thehaitianqueen

Island People 2011: Shades of the Universe

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 13:38:17 -0400

Island People 2011: Shades of the Universe

Coming Soon…

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 22:32:22 -0400

Remiss....

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 10:27:00 -0400

I’m sorry to have been so quiet for so long. I have just been living life, trying to interpret life, figuring out life….it’s been a lot. But never think I have forgotten about you. I think of you every day and feel guilty that I am not letting you know what’s up with me.

Right now I am going through it. Such is life, I guess. My Vanzant book reminds me that hard times do not that mean “good” no longer exists. The “bad” is always trying to make us think that the “good” has gone away. But I must be patient. And steady and constant. It’s hard. I feel like I’ve been trudging uphill for quite some time now. But the rewards to be reaped are that much sweeter right? There’s no way that this is meant to be my life.

So I am just keeping on. Trying to keep my head up and move forward. And look for the new things, the strange things. Trying not to be afraid of growth. Or sorrow. Or living.

Only God knows how I’m doing so far.

"After all, what was adult life but one moment of weakness piled on top of another? Most people just..."

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 07:14:59 -0400

““After all, what was adult life but one moment of weakness piled on top of another? Most people just fell in line like obedient little children, doing exactly what society expected of them at any given moment, all the while pretending that they’d actually made some sort of choice.””

- Tom Perrotta; Little Children (via wordpainting) (via libraryland)

Still more abuse- this time the church in Belgium

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 07:11:31 -0400

Still more abuse- this time the church in Belgium:

I know it hurts my family that I no longer attend church, but how could I support this institution when so many allegations of sexual abuse were swept under the rug? The Roman Catholic church has abused its people time and time again. So forgive me if I refuse to worship in such a community. I know God. I can establish my own lines of communication.

Mrs. Obama via Project Rungay

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 12:26:26 -0400

Mrs. Obama via Project Rungay:

I love looking at the Obama’s together. Don’t you just get the impression that they are hot & steamy for each other? I love it- breath of fresh air that this country (& the White House) needed!

Hot summer days like this remind me of childhood when my mother would make me go to the mall. My mom...

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 12:22:44 -0400

Hot summer days like this remind me of childhood when my mother would make me go to the mall. My mom believed in going shopping infrequently and spending the whole day there. this is back in the day, before the Roosevelt Field mall looked like what it does today (for all you Long Island connoseurs). She would refuse to visit the food court, so we would go to the hot car and drink Satan temperature water/soda from the green cooler. Ahhh, the memories!

Recession Guide to Summer Fetes

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 12:56:33 -0400

Recession Guide to Summer Fetes

Compas Festival Miami 2010

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 16:31:29 -0400

Compas Festival Miami 2010

"I mean, the not-so-secret ace in the hole for continuing to be sexist has long been, “I can’t help..."

Sat, 05 Jun 2010 07:42:20 -0400

“I mean, the not-so-secret ace in the hole for continuing to be sexist has long been, “I can’t help it! I’m made this way!” Like, the “dudes are inherently vulgar and stupid and hump everything and just basically are like dogs who can talk, be glad they’re not chewing on the furniture and pissing on the carpet” card, which I don’t understand why men keep playing. Men say TERRIBLE SHIT about themselves all the time, frequently on ladysites where they are The One Dude Who Tells Everyone What All Dudes Are Like, but they don’t seem to recognize how much they downplay their own abilities. Or they do, but it’s an excuse. Like, embracing a shitty version of manhood is a way to defend yourself when someone points out that you, specifically, are being a shitty person.”

- Tiger Beatdown › SEXIST BEATDOWN: The Retrosexual Trend-Piece Writing Code Edition (via notemily)

"In short, wealth begets wealth, and the lack of wealth perpetuates the same. Black families — who..."

Sat, 05 Jun 2010 07:39:48 -0400

“In short, wealth begets wealth, and the lack of wealth perpetuates the same. Black families — who save at the same rate as white families — have less money to pay for college tuition, less money to invest in business and less money to tide them through rough times. ‘The gap is opportunity denied and assures racial economic inequality for the next generation,’ Mr. Shapiro notes.”

- NY Times: Wealth, Race and the Great Recession (via herzundseele) (via novazembla) (via notemily)

"We’re in a country where white is considered normative; it’s a country where white writers are..."

Sat, 05 Jun 2010 07:36:08 -0400

“We’re in a country where white is considered normative; it’s a country where white writers are simply writers, and writers of Latino descent are Latino writers. This is an issue whose roots are deeper than just the publishing community or how an artist wants to self-designate. It’s about the way the U.S. wants to view itself and how it engineers otherness in people of color and, by doing so, props up white privilege. I try to battle the forces that seek to “other” people of color and promote white supremacy. But I also have no interest in being a “writer,” either, shorn from all my connections and communities. I’m a Dominican writer, a writer of African descent, and whether or not anyone else wants to admit it, I know also that Stephen King and Jonathan Franzen are white writers. The problem isn’t in labeling writers by their color or their ethnic group; the problem is that one group organizes things so that everyone else gets these labels but not it. No, not it.”

- Junot Diaz on the faux colorlessness of American literature, via Racialicious. (via abbyjean) (via amandaw) (via robot-heart-politics) (via loveandzombies) (via dendroica) (via skeskali2) (via lexicology)

"Someday you’ll be married, and at first it’ll be a bed of roses, and then the humdrum..."

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 00:33:56 -0400

“Someday you’ll be married, and at first it’ll be a bed of roses, and then the humdrum starts in and you forget to do the small things that made the person fall in love with you in the first place. You stop saying good morning, and picking up his shoes when he forgets to take them to the closet, and bringing home the one special kind of Dairy Queen he likes. After all, it’s out of your way and you’re in a hurry. When he says, Do you want to take a bike ride after supper? you say no because you’ve had a rough day and you don’t stop to realize that if you’d gone with him it would have made your day a little better. And when he takes a shower before bed, you roll over and pretend to be asleep already because, believe it or not, you begin to consider sex work. You stop doing these things, and then the other one stops doing them, and pretty soon you’re substituting critisicm for praise, and giving orders instead of making requests, and letting sex fall by the wayside, and in no time at all the whole marriage falls apart.”

- Bygones by LaVyrle Spencer

Finally! My Trinidad Carnival 2010 Review

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 12:43:12 -0400

Finally! My Trinidad Carnival 2010 Review

Superbowl 2014 in New Jersey??

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 10:30:09 -0400

Superbowl 2014 in New Jersey??:

I have forgotten to comment on this for a while…what a stupid move! I am from the Northeast and I even I know that no one wants to go somewhere cold for the superbowl…do you know how cold it can get in the tri-state in February? Idiotic move!

Lost: The End

Mon, 24 May 2010 12:45:00 -0400

My initial reaction to the Lost series finale was overwhelmingly negative. I was annoyed and I couldn’t figure out why. I felt empty.

After having slept on it, my feelings are clearer. This is the story of Jack’s life, of how a bunch of survivors from a plane crash got to go to heaven. How much these people needed each other. I appreciate the reunions that they gave us. This is a bunch of truly talented actors. The performances were breathtaking.

I can see the point. We got caught up in the minutia and the details and in the end, it didn’t matter. What mattered were the people, the relationships and bonds they had formed, the lives they had lived. An analogy for our lives here on earth. I get it. But I didn’t like it.

For a 2 hour movie, 6 hour trilogy or even a mini-series, this would be okay. But after 6 seasons of blood sweat and tears, the ending felt like a huge let-down. It pissed me off. Intellectually we played with all these thoughts and quotes and clues, becoming mini-philosophers, only to find out that they were just random & haphazard things thrown in by the writers. Even the story of the Man in Black/Smokey and Jacob wasn’t important in the end.

The explosion at the end of Season 5 brought the Losties back from the 70s into the present day. The first 3 seasons of Lost focused on the Islands & the survivor’s past lives, the next 2 seasons were 2 presents: one on the Island and one off the Island. So season 6 was about the future, the end of time (since at the start of S6 the Island was destroyed and under water, and Mother spoke of dire consequences for humanity if the light was ever extinguished).

The sideways timeline was a purgatory, with some people knowing what it was, like Eloise and others having no clue, like Jack. Christian said “this is a place that you all created together, so you could find each other.” So does that mean that these characters just kept playing out the same themes from their lives over and over? Sayid forced to watch Nadia be married to his brother to punish himself? Sawyer seeking redemption by being a cop rather than a con man? Kate endlessly running from the authorities?

I know that the writers admitted to dropping the ball when it came to Walt, but oh how! Michael did wrong, but trying to save the ship from the bomb was not enough redemption? If Sayid could be redeemed for all that he had done, then there should have been redemption for Michael. And Walt seemed to be so important at the beginning of the series, to leave him by the wayside…I understand that puberty got in the way but still, very hard to swallow.

I refuse to believe that life on the Island was as unimportant as Desmond believed it was. “This doesn’t matter you know. Him destroying the Island, you destroying him…” Ummm, no. It would have very much mattered if Smokey had escaped the Island and brought his evil to the world. And that’s all I have to say about that.

Regardless of my feelings on Season 6 of Lost and the final episode, I must say thank you. This is a show that swept me in and held me captivated. It was a well-written show and was very entertaining and memorable. And I come to terms more and more with the series finale the more I contemplate it. I guess that’s the secret to great television? You can’t get it out of your mind, you mull over it time and time again and you get a different feeling about it every time you watch it. Thank you Lost. You will very much be missed.

Final Thoughts

I loved Kate and her bad ass attitude this episode. When in doubt, grab the shotgun & shoot!

Loved the look in Ben’s eye when Hurley asked him to stay on as his right hand man. He finally felt wanted and needed, and you could see it all in his face. Stellar acting there.

I was so pissed when I thought that Jack lying cut and wounded at the bottom of the well might cause him to become another smoke monster. I would have cursed the television set!

Sawyer & Juliet’s reunion was everything I had hoped for! *sigh*

How funny were Sun & Jin’s expressions when they saw that Sawyer was a cop? I wonder if they laughed over that in the church.

I wonder where Ricardus ended up with his now graying head?

Would have been nice to know: (1) Widmore’s purpose and goal on the Island; (2) What made Walt so special; (3) What happened to Mr Eko; (4) Why couldn’t women have children on the Island? Why were the Others stealing children from all other Island inhabitants? (5) What was the Island? The garden of Eden? The goodness inside all people? What?

Goodbye Lost! We shall miss you!

Lost S6 E16: What They Died For

Sat, 22 May 2010 20:43:00 -0400

I didn’t want to write this entry. I didn’t want to acknowledge that there are only 2 ½ hours left of this beloved tv show. It swept me in despite my fear of flying, my fear that watching a show about a plane crash would never allow me to step foot on a plane again. What is so interesting about watching a bunch of castaways on an island? But now I know. It’s so strange to go from a place of analyzing every word, every nuance, to having answers just given. It’s strange to know that there are only 2 ½ hours of this television show left.

At the start of this penultimate episode, Jack has a bloody cut on his neck. I wonder, what it signifies? A melting between the sideways world and what’s happening on the Island? A sign of things to come?

Ben is back! He is protecting himself at all costs. And once again, he acts without really understanding the consequences of his actions or knowing the final picture. Nice to see him acting his old self, and not this meek, good guy that I did not quite trust. But Ben, like Kate, intends to survive. Can’t wait to see what he does next.

More thoughts:

Sawyer is now wracked with guilt over his role in the sub crash. Will that take him off his A game? Will he be the next to die?

I know a lot of folk don’t like her, but I like Kate. Especially when she’s feisty. That’s right girl, demand some answers! And please stay alive. And stay with Jack…I see a potential epic romance there.

Ricardus? Dead, just like that? *tear*

Smokey promises the Island to Ben, but by then end of the episode intends to destroy it. Will this turn Ben’s loyalties away from him?

For the first time Jacob came across so real and sympathetic. Maybe it’s because we now know the back story of how he became the guardian of the Island: “I made a mistake a long time ago. I’m responsible for what happened to him. I made him that way…You were all flawed. I chose you because you were like me. You needed this place just as much as it needed you. “ What a terrific speech!

So they must keep Smokey from finding the light. But doesn’t he already know where the light is? He was the one who told John Locke where the wheel was and what he should do? And how the hell can they kill this dude?

Before John Locke, Smokey inhabited Christian’s body. In the sideways timeline, we learn that Desmond is the one that made the call to jack about Christian’s body being found. In reality, no one knows where the body is. Could that be where Smokey is on the sideways timeline? Is John Locke in the sideways timeline really John Locke?

I was not moved either way by the death of Zoe, or “fake Liz Lemon” as she has been referred to. But I did feel bad for Widmore. Even though I found him annoying. Even though I was happy when Desmond beat him up. He was on the side of the good guys.

So here it comes, the final confrontation. Soon, we will know the end of this story. Are you ready? I am. And I am not. I feel like I’m losing an old friend. *sigh* Oh well…until tomorrow night!

Lost S6E15: Across the Sea

Thu, 13 May 2010 12:45:00 -0400

Well, well, well, what have we here? A Lost episode with answers? Fraught with meaning? Are you sure we are still talking about the same show?

After 5 3/4 seasons of stringing us along, giving us half answers and puzzles, Lost decided to unload a burden this week. It was overwhelming to have an episode so full of answered questions. Of course, Lost wouldn’t be Lost if it didn’t create more questions than it answered, but at this point it can’t be helped. There are only 2 episodes left….3 1/2 hours. I have a feeling this is the last of the q&a. So let’s revel in this, shall we?

My gut feeling was spot on….Smokey/Man In Black was not evil! He was Jacob’s brother, Jacob’s twin, and he may have had a bit more talent, received a bit more favor than Jacob. He might have been the original candidate. Look at it from his perspective: some anonymous woman kills my mom, shows me a light, hides it from me, tells me I can’t leave the Island, and then knocks me out against a wall? If I were Smokey, I’d be pissed too!

I always felt there was something about Jacob, something off. It was reaffirmed for me during Ab Aeterno when he smirked when Richard called him the devil. Jacob created the evil that is Smokey. Jacob was jealous. He killed his brother and sent him down the light, even though their “Mother” said the fate down there was worse than death.

But now Jacob’s brother is dead. And what has replaced him is still unknown. And underneath it all, he has never lost the desire to leave the Island. Is anybody actually from this place? Or were they all brought there, from the beginning of time? And who is bringing them there?

More thoughts

Was “Mother” a Smoke monster herself? It would explain her knowledge of what the light does…her ability to destroy the Other’s original village…a lot of things. Was the apparition of Claudia even really Claudia? Or was it “Mother” in disguise? Chew on that one!

Did anyone notice that Smokey killed mom before she spoke? Now that I think about it, she didn’t have to go down into the hole and tell Smokey goodbye, she could have just filled the well and killed the Others while he was away. Was she trying to provoke Smokey into killing her? She did say thank you…

I must admit, I got a little worried when she showed them the light and started talking about it. I guess there’s no way around it, but it started to get a little corny…thank goodness they didn’t dwell on it!

Why didn’t Richard become the Guardian when he drank the wine in Ab Aeterno? Or is he the Guardian without realizing it? Was there ever a stipulation that there be only 1 Guardian?

Another reason why I think Mom was a Smoke Monster…Jacob has been in the real world, many times. He has touched each of the candidates. Wait a minute…what if he’s not seeking a replacement for himself, but rather for Smokey??? Oooooo!!!!

One thing is exceedingly clear: these people on this Island need to improve their communication skills!

Revelations...

Mon, 10 May 2010 08:23:00 -0400

I’m a hibernator. When I lived up North, I would workout intensively in the spring, maintain for the summer and fall, and mostly hibernate in the winter. (I would walk long distances in my Northface! LOL). I used the promise of warmer weather to keep in shape, especially since my knee injury didn’t allow me to run like I used to. Hopefully living in a warmer climate will change that.

I was reading a book by Bill Phillips called “Body for Life: 12 Weeks to Mental and Physical Strength” when I had a revelation:

“Healthy muscle is comprised of more than 70% water […] If you find that the portions of food that you are eating don’t quite satisfy you, try drinking a cup of water before you even take your first bite of food. Then drink another cup of water with your meal.”

This is the antithesis of what I have been taught all my life. I remember being thirsty as a child. It made sense, I was a pretty active child. But the female adults around me always restricted my liquid intake. I remember being told that the reason I didn’t finish my food is because I had too much liquid, be it juice, water or soda. As a result, now I rarely have liquid before or during meals, often waiting until I clear my plate to have a first sip of water.

Since childhood, I have never drunk enough water. And so I have never felt full, and I keep piling food on my plate. When really, I should have been eating the other way around. What I had been trained and taught was wrong!

Further reinforcement from a recent Yoga Journal article “Eating Wisely: An Honest Meal” by Jessica Berger Gross:

“Ram Dass’s 1970s handbook “Remember, Be Here Now” […] discussed mitahara (moderate diet)…He said that after a meal your stomach should be 50% full with food, 25% full with water, and 25% empty with room for air.”

Already I feel my habits changing. Before the only thing that would force me to drink a lot of water was either when I was in a cleanse or when I was actively doing Bikram in a studio. Now I drink it all the time, without fail. And definitely, with meals. It is making a difference, I can feel it.

I am doing a daily yoga routine in addition to workouts. I have fallen in love with Bodyrock.tv. I have read for years that shorter intense workouts are more effective, but now I can see these workouts in action, and it’s inspiring. [Note: I don’t have a Gymboss Interval Timer…yet. But Gymboss makes a terrific interval timer application for the iPhone.] Wish me luck!

AL Haitian Flag Day Festival

Sun, 09 May 2010 08:28:18 -0400

AL Haitian Flag Day Festival