.



-Disclaimer-

Today was a scary, strange day...
My wake up call was a phone call from my mom saying that the little sis was in pain and alone at work and couldn't move.....I kept thinking am I dreaming this?? After that shock I called her..and the fear in her voice scared me more than the obvious pain she must have been in. She was unable to move..her neck and body was in so much pain that she couldn't even dial her phone without being in agonizing pain.

The trip from my house to where she was would be at least 45 mins if i was lucky and no one was going to get to the office where she was for at least another hour. Thank god..."DUDE" was able to get to her...hopefully before my frantic drive would get me there. I spent the next agonizing minutes talking to her on the phone..trying to keep her and my self calm, trying to decide if I should call an ambulance, talking back and forth with my mom and my aunt to see what the best move was.

Called an urgent care clinic...that was just across the street. And then...in case I wasn't freaked out enough, they tell me...based on her symptoms that she should go immediately to the ER. Mind you this problem that she has can render her paralyzed. See Here for more details.

Finally DUDE got there and took her to the ER. I was so torn....I had a job interview at 12 today. Torn... do i skip, can i reschedule...would I be any good at the interview? My mom said go....renee said go....I couldnt even get my head into it. I decided to go and then rush to the hospital after.

As I walk out the door....i notice a Sheriff car and an ambulance outside my door. I remember thinking ..wdm? What happened is my neighbor, the one who takes my garbage out when I forget, who takes my packages and who chats with me through the mesh lanai in the evenings when we're outside at night...Died in her sleep. Dead. I spoke to her two days ago. Strong healthy fun woman...dead in her sleep.

Sigh...so i leave and go to the interview. I hope I represented well. My mind wasnt even in it. But i guess i did okay cause i have a second one next week. I race out of there to see Renee who is now at home. She looks better than she sounds. Still in obvious pain. Pain I can't do anything about. Sucks.

What a Day.

My darling Walshy Fire, the girls dem hair drier, make the people perspire...yeah jed...lol..bull pistle [inside joke] has done his new soca - ish CD SOCAL 4.

Got this email this morning so I had to share

If u havent heard Socal 4: The Socavivor heres a chance and direct link to it. Hosted by Machel Montano we get ready for Carnival season to kick off! See u there...

- Walshy the Socavivor

The link for download is here and follow his podomatic weekly podcast here.

-Disclaimer-

So...like we start. First Band Launch of the Season:


Check for more details at their website: http://fungeneration.org. They also have a facebook group here. I will be making a huge effort to attend so I can give you pics and reviews. The Ting Start!!
-Disclaimer-

One of my great friends Rhonda Berment has gotten a great new gig. She is now a writer [PAID] for the Examiner as a feature writer on South Florida Caribbean Night Life.
It means that she goes to the events that are popular in the Caribbean community and shares the information with the rest of the world via her write up...an insight into the caribbean community here. A review with pictures.
Make sure to check out her facebook page and her examiner page.
Rons...youre the best and you've been doing a great job. Im proud of you. Please book mark these links as they will be updated constantly throughout the year.


-Disclaimer-

I was trying to edit the template on another blog of mine...and
WIPED OUT THE FORMAT for this one by mistake...
lol
Bear with me while i try to reconfigure this one to my extremely irrational standards.
:)

-Disclaimer-

This is what Happens when you watch Love Jones over and over for days....





Remember the moments
So precious and rare
The thought
Of you kissing me there
You know my secrets
You know the curve and the line
One touch
And I know you are mine

Rain falls down on me
I can hardly see
For the water in my eyes
Love comes down on me
I can hardly breathe
For the trembling in my thighs
You move me

Remember the moments
So prescious and rare
The thought
Of you kissing me there
You know my secrets
You know the curve and the line
One touch and I know you are mine

Rain falls down on me
I can hardly see
For the water in my eyes
Love comes down on me
I can hardly breathe
For the trembling in my thighs
You move me

Courage is fear that has said its prayers & decided to go forward anyway: Joyce Meyer

I was....TERMINATED..from my job yesterday...
No warning...no probation..no reprimand...nothing..
Just called into the office and told..
Today is your last day..
after being there for 4 plus years...

I packed my georgy bundle and walked out the door...

Why?
the following words were said:
"A family member...in the industry...is qualified now to do your job... It was a hard decision....but its what we felt was best for the company. Please have whoever you apply to contact me personally for the best recommendation ever...Now...leave."

Initially i think i was upset...
I felt betrayed by the people around me...
then panic set in....it hasn't left yet..
How do I...a person who is probably irrationally independent...take care of my self??
Savings sure...
But the market sucks....esp in my field..

What the hell do you do when you've been let go?
I have no effing clue?
How do you qualify for unemployment?
How long will i be doing nothing?
What if? WHAT IF??? WHAT ???
..
how do i deal with being...

PURPOSELESS....

Habit is a bitch...
Don't get me wrong ..
I enjoyed my job...most days...and I'm good at it..
but lord knows ..I dreamed of more..
Of being more creative..of doing more.
I just wasn't prepared to be forced into it...
I woke up and went to work...and then two hours later...UNEMPLOYED.

I'm still...processing...
moments of panic...and anger...and worry..
The Parental Units are full of optimism ...and prayer..
And good advice...

I am..


Processing..

I am an island underneath the setting sun
In an ocean that is churning
For all I know there might be nobody nearby
Still, the world, it keeps on turning

And when that sun goes down
It gets brighter in my heart somehow
I don't know why this is
But it's what I want to know

Sometimes we start over
And go solo
We're looking for
That summer home
Beside the sea
And for the future

Since I left you I'm a gold balloon that wanders high
I won't sing through rainbows and showers
Taking lovers just might keep my tears at bay
But the dam can break at any hour

By candle-light you seem
To deepen in your mysteries
Confusing forces move
At the tides of these seas

Sometimes we start over
And go solo
We're looking for
The ones we've hurt
Just to forgive us
In the future

Sometimes we start over
And go solo
No metaphors
Are needed from
This time onwards
In the-

Sooooome
Oooooooh
Aaaaaaah
Oooooooh

And when the sun goes down
It gets brighter in my heart somehow
I don't know why this is
But it's what I'd like to know

Sometimes we start over
And go solo
We're looking for
The ones we've hurt
Just to forgive us
In the future

Sometimes we start over
And just go solo
No metaphors
Are needed from
This time onwards
In this song