“Happy Sunday to you and yours. Enjoy your day and be safe.” “Quotes I like”

“I want to sing like the birds sing, not worrying about who hears or what they think.” ― Rumi (1207-1273)

In your light I learn how to love. In your beauty, how to make poems. You dance inside my chest where no-one sees you, but sometimes I do, and that sight becomes this art. ― Rumi (1207-1273)

“When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy.” ― Rumi (1207-1273)

Something opens our wings. Something makes boredom and hurt disappear. Someone fills the cup in front of us: We taste only sacredness. ― Rumi (1207-1273)

“Ignore those that make you fearful and sad, that degrade you back towards disease and death. ― Rumi (1207-1273)

“Don't be satisfied with stories, how things have gone with others. Unfold your own myth.” ― Rumi (1207-1273)

“Be grateful for whoever comes, because each has been sent as a guide from beyond.” ― Rumi (1207-1273)

“Everything in the universe is within you. Ask all from yourself.” ― Rumi (1207-1273)

I am seeing daily why this world is so full of diseases. Many people are doing unholy, vulgar … just nasty things with animals.

There is a video of a young lady breast feeding a puppy. While she is breast feeding the dog her son is trying to move the dog away from her breast. This child probably suckles her breast… Lord how disgusting, revolting, repulsive, sickening, ghastly, filthy, sordid, horrible, nauseating and I can go on and on… 

Life … them dollar devils always on the prowl.

I just got a phone call. Me, “Hello.”

Pakistani accent, “Hello. Is this Allison Joseph?”

Me, “Yes.”

“I have some educational programs to tell you about for your children,” Pakistani.

“Sir my children are both graduating. I do not need any educational programs.”

“Miss Joseph I did not say educational. I said…

I cut him off with, “You said educational programs.”

“No I did not!” He said.

“Sir! I really forget to tell you that you are being taped so hold on I am going to rewind the tape…!” Damn he hung up when it was just starting to get very interesting…

A blessed safe day to you and yours. Look forward to the days ahead. You are precious. Believe it, seize it and enjoy it…

I decided to write about the home remedies Trinbago old folks used. I know some people are still using them. These are my personal stories about the herbs; as we Trinbagonians call it ‘BUSH MEDICINE’ that was given to me and those that I have seen given to others. The stories can be found on my website. This plant is the Sirrio BUSH. It is used for coughs and colds. It taste real bad but it works…

Stories But True  http://www.avjnostalgia.com/

If it doesn’t make sense, it definitely would not make dollars. Watch your step there are kink and cracks in the road. Pay close attention. Enjoy your day and be safe.

Ex. 20:12 “Honor your father and mother that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”

If your mother dislikes a person and she treats the person badly, but the person has been very kind to her and to you. You are thorn by loyalty to your mother, yet you are kind to the person. Are you dishonoring your mother?

“Guns! Guns! Guns! An invention that causes pain in every way possible! A sad, sad affair.”

On Monday night a 4 yr old girl at 484 Walnut Street, Yonkers shot herself in the face with a handgun. Really? Can a 4 year old pull the trigger of a gun?

Humans… Life experiences… Some good and some bad… That’s life. Innocent — guilty … Loving — hateful … Full — hungry … Passionate — Lukewarm …and that’s life.

If everyone is grateful for what they have, that will get rid of greed and jealousy.

If everyone love each other, that will get rid of hatred. If everyone is compassionate, that will make the world a better place. Enjoy your day and be safe…

Another beautiful day in my life. Today is my 19th wedding anniversary. I am happy I said yes to his proposal.

Memorial Day 2015… Today is Memorial Day in the United States of America.

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan, National Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic. It was first observed on May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. Have a wonderful day. Enjoy and be safe.

Happy Sunday to you and yours. Enjoy and be safe.

“For there is no one who does not sin” 1 Kings 8:46

When we sit in the Pharisees’ pew, throwing stones at others in judgment and accusation, we may one day witness the finger of Jesus writing our sins in the dust for all to see. — At Jesus’ Feet by Doug Batchelor

Prov. 26:27.  He who digs a pit falls into it; and a stone comes back upon him who rolls it.

There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living. —Nelson Mandela

I believe that God doesn’t want us to be unhappy.

Why hold on to people and things that makes you unhappy? You have being praying for change and there is no change in that department, because you are holding on to that person or thing. Do something for yourself. Do not answer the knock on the door, the door bell, the phone and the email. Throw away the thing that makes you feel despondent. Pray for strength and courage to let it all go. Letting go will give you peace of mind.

A blessed safe day to you.

"One of my sisters used to say, “It’s your own ants that does bite you…oui.”

There are so many murderous, hateful, deceitful, hurtful, lying and un-holy people walking among us. I cannot understand the mind set of these people… No conscience, no love and kindness in their minds heart and soul... jealousy and hate. It is overwhelming.

The 80s was the best years I can remember and I cannot stop talking about it. It was a heavenly time. Lots of love was floating around, marijuana floating in the air too. I never lit up, but it was in the air so I inhaled. I got real high, hated the feeling because it was in control of me. I spoke loud, laugh at the most stupid things that weren’t funny and I ate a lot of sweet and salty munchies.

Other than weedy moments, I had lots of happy moments. People just loved each other… Lord I pray that love and kindness is coming back. 

I just remember, four years ago on this day, many people were waiting for the world to end.

In 1994 Harold Camping predicted the rapture. He said that it didn’t happen because of a mathematical error. It was going to happen on May 21, 2011. Lots of people were worried. He said that it did not happen because the calendar was wrong. And his predictions continued… It was going to happen on October 21, 2011. After every bogus prophecy he came up with new dates. Anyway Harold Camping’s world ended. He died on December 15, 2013… 

An illiterate Trinidadian father and his educated son with a PhD in Astrology went on a camping trip in Caroni. They set up their tent and fell asleep. Some hours later, the father wakes his son and asks: Look up to de sky and tell me what yuh see?”

Son: “I see millions of stars.”

Father: “What does that tell yuh, son?”

Son: “Astronomically, it tells me there are millions of galaxies and planets that we can see.”

Father remains silent for a moment then says: “NO JACKASS, somebody teef de tent.”

A prayer for you and yours.

As you start your day, I pray that God will be your hands, your eyes and your focus. He will be in the midst of you and who or whatever comes into your path. I pray that you will have a safe and knowledge-filled day. Amen.

“Don’t Poke Me”

On Facebook you could poke your friends. I always remember when I was a child some of the old people in the neighborhood, used to stick their index finger in my side to tickle me. The finger in the side is a poke and I did not like it. I just disliked being tickled. To all the pokers out there speak to me. I’m not a beast, creature, animal, being, living thing, monster, fiend, brute, or swine… I am human so stop poking me.  

When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps. ― Confucius (551 BC-479 BCE)
A blessed safe day to you and yours.

“Quotes I like”

“The secret of success is to know something nobody else knows” —  Aristotle Onassis (1906-1975)

“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work and learning from failure” — Colin Powell

“Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life, as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed” — Booker T. Washington (1856-1915)

The most critical and judgmental people in the church are usually the ones struggling with their own hidden guilt. (Doug Batchelor)

Enjoy your day and be safe.

“You are lying. You does lie too much.”

The next time you lie to me, I will beat you. These are haunting words in the heart, mind and soul of a child. When I was a child and I talked about a situation that happened to me… “You are lying. I do not want to hear,” Would be some of the words said to me.  I would insist that I am telling the truth, but my words would be drowned out by, “Shut up.” I would walk away and go and sit in my favorite place, under the governor plum tree. One day while I was sitting under the tree, my father came home from his garden and I told him what happened. He said, “Did you speak the truth?”

“Yes,” I said.

“Then tell them a lie. They would believe you,” He said.

“Daddy my Sunday school teacher said that lying is a sin,” I said.

“God will understand why,” He said.

Although he told me to lie I was not comfortable doing it so when I had a situation, I did not talk about it.

For all those who think that their child is telling lies, pay attention, investigate the situation first…

Don’t wonder ‘WHY ME”. Your importance causes them to use your name in a sentence. What you have to say is, “WHY NOT ME.”

You would not know the answer, if you don’t ask. YES/NO.! You would prefer YES, but if NO comes just, take that negative as a great favor being done unto you. Don’t lay back and kill the dream shake off the ‘NO” and move on to the next chapter…

A blessed safe day to you and yours.

“Quotes I like”

I don't care for the music when they're talking bad about women because I think women are God's greatest gift to the planet - I just like music. — B. B. King (1925-2015)

Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity. — Henry Van Dyke (1852-1933)

 “Youth is easily deceived because it is quick to hope.” ― Aristotle -BC 384-BC 322 (2)  

“The silly when deceived exclaim loudly; the fool complains; the honest man walks away and is silent. – Francois de la Noue (1531-1591)

“It's discouraging to think how many people are shocked by honesty and how few by deceit.” ― Noël Coward - (1899-1973), Blithe Spirit

“Cunning grows in deceit at seeing itself discovered, and tries to deceive with truth itself.” ― Balthasar Gracian, The Art of Worldly Wisdom (1601-1658) 

“A reminder that it is not the end of the world”

When children fail their exams parents should put aside their own hurt and embarrassment. It is not the end of the world. Start working on the next chapter. Your child was bless with a talent —A passion. Have a serious talk with them to find out what they like to do and get them involved in it. Learn a trade. Blue color workers always have a job.

Ps. 55:22. Cast your care upon the LORD, and he will support you; never will he permit the just man to be disturbed. Amen and Amen. A blessed safe day to you and yours.

Big Business Big thief… Amtrak!

THE ALMIGHTY DOLLAR RULES the world and most of it is in the pockets of the wicked. An Amtrak train derailed last night. Six people were killed, hundreds injured and many still unaccounted for. The price of a train ticket keeps going up but the repairs of trains and the train tracks …hmm… NOT HAPPENING! People have to die for them to make measly repairs. The pockets of the big bosses are green or what ever color the almighty dollar is in. Lord, have mercy on all the dead and the injured…

If you are looking for a Middle School or High School for your child, Science, Technology and Research High School — STAR Early College School @ Erasmus The building is on Bedford and Flatbush Avenue. 911 Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11226.

Some people play music real loud at times. Sometimes it’s a song you never heard/you don’t like/it’s annoying/puts you in a bad mood… They play song after song and it’s the same damn thing. You really have to wonder if they are playing the shit for spite, oui…

Another earthquake, 7.3 hits Nepal near Mount Everest. 37 people have been killed and more than 1,000 injured… Two weeks ago 8,000 people died in the 7.8 earthquake that hit them. 

On a personal note… Sallie Mae is now called Navient… Big Business changed name… Same Thief.

Paul’s graduation is in June. The moment school was out, he sent out job applications and he is waiting. He has a school loan with Navient for 25,000 plus dollars. We had to pay 2,000 plus, while he was attending college and we paid it. Paul started getting payment slips from Navient so he paid the first payment. I told him he did not even graduate. There should be a grace period after graduation. Do not let them bully him. Emails are coming to him right, left and center for payments. I told him he needs to have a chat with them and be assertive.

Gen. 32:24-27. Some man wrestled with him until the break of dawn. When the man saw that he could not prevail over him, he struck Jacob’s hip at its socket, so that the hip socket was wrenched as they wrestled. The man then said, “Let me go, for it is day break, but Jacob said, “I will not let you go until you bless me. Amen.

Is. 10:1-4. Woe to them that make wicked laws: and when they write, write injustice, to oppress the poor in judgment, and do violence to the cause of the humble of my people: that widows might be their prey, and that they might rob the fatherless. What will you do in the day of visitation, and of the calamity which cometh from afar? To whom will ye flee for help? And where will ye leave your glory? That you be not bowed down under the bond, and fall from the slain? In all these things his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

Mother’s Day was the most restful day for me. I had this great idea to watch 50 Shades Of Grey. Twenty minutes into it I fell asleep. During sleep I hear a snore and I opened my eyes. The movie was still going on. The movie was a good sleeping pill. I woke up a quarter to nine and life is good… Enjoy your day and be safe.

“The Wonder Of A Mother’s Love”

Foolish or smart. However you may turn out. That flame in her heart won’t ever die. A mother’s love is HEAVENLY SWEET. Here on earth it can’t be beat. So come to you. From up above. Is the wonder of. A MOTHER’S LOVE…

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY to all MOTHERS, and to all the FATHERS who are doing double duty. A WONDERFUL SAFE DAY TO YOU.

“Chain Letters”

I got my first chain letter when I was in elementary school and I was scared so I started to write the 20 letters, I had to send out. My father saw me, and he asked me what I was doing. I gave him the letter to read. He said, “This is shit. Don’t do it. Throw it in the garbage.”

I said, “No daddy I could die if I don’t send out the letters. He said, “Do you believe in God?”

“Yes,” I said.

“Did you every read any prayers that say you have to do something other than pray to be blessed?” 

“No.”

“This letter is a chain letter. To honor the devil and we do not pray to the devil so do not send it. Throw it away, say your prayers, go to bed, and you will wake up in the morning. I did what he said and that was the end of that.

If you want your chain letters to keep going, do not send it to me. Chain letters don’t get links from me. 

On a personal note… Big Business… Big Thief.

Dear God, the love for the poor man’s money is ruling this world. Businesses love you to pay them, but they do not like to pay you. When you order a product from them, your bank account is debited immediately, but when they have to pay you, you have to wait 3, 4 or more days to get your money. I had a family plan with Verizon cell phones. When we started with them we were paying a certain amount. We did not make any changes to the account. If I go on line with my phone I would stay less than five minute and I do not go online everyday. The rest of my family are always online with their phones, so when Verizon called and told me we were over our (GB) gigabyte, and we had to pay an additional amount on the bill, I paid. They also suggested that we increase the GB, I agreed and we did. As the months went by, they kept calling to say we were over our GB and I had to pay more on my bill. I did and I also increased the GB yet the calls kept coming every month that we were over. In April I phoned Verizon and asked them the total amount of money owed to them. They gave me the amount and I paid it through the automated payment system. The next day I called to find out the balance of the account. I was told I had a zero balance so I told the Rep. I am closing the account. After she tried to get me to stay with them, she told me okay. Although I paid Verizon and I had a zero balance in April and closed the account, the first week in May, Verizon took $390 plus dollars from my bank account for May’s bill payment. I called them and three days later they refunded me the money, but yesterday I got a bill in the mail for $390 plus dollars (the same amount for May)… Now I have to call them to get this shit settled.

I heard that when God was casting out the devil he landed in Les Coteaux, Tobago. I believed that because Les Coteaux claims to have its own personal “jumbie” —Spirit, ghost, demon. I believe that the jumbie, took the boat, from Tobago, and he landed in Trinidad!… “What the… JESUS!” She/He is in charge of the cesspit she created in parliament.

Wisdom 5:6-13. We, then, have strayed away from the way of truth, and the light of justice did not shine for us and the sun did not rise for us. We had our fill of the ways of mischief and of ruin; We journeyed through impassable deserts, but the way of the LORD we knew not. What did our pride avail us? What did wealth and its boastfulness afford us? All of them passed like a shadow and like a fleeting rumor; like a ship traversing the heaving water, of which, when it has passed, no trace can be found, no path of its keel in the waves. Or like a bird flying through the air; no evidence of its course is to be found—but the fluid air, lashed by the beat of pinions, and cleft by the rushing force of speeding wings, is traversed: and afterward no mark of passage can be found in it. Or as when an arrow has been shot at a mark, the parted air straightway flows together again so that none discerns the way it went through—even so, we, once born abruptly came to nought and had no sign of virtue to display, but were consumed in our wickedness…

The heart is deceitful. I don’t believe in teaching abstinence. It is self-denial. Jeremiah 17:9. More tortuous than all else is the human heart beyond remedy. Who can understand it? Hormones start throbbing and most of the young ones are not going to be impressed with how good looking, smart he or she is. All they would be thinking about is having sex with him or her. Many of them are under pressure to have sex. I believe that he and she should be taught about safe sex. It’s ok to not like sex or to have sex. 

46 tornadoes, from Nebraska to Texas last night and Tornado season is just beginning. Lord, have mercy. Enjoy your day and be safe.

I do not believe that the delivery of mail by a drone is a good thing. Many postal workers will lose their jobs. If a crazy person is handling the movement of the drone he can send it haywire and that can cause a disaster. I call me old fashion, but I think it is a stupid idea. 

Ps.115:1. Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name give glory because of your kindness, because of your truth. Amen! 14. May the LORD bless you more and more, both you and your children. Amen.

Ps. 90:17. And may the gracious care of the LORD our God be ours; prosper the work of our hands for us prosper the works of our hands. Amen.

Life in Trinbago used to be neighborly.

Did you drink your tea this morning? Trinbagonians you all know that we call our hot cup of Milo, Ovaltine, hot chocolate, hot cocoa and I remember one day a neighbor stood by the fence in her yard with a hot cup of coffee and she said to another neighbor, “Girl I just got a chance to drink mih —(my) tea.”  

“Life is what you make it!”

A black cat crossed the street or you came upon a black cat. The cat stares at you; you immediately put out negative vibes. You say to yourself, “Bad luck”. Ask yourself, bad luck for me or for the cat? And I repeat “LIFE IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT!”

Everybody knew everybody in Point Fortin. No major drama takes place, but every year for The Borough Day celebrations, out of towners coming to start bullshit. An altercation started between people in a bus and a music truck (This is the T&T Express story but I heard a different take.) anyway Constable Ronald David, I know him and his parents intervened to stop it. A woman got off the bus with a brick and she hit him on his head. He is in critical condition at San Fernando General Hospital. Several tests are being done on him to determine brain damage. The woman was arrested along with another woman and man. Two men were also stabbed during jouvert. Those criminals only coming to spoil Point Fortin…

The moment I put on the television this morning the first thing I saw was a commercial about guacamole and yummy, yummy was my brain. A big slices of zaboca —avocado on a couple slices of toast was what I ate most mornings for breakfast, when I was in Trinidad in 2011. It tasted yummy and I felt like, yes this is home… nice real… nice. I cannot eat zaboca in American. It makes me feel nauseous every time I do so my taste buds have to wait until I get to Trinbago.

On a personal note. It was the WTF, MC, MF.

This morning started with Paul cussing someone on the phone. He was in his bedroom, but I could hear it so I said, “Oh gosh doh start the day like that. No cussing. “Mom after I tell you what I cussing about you will start to cuss.”

He said that a friend told him that President Obama is coming to speak at a college so come and join their picket line. He asked why they were picketing the President. They are picketing his speech so he asked what the speech is about. His friend told him he did not know. That’s when he started to cuss. Paul searched what the President was going to be talking about. His speech is about the Non-profit organization which is an extension of My Brother’s Keeper —A program to help young men of color. He said he was so pissed that this MF asking him to picket a black man who is trying to help us black men.

His friend is not a Blackman… I am not going to say his race, but he is a man who is trying his best to keep a Blackman down.

“I am not sure exactly what heaven will be like, but I know that when we die and it comes time for God to judge us, he will not ask, 'How many good things have you done in your life?' rather he will ask, 'How much love did you put into what you did?” ― Mother Teresa (1910-1997)

“Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.” ― Mother Teresa (1910-1997)

“Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”― A.A Milne (1882-1956)

Such a beautiful Sunny Sunday in NY. I don't know what you are faced with, but you were blessed with another day. You are reading this so your mental faculty are in tact. Amen and AMEN!

“Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.” ― Mother Teresa (1910-1997)

A prayer for you and yours.

Is. 53:5 But he was wounded for our iniquities. He was bruised for our sins: the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and by his bruises we are healed. Amen.

The doctors that I remember seeing, from childhood to adult in Trinidad and Tobago were, Dr. Dieffenthaller, Dr. Randolph Herman Teemul and Dr. Robert Gaskin.

The doctors that I remember seeing, from childhood to adult in Trinidad and Tobago were, Dr. Dieffenthaller, Dr. Randolph Herman Teemul and Dr. Robert Gaskin.

One day I got an attack of bronchitis and my mother gave me a concoction of bush medicine (herbs). Although she did this and I was feeling better, my father took me to see Dr. Dieffenthaller

“What is wrong with this child?” Dr. Dieffenthaller asked.

“She had an attack of bronchitis, She did not eat anything and she coughed all night.”

 “When was this?” Dr. Dieffenthaller asked as he took his stethoscope and put it against my chest.

“The day before yesterday,” my father said.

“Her breathing is better.” Dr. Dieffenthaller put his stethoscope around his neck, sat at his desk then started writing in a folder.

“Yes she is breathing better because her mother gave her some bush medicine and she vomited a lot of phlegm. After the vomiting she was able to eat,” My father said.

“Her chest is sounding clear so I am not going to give her any medication. Check on her to make sure her breathing is alright. Allison, stop walking around barefooted and stay away from the dust. Wear your slippers or crêpesole —(sneakers).”

I told him alright, but I was wondering how he knew I used to be barefooted. The dust part worked real well. Every time I was told to sweep, I would tell my father. He used to tell them that the doctor told me to stay away from dust and he doesn’t want me to sweep. For a very long time I milked the dust diagnosis …