Extremes.

One day all in. The next day all out. Father, please bring me to the middle (but not 100% there - that sounds kinda boring). I wish I was more balanced. But at the same time I can't go back to making 'balance' (or at least the ever elusive striving after it) my idol.

Yesterday I spent a lot of time - arguably too much time - thinking, reading and writing about Tessanne Chin and Trinidad & Tobago.

I am unreasonably happy for, and proud of, Tessanne. Story start and end right deh so. #TeamTessanne all day, all night! If you're in the USA, please to ensure to vote by all means possible!!!

As for T&T, I have quite liked most of the Trinis and Tobagonians that I've come across. Plus I really like their accent - I for real could just sit down and listen to them talk. And where else are you going to find an entire nation of people who think it appropriate to put pepper in every striking thing? In general, is a cool set of people. But this mistreatment of Jamaicans at the border by their immigration officers, and the immigration officers of select other Caribbean countries, is really. getting. old. I, for one, have grown weary of the liberty tekking. And I am even MORE weary of the corruption, selfish ambition and demonstrated ineptitude of so many of Jamaica's leaders, across all sectors, which has fed into the shame and disgrace of other nations considering us a blight when we show up at their borders. Thus also feeding into the aforementioned liberty tekking.

So, here's a little message to all Jamaica's Leaders and miscellaneous Fat Cats: In case you have forgotten how serious a charge this is (all the details of which I won't outline, just consider the way that the nations's business is generally run on a day to day basis - especially within the public sector)…do you remember Sodom? As in Sodom and Gomorrah? Yes, the place that God completely destroyed with fire and brimstone. Please take note of why Sodom did get dun out:

“Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant,overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen." - God's words to Jerusalem by way of Ezekiel, His prophet (as recorded in Ezekiel 16:49-50)

Did that surprise you? Listen, and listen very carefully: Be careful, in this life that you live, of the games that you play because you will be called to account for each and every one of them.

Act 1, Scene 3.

Today was...not sure. I spent quality time talking to God this morning. Helped mommy to do an important letter. Found something that will be a part of my life's work. Watched way too many YouTube videos. Perfect investment of today's time? No. But is this progress?Yes it most definitely is. The positives and victories of this day will define it. And now I'm about to go to bed, all sweet smelling and fresh, and at a reasonable hour. Yay!! :). G'nite y'all.

P.S. I'm out here.

I'm grateful for:

- My bed. I love my bed. It is the bestest. It's high up on my list of my favourite things that I own.
- I'm grateful that I'm even able to own a bed. I pass enough people who sleep on the sidewalk to know that that is an undeserved luxury. I am extremely, extremely fortunate.

Who can understand the heart of man?

4:02am

Hungry as all get out...

When it rains it pours!

Man. It has rained so thoroughly over the past week or so that I...I....dag my mildew was starting to mildew. Well it would have, you know if I had any. If I'd been more progressive than I am I'da taken some photos of thunderburst after thunderburst and posted them on here raindrops exploding out onto your screen in a vague reflection of what was going on here. Man, I hope you understood that sentence, because I'm not going to retype it. Straight. :)

Yow, we had SUN today. Like, almost all day. I saw dry road for the first time in days this evening. The Bog Walk Gorge re-opened. The dove returned to Noah with it's little ackee twig. 'Twas a good day man.

Here's to another one tomorrow just like it. And may God hold at bay all the mosquitos that I know were breeding during that time of wetness.

I found out that we were going to get rain sometime mid-last week when I came home to about 2 zillion rain flies in the kitchen. I knew then that some rain was afoot - but mercy! Mercy! Mercy!

Day 1

I don't really have anything to say right now, but Sam's message yesterday (sermon @ church) coupled with the way that gderr's blog made me feel just now have resulted in my being here tonight.

The wind is blowing something fierce outside. It's my fault. We had a cold front about a month ago, immediately following Tomas (the tropical storm that wasn't)...and it felt so nice that I didn't want it to stop - I guess you'd have to live on a Caribbean island to understand that one. So I asked God if He could arrange for it to continue until the Christmas Breeze kicked in (our version of winter), and like the indulgent Daddy He is, He complied. It is certainly Christmas Breeze time, but in addition to that the cold front doesn't appear to have gone anywhere lol. This is more like an extended Christmas Wind. By my calculations I'll have to keep the blanket and sweaters broken out until sometime in January. No complaints here! Tho it does make getting out of bed in the mornings that much more difficult...

I have a French exam this Saturday morning. If I was anywhere near the competency at which I need to be, I'd probably be typing this post in French. However, this is clearly English, so that should give you an idea of what it is that we're working with. One of the French teachers, after speaking to me only briefly this past Saturday re: a completely unrelated topic, declared categorically that I shouldn't be in the French class that I'm currently in. The implication being that I should be in the Beginner's class - confirmation that I'm not being falsely modest here. I told him that I'd let the exam decide that :). God is good though and with Him all things are possible lol. I'm going to go hard until Mdme D. bids me adieu and asks me to leave her classroom. I'm not dead, so please not to call me a duppy. I fully intend to pass and move on to the next level. Perhaps primarily because I'm cheap and I have no intention of wasting the hard earned money that I paid for this here French learning. But also because I have plans for which this language is required, and I don't have time to be regressing a grade. Thank God for the internet, particularly About.com's French language section. That's where I'm heading later on tonight. I'm going to learn me some tenses! <---Insert Southern US drawl here

I'm glad I went to Campion. Random, I know - but I am. I really want to give back to Campion and to Ocho Rios Primary. I'm really glad I went there too. Alot of great things are itching to burst forth from this country. It will happen, they will come, the talent passion and drive are so here. And I want to help bring them to fruition. We can't afford to keep ignoring the talents of those too poor to leave, while exporting the talents of those rich enough to flee. Makes no sense. We are capable of so much more than remittances. We are so much greater than that.

My mood right now: hopeful.
Today's Inspiration: Dr. Henly Morgan and gderr
Thoughts and Prayers with: Dr. Dean, Arlene.
Next on the day's agenda: Quality time with God. Followed by quality time with French :)
Keeping me busy: The Teen Ministry (KCOC), my family group, being a disciple of Christ
Keeping me whole: The Teen Ministry (KCOC), my family group, being a disciple of Christ, God's crazy Love.
Goals: Haiti next year or bust :: Mentor with HOPE Worldwide Jamaica :: walking amongst the stars.

Peace, Love and applejuice,
Me

P.S. Don't you want to donate to Campion's Vision 2020 Campaign (i.e the library/science lab repair/and-the-like fund? Donations received before December 31st will be matched!