New Musical Experience...Reggae Symphony

I recently had the great honor & pleasure of attending "Reggae Symphony". This was in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

What a wonderful experience! Reggae superstars, Freddie "Ever Ready" McGregor and John Holt backed by an orchestra.

Two completely different music types blended together to create a totally unforgettable experience! Together and separately, McGregor & Holt did their popular tunes and introduced a few new ones [McGregor].

Among other hits, McGregor performed "Big Ship", "Push Come to Shove", "I was Born a Winner" & "I Don't Wanna be Lonely".

Holt, who at times has been referred to as the "Barry White of Reggae" (http://www.reggae-reviews.com/johnholt.html) did not disappoint in his repertoire by performing hits such as: "The Tide is High", "Help Me Make It Through the Night", "Why Can't I Touch You?" & "Stick By Me".

These 2 superstars kept the audience dancing, singing, tapping their toes& snapping their fingers. Not to mention the laughter from the continuous banter between the audience & the performers.

As the new fan that I am, I saw McGregor for the first time the previous weekend at the 8th Annual Rivera Beach Music Fest, all I want to know is....McGregor, where will you be next week? Let's make it 3 weekends in a row!

Mr. Holt, I saw Mr. McGregor 2 weekends in a row....how about you match that!??!

Some of McGregor's music

Some of Holt's music

Sending it out

"Four things come not back: the spoken word, the sped arrow, the past life and the neglected opportunity."
-Proverb

I'm a Veggie, You're a Veggie...Wouldn't you Wanna be a Veggie Too?

Yippee!!

Sweet potatoes are considered vegetables. And so are beans. With my workout schedule, I'm going to need the complex carbs.

I was wrong on my starting date. I want my veggies, fruits and nuts day to be on Fridays. So I will begin on 3.28.08.

Strangely, I am actually looking forward to this. I actually considered doing it for 2 days..but let's not be hasty...I'll see how the first time goes!

Strawberries, Grapes, Apples...Oh My!

In the interest of my health & to mix things up nutritionally, once a week, I will be doing to do a fruit and veggies only day.

This will not be an easy task for me at all! I will have to say goodbye to my daily bowl of oatmeal, my high fiber bread, yogurt & cheese. YIKES!

And unless I find out that sweet potato is a veggie...I'll have to give that up too. Drats.

Thankfully, I'm not one of those folks that have a general dislike for fruits & veggies...yes...there ARE folks out there like that!

Strawberries, cantaloupes, apples, kiwifruit, spinach, broccoli, grapes and such are staples in my home...so no problem there.

Not sure how breakfast is going to work. Salads are fine for lunch and dinner. Guessing this where my creativity & resourcefulness will come into play.

I recently tasted boiled edamame [soy beans] ..and yes...they were tasty!
More on edamame.

I am going to begin this on 3.27.08. I will continue this for a month..ending on 4.24.08.

I will update my progress after the month. Wish me luck!

Direction?

"Don't let your erection determine your direction"
Dr. Gwendolyn Goldsby Grant
As heard on the Michael Baisden show (3.12.08)

Makes Sense to me!

"To build a lean, healthy body, you have to eat."

---Bill Phillips---

Does This Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat?

This is the title of a book by Peter Walsh.

The premise is that clearing clutter out of the kitchen is one way to make headway into a healthier lifestyle.

Interesting concept.


This blog covers it well.

Bob & Me

On February 6, 1945 Robert Nestor Marley came into this world and left it irrevocably changed.

Whether it be "I Shot the Sheriff", "Turn Your Lights Down Low", "Trench Town Rock", "Redemption Song" or "Them Belly Full (But We Hungry)", Bob's songs are known all over the world.

As a transplanted Jamaican with a large Jamaican family, one would think that I would have had at least one Marley CD. I distinctly remember being shamed by the guy installing my air conditioned unit.

After being in my house for a while, and hearing the music being played, he asked me if I didn't have any reggae. I said "no". His response: "Not even Bob Marley"?? Hearing again my negative response, his eyebrows shot up.

Not realizing the error of my ways, I asked him what was the big deal... I mean its not like I didn't know who Bob Marley was! He just shook his head in dismay and hurried out of my house still stunned at my lack of cultural identity.

Shamedfaced, I hurried into a 2nd hand cd store and picked up a few compilation CDs of Bob Marley and played them.

I was hooked in no uncertain terms.

Bob helped me find my cultural identity.. I'm not saying that Bob Marley is the epitome of Jamaica. But as a transplanted Jamaican, my Jamaican identity was a bit watered down.

Bob helped me.

I have memories of family with Bob's music. My totally "stoosh" family singing Bob's songs at family reunion...what??? Spliff smoking, dreadlocked Bob and MY family?? Wow.

Again...Bob helped me.

Memories of a few summers ago in Toronto with my uncle playing "Redemption Song" on his piano and the rest of us joining in...WHAT??

Oh yes...once again...Bob helped me.

Whether it is "Kinky Reggae", "Guava Jelly", "Exodous", "Craven Choke Puppy" or talkin 'bout "Bull Buck & Duppy Conqueror" or not wanting to "wait in vain"..Bob's lyrics have stood the test of time.

Songs about love or songs about the betterment of people are basically the focus of his lyrics. Feel good lyrics? Hardly. "Buffalo Soldiers" talking about "fighting and survival" are hardly feel good lyrics...yet it feels right.

Fast forward several years. I have Bob on my iPod. For some reason, it keeps me going on the treadmill. It pushes me further.

I find myself not being able to stop running when any of his songs pop up. Its not like his songs are fast paced...but well its Bob...or in the words of Bono...The Right Honorable Robert Nestor Marley [yum...just hearing his Irish accent pronounce his name...yum yum!!]

Bob, I drink a toast to you on your birthday. May you rest in peace.
http://web.bobmarley.com



http://niceup.com/bmbio.html

The President's Challenge

Since its the political season, I've decided to get political with my workout.
I discovered a new challenge for myself - "The President's Challenge" http://www.presidentschallenge.org

Much to my surprise, i fit into the "Advanced Category". This means that I'm working out for more than 60 minutes for 5 days a week or more.

I track my activities online and earn points for them. You then get a bronze, silver or gold award.

So far, I've earned 1,239 points. I need 40,000 points for the bronze award. Yikes!! I'll be posting periodically updates.

I started my tracking on 2/1/08. Sure one could cheat...who would know? Just you and your waistline!

Lot's of folks are involved with this program. Some are: Mary Lou Retton, Denise Austin, Donna Richardson Joyner & Andy Roddiclk, To see the rest of the council members go to: http://fitness.gov/about_bios.htm

Procrastinaton vs. Laziness

Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an uncompleted task. ~William James

I used to think of myself as lazy. Not any more. In the past few years I've realized that no siree bob...no way am I lazy.

At some point I've worked 2 jobs while attending school. I've also worked 2 jobs and still worked out everyday..and still had a social life.

I've realized that I'm a (big drum roll here) PROCRASTINATOR. But only with things that I do NOT like. Such as paperwork and cleaning. Yikes!!

I HAVE to find away around that demon...cause it can't continue like this.

I think I have a dining room table under all of this paper and I'm on a hunt to find it!

For the past several years I've toyed with the idea of hiring someone to come in and clean for me. I really really like that idea. But first I have to clean up! LOL

Coming All The Way Out

Why did I wait 'til I was in my 30's to find my inner jock?
I started tennis lessons again today. I've taken them before & loved it...problem is I can't find anyone to play with me! LOL

My solution? Take a course...AGAIN.

One of the ladies @ tennis mentioned s a soccer group for 30 and over women. I am intrigued!

My inner jock is coming out at a late age...but heck...better late than never! I feel good. My inches are dropping...its a win win situation! So to my inner jock I say...bring it on...come all the way out!

When I Grow up

I am almost 40 years old and have come to the realization that I don't know what I want to be when I grow up.

I don't even know how I ended up in this career. Three degrees later and I want to bail

What the heck are my talents...and are they valuable to others?

However, the mortgage still needs to be paid, not to mention those pesky student loans!

So I go to work @ the current job until I figure it out...or marry a rich man....or at least win the lottery....which I don't play that often.

But no sympathy here....I have a decent paying job. How many folks can say that in this day and age? Not to mention going through that "R" word that our president can't seem to say! [um...that would be recession]

Loving??

"To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance."
-Oscar Wilde

Ole Reliable

Want to get to the airport on time? Call me.
Need someone to bring the main course to a function? Call me.
Need someone to pick you up from work? Call me

I'm the 'go to person'.

I can honestly say that I don't mind being able to do for others...if I can. I'm not going to break the bank or run all the red lights either! If I can do it, I do it.

My only question is....who do I call? Ghostbusters?

I'm going to have to rethink this in '08.

Fine Wine?

A new year. A new beginning? 2007 was not exactly a banner year for me relationship wise. There were many false starts or just starts that should not have even occurred!

But no sense in looking back, all we have is the present.

As simple as that is, it is a difficult concept for me to constantly be aware of.

However, I've realized that I'm a work in progress and I know that like fine wine, I do get better with time!

Not Knowing?

There's nothing like being in the wrong place or with the wrong person to know what it is you do not want.

Now if I could only pinpoint what it is, would the journey be half way over?

Accomplishments?

Well here it is, January 5, 2008. The first Saturday of the new year. The last Saturday of my vacation.

What have I accomplished during my two week vacation?

I traveled to Canada and Connecticut and froze my nether regions off.

BUT......

My dining room table is still under the papers. In fact, there are more there now.

I still have suitcases to unpack.
I still have job resources to uncover.
I still have careers to look into.

Heck I need to catch up on my sleep!

Recovering from the Holidays

After traveling for the last week and a 1/2 ( Toronto then Connecticut), I am finally back home. And I do believe a few pounds heavier.

Eat drink and be merry?? Well I lived that saying. LOL

There are no more rum cakes, fruit cakes, Jamaican blue mountain coffee [with Bailey's of course] or Appleton Estates Rum left in Toronto! Its good having family that you like to visit...and that like cooking & baking for you... especially Jamaican dishes. I am very happy that I do NOT know how to bake!

And if you want to see some fabulous Jamaican Foods...check out this link to a great magazine about Jamaican foods - Jamaican Eats - www.jamaicaneats.com.

HOWEVER, I knew when I got back home I'd be going right back to my lifestyle changes.

My first day back at home found me at the gym...treadmilling and ellipticalling.

After that i went and restocked my cabinets and refrigerator [can we say Old Mother Hubbard? LOL]. They were completely bare!

I actually enjoyed going shopping for my veggies and fruits...I practically skipped down the aisles...maybe that was my body telling me something.

Vacation is one thing...but, real life and the day to day activities are what can really make or break one's nutritional & exercise habits.

I go back to work on Monday to recover [and to pay for it!!] from my addiction to jet fuel.

Need to figure out where my addiction will take me next.

SPRNG BREAK ANYONE??