I dunno why...

...but right now I really don't care to do anything to my head! It is 12:50am (it was 12:50am and a couple days ago! I dropped harder than the proverbial rock, then procrastinated!) and under this satin cap my hair is in an afro. Yes, an afro! Oh stop with the shocked ohmygoodnesshowcouldshedothattoherhair face. I'm tired and sleepy. Lehme give you a quick run down on what's been up.

On saturday, I was baptized in water and the Holy Spirit at Brandons beach. *Hallelujah chorus* I feel great. On Thursday, I used my Huetiful Hair Steamer for the first time and then started to twist because I didn't realize the baptism would be that Saturday. So I said to myself, "Self?" Myself said, "Yes?" "Pin up your hair for the baptism. Your hair's too short to hold in one and maybe all I'll have to do is wash it out pinned, take it down and go over it with some shea butter or something." -_-...that didn't work, at all. *insert big stupse here*

As i said that was a couple days ago. I did it again last night and yesterday i realized that i had no idea what to do with my head. I don't have any leave-in and have been using a spritz imade with some normal conditioner. I'm not a wash&go sorta girl and i don't feel like putting gel in my hair. I would put braids if I had the time, and money, but I know I'll be doing them myself without help so it would take too long.

Help me out! What should what to do with my hair?!

The Trip (part two)

Day 3


The flight was cancelled...the flight...cancelled...no...it can't be...1..2..3..
How could the flight home be cancelled?? Weather. Weather? What weather?? In Barbados.
After getting leaving the hotel at 8 in the shuttle we were told we'd have to try for the later flight and hope we get on. F.Y.I- When you fly standby, you're the last to get a seat on the flight. We checked the evening's flight:overbooked. The people from the morning flight had filled it, of course. Next morning: room in Business Class. But hot damn, we don't have anything to wear!!! We had to wait until our ride came for us to take us back to Dolphin Mall.

Not a cloud in the sky to offer some protection so we were sitting behind a bus stop, waiting. You can see the glare from the sun in this photo. It was around 10am, smh.




Got to the mall but It opens at eleven so we're walking around, trying to find a store. Then I remember, I felt this thing in my slipper from the day before and I'm feeling it more now...

What the frig is this?! A piece of glass is what it is! Thank God that my slippers were thick enough to protect me because if the time I had trying to get this out of my slipper was any indicator of what it would have done to my foot...wow.
Also in this photo, click on it and look at my hand. Do you see how white it is? By this time I was dehydrated, the result of my bottle being stolen. I pray that the person that took it needed it more than me.



The stores opened at 11, we went into Ross and R3 took up more than half of the time we had looking for stuff and in the changing rooms. SMH, he takes longer than me to dress. I went through the rack super quick and pulled these out.

 

(I bought the top three and wore this one home.)




We returned to the airport at 12:30, went all the way through screening and to the gate to wait until 5pm. But we didn't get on the flight. We had to go to a hotel for the night and try again the next morning. But the gate agent did tell us there was no damn bad weather in Barbados, the plane was out of service! By this time, I was hungry, irritable and tired. Wouldn't you be too?





The Holiday inn was nice ya'll!! The room was smaller but the staff, the reception, empathy for our trouble and the room, it was all good. As I said in the previous post, the tourist thing, :-D.

 

Day 4

I woke up extra early. I had my outfit ready from the night before and I showered, dressed and was applying my makeup when I heard a knock at the door. "Leann, do you have my shoes?" Seems that the day before, after we returned from Ross, R3 put the bag with the shoes in his checked luggage. No shoes, no Business class, no flight home. Oh heck no!!! Took the shuttle to the airport, we had checked in from the night before and we asked where were could buy some shoes. Turns out MIA has an entire section for shopping. 

We go, look, decided to see if we could find other shoes cheaper, walked further, time running out, I bought food and he went to buy the shoes, I walked back, told him I would walk ahead cuz he would catch up faster, went and asked gate, gate on boarding pass wrong, I go outside to find R3 and warm him, I don't see him, I wait, can wait no longer. get into the line for screening finally get to the top of the line and they wanna body screen me...by this time I just did not care and then the other TSA guy says, "No, not her. The guy behind." I'm relieved because when I left R3, it was 10mins to boarding. I rushed through, get on the train. straight to the gate and that big-headed man is there waiting for me. *breathe out* 

Seems he went through the screening from before, and got there a few minutes before me. Then...

Ok, I did NOT ask for economy, I selected Business from the day before. I really stopped caring but it was a damn good thing we went to buy shoes because R3 had a seat in Business. He wanted to change seats, and sit together and all that jazz but I was totally fine with it and I wasn't too far in the back. 

We were on the flight and that was all that mattered!!! The flight was uneventful, thank God, the rest is unimportant. I finally made it home after the longest weekend of my life.

Next up, I'm being water baptized tomorrow!!!!! Stay tuned for the video.

The Trip (part one)

Hello my Lovelies!

Last Friday I left Barbados for a supposed great adventure in Miami. Just for 2 days, returning of Sunday afternoon. Well!! It was an adventure alright!

Day One
We flew out Friday morning and when we arrived, we checked-in to Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel to hear that we have a smoking room. Now at first I didn't understand what the big deal was, once we had somewhere to lay our heads, but I soon understood! A smoking room is not just a room we can smoke in if we desired, it's a room where many smokers have snuffed the fresh air out of over time! When the elevator doors opened and we stepped out...my goodness, the stink hit me straight in my face, literally slowing my momentum! And the room seemed so far away! But lo!! On opening the door to the room a new level of olfactory distress assailed us! It was so horrible we had to force open the window! I was doing the whole tourist-like, thing so I got some shots of the room...

While in Barbados, R3 had told me 'oh Walmart is basically next door to the hotel so we can just walk across, I've done it before.' So I was like, 'oh ok, kool.' We decided to leave the room right quick and head over to do some shopping since it was so close. LIES!!! It was a couple blocks away in midday sun that is hotter than Barbados!!! My skin was melting offa my bones!!! By the time we got there, I was sweating like crazy and he looked like he wanted to go to sleep on the floor! We didn't stay long tho, we hit two places after that the last being Dolphin Mall!! I got so excited when I saw the Bath&Body Works store!!!! We didn't spend two hours in there like R3 would tell you! We really didn't...*shifty eyes*


Back to the hotel and we got the room sorted out. Can you(non-smokers) imagine wrapping up in sheets saturated with cigarette smoke?!?! No offense to any smokers that might be reading this but that ain't right!

On To Day Two
Turns out our booking got messed with so the breakfast we thought was included, wasn't. Good thing we bought that Burger King the night before huh? *winks* 

*nom nom* Onion rings people! I actually ate them.
And they were good. So what?!

<<----- Enlarge this picture please my lovelies. You see that silver fixture to my right hand there by my elbow? That's my water bottle. I do NOT leave home without it, obviously as it traveled with me to Miami. Now let me tell you the tragedy that occurred. We walked to Walmart again this day(much faster, I tellin you!) and while shopping I placed my beloved in the shopping cart. R3 moved and took the cart with him while I was browsing and put it at the top of the aisle so I would know where he was....*sigh*...

Some so-and-so stole our cart with my water bottle in it!!!!!!!!!! I was so angry, pissed off, livid!! To believe, that I hadtuh come to Miami to get my bottle stolen!?!?!?!?!?! 1..2..3..4..5..6..7..8..9..10......20. So now I have no water bottle. That thing cost me $15, and me, being more brek than glass, can't afford another one right now. I felt like crying, seriously. I know, it's just a bottle but you'll see why in the next post.

Happily, I got the suitcase I had ordered since February that evening and it contained my Huetiful Hair Steamer!!! Which I used last night!!!! *boogie.boogie.boogie*
Being me, my suitcase was packed and all forms filled out by the time I went to sleep that night because I was not missing the flight the next day!

My Hair

Hey Lovelies! How are you doing?

I'm not too good myself :-(. I rearranged my room today so the dust has my allergies acting a fool. I was supposed to be attending a class at church tonight but seeing as I can't breathe well and my eyes and lips are getting poufy, I decided it was best to stay at home tonight. But, I wanted to show you guys how cute my hairstyle was! Especially since noone else is going to see it...cha.

Check it out!




You might've realized by now that my nephew is a Rt. Excellent Camera Hog. He attched himself to my side when he realized auntie was taking photos.



I know right! He's so darn cute...*sigh*. He just look so tho! Smh...gotta love him.

God Bless Lovelies!
Love,
Lee.

How To: Tabs In Blogger

Hey Lovelies!

Okay so check it out, quick, simple, step by step instructions on how to add tabs to your blogs. If I should tag this post with the 'My Hair' tag, it would be grouped with other posts having the same tag under the My Hair tab at the top of the page, under the name of this blog. That's how it works! So without further ado...

After signing into your blog:

1. Click 'Design' at the top right-hand corner of the page.
2.Under the header in your layout, which would more likely be your blog name, add the HTML/JavaScript gadget.

The way I have my layout structured, I just click Add Gadget at the side and drag the finished box to the space below my header.

3. Name the box and copy and paste this code into the content area:

<ul>
<li><a href="http://yourblogname.blogspot.com/search/label/Tab One">Tab One</a></li>
</ul>

4. Replace the information highlighted above with your own, and click Save. When you put in the code, depending on the dimensions of the box, it'll move around. That's normal but there should be no spaces in the HTML.



4. Preview and make sure everything's the way you want it, then click save.

And that's it baby! Quick, simple, easy.

Tips

• The name of the box isn't important if you're dragging it to the top of the page. If you prefer to leave the tabs to the side, then your tabs would have a title, like any other gadget.
• To create more than one tag...

<ul>
<li><a href="http://yourblogname.blogspot.com/search/label/Tab One">Tab One</a></li>
<li><a href="http://yourblogname.blogspot.com/search/label/Tab Two">Tab Two</a></li>
</ul>

...etc.

Let me know how easy it was to follow this tutorial and how it works for you. If you have any problems or any questions, comment below and I'll definitely get back to you. :-)
God Bless and Much Love,
Lee ♥♥♥.

When Discrimination Is Taught in Schools..

Hey people, hey.
Tonight I logged into my facebook account to see a well articulated and expressed letter written by a woman I love dearly, talking about how her 5yr old child was not accepted into Hill Top Preparatory School in Barbados because he wears locs. Read on.



A Mother's Account of Discrimination at Hill Top Preparatory School by Ayesha Nura Delpeche

“They said that I can’t go to that school because I have locs…but, I don’t want to cut my hair, Mommy.” 

These are the words that came out of the mouth of my 5 year old on September 1st, 2011 after he and his father went to the orientation held at Hill Top Preparatory School, located in Welches, St.Michael on the island of Barbados.

In the attempt to be as clear, transparent and truthful as possible, I will recount the events that led up to this statement as best I could to shed some more clarity and light onto this situation.

My little boy, a Barbadian by birth, has lived and attended schools in both Barbados and the state of Florida in the United States.  Never once has he had to cover or cut his hair.  His hairstyle is one of choice, not based on religion, but nature.  His hair naturally locs, as does his mother’s, his aunties’ and uncles’, grandmother’s and cousins’.   If my child decided to cut his hair tomorrow, it would not be a big deal.  After all…his hair is just that…hair.

During the last week in the last term of school for the 2010-2011 school year, his father went to Hill Top Prep and was given a form to fill out, along with the school policy.  He was told that he would receive a call with a time to meet for an interview.  He was also told that all school fees must be paid by or on the first day of school.

We (the parents) sat down and filled out the form.  The only thing that the school policy has that speaks about hair is a line that states very clearly, “No fancy haircuts.”  We ensured that all of the information was correct, and then proceeded to mentally make a list of things to do before sending him back to school, which included purchasing his uniform and getting him in to see his pediatrician.  So far…so good.

Up until the day of orientation, we had not heard anything back from the school.  Being that we had gotten the form so late in the term, we thought that they probably did not have time to call us or they had accidentally disregarded it.  Yet, by all means, we were sure that once our little boy made it to the orientation and we paid the fees, everything would be full steam ahead.

My son left home that day dressed in his new school uniform, extremely happy to be going back to school and meeting his new friends and classmates.  However, upon arrival the Headmistress made it very clear that locs were not acceptable in Hill Top Preparatory School.  She went on to say that HAD we come to the interview and HAD we read the school policy, we would have been aware of this fact. 

At this time, my son’s father asked her if she could point out where it was stated in the school policy, as we must have overlooked it.  After about five minutes of rummaging around and shifting paper, she showed him the same line quoted earlier.  “No fancy haircuts.”  She also went on to explain that another child “just like” our child, had come to the school with locs, yet he didn’t feel comfortable because he was “different” and a few weeks into the term, he wanted to cut his hair, which brought about some confusion.  Confusion for who and why…I am not sure.

Please keep in mind that, up until now, she has not so much as looked at my child to say, “Good Morning.” 

My son was pulled aside by his father, who, as best he could, calmly explained to our little boy, (who was growing more and more uneasy by the moment) that the Headmistress was implying that in order for him to attend Hill Top Prep, he would have to cut his hair.  He asked him if he wanted to cut his hair.  He received an emphatic and unapologetic “NO!”  He asked one more time, just to be sure…and he received, again, the same response.

At this point, they turned around to tell the Headmistress, “Thanks, but no thanks…”, yet, she was no longer there.  She had already turned her back and gone ahead in to the orientation to speak with the parents of children who did not have “fancy haircuts”, some of whom needed to find out any information they didn’t get because some of them, just like my child, didn’t get to set up an interview.

My child went home that day, sad and disheartened.  As a mother, one of the worst things is to see your child when he feels that he is defeated.  Needless to say, I was livid.  The more I thought about it, the less sense it made.  

For the past two days, I have asked around and found out that, while Hill Top has accepted children with locs in the past, they have also denied access to children in the past because of this same hairstyle.  I want to make it abundantly clear that my child was refused entry into this school, not because the school was filled to capacity, nor because we missed the opportunity to have an interview, but because his hairstyle is, in the eyes of the people who run this primary school, seemingly unacceptable and inferior.

It amazes me…and yet it doesn’t…that in a country where the Afrikan descendants make up at least 85% of the population, a hairstyle as natural as locs is looked down upon.  In 2008, this issue came to light when 5 students were barred from classes at the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic because they had a similar hairstyle.  Again in 2008, on June 17th to be exact, I’Akobi Tacuma Hembadoon Maloney met his death while in the custody of police.  The reason the police approached him in the first place was because they stereotyped him based on his hairstyle.  

How can we as citizens in this country continuously turn away from blatant discrimination and victimization? 

Some of you may read this and think, “So sad it had to happen this way, but she can simply find another school…” or “Better them than me.”  And you may very well be right.  Yet what we don’t realize, and we usually don’t until it is too late, is that the old adage “Today for me…Tomorrow for you” is still very real and relevant in circumstances just like this one.

In the Constitution of Barbados, which can be found online at http://www.barbados.org/constitution.htm/htm it clearly states that (under ‘Protection from discrimination on grounds of race, etc.) “No law shall make any provision that is discriminatory either of itself or in its effect; and no person shall be treated in a discriminatory manner by any person acting by virtue of any written law…” 

It goes on to say, “the expression “discriminatory” means affording different treatment to different persons attributable wholly or mainly to their respective descriptions by race, place of origin, political opinions, colour or creed whereby persons of one such description are subjected to disabilities or restrictions to which person of another such description are not made subject or are accorded (afforded) privileges or advantages which are not afforded to persons of another such description.”

As I said earlier today in a conversation, this is not just an injustice to my child, yet all of those children who would have been his schoolmates, as they are being prevented from socializing and learning alongside someone who the Headmistress would define as “different.”  In my opinion, this is where the cycle of victimization, discrimination and stereotyping begins.  I also wonder where this subjectivity comes in to play.  What determines which children with locs are accepted?  Is it gender, age, monetary donations from family? 

It deeply troubles me that these are the sort of people who are in charge of raising our future.  Something has to be done…sooner or later.  I am in favor of the former.

Sincerely,

Ayesha NuRa Delpeche

We've all seen discrimination in the workplace, yeh? Either you don't get hired for a job or you're told your hair looks unprofessional and untidy. But this beautiful, amazing 5 year old boy should never have been subjected to this kind of blatant discrimination!! Especially not in a country whose race is predominantly of African descent!!!!!!

For all of you unfamiliar with my little island, Barbados is one of the first places the slavers stopped after raping Africa of it's people. Sometimes an entire day could pass and the only local people you see are of your race, a myriad of beautiful shades. So how the he....*1..2..3...* How can you justify this kind of discrimination in Bim today? You can't!!!

But you know what? It's our fault. I just read this entire letter aloud to someone and asked, "How does this make you feel?" I was told, "No way. It didn't evoke any emotion." Today for me, tomorrow for you. We as humans tend not to care about something 'as long as it isn't me'. We fail to realize that it could be!! My daughter or my son could grow to adulthood, choose to wear locs and be discriminated against at college or in the workplace and I would be very tempted to forget the Christian values I'm holding onto (very tightly as I write this) and go and scratch out some idiot's eyes for daring to treat my child in such a manner! 

Some of us conveniently forget that it could happen to us. It could happen to me, it could happen to you. Don't tell me foolishness about "oh, but you already know we have alot of discrimination". That's not the bloody point! The point is...there shouldn't be. WE should never let it be.

Spread the word. A change is coming. I can smell it and I'm digging my sneaks out of the closet.

Love,

Lee.

Shedding v.s Breakage

Hello, hello!! I'm back!

So a  week or so ago, August 20 and 21, I had the extreme pleasure of participating in the 100 Voice Project!! The purpose behind it was to show that people can come from different countries and backgrounds, speak different languages and dialects but still be able to perform and communicate through the universal language of music, and do so in perfect harmony. I had an awesome time and made new friends while at it! *Large up the Altos!!!*


While I was prepping for the show, I had my hair all sectioned out and in the middle of my head I noticed some really short hair!!! *gasp* 


I know, react with abject horror right?! No. The first thing to do is to determine whether it's hair that has broken, or hair that's now growing. I snapped a couple photos to show you guys the difference!

Broken Hair

I've circled in red a particular strand I wanted to point out. See how the end is blunt and the same thickness as the rest of the hair shaft? This is a broken strand. :-( Unfortunate as it is. It's quite easy to tell the difference because of these characteristics. Blunt end with the end the same thickness as the rest of the shaft.

Shed Hair
In this photo note how the ends of the hairs are tapered off, meaning the strand gets thinner as it comes to the end. These strands are actually new strands that have been populating the inner city of my head. YaY!!!

If you have any questions leave a comment below or message me. :-) Catch ya l8r.

Love,
Lee.♥