On whats on this weekend..

deVine Saturdays: Get in the spirit. Complimentary pastelles with every bottle of wine. Live Parang from Los Parranderos de UWI. @ MoreVino, Ariapita Avenue, Port of Spain.

Christmas Art Sale: An exclusive selection from some of Jamaica's finest including Gene Pearson, Cecil Cooper, Roy Ried, El Pedio, Beverly Oliver, Juliet Thorburn, Sonia Richards, Lennox Coke among others. Saturday and Sunday, 12:30 - 5:00 pm, Rollins Meadows, 5 Richings Ave, Off Hope Road. Free 1876 wine samples.. Excellent gifts.. I'd like this El Pedio please..

BOOM: Investa Fiesta Tres: These guys are rapidly becoming the next Frenchmen. A guaranteed good high quality lime. Will you be "bullish or bearish" at The Alcohol Exchange? @ 4 Hopefield Road, Kingston on Saturday the 9th from 9:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. Price includes your Boom Bucks. Presold only of course. Tickets from your reliable traders.

On being disgruntled..

Soo.. BJ booked a ticket to come visit. I was overjoyed despite my reservations.. Then he calls me to say 'Sorry babe.. it doesnt look possible for this weekend again..' He gave me a reasonable sounding excuse due to family committments. He even suggested another time [like a month away] based on both our schedules. I am disgruntled. [Always wanted an excuse to use that word] ... was that manspeak for 'I've changed my mind, I don't think this is a good idea anymore..'??

On out of sight, out of mind..

I won't even pretend to be philosophical.. simple question:
Does absence really make the heart grow fonder? Is out of sight really out of mind?
I read somewhere that relationships are never still, they are either growing closer or apart. What if they are put on hold for awhile? What happens then?

On the Golf World Cup 2006 ..

For all the golf-a-holics and the wanna-be's out there, I am just letting you know that the World Golf Championships of 2006 will be held in Barbados this year. The Chief, The Sultan, Mr Clean and Mr. Man are all on about it. It offically starts tomorrow. More info on the tournament can be found at their website. For those with absolutely no interest in golf, check out the fabulous Sandy Lane resort where it will be held... sweet!

The Chief. Part 3

There was a major crisis in the Tourism industry. Everyone and anyone was getting involved. This of course, included the Chief who was hosting daily press conferences. In the midst of the excitement he said something inaccurate and negative about my company. I was livid. Hot boss or no hot boss who the hell was he to be making public announcements about a major project of our company without some consultation?? Before I could even process it all, my CEO came to my office. I let him know exactly how I felt about it and he said he agreed and would speak to the Chief about how to move forward and repair our image.

Hours later, the CEO called from the Chief's office and said I was to join them as soon as possible. As I headed over there my thoughts raced. This time I was nervous not because I thought he was fine but because I was trying to think of how best to structure my criticsim of the Chief's earlier statements. When I reached, his secretary happily ushered me in and I found him as I did last time: coffee, newspaper and CNN. My CEO was nowhere to be seen. 'Ms. Spice. I hear you are not happy with my public speaking. Sit. Let's talk.'

I sat and, even though I thought he looked particularly dashing that day, I fixed my gaze at a spot above his head and launched into my tirade. I spoke of policy and procedure, pointed out the flaws in his statements and ended with my suggestions for damage control. He was silent. I placed my hands and my gaze in my lap bracing for his infamous temper. A few minutes passed, and when I looked up he was leaning back in his chair watching TV again. He turned to me and said: 'So, how was the visit to London? I hear its cold over there...'

There was yet another press conference the following morning about my company and my project. I was invited to sit at the head table. I leaned over to whisper to my CEO when a commotion and camera flashes heralded the arrival of the Chief. He smiled at me as he took the mike. For the next 15 minutes I listened as he spoke on policy and procedure.. suddenly I realised that he was repeating and expounding on all the things I had said the day before!! My face flushed as he ended by saying 'I will take your questions now but I will need to refer to Ms. Spice as necessary'. My CEO winked and gave me a thumbs up. When it was over the Chief leaned over and said 'Good job Ms. Spice. Welcome to the team.' My smile appeared in the newspaper the following day.

On Monday Morning Blues..

It's a rainy and bleak Monday here. Not sexy, tempestuous, tropical rain.. just drippy, constant, miserable London type rain. The kind that makes everywhere feel damp and your bones creak.

I went on a date this weekend. We went to see Borat. It sucked. Big time. My date laughed the whole time. ugh. I agreed to the movies only because we were meant to see Deja Vu and hey I can stand 120 minutes of Denzel. But he didn't prepurchase tix...

On another unrelated yet still cranky note, my most evil ex of all times sent me an email to say the he, the most inconsiderate, underhanded and hardened man on earth is getting married next year. On valentines to boot... I think I'm gonna vomit.

So here I am, my brain is packing and about to go home for Christmas holidays but my body is stuck here for two more weeks.. I hate Mondays.

On saving room ..

Okay, so I was convinced this thing with BJ was just a one off. A summer fling that was fun but nothing more. Sooooo why am I still thinking about him? All the time too. Well, first of all, we continue to chat all the time thanks to msn messenger. But now phone calls and emails have joined in the melee. *sigh*

Now he's talking about coming to visit. I was encouraging it until I realised he was serious. Shit. That's a pretty scary prospect. I mean, if I spend one more night in his arms, I may be reduced to a simmering pile of love mush. seriously. What do I tell all the other men I am dating? Suppose he comes and we realise we really shoulda left well enough alone?

Anyway, I have this warm feeling in my stomach when I think of him. It says don't be silly, when last did you feel like this? Clear your schedule.. Watch this space ...* Just a lil bit of love is worth a moment of our time... Let down your guard just a lil, I'll keep you safe in these arms of mine..* - J. Legend, Save Room

10 Things I Hate..

Okay so the proper meme was 20 things I hate but I am TRYING to be a more positive and loving person so here is my edited version:

1. Fake flowers: Unacceptable in any location but all the more in a beautiful caribbean island with fresh flora right outside your door. Don't like fake christmas trees either.. but I have learnt to accept them in the spirit of the season.
2. Slow-ass vehicles that do not stay in the left lane except when overtaking.
3. Ignorant moronic tourists who truly expect everything in the Third World to be, work and look like everything at home. Why travel then bozo?
4. The smell and taste of latex condoms.
5. Juice 'drinks'... TruJuice can conquer the world!!
6. Superfluous jewellry. Necklaces over clothes, anklets over strappy shoes. If your clothes have some feature at the wrist, ankle or neckline u don't need to wear jewellry on TOP of it.
7. Men who bad mouth and disrespect their wives, girlfriends or significant other.
8. Forwarded chain letters about faith, hope, love, luck and / or money.
9. When Christmas is shortened to Xmas. I'll not have it!! Take the time to write out C-H-R-I-S-T.
10. LIES. Of all sorts. Especially those told for no good reason.

The Chief. Part 2

The day after the speech dropping incident, I was summoned to the Chief's office. I drove over there in a cold sweat and by the time I arrived I was trembling. Seriously. I passed through the many security check points and then I was at his secretary's desk. 'Oh Ms. Spice.. Chief says to send you right in...' she said with a sickly sweet smile.

He sat at his desk reading the paper, drinking coffee and half watching CNN. He folded the paper and smiled at me. The questions came hard and fast.. like semi automatic rounds. How are you liking it here? What did you think of that policy? Can you believe the bad press we got on that matter? How is that proposal going? Where do you live? I hear they have beautiful sunsets there.. Can I come over for one? Red or white wine? I felt like a deer in the headlights. I knew I should run for my life but I just sat there. Awestruck. Dumbstruck.

I tried to answer some work related questions but he had long passed that station. He was steering into Grand Central. 'So when is a good time?' I cursed myself as I told him it was my birthday the next day. 'Oho. We have reason to celebrate then. Champagne it is.' My mind raced but my mouth stuck shut. 'Soo.. are you gonna.. ahm.. give me your number?' Still devoid of witty remarks or any semblance of my former self, I scrawled my digits in his leather bound executive diary.

'Okay Ms. Spice, you have a good day now' the saccharine secretary's voice trailed after me as I walked to my car in a stupor. I sat at the wheel for a few minutes. What the fc*k just happened?!?

On height challenges..

I am fairly tall. At 5'7" and sporting my favourite Dune 'cum-fc*k-me' pumps I am almost six feet. As a younger woman I summarily dismissed any men I met who were less than about 5'11". As I grew older and realised that good men are hard to find I let go of that silly prejudice. Kinda. Last night I found myself coordinating an entire outfit around a cute pair of flats because I was going on a date with a guy who is about 5'7". He has never made a comment about my height and in fact I had on said 4 inch heels when we met, but I just can't stop feeling like Amazon woman when I am towering over a guy.

Vapid or reasonable?? (as I pull on some sexy stilettos and head out the door with a 6'4" friend ;)

On 'carpe diem'..

Howdy folks. I have been and will be away from communication methods for a while. I hope there will be more exciting tales to tell soon. Meanwhile here is a quote from my new fave show:

A couple of hundred years ago, Benjamin Franklin shared with the world the secret of his success. Never leave till tomorrow, he said, that which you can do today. This is the man who discovered electricity. You think more people would listen to what he had to say. I don't know why we put things off, but if I had to guess, I'd have to say it has a lot to do with fear. Fear of failure, fear of rejection, sometimes the fear is just of making a decision, because what if you're wrong? What if you're making a mistake you can't undo? The early bird catches the worm. A stitch in time saves nine. He who hesitates is lost. We can't pretend we hadn't been told. We've all heard the proverbs, heard the philosophers, heard our grandparents warning us about wasted time, heard the damn poets urging us to seize the day. Still sometimes we have to see for ourselves. We have to make our own mistakes. We have to learn our own lessons. We have to sweep today's possibility under tomorrow's rug until we can't anymore. Until we finally understand for ourselves what Benjamin Franklin really meant. That knowing is better than wondering, that waking is better than sleeping, and even the biggest failure, even the worst, beat the hell out of never trying.

- Meredith Grey, ABC's 'Grey's Anatomy'

Bueno Jr.

We met online. How very apropos and 21st century. The friend of a friend who needed information and professional advice on a project. So it started over business but ended up being daily idle msn messenger chatter. Sweet and engaging but certainly way too young for a second thought. Twice I was in his country and toyed with the idea of meeting up but I never did. Then, about six months later I traveled with our mutual friend who insisted we all link up.

So there I was half asleep in my hotel room when they walked in. I rolled over to greet them and our eyes made four and I think my heart stopped. There was something in his eyes that no online photo had captured. I was stunned. So we limed for the rest of that day, our friend now says we were both acting strange. Seems we didn't want to leave each others presence.

In a fit of passion, I went home with him that night and the next and following and the one after that. Delighted in the throws of an affair with a man 8 years my junior. On the fifth day, I had a minor operation. I didn't mention it to him and I had another friend take me back to my hotel to recover in peace. I missed a number of calls from him during the course of the day. That night I finally answered:

BJ: Where you been all day? What time should I come pick you up?

Me: I had a lil procedure today. I am drugged and in pain. No sex tonight. Call u when I am better, ok?

BJ: *silence*

Me: BJ, you hearing me? I going back to bed, ok?

BJ: Spice.. what do you think this is? Do you really think this is just about sex?!?

Me: ahm.. well.. um..

BJ: Listen. I will be there in 15 minutes. Go back and lie down. I will pack your stuff when I get there.

Me: ahm.. okay..

So he came, gathered me and my things, bundled us into his car and took me home. He made me dinner, he fed me, he bathed me, he brushed my hair and he held me in his arms until I fell asleep. I got up in the night in pain to find him awake and watching over me. Over the next few days I was barely conscious but each time I was he was there. I swear he absorbed my pain and fevers by curling his body around mine.

My last night there I managed to get myself dressed up and we went out to dinner. I looked across the table at him smiling at me and I felt warm to the core. Like a shot of brandy. He put his arm around me as we left and said 'I don't want this night to end. I don't want you to go home'. I blushed and smiled and kissed his beautiful mouth. I didn't want to leave either, but the next morning, I had to.