Carnival Season 2014

First post for 2014...so as is obligatory "Happy New Year"!!!

I've not done much feting this Carnival season.
Also it's the first year in ever that i collected on the absolute LAST day of collection!
This year as well, I am feeling seriously unorganised...so unlike my usual well-prepared self.

Let's see:

• Costume - check
• Tuesday Boots - check
• Wearing Monday - who knows?!!
• Shoes for Monday - again...who knows?!
• Bag - uhmmm nope
• sunblock and vital supplies - again...nope
• stockings - check

So, there's lots to secure tomorrow in order to get ready for the road Monday/Tuesday.

Otherwise the Carnival season has consisted of:

• ONE Fete 
• HNC's Vintage Fuh So!
• Kerwin and Friends @ Zen
• Soca in B Square
• Army
• Different
• Caesar's Army AMbush

I am very happy and ultra hyped to be on the road, especially since I didn't play last year!

I'll do mini reviews of the events and the Carnival experience in subsequent posts.

Checking in

May 31st 2013 marked the end of my 1st year of a 2 year programme M.Sc. in Project Management.
It was a rough year...the 1st semester wasn't as horrible as I anticipated, but the 2nd semester more than made up for it. I mean, exams finished May 16th and I was STILL working on assignments...le sigh.
But...i have completed the 1st year.
And now patiently await exam and coursework results, so I'll know how year 2 will go.
Will I be able to proceed straight onto the elective course? Will I have to repeat any of these courses? What electives am I gonna do? What am I gonna do for my final project report?
Soo many questions...June is gonna have my brain in overload, cause I am going to have funky dreams...I know it!!

Anyways, what else has been going on.
Not that much actually.
Have a niece that turned one in April. A new baby cousin born last month and another baby cousin who will be 2 in the next couple weeks. All soo cute!

Pondering when I'm gonna start back working though...cause this no income thing is beginning to bother me...meh!

Band launches start in the next few weeks...may not attend any, but God spare life I wanna play next year :-)

A September to remember

Well...what do yuh know....it's seriously doubtful that I'll be playing mas next year.

Siiiighhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...take a few minutes and soak that in.
Yep, it is true..."I, Shells, will NOT be in costume on the road Carnival Monday and Tuesday 2013"

I want to cry!

Quick Update

I have a couple more fete reviews and my wrap-up review of Carnival 2012 to do still...yessss ah sticking I know.

Anyways, hope you have recovered, or are recovering from the Carnival Tabanca...and from the nasty flu that's been going around post-Carnival.

My reviews and wrap-up post will be done soon.


Hope Carnival 2012 was good to you :-)

Less than a month to go...

Just about 28 days to day till Carnival Monday 2012

I made an impromptu visit to Wonderful World yesterday. If I didn't know better I would have sworn Carnival was next week! If yuh see people...buying glittery stuff, makeup galore, and d giveaways..papa yo.
One of the giveaways was a 'lookbook' (received with purchase of $99 and over)...this was essentially pages and pages of items sold in Wonderful World, with pictures of several costumed young ladies accessorized by the items advertised on other pages. Bands represented included: TRIBE, BLISS, Harts, Island People, Spice and Fantasy. (yes a noted band is missing...why?!)

I love sooo many of the accessories, and just hope that people remember that this was just a 'lookbook' with possibilities...it is not meant to be followed down to the last stone, and false eyelash!

Anyways, this post was a reminder to myself: go make that last payment on the costume, make my list of items to be packed (take some notes from Saucy's 2009 post...it's still relevant) and then find myself to wherever to get mentioned essentials.

Who feting this weekend...have fun, and ah hope none of allyuh guilty of these fashion don'ts


Laters all...time is waiting for none of us!

Happy New Year 2012

Sooo what I'm a couple days late...better late than never!

Hope your Christmas was Merry (we still in the Christmas season btw...thus gifts are still welcomed!!)
Hope your Ole Years into New Years celebrations were as expected, and best wishes that '...the worst of 2012, is better than the best of 2011..' to paraphrase a greeting I received

So anyways, that's two countdowns done...two to go.
The birthday is exactly 8 days away...What do I do this year?
Some thought is required for this...I generally don't do the massive celebration thing...but somehow I feel the need to do something, I doh know, special, this year.
We'll see what pans out.

And Carnival, that ohh so lovely time of year is all of 46 days away...take a deep breath.
Yes...46 days...a month and a couple weeks...a mere 6 weeks and a couple days away.
Typing that made me feel both excited and slightly panicked at the same time.
Costume still has to be paid off, what fetes am I going to...am I feteing at all?!!!
Monumental things, that I still have to determine...siiiiigh!

Bring it on 2012...let's see what you've got in store :-)

The Countdown is ON!

It is December 20th  2011...


CHRISTMAS
There are 4 days, I repeat, FOUR DAYS, till Christmas 2011!
Go finish Christmas shopping now!
Finish clean the house, baking still has to be done...
Who delivering pastelles for me?

OL' YEARS 2011/NEW YEARS 2012
Whether you celebrate the ending of the year, or the ushering in of the new...there are 11 days left to get there.
You celebrating at home, at a friend, in Church or at one of those parties?
I'm a bit undecided still, but I will attend Mass, either Ol' Years night or early New Year's morning.

MY BIRTHDAY
My birthday is in early January.
Thus folks are usually still broke as hell from the Christmas season and/or skimping and scraping every penny to fete/play mas for Carnival by the time my birthday rolls around.
I am therefore not too picky regarding gifts...a great Christmas gift (which can meet the requirements of 2 gifts in one), a fantabulous birthday gift (thus making up for the non-receipt of a specific Christmas gift), a couple fetes tickets OR pay off my costume.

Ah giving allyuh options...muah!
 :-)



CARNIVAL
Carnival is on February 20th and 21st 2012...61 short days away from now!
Are you registered? Have you switched bands/sections?
How far are you from paying off that costume?

Are you getting in shape? Cardio, Strentgh training, endurance training?

How' your cash flow situation?
It's a short season...fetes piling up two and three to a night.
Don't believe me, check out Ticket Federation's schedule
Now seriously...how many fetes can you attend?
Financially, how many is it even possible to pay for?


tick, tock, tick, tock...time is not waiting...get a move on!

Stuff

Sooo, have I mentioned how much I like to get emails from TRIBE?
Well, let me correct that now:
I love these little emails...make me smile almost always. First there's this one

About 2 weeks early, but much appreciated.
Also in that email was this lovely lovely little gem:

I doubt that I'll be paying off my costume before December 31st 2012 (Fast Track collection is sooo cool though), but WOW what incentive. That pass must be worth at least $1000, and the individual cost of tickets to those fetes could probably add up to about $1800 or so.
Siiigh...

btw I will be accepting Christmas gifts in cash if anyone was wondering :-)

Then I got this in email:
Blah, blah, blah gym* wishes to advise its members and the public that in addition to the Aerobic Class that will be held on Christmas Day at 10 a.m., there will also be a Spin Class at 10 a.m. 
Really? Like really?? People go to the gym on Christmas day - In Trinidad and Tobago?!!!! For a serious workout? Seriously????!!!
OH.MY.WOW!!!
Talk about dedication!


*gym name changed to protect the innocent

 Anyways...it's about 60-some odd days till Carnival.
Keep working out and preparing for the days on the road.

That extra touch of Glamour for Carnival

From TCD's blog today I saw this great post.
This is soooo adorable and glamorous...



Great addition to your Monday wear to make it special.
Or as someone on FB indicated, a great touch for their wedding ensemble.
Contact the artist on her Facebook page.

Pic is from www.trinidadcarnivaldiary.com

June too soon...HA!

It's June 2011 and here in T&T the rainy season has begun with a bang.

Almost every single day in T&T has had rain, in some part of the country...take today for example, I fell asleep to rain, woke up to rain, and it's been raining on and off... more on than off...since about 8am!

I.LOVE.rain

Anyways, onto other things.

Band launching season began last Saturday with D'Krewe's launching of their 2012 presentation 'Panache'.

Check out the pics over at Trinidad Events and in their FB album.

Other bands are poised to launch their 2012 presentation on the dates indicated:

• Spice - July 9th at Pier 1. It's a cooler fete and the same night as Island People's Caution.
• TRIBE - July 23rd
• Dream Team - August 6th
• Harts - August 12th at Anchorage
• YUMA - August 13th

Still to announce dates are: Island People, Legacy, Ronnie & Caro, Oasis and others. Wonder what'll happen with all the 'new' 2011 bands?!

Sooo enjoy the remainder of rainy June and bring on the band launchings!

I am alive!

This is a short post to state: I AM ALIVE!
Didn't realise that I'd gone more than a month without posting, how remiss of me.
My apologies... Sorry!

Quick update:
1. Following my Carnival 2011 experience I am positive that once health and finances permit, I will be on the road again for Carnival 2012. Band to be determined, i'm not a Tribe loyalist like some believe I am. I play where I am comfortable, where the costume calls and mainly where my Carnival road crew is.
2. I am back in the gym. Signed up for the full works, personal trainer and all. It's been about a month so far, give or take a day. My abdominal muscles hurt like shit when I laugh, sneeze, cough, pretty much do anything... Things better be happening under that fat layer!
3. I took part in a 5k. Walking, before I enrolled in the gym. I finished, that's all that needs to be said.

Think that's it for now.

Band launchings begin month after next... Should be on vacation then hopefuLly, cross your fingers for me.

Seasons Greetings

Merry Christmas to all, and Happy Happy New Year!


No further posts between now and the New Year 2011!

Happenings for T&T's 2011 Carnival

Much has happened since my last post.

• A couple other bands have launched: D' Krewe, Legacy and others. (Check Saucy's blog for more links.)
• BLISS has finally indicated that they're fully sold out
• There apparently are male costumes STILL available in YUMA 
• IP is selling out... slowly but steadily. BTW Lunar Cycle - Male Captain option is sold out ok! (...yes ah waiting to see which body  is rocking that costume!!)

IP - Lunar Cycle (Male Captain)

• Oasis has at least one sold out option (Gilia Frontline)
• ..and Harts being Harts has quite a bit of sections sold out, or options sold out, including this number that was sooooo NOT my personal fave 

Harts - Goldstone

• Then came news of a stage  - backflips and happy dances all over the place! ....looking forward to parading across that stage again :-)
• and then to top it off a proposed "People's Band". I've commented on Sauce's post about this proposed free-for-all, but for the benefit of all I'll post my comment here "...uhmm just bring yuh costume and come...." First off I would say not a bad concept. However as some others mentioned before, who's dealing with the logistics of this? Who's the DJ? (Ah hope some form of tendering process is involved and is not somebody tanty, cousin, friend!) How would you know who in this band or not? ('cause if i was a band leader I would want to know so I could NOT be behind this band!...yuh could imagine chaos when dis band hit d stage...ah getting flashbacks of Poison and the 'sit-in'!!!)Sooo, I await the details of this 'Peoples Band'

Many things have happened...and I guess more will unfold as we get closer to T&T Carnival 2011.

Stay tuned...d bacchanal now start!

Carnival 2011 Plans - Update 1

Soo back in June I posted about possible 2011 Carnival plans
Then, last week i posted this about me being registered in TRIBE for 2011.

What does this all boil down to as it pertains to plans for our group for 2011?
Same damn thing that happened in 2010...crew split all how.
I have anti-TRIBE friends, I also have friends that are chronic stickers, last minute, indecisive so-an-so's ..deep breath...exhale! Anyways, the combination makes for extreme headaches when trying to plan anything. Sooo I went ahead and registered to play with TRIBE (with my usual gfs). Then heard that some of them gonna be playing with YUMA (anti-TRIBE folk included) and some STILL have not decided what they gonna do...smh

Whatever!

My my my...

...peeks, pics and other goodies!

In the past couple weeks we've seen

• Skullduggery's band launching, Woi Mas - Skullduggery The Dance Of Deceit
• Gem's "Conquest of Alexander" media launch
• Spice's media launch, and launch of their 'Signature Line'. And a review
• YUMA's media launch and another look 
• Oasis' band launch

...and only teasers (BLISS/TRIBE)from TRIBE and IP. 

Makes me very very antsy whilst waiting to see these presentations (BTW IP please pick a date 

July 24th is taking very very long to roll around!

Happenings

Hi folks, i've been m.i.a. for a while there...work stress, personal life stress, just STRESS all over! A couple weeks vacation should cure all that stress, at least that's what I'm hoping :-)
Anyways, in the midst of this silly season that is the run up to elections in Trinidad and Tobago, there have been a couple happenings in the Carnival world. I'll try to capture what I can and post links where more details are available.


New Bands
Yep, you read that right, there is a new band, or make that at least TWO new bands on the scene.Oasis Carnival and Skullduggery. Oasis seems to be Elements reborn if the info on their FB page is accurate, and Skullduggery well they seem to have their act in order to present something different for T&T Carnival 2011.


Existing Bands
Island People mas camp has moved. 
Our mas camp has now moved to 50 O'Connor Street in Woodbrook, Port-of-Spain, which is at the corner of O'Connor Street and Warren Street. Our new telephone numbers are: 622-8145 and 622-9857. For any enquiries, feel free to call us or email us at info@islandpeoplemas.com 
...oh and their theme for 2011: 'Shades of the Universe'
TRIBE sent out a survey a week or so ago. Interesting questions, hope the masqueraders who were so vocal on Carnival Monday and Tuesday filled out the survey and let their opinions be known.


Band Launching
If things go as they've been going for the past few years, band launching season will begin in about a month. Soooo who'll begin the season? TRIBE,  Harts...someone else? We wait and see...'cause so far only Skullduggery has made their launch date (July 4th) known.

Welcome 2010!!

Happy Happy New Year folks :-) All for best for 2010, and may 2010 be all that you desire.

Onto other things: Sauce ended 2009 with a nice recap and interesting predictions...wonder how many of her predictions, and those of the commenters, come through. Only time will tell.

So it's just about six(6) weeks till Carnival 2010...Are you ready???

Can we Wee?!

Oh yes we can! ...I soo could not resist :-)

Sauce beat me to it, but ah posting still.
The pending decision, as reported in the Guardian) has been made. Heard it live on CNews.

The Wee Wee trucks will be on the road, at least for Carnival 2010. They'll be in the middle of d band (how ewwww is that!), but at least they'll be with the band. 

Thank God good sense prevailed. I agree with Luis Hart...exactly which law was being broken by having the truck with the band?


p/s:- why in the middle of the band though??? 

Quick Update

Well at looooong last I got it!

What is this 'it' that I refer to???

I refer to that elusive thing, called 'TRIBE Costume Receipt 2010'.

It was sent out on October 2nd 2009, to an emil address that I used waaay back when I first registered with TRIBE in 2005. I have updated my subscription since then..but seems that this is still linked there. C'est la vie..it's a good thing that I check that address once in a while.

It is confirmed I am registered in 'Osage'! Yippeee!!

Bring on gym time now!

p/s:- The pic is from Sauce's album from Tribe's launch...

Money, money, money

Root of all evil or not...money is a necessity.

Unless you live completely off the land, and off-the-grid, money is required to do jsut about anything and everything in today's life.

Why am I posting about this? Well I am at a point where I have to make a decision.

Do I play mas, or do I reallocate the money saved for Carnival to something else in my life?

I have expenses @ home that are making me wonder if I should ever spend another cent on anything other than the house. Eat out? Go shopping? egads...every cent spent on items other than for the house makes me feel sooo guilty.

Plus to top it off, I really really would like to resume studies next year. Yes ah knnow there's GATE and HELP to offset costs, but those things cover mostly only tuition. Ah still have to live dammit!

Sooo I am in confused. What to do? What to do?!!

p/s:- enjoy the pic of one of the cutest puppies ever!