Exams

Its been a while i've made a post but i'm around, in and out thought not really posting anything cuz i've been busy studying. Well today officially saw the start of my CAPE exams and i'm already gloomy. I had Caribbean Studies and it was alright I hope i pull it off, i think i tried my best and i spent a lot time studying so.... CAPE is really something else everyone hates it including myself but this is what "development" is all about. Anyway my exams end in June the 7th to be exact so i won't be in as much but i'll be reading your blogs, if i'm not posting on my own.

Machel in Madison Square

So I had a chance to check out Synergy's coverage of the event and it was pretty good although I thought some of the scenes were rushed because I guess they had to condense everything into an hour period. But still they could have had two episodes or something. Thankfully Peter C Lewis did not talk as much as usual during the program and he looked like he had a ball in New York.

The show from what i saw was fantastic just as everyone reported, I saw some people really dressed to impress, they all looked as if they were waiting for this kind of show for a long time. They showed Machel's rehearsals, and clips from the show itself including his performace with Shaggy, Drupatee, David Rudder and also Zan's "Heart of a Man". I didn't see Patrice Roberts perform and i'm not sure which show they covered I believe it was the first one. Mr. Walker's performance with Machel wasn't shown though

There were rave reviews given by patrons who were interviewed some who were from the West Indies and even one woman who said this was her first time hearing soca music and she loved it. Closing off the show Peter did an interview with Machel and Mr. Minshall and when asked what was next Machel said there was a possibility of them taking it over to London. So all U.K people you will get your chance soon I hope.

I'm still waiting to see B.E.T's coverage of the show as they'll have different if not more clips of what went down.

Mock exams are over!!!

Well my exams ended yesterday and boy am I glad its over, at least for now until my real exams come in May :( Believe it or not i am still in carnival mode and checking out saucy's blog eveyday is making me even more mas sick. I'm constantly playing my machel CD and "jumbie" the place down lol. I'm trying my best to make it to Point Fortin Borough Day because its the closest i'll get to a second carnival in Trinidad. And to TRIBE hurry up and launch cuz i want to see wings and more wings, feathers and beads haha. I honestly believe i have become an addict, my first year and i'm hooked, need to join a help group.

Short Hiatus

So i've been pretty busy with exams which is why i haven't been blogging much but i'm not gone, i pop in once in a while and check up. And already i have my thoughts set on next years carnival, especially as TRIBE speculated band launch as early as July. Well i striked a deal with my mom that i'd get a part time job for August to help pay for my costume which i really don't mind it'll keep me occupied. My exams end next week so i should be back with more then ;)

Book of Angels

Picked up my copy of this magical CD today and i must say Machel is taking the quality of soca to a next level. The presentation of the CD is great and really well done, it has been sold out at a number of record stores so i'm happy i got mines. To all the foreigners who left before it was available be sure to get one when it becomes available internationally. Now i just have to get 1 or 2 mixed CDs, I heard Trinibashment has a good compilation. Remember to support the artistes by buying originals!

Finer issues

Well i'm finally recovering and remembering some of the small hiccups that took place and i'm not complaining but there was just one thing I think I needed to mention. Most of you all should know that there were some gay people in the band having themselves a good time, I even met one in the vanity area during lunch he was making the ladies laugh with his antics. I honestly have no problem with anyone's sexuality it's none of my business I always say. But I found it a little disturbing when one music truck (not saying who) started to play I think its either General Grant or Talpree "we doh want no chi chi man in ah de carnival" and the MC on the truck asked the masqueraders if it have any chi chi man in the band. Now that was a bit disrespectful and I know most gay people wouldn't even take it on but still we have to learn to accomodate everyone in our Carnival. This is how the problem with Peter Ram's song originated and he had enough problems throughout the carnival with one of his verses. Was I the only one who noticed this?

The results are in

So the road march and band of the year results have been realeased and to no one's surprise the Jumbie took it!!! Was there any doubt??
On the other hand three time champs Trini Revellers have handed the title over to this year's champ Mc Farlane. I knew it would be a toss up between these two because they had excellent presentations. Congratulations to them.

Monday and Tuesday summary

Well i see some eager bloggers already put up their reviews, but i still tired and as i'm writing this i'm yawning.

Monday
So i met up with the band at Stanmore, met my friends we limed then the band moved off everything was cool chipping down the road, occasionally running when the truck pull off quick. For me as a first time masquerader i was really amazed at all they offered to masqueraders, the services were superb and i have absolutely no complaints. Both days i chipped behind the Merry perry truck because they were so hyped. And Jason, Blaze and Detrimental are my boys, i'm always locked on to 96.7fm. So they had us doing all kinda madness going up and down the road. I wore my green string on Monday but i forgot it onTuesday, however i was busy looking for people with green strings it was kinda funny. I met a Saucy who looked hot in her Monday wear it really was nice, i think she was a bit surprised by how tall i am lol. Anyway lunch and everything was well organized great idea to have towels and small pillows for SOME masqueraders, i say some because the majority ended up on the grass without cuz there were limited amounts. I chipped with the band till the very end back at Stanmore, my toe was a bit sore but no big complaints then headed home to rest for Tuesday.

I did however notice some brave ladies wearing heels and wedge shoes, i really don't know what they were thinking. And about the costume it was really funny that the ones i originally thought weren't so nice ended up being nicer. Imp was REAL HOT!! like wow it looked really great, and i originally wanted to play in jammette but seeing SOME people it just was a no no.

Tuesday
Got to Stanmore at exact 7:30 had breakfast and waited for my friend who was late, was looking for more blog members but didnt see anymore. When the band pulled off seeing that we had to wait behind island people i decided to walk up front to get pics of the other sections, i met jammette while walking though i didnt see her after that lol. That was one long wait behind island people though wayyy anyway when they moved we went on to the first judging point and by that time the rains came. Now Dame Lorraine head piece has feathers and by the time the rains stopped everything was just drooping. Sad it was but i saw worst as some of the warrior spirit males headpiece started to run so the red and white pieces mixed. Being the 12th section we had a long wait before crossing and i noticed some minor problems:

1) where all these island people masqueraders come out from? Apparently Island People buss or something because i saw a lot of them in Tribe. Even Kees who had on a Mirage island people costume was up on the Merry Perry truck singing then he was in the band jumping up.

2) A little incident took place in my section where this girl with a fireman costume was asked to return to her section as we prepared to cross the judging point. She gets all rowdy and says she's not moving. So the security guy who asked her to move had to go get more people to talk to her. She's still being wrong and strong insisting that she paid her money and could be anywhere she wants. Its one thing if you pay your money but the band has rules and apparently she didn't read the booklet where TRIBE stated that ALL masqueraders were to return to their sections when crossing the judging points. I personally find they should have put her out but whatever.

So after we finally cross South Quay my friend so had to go to the bathroom and the wee wee truck apprently turned off somewhere else so we had to go into Marios. Time we come back out the trucks were nowhere in sight so we walking up Frederick Street followin a few other "lost" masqueraders. Finally met up with the trucks back at Stanmore Ave. only to hear we have to foot it to the park for lunch by this time my foot killing me. And all the bloody rest buses are full to add insult to injury. I asked a capable looking security personnel to carry me and he just smiled but i was dead serious lol. I could have done with a pillow and towel but i didn't hold breath to get one cuz time we reach most of the band was there already so we found a nice shady area and had lunch the boots were off and i relaxed.

After lunch i felt a lot better and time we hit St. James i was having a ball wining down the road, met quite a few foreign masqueraders who were REALLY enjoying themselves. Well from the time i saw that we were heading for the Foreshore i know it was going to be total madness and that just gave me energy but at that time it was dark and the stormers came. I saw security doing their job and putting them out but they just kept coming back. But whatever from there straight back to Stanmore was wildness, i loved it and i wine with every creed and race Olatungi was on the truck i was behind gettin on real bad. So i jumbie whole day, whole night and then i wanted to cry cuz as i see the trucks heading up Ariapita one by one they start to cut off music and announce that they turning off. So the last truck was the red bull truck so i follow that on straight up the road until i had to go :(

Honestly i could go another 2 days or more, but i must say my first experience was unforgettable and next year God spare life we doing it again. So there it is my review hope everyone was safe and had fun and i can now justify spending $3000 on my costume cuz everything was two thumbs up.

Big up TRIBE, security, bar staff, the DJ's everybody it was nice.

Panic!

So i'm beginning to panic because i set out my list to go shopping tomorrow and get EVERYTHING in one trip. I keep rechecking to make sure i haven't forgot anything and then after the third check (can't believe i actually forgot) i realise i didnt organize my Monday wear. So i come online and see saucy's post about it and i'm just stumped. The list of thing to get is already long and i'm trying to stretch my money so monday will end up being just a short pants and a baby tee. If creativity strikes me i'll try to do a design or something and buy some rhinestones to decorate the pants or whatever. How are your preparations going, we have one week again and we don't want to be caught in the madness. By the way i'm in AC5 this weekend gonna get my jumbie on!!

I ready now!!

Just had to tell you guys I got my tickets for Machel's Alternative Concept!! I not sticking on that one, anyone going. I know by next week the price will change so hurry up. Now just to find an outfit.

Road March Contenders

So I saw Saucydiva put up her road march poll, and i'm surprised the way the votes were swinging. Last I saw Shurwayne had no votes, so it got me thinking this year is really tough because there are a lot of great songs for the road. A lot of my favourites weren't on the poll, personally I like Rikki Jai "Last band" and the Nadia Batson & Kes "My land" but all the others are great too. Faye Ann's "Make a stage" is also a great one but she should do a road mix and add a little bit more rhythm to it for the road.

The one good thing however that will come out of this is that you won't be hearing the same song over and over on the road every 5 mins. At least they have a variety of favourites that a lot of masqueraders will like. So it's going to be interesting to see who wins the race, and i'm still wondering if there will be any last minute track that will pop up and creep to the top like what Machel did last year with "Band of the Year".

Jouver't Dilemma

So i'm considering playing jouver't in town but i'm not sure what band to play with. The price is one thing because i haven't seen anything for less than $200. I really like the band that is offering the chocolate thing, sounds interesting and most of my friends like it. Then i'm also wondering if i'll be too tired on Monday don't wamt to be draggin myself along the street, problems galore lol. Anyone thinking about or playing jouver't??

Outta De Blue VIII

Well I went to my first all inclusive for the season and I must say congratulations to the QRC committee that was one well put together party. And it was a sold out event!!!

The entertainment was flowing no long delays, real food for so, you had appetizers like bake and shark, doubles, pholourie, bar-b-que pig tail, chicken drumsticks, geera pork and lots others and that was only appetizers. For the main course you had a choice betwwen creole food, chinese or indian. well i sampled the creole and some curry both tasted great but I just couldnt make with the chinese i was too full. Then it had ice cream and cocktails and drinks flowing whole night.

It did rain yesterday evening so the field where the food and eating area were was a bit muddy but thanks to good organization they put down these kind of straw mats all the way around the serving area for patrons to walk on (good thinking).

Entertainment- well machel was just xtatic as usual he never fails to deliver and Shurwayne Winchester was good although he and his band didn't perform for long. I must say good jod to the pan sides they really livened up the party and you could tell there was some panorama lovers in the crowd cuz they were getting on BAD while the pan was playing lol.

All in all the party was great and it could really justify my $400 that i paid great job QRC and i hope you all raised the money you needed for repairs.

Got my boots

So today i went to collect my boots and i must say it looks great, it matches the color of my costume perfectly. And i've tried it on about 3 times so far (can't help it). My mom got hers too and it also looks great. The girl at Vamp said she finally decided to play and she's in "imp" so all those who also ordered boots can look out for her on the road. Here's some pics of my boots:





I really like how the beads are look on the boots, i can't stop gushing about it. Anyway now i'm focusing on my momday wear but i also think i have to get a sneaker for monday cuz i don't want to wear my boots. And after reading saucy's post i need to make my appointment for makeup and tattoos and those stuff. Stress!!!

What to wear?

Ok so the next step in my preparations is organizing my Monday wear. I was initially going with the short pants idea. But i want something kinda unusual that won't look like almost everyone in the band. What ideas have you all come up with for your Monday wear? I'm also considering whether to wear my boots on Monday or a sneakers...

The boots are finished

Well it's finally starting to look like carnival to me. The young woman from Vamp called me today and said that my boots are ready. Yay!!! So that's part of my costume ready, and I have to go pay down the last bit on my costume and i'm ready. So how far in the preparations are you? By now we should at least have our footwear.