this is the first trip i've returned from and was actually able to say that it was good to be home. my flight was delayed for 12 hrs and instead of the airline company putting everyone up for the night in a hotel, they had us sleep sitting upright in chairs or sprawled out on the floor. i got a total of 4 hrs of sleep between the airport and and flight so my eyes were very droopy during the 3 hr drive back home today. i sure hope jc's travel goes much better than mine did.

in spite of the many unanticipated incidents that took place last week, i still had a wonderful time. i will be sharing pictures as soon as they finish uploading on photobucket.

until tomorrow....

so glad to hear that in spite of flight problems (you weren't on Air Canada i hope.... ) you still had a good time!!!

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Come on Tia. I told you I am waiting for the trip report.

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If you've never stared off in the distance, then your life is a shame...

We dreamers have our ways
Of facing rainy days
And somehow we survive

By the way Tia, glad you made it home from St. Louis safe. Hope the K-man is good.

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If you've never stared off in the distance, then your life is a shame...

We dreamers have our ways
Of facing rainy days
And somehow we survive

yes kels, made it home safe and sound. i caught myself falling asleep behind the wheel. the k-man is very happy to have his mommy back. he wrapped his arms around my neck and wouldn't let go.

it wasn't air canada lillith. i flew with ryan international air and it was GHETTO! no air conditioning on the plane!

as you all know, i arrived in montego bay during the island-wide blackout. the sun hadn't gone down yet when the plane touched but i did notice that the island looked a bit dark. i didn't think much of it because the airport had power. it wasn't until i put some credit on my digicel phone and couldn't reach the hotel that someone told me that the entire island is darkness. i take a taxi to the hotel and i'm greeted with candlelight. it was very pretty! there was a candle on each step of the staircase and around the pool. since there was nothing else to do, everyone at the hotel just sat around the pool with their candles. a man was singing and playing his guitar for several hours.

i've had a migraine for the entire day so i head back to my hot, dark room to rest. oliver is at work and isn't affected by the blackout. the hotel he works at has a generator. he's swamped at work and doesn't get to me until after midnight. by that time, the power is back on. we get to sleep with the comfort of a/c.

the next day i notice that there's another occupant in my suite. he doesn't look too thrilled to be sharing "his" space with me. i'd like you to meet my roommate stanley.

i told oliver that we have a pet crab and he looked at me crazy and said, "no, YOU have a pet crab. if i see him i'm gonna step on him". (don't worry, no crabs were harmed in the making of this trip report...stanley knew he had to steer clear from the crab-killer.) LOL


i was forewarned about the weather so i wasn't too disappointed to see the clouds and rain. it rained every day.

Tia, when you're telling this story, be sure to enunciate "A crab" carefully... otherwise people will wonder what you were doing down there and what you caught...

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point taken urban.

i gave ol' head a call and found out that he was staying right next door to me. i walked over there to meet him. as soon as i entered the hotel lobby we nearly ran into eachother. he stopped and said, "you're lurissa right?" so we walk over to the bar for a few drinks and a chat. i asked ol' head what he's been up to and he's upset about the rain. he's been around the hip strip and went to the beach. he's ready to see some nightlife though. unfortunately he has to leave before dancehall night. the bartender tells us about the beach party going on that night and the street party on monday night and ol' head is definitely interested in going. ol' head is looking kinda sleepy to me. his eyes are only half open and he's really laid back. i remember his post before leaving that he'd be looking for "weed and wimmen" and it's very obvious that he found his weed. this dude is really high, LOL! after awhile, he decides he should go back to his room and sleep it off. after sitting at the bar sipping on a few rum punches i was real unsteady when i got up. lol! we walked around for a bit and i'm bumping into things and trying to play it off. i didn't bring my camera but he did. so we took a few pics together. hopefully he'll come through and post them.

after meeting ol' head. i don't get into much for the next few days. i'm spending lots of quality time with my baby when he isn't working. i went to mobay proper to pick up sumfest tickets and then i head to the pork pit. while i'm eating the thunder is so strong that it sets off car alarms. a woman and her daughter walk through and she's wearing a jah cure t-shirt. this is the first time i've ever seen one and i compliment her on it. she says her brother is a promoter for the recording studio that jah cure works at and that they made these shirts to promote him. she then says that she has an extra one that she'd be happy to give me. i am thrilled! she says that she will bring it by on friday and tells me where i can go to pick it up. i leave the pork pit after i eat and head back to the gloriana. i made the mistake of wearing white pants on a rainy day. so as i'm walking down the street my flip flops are splattering muddy water from my ankles all the way up to my butt! i look a hot mess but i don't know it until i get back to my room. lol

i like this tree. it's unusual.

the unanticipated events have been steady throughout the week. first with mr. jomo being sick, then the lack of a/c on plane to jamaica and the blackout. when i get a text from jc saying that i need to call jomo and that there's an emergency with my car my heart nearly stops. so i call her and thank goodness it's an easy fix. the next day i get a text from my sister. it reads as follows: "the boys caught the microwave on fire, but everything's fine now." Lord Jesus what's going on! lolol

on wednesday samba gives me a call. i needed to get some things at the store and he was gracious enough to give me a ride. thanks samba!

jc and her friend debbie arrive on thursday. they're at the ritz carlton and they say that there won't be any problems with me coming to visit since it isn't an all-inclusive. i get a ride down there and jc is waiting for me in the lobby. i feel so lucky to be able to see her again. she takes me to her room (i won't say how long it takes us to find her room, lol) so i can change into my swim suit. i am amazed at how nice the room is! i coulda lived in her bathroom. one night at this place would pay for my entire week at the gloriana. after i change we head over to the beach bar.


we took another "special picture" but i think i'm gonna wait for jc to come back before i post it.



samba stops by the hotel and hangs out with us since he is unable to make the 6:30 linkup for that night.

This is really nice....despite the small hitches, glad u enjoyed your trip.

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Oh this is fun Tia..thanks! I actually hung out under that tree for a little bit one glorious afternoon!! Can't wait to see more pics!

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Tia - as always love the report so far! You definitely have a way with words - what a great storyteller! The kids in your class must love you!

wahoo, i have no idea what that tree is called, you're probably right though. i liked that tree because it stands as if it has a really bad case of scoliosis (sp?).

dg, that spot is a great place to chill. you can sit on a bench and look out over the ocean.

thanks blueeyed. this report will be much shorter than because i took very few pictures.

since there are a lot of things planned for thursday in addition to the excitement of the linkup time passed very quickly. i got into a swimsuit with every intention of taking a dip in the ocean at the ritz carlton with jc but it never happened. before we know it, it's time to get ready for dinner. all of us go back to the room to get ready. then we exchange hugs with samba and meet up with our driver. dwellinginwis has called a few times today to say that she will be coming in from negril to meet us for dinner. we were late getting there but sure enough, there she is sitting outside waiting for us. we exchange hugs and head in for dinner.



as we're seated i get a call from kc4u. i haven't heard from him in ages! he said he planned on meeting us for dinner but that he got tied up at his job. unfortunately, we didn't get a chance to see him.

after dinner we have some time to kill to we go back to my suite at the gloriana to chill. everyone is amazed to see what looked like a storefront open up into once you walk into the courtyard. the girls hang out on the verandah while i get ready for sumfest. we thought we'd take this next picture and see if etj can guess our toes.