CityGirl

Yesterday was quite an interesting one.   As a result of comments by two co-workers I spent the early part of the day wondering if I possibly have some terminal illness that I’m as yet unaware of.  

Let me create a little background.  I’ve always been slim.  Depending on who’s looking on, especially if it’s the older folks, it might be said that I’m skinny.

I wear size 4 normally and for work where I prefer my clothes to be a little looser, depending on the fit, I might go for a size 6.   When I’m feeling ‘fat’ the size 6 tend to fit a little better.  Of course I can still recall wearing size 1 (or is it 1/2) in jeans when I was in my early 20’s.

After I came back home from studying overseas, I had put on quite a bit of weight (probably the months of sitting in dorm room eating pizza every day while working on dissertaton) and even had a little rear end that was attracting attention.  My male friends loved it, my mother was elated (older people don’t like skinny) and my girlfriends all approved.  I was still wearing size 4 - 6 but the size 4 felt a tad bit tighter.   Let me not lie, it felt more than a tad bit tighter.   I hated it!   I had ballooned up to an unprecedented 130 lbs (and sometimes past that) and was horrified.  I’m 5ft 7in and by no stretch of the imagination would anyone describe me as fat even then, but I didn’t feel as lithe.  Because I wasn’t accustomed to carrying around that much weight, and yes it actually felt like I was carrying around the weight, it felt like I was logging a ton of bricks around every day.

So to the dismay of everyone (especially the men) every so often I’d commit to a two-week stint of running, plus a diet of meat and vegetable only.  I never quite got back to my very, very slim self but I was able to get rid of enough pounds for me to feel agile again.    Also, as long I was not weighing 130 and above that it was ok if I didn’t go back to weighing 122, afterall I had started to like the fact that I now had a little ‘junk in my trunk’ (is that the saying?) so I was quite fine.

Since the beginning of the year however, I started swimming and running on a regular basis.  So everyweek I do a few laps in the pool (major struggle since I’m still not fit) and run around the park a couple early mornings per week.   Since January too, I attempted to eat better (read plenty more  fruits and vegetables, little or none of the usual pizza, bread, etc).  I really wasn’t trying to lose weight, this was just part of an overall improvement on myself and my lifestyle.   Needless to say, after a month of this the pounds started to melt away and I was looking quite lean - more like my old(or young) self.   I didn’t have a problem with this ‘new’ look either especially since when I go to the pool, everyone (male and females) kept commenting how I look like an athlete, looked quite fit.  Yep, started getting those swimmer’s shoulders (so I thought) and could swear I saw some definition in my legs.  Added to all that, the fact that my stomach was once again nice and flat, I was feeling quite pleased with myself.  Of course everyone at work noticed the fact that I was looking slimmer and commented.

Since April I fell off the healthy eating wagon and was back to eating my usual fare of pizza, donuts and assorted pastry.  I was still swimming and running so I was still looking lean.   Then I got a bit lazy and as of today’s date, I really haven’t swam or run in about 5 weeks.  It did puzzle me a bit that the lack of activity in the last month or so and the return to my usual unhealthy mode of eating didn’t cause me to bump back up in the weight scale but I wasn’t concerned.  I just figured that all that exercise had given my metabolism a major jump start and as long as I get back in the game soon (I’ll be back on the track and in the swimming pool come July) I’ll be fine.

Then yesterday two co-workers commented that I’ve really lost a lot of weight and asked whether I’m still swimming.  I told them that the rainy season had dampen my enthusiasm a bit and I haven’t been to the pool in a month or so.

“Hmmm.  You’re not swimming and running and you’re losing weight?  Haven’t you noticed?”

I didn’t answer, they didn’t say anything else.  They didn’t need to.  Their looks said it all.  I spent the rest of the afternoon in a near panic with myriad thoughts of terminal illness unfolding in my head.  I tried to be rational by reminding myself that I haven’t been feeling ill, haven’t felt unusually exhausted, didn’t feel any different but it didn’t help.  I was in a state of full blown panic, increased heart rate, clammy hands and all. 

I hate going to the Doctor, absolutely hate doing tests.  I’m always worried that the results might not be to my liking. 

But maybe I should really check if everything is ok.  Afterall, what if…….?    

I wish I knew the answer to the following:

Where is the best place to keep my tomatoes so that they don’t spoil?  It spoils in the fridge and even when I leave it outside.

Where is the best place to store my creamer, lemon pepper, garlic powder so that they don’t harden?  Lemon pepper is the worst.  That hardens after a week I swear.

I’m tired of having to throw away food items when I’m not even half way through them.

The Manager of one of the companies in the group that I work with, came into my office today.

“Are you asked for,” he asked in that gentle way of his. 

At first I didn’t quite get it.  It’s such a quaint way of asking if I’m single.  I laughed and told him no.

“Is it in the works?  Are you in the process of being asked for,” he persisted.

I was a little taken aback.  I tend to veer from one end of the pendulum to the other.  So I’m either shockingly open or intensely private.  And at that particular moment I was thinking quite irritably that it was none of his darn business.

I smiled sweetly. 

“Oh I don’t know.  You can never tell you know.  Who knows what anyone is thinking?  It could indeed be in the works.”

For some unknown and irrational reason, I didn’t feel like disclosing to him my single status.  I felt quite smug about giving an ambiguous answer.   I don’t even understand why it mattered at the time.  Maybe it’s because I sensed before that it’s something he wanted to know and was just being my contrary self.

This evening while driving home, it hit me.  Damn!  I slapped my forehead.  What if he had someone in mind.  He’s an old enough man,  and I know he has several grown children.  I tried to remember the gist of the conversations we’ve had before where he discussed his children and specifically his sons.

I think tomorrow when I get in to the office I’ll continue the conversation he started.  Afterall, the girlie magazines (Cosmo, Elle, Essence etc) all advocate enlisting the help of the people around you if you’re serious about finding someone.

He has rather wide hips though.   I hope that wasn’t passed on to any of his single, eligible sons if there are any

I get these cravings.  And then I eat whatever I crave for at least a week straight.

So last week it was blueberry muffins.   Starting today it’s donuts.  I’ve been thinking about donuts all morning, so I know this will be the craving of the week.

No, I’m not pregnant, this is normal for me.

Last week, after listening to me whine for at least half hour that I need to leave a concert that we were attending, just to get the muffins, my girl friend exclaimed in exasperation, “Dam, I don’t want to be around when you’re pregnant.”

(Jamaica Observer Cartoon -8/June/07) 

This government is something else. 

Just as I was mulling to myself on the possible reasons for rejecting all four candidates for the South East St. Ann seat when it would appear that at least two seemed eminently qualified, I heard Donald Buchanan bellowed during TVJ’s coverage of one of the many political rallies, that Lisa Hanna, Miss World 1993 “has the beauty” to represent the constituents.   I spluttered and almost drowned in my cherry juice.  What does beauty have to with political representation?

His statement only served to confirm my fears.  Obviously the government wasn’t overly concerned about serving the needs of the constituents.  The overwhelming need appeared to be getting a ‘brand name’ representative.

Now the above really isn’t an indictment against the beautiful Lisa Hanna.  I’d be the first to admit that she comes across as very intelligent and assertive, seems to have wonderful people skills and of course there’s no disputing that she’s articulate.   She’s definitely no bimbo!  Quite a fabulously exquisite package of beauty and intelligence.  I do not for a moment consider her to be lightweight (at least until I’m proven wrong) and I have no doubt that she has a great contribution to make.   

My grouse with the government’s decision is this.  If there are persons living in the constituency who are qualified to represent the people, why would they not chose from these rather than use someone who lives outside the constituency?  The former MP, the bubbly and very blond Ms. Aloun Assamba was kicked out when the constituents brimming with frustration banded together, put down their feet and decided that they need someone else to represent them.  According to them, she did a lousy job as a Member of Parliament and she hardly visited the area.  They’ve now decided that they want someone who resides in the area.

I don’t necessarily believe that in order to be a representative of the people one should be resident in the area.   However, I do see the advantage if this is the case.  I believe that if someone who is suitable for the job also resides in the area, the person should definitely be given preference.  The fact is, a resident who is also the political representative already has a vested interest in seeing the area developed and needed infrastructure put in place.  That person would also be already familiar with the critical issues that need to be addressed.

I have not heard the PNP indicate what integral qualities Miss Hanna brings to the table that is missing from the other candidates.   The party seemed determined to shove their choice on the people, seeming to forget who has the real power here.  Another evidence of the arrogance that comes from being in power too long. 

In the meantime the residents having experienced the frustration of having out of town representatives who they see only just before elections remain adamant that the next person to speak on their behalf should be domiciled in the area.

Let’s see how this one will play out.

Had some lovely pictures of the vessel but had to take them out when I realize that I had captured the vessel’s name.  I might want to blog about members of the crew and I don’t want to be sued

See the nice boats lined up at lime Cay?  Everytime I go sailing I’m amazed that so many people in Jamaica own boats. 

So the bubble of euphoria that I’ve been floating in after hearing some wonderful news was unceremoniously deflated after visiting my dentist this morning.

I noticed that there was some sensitivity on the upper left side of my mouth whenever I bit into anything and thought it would be a good idea to stem whatever the problem was before it developed into a full-blown toothache.

After subjecting myself to the obligatory prodding and poking the diagnosis was that I need to do two root canals.  Two!   When I considered the cost of doing a root canal and then capping it after, it was enough to bring me crashing down to earth.   Of course extraction is not an option.  The ecstatic feeling induced by the previous day’s news was quickly history.

I don’t understand.  I take care of my teeth as well as anyone else.  I brush, floss and whenever I remember I suffer for the 60 seconds recommended by the listerine ads.   So why am I not rewarded for my effort?    When I lamented that I might as well stop caring for my teeth, the dentist asked me to demonstrate my flossing method.  And she was satisfied that I was flossing properly when I did.

It didn’t help when she confirmed that some people were more prone to teeth decay than others.  Apparently my teeth are ’soft’.  According to her people in their thirties and over will suffer more tooth decays because there was more chlorine in the water then. 

I came home and decided to do some research on the matter.  After reading the following article online I’m wondering now, did she say chlorine or flouride?  Isn’t flouride suppose to be good for teeth?  I ran to the bathroom cupboard to confirm.  Sure enough, there it was on the toothpaste box, ‘Flouride Toothpaste’.  (Note to self: read some more on this later).

Fluoride is added to the water supply for dental hygiene and fluoridating drinking water is accepted as a benefit . Chlorine evaporates eventually but fluoride remains in the water and cooking, food processing, filtration, or digestion doesn’t remove fluoride and it acumulates in fat cells. Fluoride is a carcinogenic industrial waste and causes teeth to rot and crumble, as well as your bones and cause osteoporosis? Why is a toxic industrial waste passed off on the public as a nutrient with necessary health benefit?  

Well, whatever the troublesome ingredient is,  the problem was remedied a few years later with more salt in the water.  Damn!  Couldn’t my mother wait another decade to give birth?

Anyway, on a more cheerful note.  I went to saw a few performances from the graduating students of the Edna Manley College of the visual and performing arts.  It was great.  Apart from the wonderfully uplifting performances, the high point of my night was being told by a few young male students present, that with my recently, almost clean shaven head I looked like Miss Tanzania in the recently concluded Miss Universe - I was trying to copy and paste her picture but that’s not working.

I know the little whipper-snappers were lying through their teeth  but I still loved it.  Hehe.