The Long Arm of the Law

Ok ... I had this experience yesterday as well, but didn't want to share everything all at once.  So here I go with "The Long Arm of the Law" ... has any one guessed what this is about yet??? It's the Jamaica Constabulary Force - "To Serve and Protect" ... yeah ........ right!  .

Yesterday on my way back from May Pen, upon reaching the Spanish Town Bypass, there was a funeral procession heading in the direction of Dove Cot.  Needless to say, there was an entourage of Police Cars in front leading the procession and they just took over the middle of the road, forcing vehicles travelling in the same direction as me, unto the soft shoulder.  The people travelling in the opposite direction seemed to be ignoring the sirens and remained in their lane.  So, after quite a few cars passed, I thought that was the end of the procession.  Lo and behold, I see a police man, on a bike, and he was standing on it, dillying and dallying in the middle of the road with a big smile on his face like a 6 year old boy who had just gotten his first Razor Image scooter!   I was appalled.

I then remember all the experiences I've heard of with persons who have met in motor vehicle accidents with Police cars travelling with sirens and without and were found to be at fault despite incriminating evidence that the Police Officer was in the wrong.  I myself fell victim to the unscrupulous behaviour of the "law" where the police car that contributed to my accident in January lied on his statement to the insurance company.  

The very people, commissioned with the responsibility of serving and protecting us from criminal and corrupt elements are the instigators of the very crimes they should be protecting us from.  Isn't just sickening to your stomach?  People in Jamaica will quicker take matters into their own hands than call the police and allow the law to take its course.  We no longer have faith in the system as it has failed over and over again.  They are several persons incarcerated, waiting to be tried, persons who have been given the death sentence for crimes they did not commit, and the police continue to get away with the wrongs they do.

When will our island home get better?  Corruption will be the death of us and the world at large.  We really need Jesus ... he's the only one that can save us.

You Can't Tell By Looking

Today, I had a revelation about someone and a situation I thought I understood so well.  It was actually my cousin, who died a little over 2 years ago from Cancer.  Having visited her close to her last days, she was living with her husband who upon our visit, waited on her hand and foot, taking care of her every need and being a wonderful husband, standing by her side.

Well, my eyes were opened today when I heard that this husband of hers deserves to be in Hollywood as he gives Oscar Award-winning performances.  It is as serious as him trying to kill her.  I was in complete shock.  I couldn't believe that everything I was hearing was about the same person.  There was also some stuff about my cousin that I couldn't believe either and from hearing both sides, I would say they were almost perfect for each other.

There's so much more to the never-ending story that is their marriage.  But, from what was said, I said to myself:  It is amazing how things look so wonderful from the outside.  You see a couple in a restaurant or walking on the street and they appear to be so much in love, so happy with each other and you say, man, I wish I could have that with my man.  Or, you see this really handsome man on the street who looks like he should be on the cover of GQ magazine, and you say "Damn, he is fiiiiinnnneee!".

Then reality hits you.  You find out that the couple who looked oh so happy in public are having serious problems in their marriage or relationship, whether it be abuse related or otherwise.  And, that handsome man that looks like you would take a bite and a lick off him right there on the street, has HIV or something ... You just can't tell by looking.  How many times have we heard "Don't judge a book by its cover"?  So many times from parents, friends and family.

Something else was also said today about marrying someone who is "beneath you".  It seems unfair that love should now be dictated by what another person can bring to your life, whether financially or otherwise.  What ever happened to just old fashioned love and companionship?  Do people even get married for these reasons anymore?

Sad, really sad.

Temper Temper

I have a terrible temper.  This is something I've known since I was in high school and have gotten into my fair amount of trouble and principal's office visits because of my temper.  Because I am extremely cognizant of this fact, I make a concerted effort to keep my temper under control.  So much so, that sometimes, when I'm angry, and I cover it ... it still comes across to the other party as me being angry or having an attitude. 
 
Some persons theorize that this is as a result of all this anger I have built up because of supression and as such, I really have no control over my display of anger.  Could this be so?  I mean, even when I am not angry at all, it comes across that way.  Maybe I need therapy cause this sounds like a Dr. Jeckyll & Ms. Hyde type of thing.
 
For a more peaceful life, however, I am again making the effort to keep my anger to a minimum and manage my temper .... it could be detrimental if I don't.

Simple Things

Ok ... bet you all thought I was over Usher right?  Well, I couldn't say everything all at once so I gave you a break and here I am again.
 
Yes, Simple Things ... another beautiful song by Usher Raymond.  As the name suggests, it is basically speaking about the fact that this guy has been buying his girlfriend all these expensive gifts (Rolex and other "blingin" stuff) when all she really wanted is to spend time with him. 
 
Not focusing only on relationship situations, in general, most people today do not take the time to enjoy the simple things in life.  Overtime, I have come to appreciate many things that some people take for granted - one of the most important things ... LIFE!  I have also found many other things in the world to be so refreshing that I can't imagine why a person would seek to destroy any of God's wonderful creations or not acknowledge its beauty and relevance to the world. 
 
We have become a materialistic world, all caught up in the "bling bling" .... the fancy cars, the expensive/excessive jewellery, the name brand clothes and all the other things that people see and place a great amount of emphasis on.  It's like if you're not driving a certain type of car or living in a certain neighbourhood, wearing a certain type of clothes and drinking a particular type of liquor, that "nutten nah gwaan fi yu".  Well, wake up call or reality check for anyone who thinks like that ... that is not what is important.  All those things are material and can be gone, lost or destroyed in a second and at what price??? Our soul, our sanity, our peace of mind?
 
Appreciating the simple things - time spent with the one you love, hearing a baby laugh, watching the sun come up (or the sun set for Dales), listening to the rain or smelling the sweet aroma of some good home cooking.  These are the things that should matter the most; not what we have or what we have on.
 
Am I being too simple here?

So Many Things, So Little Time

It's amazing how you schedule something to be done, say on a weekend or a day off and that one thing turns into 10!!
 
I took some more outstanding vacation ... just 3 days this time around and planned to get all my business done on the 1st day.  Needless to say I ended up doing so many other things along with what I had planned and will be going back to work with no more rest than I left with.  Why is life always like that?   It seems 24 hrs in a day just aren't enough.  Then you see all those other people who, are married, have children, a career, involved in Church, social clubs, charities and other events ... and they don't complain!  We don't have 1/2 of what they do but yet, we never seem to have enough time.  Well, the truth of the matter is that they have the same 24 hrs in a day that we do but the difference is how the time is managed.
 
Food for thought ...

The Power of Music: Vol. 2

Am I the only one who listens to music of every genre, listen carefully to the words and in some cases apply the contents of that special song to my own life? I know for a fact that I'm not. Again, I speak of the power of music. You can expect to see much of these because I am a lover of music .. So, Hoobastank's The Reason. Has anyone stopped to listen to the word? I have so many times and think to myself, the lyrics in this song is what every girl in the world probably dreams of hearing from the man in their life. Some of us may actually be fortunate to hear it in our lifetime.

What always amazes me about music and the artistes who perform them, is the fact that they can write the most beautiful love song, say all the right things, make the perfect music video, looking all lovey-dovey and cosey ... And Yet, their own love life is a complete wreck!! How is that even possible? Can they be so distorted in their successful career that they make a wreck of their personal life? That is extremely sad.

However, I can't speak for anyone in Hoobastank - would have to research their personal life to see if this applies to them but I can almost rely on past occurences to think that they may be the same as everyone else.

Nonetheless, the words of this song, beautiful, absolutely beautiful. Not many women now a days have the qualities, strength and patience to cause this type of reaction from their man because they are all caught up in themselves (another blog to explore this thinking) ... and they wonder why they can't land a man????

Happy Birthday Mumpel!

Wow ... the miracle of life! This blog is just to say Happy Birthday to Ms. Mumpel aka Toothpick, aka Slim ...

Hope you will have a great day today no matter what you do. As long as you count your blessings and appreciate all that you have, so much more will come your way! Continue to be the extreemely nice person you are ... And you know you are cuz that's the only way you would be my friend!

Welcome to A Friend!

Well, talk about spreading the news. I heard about this outlet for venting from a friend, mentioned it to another friend and she is now an official blogger! Welcome Mumpel! Hope you will enjoy it as much as we do.