A bucket list

So I was looking for pictures to make more cute King Julian things and I came across this blog with a bucket list on it. What a bucket list is, a list of things to do before you die. I'm no good a lists so I'm debating whether or not I want to add one to this blog....must decide...

Here are my King Julien stuff....

Happy Birthday to meeeeeee!

Ok so today is my birthday and what am I doing with it? Spending it at work torturing myself....Happy Birthday to me indeed...It's a LONG and just irritating story as to why, but I never wanted to spend the DAY OF MY FRIGGING BIRTH in this dump....I really didn't..


Oh on a completely unrelated note...HAPPY FATHER'S DAY to all you fathers out there....


Hugs,
Kato

Sir Stanley is in the KING-dom

Woohooo!!! The L.A Kings has captured SIR STANLEY!!! I know, I know, I do love my some Marty from the Devils but I can't STAND that team...I know, I am holding a grudge but still! Congratulations to the L.A Kings!!!

Junsu is the SHIZ!!!

Ladies and gents, I give you, JUNSU! A member of Dong Bang Shin Ki or DBSK, a South Korean pop band. Yes, he IS a MAN - 27 years old.

So the other day I was fussing about my friend's Facebook wall and came across the video! It's so cool I've bought it and put it on my ipad and I RARELY buy videos off iTunes. I mean what's the point? It's free on youtube. But I LOVE watching it on the bus and watching people's face as they look at it then at me and thing "Why is she watching some gay guy dance?" He's NOT gay. He's just really tiny so he dances to fit his body type--because let's face it, JUNSU is NOT Gangsta!

Then it dawned on me...why do people automatically assume someone who looks like JUNSU is gay? In places like China and South Korea and Japan dressing the way he does is perfectly normal and manly. There's nothing wrong with it. To me he looks more like an anime character than gay. But I guess I see the person and the culture and through eyes with an open mind than with some idiotic stereotype.

Cuba Pt. 2 - BASEBALL!!!! yes, you read right!

So we were driving between Varadero and Mantanzas and I saw a baseball diamond. So I flailed, squealed and pointed. Ron, by this time must have gotten used to my foreign way of speaking when I'm excited because he turned and asked our driver and then our teachers if we could see a game. Once they agreed, he now had to go through the schedule and see if we could squeeze it in.

Happily we could but now it becomes an issue of who wanted to go and who didn't. When he asked who wanted in, I rose my hand high, waved it around just to make sure he saw it. Why was I so excited to go to a baseball game? It's a baseball game in CUBA....a country who has made some of the best baseball players in the world--well aside from Venezuela and most recently Japan and South Korea--but come on! It's a baseball game IN CUBA!!! The stick in the mud had this look on her face that told me she didn't want to go just because it was something I wanted to do but I didn't care.

Off we went! To a playoff game between the Mantanzas Crocs and the Santos Spiritus Chickens--I think--I am not sure...LONG story...

So we're at the game, and even though some were pouting and just sitting there, I was taking pictures, videos, cheering, doing the wave and taking it all in. It was amazing! The teams never once got into a fight or argued with the umpire-even though I think he was a clown because he called some bad plays against my Crocs--but it was a good game. All the fans from both teams got along, they cheered, hold up their signs, waved at the cameras...But what was REALLY just amazing? It was a family affair. There were people of all ages there. It was a thing families were doing together like it should be.

Cuba Pt. 1

Hello all!

I'm back!! I survived the plane rides and the heat and came back! This trip was off the chain! I couldn't stop buzzing. My mom must be like "ugh! Stop already!"

But *flails* ok let's start at the beginning.  My parents woke me up at 5AM to get to the airport. I didn't have to be there till 7AM. The kicker? We didn't get to leave the house until 6AM--we were supposed to leave at 5:30AM.  We finally found each other and went into the line to check in.  Then one of our leaders, Shawn started passing out hats and tshirts.  The conversation in this line was all over the place but eventually we got through checking in, sat around for a little bit before boarding.  The flight there was okay, not too much turbulance until the ending of the actual flight. Getting through customs in Cuba was so fast, I think I still have whiplash. But we got through and then Ron, our wonderful guide from The Urban Famer, was right there with us, coralling us, making sure we got to our magic Yellow School Bus and that no one was left at the airport.

The drive to our place of stay was slow but I enjoyed every minute of it.  Most of it was along the ocean so who cared, right?  Anyways, we drove from the airport and pulled up in front of The CERESE house.   The locals call it Casa Del Carino. It was amazing! The house is beautiful outside and the people inside are even better. 

This is a picture of the guys in the house, including Ron and our driver Yoel

Whenever we left our rooms to leave for the day or go partying or for a length of time, even though they have security, when we come back the doors are all locked to our rooms.  But not only is the door locked, but our rooms are cleaned, beds changed, towels folded into swans--it was like a hotel but better. We had ladies in our kitchen who understood we spoke no Spanish, well I do speak some Spanish but I haven't been the most confident with it and they respected that. Sure they giggle when I asked for scissors in Spanish and Yoel, our driver, had to repeat it just the way they say it down there. Which then led to me blushing and hanging my head saying, "that's what I said!" lol


Now, this post is going to have some of the bad things that happen--which weren't many because I was on cloud nine the whole time I was there. The first thing is was this one girl who tried her best to irritate me the whole time. I was quite proud of myself because I didn't freak and lay a smack down on her. I have no idea what her issue was, or who peed in her coffee but this chick was just irritating as all hell. 

The second bad thing was I develop a heat rash on my neck and in the crook of both my arms, along my shoulders and shoulders.  I freaked out, went tearing for Donald, flailing. "Donald!!!!!" He looked at me and go "now what's wrong sweetheart?" I couldn't speak, I simply point with one hand and flailed with the other hand.  He looked at it, disappeared into his room and came back with a bottle of aloe. He told me not to worry because it was just from the heat and my skin is no longer used to being in such heat.  I was not prepared to get heat rashes. I mean, shit I was born in Jamaica! Hell, I don't get even get this crap when I go back to Jamaica! So every day, I wake up praying it would go away because I know what was going to happen once they started drying up. They would turn white, flake, peel, start itching and then scar. That's just what I needed, more scars. The ones on my neck are almost gone without any much flaking or peeling. The ones on my arms are not so merciful. They are itching, flaking, peeling and going away Slllllooooowwwwlllyyy...ugh.


Hugs,
Kato

A Dose of my new Addiction

The Lights

The lights are beautiful to welcome you from the dark. It smiles and shed some clarity.  Take some time for the brightness. Stand in it and let it surround you.

Love,

Kato

Night Falls!

There's a special allure about the night as it wraps its arms around you. Close your eyes, lift your face to the night and allow the moon's glow to ravish you.....Take the mystery, let it seep through your skin and tickle your bones. Smile in the face of the night, embrace the dark. 

Love,

Kato

Cuba in the Rain

Cuba in the rain.... There is something special about running through the rain with not a care in the world.  We should do that more often.... I shall add that to my list.

Love,

Kato 

Why are Older women so rude?

So today after my exam I'm coming home. I was so exhausted I fell asleep on one bus and barely work up in time to get on the next bus. Anyways I was standing, leaning against the bus post, just waiting for the bus.  It finally came and stopped in front of me. I was waiting for people to get off the front door, even though they should get off through the BACK door. Anyways, I am waiting, and felt like someone was pushing my back from behind. I turned around to see this older woman trying to shove between me, my bag and the bus. I figured she would look around and see that people were still coming off the bus.

No, no, she shoved by me and was climbing onto the bus so I said to her, "Do you think I'm just standing here because I wanted to?"

She gave me this luck and shoved pass this woman coming off the bus and into the bus.

I could not believe the gall on this woman. I mean if someone my age had done that to her you would never hear the end of it. You would hear how rude I was and how disrespectful. I mean damn--Older people demand respect from young people but they absolutely refuse to show us any. I am so tired of older people pushing us around because they think because they're older they can treat us like dirt.

I'm sorry but the next time one of them disrespect me I'm going to say something. Why get walked over by anyone?

You can't get respect unless you give it. As corny as that is, it is true...but I'M GOING TO CUBA!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love,
Kato

What a day!

Let me preface by saying the following: Nothing makes me angrier--well I probably shouldn't say nothing but one of the things that make me ANGRY is when people are late; Especially rude people!

This morning I was set to do crazy lady's exam. Oh wait, I probably should explain the name. So I went back to school as you all can probably tell by now and I swear one of my professors is out to get me. There is no other explanations for it.  We're taking this class which will remain nameless for obvious reasons and the woman is the teacher from hell. She doesn't really teach as read from the book, gives us examples from the eighteen hundreds that we cannot use. Then when test time rolls around, there is about five to six chapters, fifteen questions worth one hundred and fifty marks...yes, you heard right ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY! As in 150...as in...well you get the picture....So after a whole bunch of students from both her sections failed or were close to failing, a bunch of them dropped the class and others wrote a letter to our department complaining about her.

I wasn't failing but I was not pleased.  Anyways, I figure, live and let live. I was going to do her class, get my C and get it over with. Then after our second test, she was taking up the answers in class and I read my answer and saw that what she said was precisely what I wrote to answer to the question, only she wanted us to write more. I was furious. I answered what she asked and she wanted us to read her mind, know exactly what else to add and add it.  I put my hand up and state quite emphatically, that I couldn't read her mind and if she wanted us to write all of that she should have asked up to write all of that. I told her she needs to be more precise in her questions if she wants an long, drag out answers with additions that she never asked for.

She looked at me, her eyes kind of glazed over before she walked away. Other students were like "no. you can't walk away, she is trying to get something clear," so now she walks back and started to argue with me me. I blinked at her with a blank stare and explain to her that I didn't want an argument and if she couldn't understand what I was trying to do or say I'll go to my department head and perhaps they'll be able to help me.  So I left and went to see my department head.

Anyways, long story short, I had to do my exam early because of the thing to Cuba and after I had to let my Cuba adviser talk to her because she refused to accommodate me, I finally got today, at 8:30 to do my exam.  So I spent the last few days freaking out, ripping out my hair and just breaking out into cold sweats because of this damn exam.  Finally, this morning arrived and I got to school at 8AM, stopped for a snack because I needed the sugar then reached the assigned room for 8:15AM.

No one's there.

What in the hell?

I sat down, read over my HORDE of notes a few times then looked up at the clock.

Still no one.

A few teachers went in and out of the office but the lady I was waiting for hadn't gotten there yet. Finally two other students in the same boat as me for different classes arrived, we chatted for a bit.

Still no one.

Finally, I stopped one of the female professors and asked if she knew what was happening. What a surprise? She had no clue. She told us to wait a  bit longer.  By this time it was almost 9AM so I'd been waiting for close to forty five minutes. At around 9:05AM this woman walked into the office and by us. She headed into the back so I figured she was just another professor coming and going. Eventually she came back at about 9:10 and asked if we were being helped.

I was furious by now.

I told her no and that I was supposed to have started my exam half an hour ago. She asked who I was and who my teacher was and went into the back again. When she came back, it was with a folder and told me to meet her down a corridor by a door so she can lead me to the exam room.

FINALLY

I got to do my exam. One more down, one to go.

But what struck me as inconsiderate and inexcusable about this was, she was half an hour late and she never once said she was sorry for the inconvenience. She walked in as if nothing in the world was wrong.

What am I trying to say? In today's day and age of technology--texts, emails, phones, cell phones all that jazz, there is no excuse to be late and not inform someone. None what-so-ever. And if I am making an effort to be there on time like I'm supposed to, the least you can do is say you're sorry for being late. It's just common--honest to goodness--courtesy.  My friends know if they are more than 15 minutes late to meet me somewhere and they don't call or text to let me know they're coming I go home. Make an effort to be a good person. If you're going to be late, tell someone and if you can't, apologize because there were tons of shit I could have been doing in that wasted half an hour.

so a stressful day calls for a nice breakfast...well its not breakfast since its like 2:30PM EST now but oh well...

Love,
Kato

Shellack!! - no I'm not swearing at you!

I was supposed to blog earlier but ugh...been nose deep into legal fundamentals and still don't know half the crap I'm supposed to. I swear this woman is trying to kill me.

But for something completely different....

Today was a weird day. So I went outside this morning at like 7:30 AM. Not because I have work (thank god) or because I had to go to school but because I had to go get my booster shot for hep A so I can go to Cuba right, and the weather was horrid. Last night they told us it was going to snow and all I could think was "SHUT. UP!" But my BFF said it snowed in Ottawa and she wasn't pleased but all we had in Toronto (which I am thankful for) was some high winds and rain. But its colder than Santa's nipples out there.  Anyways, I went and got my booster shot and then I stopped by the new Wal-mart where my nail place moved to and dropped 65 bucks in the joint--Mani, Pedi (with full set Shellack), eye brows, upper lip...I pampered and waxed but I look fly.

I don't wax my brows often, because let's be honest and straight up here, it hurts like a mutha! I mean come on, it's warm wax, poured onto your skin, press a piece of cloth on it, press the cloth to set in the hot wax then RIP it off. I mean come on!

My freshly done brow

Anyways, here's a pic - to the right of what it looks like after she finished ripping my hair out.  I like how she does it because she doesn't take off too much. I mean I've seen some women who just shave off their eyebrows and draw it back in with the eye pencil. But then it rains....I'm giving you a moment to think about it....come on....what happens when it rains? That's right, it runs and then when they wipe it, they have no eye brows....Super sexy! HA! lol. Look, all I'm saying is, if I wanted to look like something from Earth's Final Conflict I would have gone for that look when that TV show was pretty big.  I love my eye brows, its just sometimes they are a little unruly.

My New Nails

Anyways, so to my fingernails. I wanted something that wouldn't damage my nails too much. Fakes would ruin my nails....for months until they grow completely out. And I do love my nails. I may not paint them as much as I should etc but I do like them. It's not sexy when they are ruined because I decided to put fakes on.  Anyways the girl at the place suggested this new gel style--well not fully new but new to me. So I did them and used a dark colour--not black. But a dark purple on my fingers.  I like the colours and it left my nails looking shiny and pretty. So here, I had to show them off lol.

So let me see, my shots are done, nails are done, hair is done, packing is...well...somewhat done. I went buck wild in Wal-mart today for this trip so I have to pack those stuff. I got my water bottle, hat, sunscreen, insect repellant and all that stuff. Grab a summer dress, a little shawl and some other stuff and packed those. I have to get a purse to carry and finish packing my carry on so I am about ready. I have two more exams and then I can truly focus on really finishing up packing and cleaning my black hole um I mean my room before I go....let's hope I dont forget anything right?

Anyways, Three more sleeps!!!! *flails*

AND! Before I go I have to announce that my boys are back! Big Bang (with my boys Taeyang, T.O.P, G-Dragon, Seungri and Daesung) Love them!

*fan girl screams* Here's their new video for  FANTASTIC BABY! Enjoy!





 Love, Kato

Allergies - ick---CUBA!!!

When I was a child in Jamaica, I didn't know what allergies really were. I thought there was someone's throat closing up because they couldn't eat peanuts. Then I moved to Canada and one year when the weather changed my eyes started watering and getting itchy, my sinuses were screaming bloody murder, I couldn't breath and my throat was scratchy. Freaked out, went to the doctor and he told me, "well, Congratulations. You have seasonal allergies." 

WHAT???

I sat there staring at him as if he'd just asked me to elope and have three point five babies. I mean shit, I spent 13 years of my life and never had to worry about this crap and then WHAM? How is that fair? 

Now at 28, I'm still getting my ass kicked. Am on the bus blowing my nose trying to clear it and people looking at me like I just sprouted horns.  Ick. I wonder what it's going to be like when I go to Cuba?? Oh and by the way, 10 days and counting!!!

I've started packing--well I took out most of the stuff that I need to carry. My school has given me lists after lists of things to pack. I still have to get my booster for the hepititis A and B shots I got a week or so ago. Still scared by that by the way. I hate needles.  But it has to be done. Plus all my exams--yes party people I am back in school...ugh....exams are to be done early.

Tomorrow, during our final orientation/spanish class, we're having a pot luck so I have to do all the stuff I have to do today, then go home and bake a cake...I could have picked something simplier...but noooo I'm me and I have to do something next to impossible. But it is for good people so I don't mind. The strange thing about the group I am going with, they are the funniest, down to earth people ever! It should be interesting--because I don't consider myself a down to earth person. I mean I am open-minded (I've been told) and sometimes I can be too serious so I'm hoping this trip will help me fix that about myself. I just can't wait to see the people and feel the sun and see the sunset in a different part of the world.   I said this to a 'friend' once and she wants to know what was so special about seeing the sunset in a different country. She said "once you've seen one you've seen them all." 

 The difference, is that no two sunsets are alike.  Think about it. When you're in Canada the sunset by splashing different colour across the sky. When I'm in Jamaica, the sunset and turn the sky a nice pinkish, orange-ie red. In the US, the sun just goes away, covered by clouds--the sun goes away without so much as a whimper. But there is something so different, so...I don't know how to explain it. I think it's the writer in me that just wants to see this.

Anyways, I am going to back to work. I have to go face my day...which doesn't really start until I leave work today. I still have to get some passport pictures taken and after that I think I'm going to use the hour wait to get the braids for my hair...crap! I knew I forgot something....Must make appointment to get my hair done next week...that's important no?

*hugs*
Kato

Voyando a Cuba!!!

I know, I know, for years now I've been harping about how I'm going to Cuba but never end up going. But this time it seems I am really going to Cuba! My school has this program called A Leadership Experience and I applied for one and got into the Cuba one. It's a premaculture, kind of farming vacation thing but who cares? I'M GOING TO CUBA! I am leaving at the end of April and coming back at some point in May which is EPIC to me because it's the kind of trip I've always wanted to take.  My school is in partnership of sorts with The Urban Farmer and we're going to head down to Cuba and do a little good in the world. Everything is being covered by the school and they recommend we get some shots, if we're not fully immunized that kind of thing. You wouldn't believe the hassle to find a travel clinic in Toronto that wont rip you off. I mean damn, but it's a small price to pay right? And you guys know how much I hate needles.  I finally have an appointment to go see a doctor to get my shots, if I need any. I know I for sure need to get a tetanus shot.

Before the injections, I had to renew my passport even though it wasn't expired. It wouldn't expire until three weeks after I return to Canada, but they insisted on me getting a new one. This is a good idea. Give yourself a good six weeks on the passport before you go travelling. If you're just heading across the border to party then it shouldn't matter as long as your passport is valid, but to really far off countries, give yourself a window there.

Another thing all travellers should do is register that they are leaving the country with the Canadian government. I know, you might say you don't want the government keeping track on you but remember that bombing in Pakistan a few years ago at a hotel? There were Canadians there and because they registered with the Canadian government, the government was able to come in like an hour later to rescue them. I'm not saying there will be a bombing where you're going but in today's world anything can happen. Find out from your travel place about this and do it. Here's a link to the website with more information.

Anyways, so I have so much to do before I go. Packing is the least of my troubles. I have to do exams early, plus the other exams, packing, the medical clinic thing, get my hair done, go shopping for some stuff and hopefully I won't be too exhausted to make the plane lol.  But can you believe I'm going to Cuba???

Hugs,
Kato

2011 is over and 2012 has begun

Wow, can you believe this? 2011 left us like fifteen days ago in one big annoying blurr and then what? I was stuck in my job still trying to find my way, getting my own place and getting older. Can you hear that infernal clock just ticking away?

Anyways, even though I said I wasn't going back to school, I didn't have a choice. I got tired of being angry all the time and depressed and just plain pissed the hell off so I signed up for school.  I thought--this is going to be easier. The process would be better because I am not on OSAP. Boy was I wrong.

First I thought I got to pick my classes or at least what times they are..nooooo. I was so wrong. They gave me a block of courses and say you HAVE to take these then a few electives for me to pick one. The messed up part of that is the electives are all at the same damn inconvenient time in the day where I can't go to work before or after it. So I moved on from that irritation. Then I noticed I had credits from the same school (I started college there a few years ago but didn't finish because half way through the program I realise...shit, this isn't what I want to do with my life!) and stopped. So I had those credits on my transcript with them. I figured this should be easy, all I have to do is tell them about it, they take me out of the elective, give me another course from second semester and BAM issue fixed, right?

Wrong.

The I was told I was supposed to be taking an English class that was mandatory and should have bene in my block and I didn't have it.  So I did the regular thing. I went to the registrar to help me with these isses. They sent me down to records. Records didn't do what I wanted so they sent me back to the registrar who sent me back to records who sent me back to the registrar who finally admitted they had no earthly clue what the hell I was talking about.  I got so damn mad because each time you go to these people you have to join a long ass line and each time you wait about forty five minutes for them to send you to someone else.  I stood at the counter with my head pressed against it with some strange guy patting my shoulder telling me it will be alright and that he knew what I was going through.

Finally I was so mad, I sent my program head an email saying NO I will not join anymore lines. NO I will not go to records. NO I will not go to the registrar's office and NO I will not go to anyone else, YOU help me! She told me to come see her the next morning at 9:30AM. My classes start at 12:30PM. What in the hell am I going to school that early for? Still, I hauled myself out of bed, faced a blizzard and got there a quarter after eight. I got a number and waited. This woman did not show up until after 10AM and my anger was just stewing.

Finaly I got to see her about 10:30am and she looked at my file. She couldn't understand why they hadn't sent me to her before. Finally she looked through every thing and started crossing off courses off my route. (your route is something they created so you know precisely what courses to take to graduate and when to take them). Then she finally figured it out and was trying to add me into another course I would eventually have to take anyway.

The computer refuse to give her access to add me.

She gave me a note so I could bypass the lines in the English department and sent me along.  I finally found this damn room in the middle of hades and then they tell me, oh now, you have to go to L2-14!!! What the fuck!!?? Are you joking!

I bit my tongue, walked back all the way from where I was, climbed up and found the room. FINALLY they got me into the right damn class. And that was the first damn week of school.

So I am losing weight and I started ZUMBA! Check out my Taking back Kay Blog by clicking here.