To Be A Leader?-My Primary and Sub-Primary Theme Songs! :)

As the 5th Summit of the Americas unfold here on the island i.e. in Port of Spain, Trinidad. I've been having a ball looking at the whole buzz around the summit, the speeches and antics of some of the most flamboyant, radical and controversial Latin American leaders out there-Hugo Chavez with his wingmen Evo Morales and Daniel Ortega. All under the auspices of Barack Obama as in my perception he looks over them like a grand judge! :)

Now I’m not much for blogging about politics on this blog as I more think of politics and politicians in comedic and entertainment roles perhaps it is the Trini in me that is accustomed with the legacy to quote the old calypso “Them only kicksin (joking) in parliament”. But really seeing characters like Hugo Chavez highlighted locally it has made me wonder really what does it take to make a leader? Not what it takes to make a good leader cause to me and I will have to quote my favourite Shakespeare’s Hamlet again:


“There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.”

So perhaps then I am inspired by the same Hamlet cause I am pondering:

To Be or Not to Be...A Leader

So many great quotes in Hamlet it seems cause my favourite quote is from it too...

"...To Thine Ownself Be True..."

So I won’t go into what is a good or bad leader but just what it takes to make a leader. And really it doesn’t take much to me really…as complicated as most people make it sound to me we are all leaders and daily lead in our own right. If we remind ourselves of this more often or look within and realize this more often each day and then step up to the plate and do the right thing and so lead in our own way each and every day for sure the world would be a better place.

We all need to make our way…and we all have our unique purpose here on earth. And so it made me want to sing a song I call my sub-primary theme song…'Wonder' by Natalie Merchant cause I’ve always associated with this song but really not in a “I think I’m so great way” but in a way that really it just made sense to me how I felt about myself and I connected with it. My primary theme song being 'I am the One and Only' by Chesny Hawks which I’ve shared on this blog already but will share again.

So really the quotes:

“Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country” -JFK

“The Power of One” –which really it seems, can be linked back to this South Africa/Australian novel’s title and these Irish and South African campaigns to save electricity.

And at the 5th Summit of the Americas yesterday here in Trinidad come to mind:

"It's important to remind my fellow leaders. It's not just the United States that has to change. All of us have responsibilities to look toward the future…''- Barack Obama

So let’s all be Leaders...let’s all be that change we want to see...

“Be the change you want to see in the world.” –Mahatma Gandhi

So I leave you with my primary and sub-primary theme songs as inspirations to myself to be reminded to do so...and perhaps for you too but really be your own leader and find your own theme song to listen to...of course cool if you really associate with mines and want to share it too...after all music is for the people!

Words to my sub-primary theme song by Natalie Merchant-

"Doctors have come from distant cities
Just to see me
Stand over my bed
Disbelieving what they're seeing

They say I must be one of the wonders
Of god's own creation
And as far as they can see they can offer
No explanation

Newspapers ask intimate questions
Want confessions
They reach into my head
To steal the glory of my story

They say I must be one of the wonders
Of god's own creation
And as far as they can see they can offer
No explanation

O, I believe
Fate smiled and destiny
Laughed as she came to my cradle
Know this child will be able
Laughed as my body she lifted
Know this child will be gifted
With love, with patience and with faith
She'll make her way

People see me
I'm a challenge to your balance
I'm over your heads
How I confound you and astound you
To know I must be one of the wonders
Of god's own creation
And as far as you can see you can offer me
No explanation

O, I believe
Fate smiled and destiny
Laughed as she came to my cradle
Know this child will be able
Laughed as she came to my mother
Know this child will not suffer
Laughed as my body she lifted
Know this child will be gifted
With love, with patience and with faith
She'll make her way "

Easter Sunday!- Morning has Broken...My Refinery Walks, My Sunflowers and a Butterfly

On this Easter Sunday morning many of us think about rebirth...a fitting song for this is one already featured on my blogs in the past...I particularly felt that way on New Year's Day this year and so dedicated the song on the blogs then- Morning Has Broken by Cat Stevens and other versions of it.

However you can feel that way on any day of the year of course. Last Diwali morning (08) I had this beautiful and marvelous dream that to me was the opening up of a very new beginning and birthing to me...of course Diwali is also the start of the Hindu financial year but again I think this can happen on any day...the dream was so beautiful but its contents and details I'd rather keep to myself in a way for now...although I believe I've discussed it on those famous dream blogs we had back on Intent a few months ago...aaahh so beautiful to recall that dream...

Of recently I've been taking many walks and perhaps I'll share the details about my steppy thingy a.k.a my pedometer on this blog soon but very recently I took a walk in my company's refinery. The refinery has parts that hold living quarters called bungalows from the times of the British, golf courses, artificial lakes that were created to collect water that can be used as cooling water in the refinery...and perhaps then the birds came...but would you believe it the refinery also has a Wild Fowl Trust that is housed on its grounds...of course all of this is a good way away from the actual refinery itself but to me our refinery is living testament to sustainable development.

I particularly like the number of Samaan trees that it preserves one of the most beautiful and blessed trees on the island and an ecosystem in itself. My family used to have one in our living area for many, many years (>50 I think) until one relative who owned the portion of the land that it was on saw it fit to chop it down...it was wood to him...a living ecosystem to many others who lobbied for him to keep it standing...when that tree was chopped for months I saw it still like the ghost of a lost love it appeared on the skyline...I had grown so accustomed to seeing it there for the 20+ years of my lifetime back then...a true loss...and you know as a child I use to swing from that tree...I shall have to scan the pic of that and share one day...you must see that tree...such a sad story really...but some people see the world differently no doubt...

However I'm glad my current employer sees the need to keep those Samaans...even admist tanks and pipelines...and refinery cooling water! :) So onto the resurrection as we speak of the trees that live! :) Here are the pics I took on my refinery walks followed by my sunflowers...my suraj mukhi and their surprise visitor whom I captured in digital form! :)

A grove of trees...


A pipeline and a tree...sustainable development maybe? :)


Into the Woods I go...


This is the path I took...


As I walked a lake I met...


There were some pelicans on the lake...


Then I walked some more till I stopped...


Then on my walk back I looked at that lake some more and...
Was that mangrove I did spy?...


And surrounding the lake were so many beautiful trees...


Then I looked across the lake and saw a bungalow...


As I walked back on the other side of the path I saw another lake and on the banks of it were trees littered not with white paper but with egrets! :)


Then I saw some egrets perched in a nearby tree...


Then I looked at those same egrets but more closely...


Then I walked on and took this pic to summarise what I was pondering on...
Here in a refinery so much nature and beauty this could only one thing be
Admist tanks and pipelines
Trees and vines
And so yet still sustainable development could be mines! :)


And a few evenings earlier when I came home from work to my surprise here were my
sunflowers...my suraj mukhi along with a definite and beautiful surprise!:)


PS: At the upcoming 5th Summit of the Americas next week the wives of all the delegates including Michelle Obama will be visiting our refinery to see the staff club and the Wildfowl Trust! :)

And After the Starshine...Here Comes the Sun! :)

Toodoodoo!...tanana...

Good Morning Starshine! :)

Good Morning Starshine! This is just for fun and to honour a fellow Intent community member Starshine Junnie...whose name is just so beautiful that every time I greet her I remember this beautiful, pretty, little, simple 60's tune and want to sing it for her and everyone! So pretty! :)

GOOD MORNING STARSHINE! I HOPE YOU FEEL BETTER!:)

Enjoy!...

President Obama-How Does Your Garden Grow?

How My Garden Grows...


According to my friends on Intent President Obama or the Obamas intend to plant a vegetable garden ...see the Intent of one of the members Dana Shields here. So I got excited when I heard this news from Dana as I've been doing my own vegetable garden plus sunflowers and I thought...hmmm...this is great!:

"Oh my! So now I can also ask Obama...How Does His Garden Grow! ? :)
"Maybe I should go up to him and ask him if he visits the island for the Summit of the Americas and then invite him to see mines! Pastel girl scarecrows and all Im sure his daughters will love my not so scary scarecrows like so many kids seem to! :)"

And...

You think he'll like my sunflowers...suraj mukhi?


Apparently the source behind all this is the website http://www.eattheview.org who won a competition as below:
"Eat the View also won the Grand Prize in the OnDayOne.org contest where citizens are helping to set a positive, global agenda for President Obama."


And they have asked President Obama to replant a Victory Garden on the White House lawn. Apparently the first Victory Garden goes back to the time of FDR's presidency when Eleanor Roosevelt insisted there be such a garden! :)

So I've been thinking if President Obama does come to the Summit of the Americas here in Trinidad in a few weeks time...and I had the chance to go up to him and ask him one question it would be:

"President Obama how does your garden grow?"

You think it would embarass my Prime Minister...does he have a garden in his new TT$100 million plus residence? Honorable Patrick Manning sir...Do you a garden grow? And what of Hazel does she from a garden fresh tomatoes pick? I'm curious I'd like to know! :)


Me and relatives planting seedlings

Anyway Hats off to you President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama...I'd like to know...How does your garden grow? :)

How Does My Garden Grow-Sunflowers...Suraj Mukhi and My Theme Song!

This is just a short, light check in to let my readers know that I got my first sunflowers bloom on Sat 14 Mar 09! It was also on a day I decided to play Phagwa/Holi- an Indian, Hindu festival that when celebrated in India tends to relate to the celebration of Spring but celebrated here in Trinidad since my ancestors time. I wrote about it in some detail on my Universal Collective Prayer here. Of course we are in the Tropics so no Spring! So having my first sunflower bloom appear on that day was like a touch of Spring in the Tropics in more ways that one! :) Aaah...the sight and feel of a first bloom! :) My mum tends to like to call the Sunflowers...Suraj Mukhi instead which I guess is the Hindi name for it and kinda sounds even nicer when you think of it that it would then translates roughly to Face of the Sun or well literally Sun Face! Of course they are my fav things as I went on about in this blog! :) And guess what? :) I searched Suraj Mukhi and here is another serendiptious thing in a way...it seems that in the search comes up that this is a specialty Holi sweet in India! :) Badam Pista Suraj Mukhi...a kinda barfi sweet with the decoration at the top made out of almonds and stuff but to look like a Suraj Mukhi...a sunflower! :)Check out this link to read more about this specialty sweet! :)

Also I've been playing around on Intent again and their question of the day a few days back (sorry I can't find it to link you back to it!)...inspired me to answer but also reminded me that way back when I also had this group up on Facebook...What is Your Theme Song? It really was created for pure fun...So here it is my theme song...I am the One and Only by Chesny Hawks...I know it sounds so well self serving! :) But really it is a lovely song in words too if you think about it and it is interesting that I've loved this song and considered it deep since I was like 18 or so! I recall that is when I first heard it ...it was released around then...1991/92/93 I think...it would probably align well with this other blog I wrote late last year too...perhaps it was what was welled up inside me since back then at 18 but I was only able to elucidate it like this now...And by the way I miss that scribblings guys Aaron Ross who used to blog on Intent and I mentioned in that post...

Anyway here are the lyrics:

I am the one and only,
Oh yeah!
Call me, call me by my name or call me by number,
You put me through it,
I'll still be doing it the way I do it,
And yet, you try to make me forget,
Who I really am, don't tell me, I know best,
I'm not the same as all the rest,

Chorus:

I am the one and only,
Nobody I'd rather be,
I am the one and only,
You can't take that away from me

I've been a player in the crowd scene,
A flicker on the big screen,
My soul embraces one more in a million faces,
High hopes and aspirations, and years above my station
maybe but all this time I've tried to walk with dignity and pride

Chorus

I can't wear this uniform without some compromises,
Because you'll find out that we come,
In different shapes and sizes,
No one can be myself like I can,
For this job I'm the best man,
And while this may be true, you are the one and only you!

And here is the tune! Enjoy! :)

Gone Gardening Again!

I have to apologise for being away again...as usual I've been playing on the Intent online community though and you can check out this link to see my last well responded to question that I posed only for the community there and it got 50 comments in all-Would You Choose Pain Over Non-existence? I plan to soon install my 2nd post in the reincarnation series so you can also look forward to that but for now here I go gardening again!

I went Gardening Again on Tues 24 Feb 09. It was Carnival Tues on the island and while some would have no doubt engaged in mud mass I had to me a more beautiful experience with the earth! But of course to each her own...

It was the day of my big transplant and to be honest I wasn't sure which way to go!
I even asked Grandpa Ed from the Intent community for some last minute tips as he was a gardener in his day but in the English countryside not the tropical sun. Grandpa Ed said the herbs that didnt sprout perhaps I was right in thinking they weren't suited for the climate and if I put them in the fridge perhaps they will spring. Here are those none springing pot of herbs here followed by the things that did sprout I admit I need to do some weeding in the tubs but nothing long term is planted there.

The Herbs that didn't


The Herbs that did-



Those little seedlings assorted


Those Little Hot Peppers-


Some of the Sunflowers-


So it was one of those really cool days that we've been consistently having in Trinidad again and so it was pretty easy for me to actually work at midday! Who would have believed it but in my little opinion I believe on the island were are having island cooling not warming! Just ask my good friend Dave from on intent by clicking on this link. But really in the coolish midday sun I hadn't a clue how to get started with my transplanting project. Here is me to be honest a bit confused asking my mum for advice which she could not give in any convincing, detailed way and neither could she convincingly use the camera so she shot me half way in all of this confusion...though it would be funny to include! :) After all if we can't laugh at ourselves well...



So still not knowing what to do I plodded along and created this:



Then my aunt came along and started chatting with my mother and remarked that:

1. "This was no hour to be doing gardening."

2. "They did some work in their garden this morning and now my uncle was resting
but if I waited until around 4 he would be able to help me."

Now I remarked but yea the place is really cool though...but then I contemplated that I really wanted the best for my seedlings and there was no point being hasty and then botching things up for them and their growth big time! Even if I knew what I was doing which I obviously did not, the energy that would go into the whole project would be negative if I let conflict into the whole picture! Perhaps my intent to explore this thing call Satyagraha kicked in then! :) So I waited...by the way all through this I got various onlookers remarks about what I was doing and many were amazed at my big foray into so much manual labour. Now I had expected to get hired help on the project but like is often the case in Trinidad they got ill!

My uncle did show up at 4 though and he said he also thought I was going to get hired help is why he didn't think I'd need the help from him as such. Anyway I did and it was a good thing I waited cause he transformed the bed into this!:



And then both he and I plodded on for some hours. He did the vegetables:



While I did the sunflowers:


And I also threw in some marigold/gainda seeds at the back of the sunflowers:


I started off with gloves but then took them off and was digging holes and things to put the seedlings with my bare hands. It reminded me of playing in the sand as a child. And it made me again think of the Carnival season and people playing mud mass...made me wonder...I mean don't we all just want to be a child again and play in the sand? Perhaps a lot of what we do in society is rooted out of this need to return to childhood...to go back to the basics...as I always tell my mother with all this financial crisis and stuff people forget all they need are the basics...one of those basics is to eat...and so despite the ridicule of me doing hard labour and the all night pain that ensued in both my arms...there I was ensuring myself of one of my basic core needs...food.

I wish I had pics to show of my labourious struggles but my neices and nephews refused to show on this day even as photographers! The things I had to say to them! :)My uncle remarked that it was probably the hardest I worked in my life! He may be right at least in a very long time...even my Habitat dig was easier!

The dog did make an appearance though but among people who I know would not want to be made famous on this blog so I have cropped him out to show him off! :) And he did try to kiss and try to hug me and even throw me on to the sunflower bed for sure! But only have the pic of him like this!:




The next day my sis in law put up these two scarecrows to mark the area in case cars parked on it and to perhaps ward off birds. Although they don't look scary to me more like little girls in pastel dresses! :) Kiddies have been dropping by to look at the little stick people! :) And so finally here is how my garden grows! :)



And I leave you with two songs that feel applicable as I write these words...Return to Innocence by Enigma and All You Need is Love by my fav although some find odd for my age The Beatles! As I felt like a child again planting returning to the earth...to innocence. And food is a basic need but so is love as Jesus said "Man cannot live on bread alone!" Enjoy the tunes! :)