Day one and Brother Unlucky is up and running.
Upon being overly excited with finally being 21, he decided to take his first Friday as a "grown man" to go out and party. There is no problem with that, other than the fact that the biggest party weekend in Jamaica is currently in full effect about an hour away in Negril. What does that mean? No one is here. So why go out? But brother unlucky does not listen; and after a boring night out he left the party early and headed home.
Well, remember when I said you can't take your eyes off the road for a second? I wasn't kidding. The split second he decided to look down, to put away the blackberry, he fell right into a pothole "six foot six deep." Needless to say, it murdered the back right tyre of The Beast and burst the oil filter. He came home fully panicked and woke me up with his 20 minute phone call that gave me a bit of insight into what happened. All I could do in the middle of my sleep, was roll over and say "wow." I think I even shook my head.
According to him, he "did everything right" last night. No drinking, drove slowly, and left early. Sure he did everything right, everything except keeping his eyes on the road.
On the plus side, I guess it could have been worse. My favourite car could have been totaled. Oh yeah, and let's not forget that he could have been badly injured. Now that he is on his way to Negril, no he is not driving, I think we should take a moment to pray, or to just cross our fingers for all the Negril dreamers and ATI-ers, and for him too of course. I loaned him my Ed Hardy hat and I am worrying already.
Stay tuned; Brother Unlucky can always give me something to write about.
Saturday, 8 August 2009
Friday, 7 August 2009
Spring Cleaning in Summer
Father and I have spent the entire morning cleaning up the house. Usually he does this on his own, but today he needed some extra help. The occasion? Mother dearest and brother unlucky are coming.
Due to my slight ADD, Pops did most of the work. We swept, mopped, laundered, cooked, cleaned the bathroom, and changed the bedsheets. I'd like to mention that q-tips and shampoo work just as well if not better than soap and a sponge at taking up stains. Since the apartment is relatively small, it was not too much work, but just keep in mind this was all done in an apartment with no air condition. Luckily, there was a nice cool breeze out today to accompany the blazing sunshine.
We had advance preparation for today. Pops came in last night and gave me the heads up that he would be waking me early to start working. It is hard enough for me to get up for church and all I have to do is sit there and listen.
This next comment is for the folks without OCD who make fun of us super clean folks. My Febreeze-to-go came in pretty handy as part of the changing of the sheets fiasco. I bet you never thought I'd find use for it. I could tell some people were thinking that by the look on their face when they saw it in my handbag. (I'd like to see the look on their face upon discovering my disposable travel-sized toilet seat covers.)
One more thing, just to remind you that I am in Jamaica. In the midst of my folding clothes and watching the tele, I heard a few sporadic gunshots that were of pretty close range. I would tell you it was in my backyard so you can imagine the proximity, but this is a second floor apartment - there is no backyard. Either way, there were about 10 shots fired all together, and some folks screaming.
Hearing gunshots from here is nothing out of the ordinary of course, but 10 in a matter of a few minutes is more than we are used to. The only noise I have yet to hear is the sound of a police siren. But believe me when I tell you; I am not holding my breath.
Due to my slight ADD, Pops did most of the work. We swept, mopped, laundered, cooked, cleaned the bathroom, and changed the bedsheets. I'd like to mention that q-tips and shampoo work just as well if not better than soap and a sponge at taking up stains. Since the apartment is relatively small, it was not too much work, but just keep in mind this was all done in an apartment with no air condition. Luckily, there was a nice cool breeze out today to accompany the blazing sunshine.
We had advance preparation for today. Pops came in last night and gave me the heads up that he would be waking me early to start working. It is hard enough for me to get up for church and all I have to do is sit there and listen.
This next comment is for the folks without OCD who make fun of us super clean folks. My Febreeze-to-go came in pretty handy as part of the changing of the sheets fiasco. I bet you never thought I'd find use for it. I could tell some people were thinking that by the look on their face when they saw it in my handbag. (I'd like to see the look on their face upon discovering my disposable travel-sized toilet seat covers.)
One more thing, just to remind you that I am in Jamaica. In the midst of my folding clothes and watching the tele, I heard a few sporadic gunshots that were of pretty close range. I would tell you it was in my backyard so you can imagine the proximity, but this is a second floor apartment - there is no backyard. Either way, there were about 10 shots fired all together, and some folks screaming.
Hearing gunshots from here is nothing out of the ordinary of course, but 10 in a matter of a few minutes is more than we are used to. The only noise I have yet to hear is the sound of a police siren. But believe me when I tell you; I am not holding my breath.
Automobile Control
Driving down here is one hell of a task.
I take pride in my skills behind the wheel - as inexperienced as you may think I am. Before you jump to any conclusions, though, try driving with these crazy taxi drivers on the small, unlit, and windy roads that take you through the mountains. Sometimes when you go around a sharp corner you will see a 40-wheel truck coming at you with the brightest lights that make you cross your fingers and hope you don't end up in the gully 50ft below you.
Forget population control, this country needs to work on controlling how many people have cars, and how many of said people are literate enough to even be on the road. Sometimes I wonder why I do not bear witness to accidents on a regular basis. I guess that is why I have always said, "You have not driven until you have driven in Jamaica." Some people should just stick to ten-toe-turbo.
From the moment you get behind the wheel, please be sure you have put down the blackberry or iPhone, put the radio on something that will play long enough for you to get where you are going, and that you are confident enough in your driving ability. If you are tired, and it is a long enough drive, do not do it; because for that one second you yawn, you quite possibly can hit some kind of animal or person, or God forbid you run into the back of the taxi that decided to stop randomly in front of you because someone stuck out their hand.
My point? You cannot take your eyes off the road for even a second. If not for the wild animals, or arrogant pedestrians who think they are invincible, maybe this driving thing would not be as bad. I am still proud of myself because I know many people who refuse to ever drive in Jamaica. I can't say I blame them, but then again, I am always up for a challenge.
Last summer I was not half as successful driving my favourite car ever. (Not that I crashed or anything, but there were so many close calls that I feared for the well-being of The Beast.) I actually somewhat gave up in the middle of the summer holiday and decided to be chauffeured instead. It was not such a bad bargain considering I saved plenty of gas money, but I came back this time with a vengeance. I decided that I will not leave this place until I have mastered the streets, or at least got the hang of it.
I think I have reached my goal, but every now and then, I am reminded why I had to set that goal in the first place.
I take pride in my skills behind the wheel - as inexperienced as you may think I am. Before you jump to any conclusions, though, try driving with these crazy taxi drivers on the small, unlit, and windy roads that take you through the mountains. Sometimes when you go around a sharp corner you will see a 40-wheel truck coming at you with the brightest lights that make you cross your fingers and hope you don't end up in the gully 50ft below you.
Forget population control, this country needs to work on controlling how many people have cars, and how many of said people are literate enough to even be on the road. Sometimes I wonder why I do not bear witness to accidents on a regular basis. I guess that is why I have always said, "You have not driven until you have driven in Jamaica." Some people should just stick to ten-toe-turbo.
From the moment you get behind the wheel, please be sure you have put down the blackberry or iPhone, put the radio on something that will play long enough for you to get where you are going, and that you are confident enough in your driving ability. If you are tired, and it is a long enough drive, do not do it; because for that one second you yawn, you quite possibly can hit some kind of animal or person, or God forbid you run into the back of the taxi that decided to stop randomly in front of you because someone stuck out their hand.
My point? You cannot take your eyes off the road for even a second. If not for the wild animals, or arrogant pedestrians who think they are invincible, maybe this driving thing would not be as bad. I am still proud of myself because I know many people who refuse to ever drive in Jamaica. I can't say I blame them, but then again, I am always up for a challenge.
Last summer I was not half as successful driving my favourite car ever. (Not that I crashed or anything, but there were so many close calls that I feared for the well-being of The Beast.) I actually somewhat gave up in the middle of the summer holiday and decided to be chauffeured instead. It was not such a bad bargain considering I saved plenty of gas money, but I came back this time with a vengeance. I decided that I will not leave this place until I have mastered the streets, or at least got the hang of it.
I think I have reached my goal, but every now and then, I am reminded why I had to set that goal in the first place.
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