Insects and all other creepy crawleys
Mood:  cool
Now Playing: Tum Ko Sirf Ko (Kasoor)
Topic: Housemates
Either it is all English people or people who live in the cities but these people seem deathly afraid of insects or other small legged creatures. I mean of the most harmless looking things in the world.

The other night I had to 'save' Eulette from the 'killer' moth. Well, she thought it was a killer moth from the way she was behaving, the thing was barely an inch, and it flew into the kitchen, and she was totally freaking out and wanted to basically run out of the run. The poor thing I think it was more terrified than anything else. Anyway, it eventually settled on one of the cupboards, so went up to it, allowed it to crawl unto my finger and then released it outside. I mean its a moth ... moths don't kill, and I highly doubt they bite people ... well they do eat clothing so guess they do bite a little ....

The night before, there was a spider that crawled in, it was less than an inch ... but Shreena and Eulette were freaking out. I am not scared of the spiders I do know ... but this one look a bit freakish to tell the truth, because its abdomen was quite large and rounded (something like the black widow spider - except this wasn't black) ... see, I am not accustomed to English spiders so not sure how dangerous they are, although I have been told there are no poisonous spiders in the country - so, going to assume the spiders I meet are not poisonous so still going to take caution with them, except if they are really tiny (because they are so much fun to play with when they are tiny, you can yo-yo them using their thread). Anyway, I got this one out by picking up its thread and trying to fling it out the window (it came through the window since it is industrially working on an intricate web there), but the problem was the thread was really sticky so couldn't detach it quickly enough before the spider came crawling in again, but eventually flung it far enough, and attach the thread to the outside of the window and closed it and thus ensuring the safety of all the people inside. I'm just a regular superhero :D. Anesa the InsectBasher!

But these people are even afraid of mosquitoes I think ... but killing mosquitoes do give me so much pleasure. I haven't killed any here though since I feel so sorry for them, their population is very small, and they are a bit larger than regular tropical mosquitoes and they are not sucking my blood so, no pleasure in killing them. They pretty much seem dumb in that they do not know they are suppose to come and bite me and suck my blood, so, got to feel sorry for the ignorant. (Just as a side note my favorite song from Kasoor is playing ... I just love this song - Mohabbat ho na jai).

There are some huge mosquito-looking insects that come in my room, I've been trying to figure what they are call (they are huge about 4 to 5 times the size of a regular mosquito) - they are attracted to the light ... anyway, probably that's what they call a gnat here - I am not sure. Well, supposedly one of the most common mosquito here in the UK is the Culiseta annulata, really can't identify it if I do see it ... never heard of that type. I'm accustomed to good old Culex, Aedes and Anopheles. Well, not really Anopheles that was only in Guyana and I don't think I ever came across that one - unless when I was in the interior but then again was so slathered with mosquito repellent that not much insects came near me.

P. might have brought home a girl last night!
Mood:  lazy
Now Playing: Neend Udd Rai Hai (Kasoor)
Topic: Housemates
So, last night around midnight (alright so, don't know if it was midnight - but whenever I get up during the night after going to sleep I call it midnight) ... I heard voices under my window ... a guy and a girl. Now, three persons usually park under my window, Shreena, P. and Sarah. But the voice didn't sound like Sarah's boyfriend, well, at least to me, I think it was P.'s. And I think he must have brought home a girl last night (I don't think he has a girlfriend - so this is certainly a new person).

Alright, I admit it ... I'm a busybody -but I am not usually, just this one has perked my curiosity and I just want to think of it as a healthy need to exercise my investigative powers. Anyway, I tried to listen to hear which room they went into (because still wasn't sure if its Sarah and her boyfriend or P.) ... anyway, if I was a real busybody would have gotten up last night and look out my window and satisfy my curiosity. Anyway, I think I was too sleepy so, didn't hear properly to which room they went, I think I concluded it must have been Sarah and boyfriend. But this morning when I got up, I didn't see Sarah and her boyfriend's car ... so, thought perhaps it was P., but I could still be mistaken ... since I think I heard the front door open this morning and definitely heard some trudging in the gravel, however, I don't think I heard a car. Also, usually when Sarah and her boyfriend are here, I can usually hear them (they talk a bit loud) and their room is directly underneath mine, but I don't think I heard anything .... or probably was just too sleepy I couldn't care less. My deductive powers are saying that it most likely P. who brought a girl home. I don't believe it is Eulette or Paula since I think they were home ... and definitely not Shreena.

Accents
Mood:  chillin'
Now Playing: Mr. Lee (The Bobbettes)
Topic: Pet Peeves
Well ... let's start with first that I really don't like American accents ... I know I've placed that statement very baldly. However, had to state that in order the premise can be set for my ranting.

Well ... everyone here ... I mean in the UK ... declares that I have an American accent ... could you believe it? Me? An American accent ... terrible insult ... but everyone just says so ... I guess it doesn't help when I use mostly American slang ... but that is because I just watch a lot of American cable.

I can't believe I have an American accent (or probably they really can't tell the difference) ... I guess the reason must be because I don't have a strong enough Caribbean accent. But that is just because of the different places I've moved around ... when I went to St. Vincent, my accent changed from being Trinidadian. I know that for sure, because when I moved to Guyana, someone told me (I think her name was Kamala), said I had an up the island accent (she used to live in St. Lucia so she knows about this stuff).

So, then whilst living in Guyana, I think I acquired a bit of a Guyanese accent. Well, the Guyanese accent is much flatter than the up-the-islands or Trinidad accent since those are sing-songy, but Guyanese accents are really flat, and they stressed their Rs. Whilst Trinidadians and some small islanders do not know that Rs exist much less for the THs, so, I think to fit in and get rid of people making fun of my accent, I think I began stressing my Rs just like the Guyanese - I must have done very well actually, because most people did not know I was from Trinidad. And even when I went to Berbice etc., they just thought my accent was a Georgetown accent instead ... alright some still thought I was from outside from Guyana. But seriously, I think I had a pretty ok Guyanese accent ... I think it was so ok, most people forgot I was from Trinidadian then again ... I remember Raymond and Vishal used to say that we've been there for so long I could be considered Guyanese. When I went to see Karol at Reading she introduced me as Guyanese ... could you believe it ... I was a bit irritated ... I was like I'm not ... I'm Trinidadian. Her excuse was that she forgot because I was there for so long (it was just 7 years ... although been back often - well with Mum and Pa living there I must be :D). That reminds me, I haven't been in Guyana awhile since last year ... I was supposed to go this last time I went home but Pa and Mum came to Trinidad instead ... Hmm ... gotta go back because Mum and Pa moved and want to see the house ... only thing it will be strange going back and not seeing my room ... because when I think of going home to Guyana, I always think of our last house, so it is going to be a bit of a challenge to build a new house into my memory.

Anyway, I've gone off the point ... well, after I moved to Trinidad, and people heard my accent, some people thought I was Guyanese. Oh the horror! Ok no self-respecting Trinidadian ever wants to be mistaken for a Guyanese (sorry - but its the truth). So, had to relearn the Trinidad accent, dropping my Rs and THs every now and then to get back in sync. Had to do that even if I didn't want to, since Grandma and Grandpa had no clue what I was saying unless I was speaking in a strong Trinidad accent that only included broken English. However, Amalia says my accent is waaaaaaay too strong ... its embarrassing since it makes me look as if I'm from the back of Penal (which indeed is true) - but I shouldn't advertise the fact :P. So, made a compromise speak with a strong Trinidadian accent only with my grandparents and speak normalish (which means what I don't know now) ... but it seems normalish turns out to be an American accent (at least to the British people here) ... so, destressing my Rs, keeping in some THs and flattening the accent makes me sound American ... that's all I can see.

Probably after staying four years in this country, the American accent will go and I'll have some hints of a British accent ... so no one can accuse me of an American accent.

That reminds me on Sunday when I called home, Brandon picked up and he thought I was one of his aunts, because I was sounding like them. So, maybe ... the British accent is already rubbing off ... but to me ... haven't heard it as yet, I still sound normal (that means no American accent!).

Chavez offers help to the US :)
Mood:  bright
Now Playing: Lean on Me (Bill Withers)
Topic: Internet fun things
Do love Chavez!!! I don't know if he is offering aid to the US so he can just thumb his nose at them ... but got the news of HardBeat. He has offered and let me quote:

"Chavez is offering 2,000 soldiers, firefighters, volunteers and other disaster specialists; $1 million in aid through its Citgo Petroleum Corp., and fuel to help in hard-hit areas in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi."

Was watching an interview of George Bush Sr. and Clinton, and when the reporter asked if they will be asking for aid, I think George Bush Sr. didn't look to please with the question but Clinton has diplomatic as ever, indicated that he would not be surprised if countries did send aid to them (I think perhaps they do want - but they don't want to admit .. after all they don't want to lose the persona of being the most 'powerful nation in the world').

Anyway, I think Chavez thought it was his duty to help a fellow suffering country. Think he has forgiven Pat Robertson temporarily and his small feud with Bush :). Really can't stand those tv evangelists ... could you imagine people proclaiming they follow the way of Christ are actually condoning assassinations ... I think they may have forgotten one of the commandments:

"Thou shalt not kill"

I remember clearly during the Iraq war, the CBN and TBN channels (both channels proclaiming they were 'Christians'), were talking in glee of how the US infantry had wiped out the Iraqi infantry ... is that really the way a Christian person should be speaking about life?? Guess they have forgotten

"Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself"

and let's not forget

"Whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also."

And these are the people who are preaching these days and hoping to spread the Word ... God save the Christian world ... because if this continues then Christianity as we know it ... it ain't gonna resemble what it is supposed to be.

This day is such a waste in my life
Mood:  chatty
Now Playing: No Spoken Work (Stevie Nicks)
Topic: Procrastination
So, if this isn't the truest case of procrastination ... I've found every excuse not to do work ... first my need to find out how my wireless card should work, and to look up forums of seeing people raving and ranting about it ... and reinstalling and installing about 1500 times.

Then mixing that up with a healthy dose of updating my blog which is so imperative to my life - because without doing that the world will stop.

Therefore, my work cannot be so important at the moment. Alright ... gonna go do some work now ... I am giving myself the pep talk ... but first got to go shower (yup I've been lazing around all day and have not taken a shower as yet ... sue me :P) ... anyway, had a wonderful lunch ... consisted of a chocolate ice cream on a cone ... or cornet as they say here :D ... too lazy to cook anything ... oh yeah I did have something healthy with my ice cream lunch ... I had my serving of fruit ... I had a pear. I think I'm only continuing to write here to escape the inevitable of going to do work (although I figure maybe taking the shower is what I really want to avoid - because got to wash my hair - such a long process!)

My cream/ yellow castle
Mood:  chillin'
Now Playing: What's Love Got To Do With This (Tina Turner)
Topic: Milton Keynes
Alright technically this is not about Milton Keynes it is actually a place near Cheddington (right after Tring)... but lazy to create a new category. Anyway, was reading my blog and realized I wrote about my cream/ yellow castle that I did see. I just want to confirm that I did see it again ... twice! I saw it when I was returning from dropping Pa at Heathrow and then the second time when I was coming back from Trinidad. So, it does exist ... not a figment of my imagination - and it is really quite nice. You can only see it as your approach Cheddington, and it has to be on a slow train (i.e. got to use Silverlink) ... the fast trains like Virgin you would blink and miss it.

Oh yeah after that diatribe about not ever going on a Virgin train ever again ... I did go ... well, it was the fastest train available and needed to reach Heathrow on time to pick Pa up ... never mind the flight was delay for a hour (that's BWEE for you) and man oh man ... never ever taking the Piccadilly line from Euston to Heathrow again ... that is the longest ride in history ... never ever ... If I got to do that again .. I'll break it up in pieces or stick to the Rail-Air link from Watford. Anyway, haven't been to London since the bombings (was there the week before - that's when Pa was there :D - well technically 2 or 3 days after - went straight to Heathrow and took my flight home).

My photoalbum
Mood:  chatty
Now Playing: I'll remember (Madonna)
Topic: Friends
So, last weekend ... I think it was Monday ... Pradyot really told me I had absolutely no reason to put up menstrual cycles on my blog .... somethings should just be kept personal according to him ... my excuse was that since I thought about it ... I saw no reason why not to write about it. I don't think he saw my same point of view.

Anyway, that is somewhat not on the topic that I wanted to speak about ... he prodded (yes prod!) to put up some pics on the net ... so, decided to create a photoalbum using the tripod facility ... and it is really good ... just placed about 4 for him (including the snake!!). I was supposed to put up the reading pics when I went to the OU but completely forgot. But however, something better happened, I was able to download pictures from the digital camera because I found a USB download cable on Rebecca's desk (I think she uses it for her PDA) - so was able to download pics which Tina and I took on Sunday. So, got them up for Mum and Amalia to see yesterday (yet to tell Pradyot I've added 4 additional - but I'm sure he'll read this and go find it himself :P), and mum told me I did look wide in the top (but I like the top - so still going to wear it!). Anyway, my precious photoalbum is up and living.

Credit Card stuff
Mood:  chillin'
Now Playing: The Locomotion (Little Eva)
Topic: Family
Well ... chatting with Pa again ... and found out he has not changed the address for the credit card as yet. Could you believe it? I have no clue who has been getting our credit card statements now ... and so, if there is any credit card fraud or identity theft gonna blame it all on him.

Hopefully he remembers now (I've been asking him to change it since the ending of June - so its alot of notice :D).

The wireless card crisis continues
Mood:  chillin'
Now Playing: The Grey Havens (The Lord of the Rings: The Return of The King)
Topic: Pet Peeves
Well ... according to amazon.co.uk I have 30 days to return my wireless card from the day of delivery. I realised that is four days from now!!! You probably wondering what took me so long to actually check the wireless card out ... I guess it all goes down to sheer laziness besides I was using the Netgear one and I had already loaded it up and didn't feel like loading programmes again.

Anyway, so need to send the wireless card out tomorrow (got to pay for the shipping - so losing that money!) ... anyway, although I said I was going to order the NetGear wireless card ... at the very last minute I changed my mind and went for the 3Com card instead ... I like the idea of being able to leave it in (so sue me :D).... it costed 6 pounds more than the Linksys one (the NetGear costs about 3 pounds less than the Linksys) ... but according to the specifications and it says it can get speeds up to 108 MBps ... some new thing called Super G (I hope for goodness sake it works with normal G or I'll be crying).

Anyway, it seems to get the Linksys one working I might have to delete the Linksys from the Registry and since I don't know the registry keys (never mind I am not really good at editing the registry) - I've decided to leave that alone and return the stupid card!

Airplanes
Mood:  chatty
Now Playing: The Mayor of Candor Lied (Harry Chapin)
Topic: Pet Peeves
So, Papa just came online so was chatting with him a bit (bit suspicious whether it was mum or pa, since he spelled all the words correctly - that's not like Pa - but oh well!).

Anyway, was a bit worried yesterday about him, since he was flying to Essequibo using one of those small planes (much prefer he took a speedboat!) - and I don't like those planes, plus there have been so much crashes lately (the one in Greece, one in Venezuela ... I feel as if there is one more).

I think I'm getting really scared of flying at the moment ... I used to like it but now ... rather not ... I hate takeoffs (well only recently) ... I always feel as when it is taking off, any minute its thrusters are not going to work, and we are just going to fall flat to the ground ... as for landings, I think we're going to nose-dive or over-run the runway. Once we are leveled off - I'm alrightish ... any pockets of disturbance gets me nervous all over again. I hate the long haul flights the most. This is me speaking - the person who used to do anything to get a plane ride!

Besides everyone keeps saying airplanes are still the safest transport. Yeah ... but they should look at deaths per accident (for cars, airplanes etc.) ... in planes you don't often hear about survivors, now do you??? At least in a car accident you can probably survive ... well all depends on the driver :D.