Escape from reality...vacation time again

Ever think that you needed an escape from reality for a bit? Well I know my "time-out" was near when I found it more and more difficult to get out of bed each morning in an effort to beat the horrendous traffic on our motorways. What was once a 20-minute drive takes now 1-2 hours max. I was beginning to get really fatigued by the all-consuming rat race. So here I am...stress free and liberated, yesterday officially kicked off my short 2 week vacay. I am not travelling this time around but plan to get some much needed R&R and soak up the simple things in life that some of us take for granted like free time! Besides working on my book and my blogs I will be attending to some business that I have been putting off for far too long. Although I plan to keep things on a really small scale I will also be putting in place some promotional activities like a intimate book launch, reviews with the newspapers, deals with the local bookstores/book clubs/libraries/schools/consulars abroad etc. A lot of work ahead of me.

I will also like to look into getting some freelance gigs in broadcasting since that is a growing passion of mine. Would love the opportunity to do some voiceovers for documentaries, commercials, newscasting for radio etc. But of course, easy does it so I am going to try taking some baby steps instead of trying to do everything all at once. Getting my feet wet with some commercials seems like a good way to start. It's all about networking it seems, so I hope faith is on my side. I am using this platform to articulate my thoughts and ideas and also speak (or type) it  into action. Let's see if it works. I haven't been devoting much time to this since a year after completing my broadcasting course, but the little I tried did not really work out - sad to say. It's difficult to break into a new field especially when you're one of thousands who are trying to do the same. I am also soon going to be doing podcasts which hopefully will be able to be uploaded onto my blog, so readers of my web blog will be able to put a voice to the writing. Nuff said...it's time to get cracking. Need to work on the revisions of my manuscript. The night has just begun for me.

I had a lovely day at the beach today and I will share with you some photos. Next week it's gym (to work off all this bake and shark and Häagen-Dazs!), catch up on my reading, more beach, errands, mall, movies, sleeeepp.

Have a great weekend everyone. And please feel free to leave your comments on my blog! Oh and have a gr8 October!!!!!~ sad to see September go soo soon:( but hello October:-) Get ready for the ride....and make it count!!

 

my friend and I took this pic lying on the sand!

© images courtesy C.K.Correia

My New Book Cover!

Hey all,

Guess what?! I received my new cover for my book today!!! And it's absolutely A-mazing! I had a little delay because of the graphic artist that never delivered (after making promises since July) but God is good. I prayed about it last night and the Holy Spirit guided me along a series of events that led to me getting this fantastic and breathtaking photo. One of my friends who just happens to be a professional photographer(!) obliged me with what I call a blessing. It's everything I envisaged and more. It encapsulates the title and theme of my collection.

What did I learn from all of this? Not to place all of your trust in a person when all the signs are telling you to throw in the towel. And that sometimes people who seem to be in your favour are really not. And even though you consider them highly they may not feel the same way about you. That's just the way the cookie crumbles. I still have trouble coming to terms with this fact of life after all this time. I really do have false expectations of people and even life sometimes...I take it for granted that things are supposed to go perfectly all the time. When the reality hits it's sometimes harsh. How naive I know...but life is a learning process.  As for professionalism...well...I guess that leaves much to be desired for thoughts of entrepreneurship for him later on. I will say a prayer for that individual tonight and let it rest. I hold no resentment - strangely enough. God opened a door for me to get an even better cover and I am thankful beyond words. And how quickly and hassle free it all happened is nothing short of a miracle. Thank you Jesus!

The excitement is building. I got the edit back from the publishers this week and then I review it one more time...then it's off for formatting and then to print!! I can't wait! Can you? Once again I will like to thank the readers of my web blog for stopping by to visit. No matter what part of the world you are in you will be able to purchase a copy of my book via http://www.amazon.com/ or www.amazon.co.uk I look forward to your support in my latest venture. This has been an exciting journey and I can't wait for the day when I can hold my first published book in my hands.


Thank you!

xoxo

Nothing beats Christmas at home...

I was contemplating going backpacking through Europe for Christmas this year upon the invite of a friend but had a change of plans. One of my co-workers was telling me that she thought that I'm better off at home since nothing beats a trini Christmas with all the paranging and limes, people dropping by for a drink of punche de creme, sorrel and ginger beer and a taste of black cake and pastelle, the visits to family and friends, the music, the office limes, the ole year's parties, the merriment, joy and laughter and most of all the FOOD!! When you put it like that who can beg to differ?! It does sound pretty special doesn't it??! You bet...so this year I'm going paranging!! hehehe. I'm also going to try to make my first fruit cake from an old family recipe that never fails...have to start soaking my fruits from now.

So I can't make Europe for Christmas this year...I got plenty of time....Christmas at home is going to be a blast!!! Can't wait:-)

What are your plans this Christmas?? Going back home or travelling? Feel free to share with us...

Truly a blessing~

I was just telling a friend tonight on BlackBerry messenger that it's amazing how the season can bring people together. Today was truly spectacular! It was indeed a little taste of Christmas. Everyone at my office had their radio tuned into the 100 Sweetest days of Christmas...if I turned down the volume on mine...I could hear an echo. I walked into the lunch room and the same thing...the dial was on the same station. One little initiative to launch an annual tradition is an amazing gift to the populace. It makes people happy who were once down, it adds light and joy to a room. By george, I think we're onto something here. Diverse people are suddenly on the same page. Persons had Christmas messages and pictures of Christmas trees and other seasonal festive images up all day on bbm. And on the drive home, lots of folks were calling into the radio station to thank them for sharing the holiday spirit months early with them...housewives were dancing around and singing along to the tunes while they carried on with their household duties. Offices are lit with a special "fire" and motorists were all the more happier. I could imagine the stores and malls shared similiar scenes.

As we begin our seasonal preparations let's remember the reason for the season and give thanks for our blessings, the people in our lives and just rejoice in life!

Here's another special tribute to Christmas! Hope you enjoy as much as I do!

Nice early Christmas!!

What a nice surprise for me to turn on one of my fav radio stations and hear Christmas musiq this morning on the way to work!! Parang (spanish songs), soca parang and other nice tunes. #Sweet100 launched their annual 100 Sweetest days of Christmas!!! Luv it...that just made my day. I was happy and singing along in traffic this morning...hope other motorists did not notice:) Christmas is a magical time of year when we get nostalgic and sentimental while we remember Christmas' past and also create new memories. Yup, it's official...that time of year is near and in the air. Let's marvel in it and wake up to this wonderful, magical creation of our life!!

"Hallelujah it's Christmas!"

Enjoy....a little taste of home:)

September Remember!

Hey All,

Hope you're having a good September! The month is halfway thru...but we must remember to savour and soak it all up. Soon we'll be going full speed ahead to the Christmas season and it's important that we slow it down and make the memories last...creating ones that can last a lifetime. Enjoy the wonderful creation that is your life!

Here's wishing everyone a wonderful week ahead and a gr8 September!

Cheers! ~

The excitement builds...

The excitement is building folks...just sent my manuscript to the publishers...
For those of you that did not catch my earlier posts...I'm publishing a collection of my articles...
Finally! I'm living my dream...
Can't wait for the end result. Soon...soon...
Stay tuned:-)

Thanks for the support to all my readers and well-wishers...
You have encouraged me to continue to soar for greater heights...
xoxo

Flashback

It’s funny how a few lines from a song or movie can trigger a memory that you once thought was buried in the recesses of your mind. Something that you probably never gave a second thought to and now suddenly you are taken back to another time and place that seems like a different lifetime altogether. It’s like you’re sitting (walking, driving) in the present moment and time stands still…I know dangerous if you’re driving or walking but you get the idea (lol). I know I’m melodramatic but let’s admit it to ourselves…it happens to all of us! No? Well then I’m probably overly sentimental. Well if you’re like me then we must find the reason and lesson for moments like these. I need to first say though that I think it’s useless pining over a lost memory since things in our life happened exactly the way they needed to. Nevertheless it does bring back possibly happy times or maybe it’s forcing us to dig deeper and deal with our emotions that are probably unresolved and can be blocking us from something else or some other place we need to get to in order to evolve.

Good for us that we still have those memories in tact. Memories of our childhood, teenaged or young adult years or maybe of a trip or the memory of the country of our birth…or a person or persons from our past. Whatever the memory; it is reminiscent of times that can’t come again but will surely form part of our consciousness forever and has shaped who we are. Every time I listen to U2 or certain songs from the 80s like “Circle in the sand” by Belinda Carlisle etc I remember my childhood: going to school on a morning (which I hated! – prob. unresolved:s) and listening to my older brother/sister’s stereo with the Casey Kasem Top 20 countdown going on! Those are indeed happy memories that has forever etched a special place in my consciousness. How strange also that I remember to this day the song that was playing on the radio on the way to my first day of “big” school (high school) which was “Back to life, back to reality” by the group Soul II Soul. Ah yes those were the days…when life was simple.

Anyhow, lucky for our generation memories can be relived sporadically through time via digitization…that simple binary code that makes photos, videos and such all possible. Memories are snapshots through time…it’s up to us to make it work for us in the future and to stay grounded in the present. In the words of Casey Kasem: “Keep your feet on the ground, and keep reaching for the stars!!” 

What are some of your favourite memories?

Do share:)

Happy September!!

Rabbit, rabbit, rabbit!
Best wishes for a wonderful month of September filled with new possibilities!! Make it count...

The world awaits:-)

image courtesy © C.K.Correia all rights reserved