*Phew*

Last night I gave a three day old puppy mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and CPR. It was a not a pleasant moment seeing the third puppy of Dhara's litter of 11 lying lifeless, unknowingly pinned under her warm comforting body. It's twisted little face, gaping mouth and limp form could not convince me there was nothing to save it from the seemingly certain fate. I put my finger on her chest and pumped ever so softly and gently blew into her nose and mouth. I repeated that process I learnt in scouts, what then, seemed like only the day before. 30 seconds later I heard a gasp. I froze. Nothing. Starting again, countless seconds passed before I heard her grasp at life again. I started rubbing her body all over trying to stimulate something. The gasps grew more frequent until they transformed into steady breathing.

Finally I breathed for myself.

I am almost afraid to leave them, but they are in safe hands and I can rest easy that they are only two minutes away if anything else were to go wrong.

The Return of the Show

St. Lucia Jazz has come and gone. But the bigger story is that the jazz has come back. No longer just another Caribbean music festival, it can truly boast to be a Jazz Festival once again. Friday night however was John Legend. The man has skills. Until you see him live, you won't appreciate the talent behind the production.




Saturday's main stage show boasted Al Jarreau & George Benson, Gerald Albright with Norman Brown Package & Maysa, local jazz superstar Ronald 'Boo' Hinkson & Friends, and Thunder Box with special guest Steven Segal - yes, THAT Steven Segal - on lead vocal and guitar. Talk about a day to talk about.

Worth Quoting.14

"I am beginning to feel guilty about not feeling guilty."
Edda, on what she does for a living

Clean up on aisle 2

I realised today what I must accept mentally if I am to succeed... nay, at least to function physically. A part of my own history gives the best anecdote for the current chapter. As a warehouse worker many moons ago, I was one of two certified forklift operators. I took pride in my skill to maneuver the metal beast through fragile environments. It was a joy and a challenge, a skill and a job. Mostly a job. Move this from here to there. Don't get fancy. Don't break anything. That's it. Thanks.
Now as graphic designer in an agency, I find that with all the training, education, experience and aptitude for something better, I am still that forklift operator. Turn these words into pictures. Don't get fancy. Don't think. Thanks.
I am coming to terms with the fact that the more I bring, the more I lose. I am not a creative resource, I am a machine operator. For the sake of the work and my sanity from eight in the morning to five in the evening, this is my reality.
This career is becoming just another job.

Hold it open

Yesterday was a good day.
The yard was cleared and cleaned. The dishes were cleaned and cleared. The day was... well, you get the idea. We took the bikes out for a round-the-island in the afternoon. The new baby (yet to be named) performed. very. well.... very. well.
It was a good day.