Contemplations and Late nights

30/01/11

Tonight my entire family was up until dawn finishing up projects. Family of procrastinators or just a family that works better under pressure? Oh well, the family that stays up late together wakes up late together :P

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Through rose-coloured curtains.

So I've been thinking about my fast (Well, more like rethinking it)and I have decided that while I will continue to abstain from Facebook, YouTube and the like, I will still post on blogger. I feel that the completion of my 365 project can only be truly achieved if a post is done each day (or almost each day in the case of severe uncontrollable drowsiness) rather than all in one post. What transpires today should be recorded and told today, not five months from now. Since I was so excited and determined to do this project, I have decided to continue posts as usual. Short posts may become the norm at exam time however.

Gasohol

While doing research and making notes for the last module in our Chemistry syllabus, Industry and the Environment, I came across gasohol. Now, in case you didn’t know, ‘gasohol’ is an alternative form of fuel for vehicles which contains 20% ethanol in lead-free petrol. It’s widely known because of its mass production in Brazil. Now, I knew about using ethanol as car fuel before I began my research but what I didn’t know was that it was being produced from sugar cane. Moreover, it is also being produced and the ethanol being exported by one of our fellow Caribbean nations, Belize. So then tell me, why oh why isn’t our beloved country of Trinidad and Tobago using gasohol? Well, apparently, according to my daddy, just before they closed down Caroni, there were some discussions about using the factory to manufacture ethanol instead of sugar, however, it was deemed uneconomical. Neither my father nor I am convinced. Trinidad constantly relies solely on their oil and natural gas industry despite them having the knowledge that it is a non-renewable resource and hence will run out soon. We should be looking into gasohol! And what about solar energy? Why oh why do I never see solar panels on any of our building rooftops? WE ARE A TROPICAL ISLAND! SUNSHINE BLAZING DOWN ON US YEAR-ROUND! After Hurricane Ivan, Grenada, our next door neighbor, has been seriously implementing renewable energy sources. Their hotels and prominent buildings have solar panels on every rooftop. When we stood on St. George’s University campus and looked out over the city, that is what we saw-solar power at work. They are even looking into wind energy and planning for a possible coastal wind farm. It amazed me and at the same time confused me. Why wasn’t Trindad doing that? If the even smaller island of Grenada was able of implementing this, why weren’t we? Perhaps that was exactly the reason. Trinidad feel they to big! They have oil! They LARGE! Well let me tell you something. Soon, the oil go done! And what allyuh goin an do den eh!? STEUPS! Rubbish I tell you! Instead of trying to use sustainable resources and plan for a better future for our children, we want to hand them a withered and rotten Earth on a silver platter? Unbelievable.

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Cracked up.

P.S. I posted this because I needed to get it out but maybe I'll have intermittent updates or something during my 'hiatus' (doesn't make it a hiatus anymore does it). Anyways, possible posts in the future, however I'm officially out until June. Sayoonara!

GOODBYE!

So I have decided that my hiatus will last until my CAPE exams are over. So expect a MASSIVE update on Saturday June 11th. :D I have decided to do this because I need less distractions to remain focused. After all, nothing good comes without sacrifice. Ganbatte ne!

Time to Abstain.

So I want to come off the internet for a while but I'll need to check my email on a regular basis so I'm more looking at abstaining from all social networking sites which, sadly, includes this one. The thing is, one of my resolutions was to complete the 365 Project, i.e. the 365 album and blog.What if I just post on the blog once a week? I really do think total and complete withdrawal from Facebook, Blogger and Messenger is best though. That and chocolate. Today was my last pack of chocolate until after Lent. I'll be sure to continue taking my pictures though and just add them all in one go when I return. Not sure when that is though. Maybe I'll make an appearance after Lent also. Just to update. We'll see. This isn't final yet. It's a thought in progress. I will get back to you. Probably before I go to bed actually.

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Think, Think, Think.

:/

Delayed posting again. Sleep is the cause once more. So my math test didn't go as well as I hoped it would have. It wasn't awful, but it wasn't awesome either. Hopefully, it's not bad. I'll just have to make up for it in my other two tests :/ 

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Just like a waving flag....

Logic

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Logic.

I have a pure math IA tomorrow so wish me luck! MATH! <3

P.S. Thought this was hilarious! :D

""Every minute dies a man, Every minute one is born;"  I need hardly point out to you that this calculation would tend to keep the sum total of the world's population in a state of perpetual equipoise, whereas it is a well-known fact that the said sum total is constantly on the increase.  I would therefore take the liberty of suggesting that in the next edition of your excellent poem the erroneous calculation to which I refer should be corrected as follows:  "Every moment dies a man, And one and a sixteenth is born."  I may add that the exact figures are 1.067, but something must, of course, be conceded to the laws of metre."  ~Charles Babbage, letter to Alfred, Lord Tennyson, about a couplet in his "The Vision of Sin"

HELLO BLOG!

HELLO BLOG!

How goes you, my dear audience? I hope that all is well with you all. Lots of smiles and laughter of course. So, I've been doing maths! Excitement! I felt very productive this evening. Oh the feeling of accomplishment! Let's revel in it shall we? Hm. Hm. Hm. It feels so good. I need to be productive more often. When I was actually getting somewhere, I thought, hmmm, progress (such a foreign concept :P), I could do this more often. I actually felt like studying! How delightful! Hopefully my urge to study for exams is upon arrival. :D Yay!

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Between the leaves.

But anyways, I should head off to bed now. Maybe wake up a little early to do some more maths? We shall see. Take care! Study hard!  Smile harder! :P

xoxo

Chelsea (HEY! That's the first time I "signed'' a post! Should I do that all the time? hmm...)

P.S. Any ideas you have for a post or anything you would like to hear (well read) me talk about, just let me know. You can put it in a comment. Thanks!

24/01/11

So, yesterday, I forgot about my blog. :O I know! So strange! It's not that I didn't think about it at all. I did. I just forgot to post when I got home and went to ZZzzz-land. :( So I shall double post today. What happened yesterday? I don't think it was that eventful actually. Oh! Apparently there was an iguana just chilling on a branch outside the form 6 block. I didn't have my camera though :( Saddities. Although, that does remind me of a vid from TriniToons that I saw on youtube. It's called, "De Wild Meat Famalee." Check it out >> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTnkRU1tQ0k (especially you Wild Meat! You know who you are! :P )

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Is it mutating? :S

Wanna be anime.

Mummy and I went experimenting today with the curly fro atop my head. We tried flat-ironing it and the result was very anime-like...see for yourself!

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Partially Straightened Hair. Partially anime style? :/

That is until it started to look a bit crackhead-ish :S Haha. Leslie had a good laugh at me. Steups! And after I was so excited too :( But mummy fixed it and hopefully we'll have a new hairstyle to go to school with in the morning :D

Oh! They broadcasted the Moka fete on the radio and that had me rel dancing whole night! Carnival season!!!!! AH WOTLESSSSSSSS!!!!! :D

What do you think of my straightened look?

For Carlos.

For Tracy and Carlos. Forever in our hearts. <3

Today, another beloved friend was lost to cancer. Carlos, you will forever be remembered as one of the strongest, most resilient, forever hopeful and happy persons I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. You have definitely changed my life for the better. Never giving up, you always fought the good fight with a smile on your face, seeming unfazed even when things went wrong. You made me laugh, you made me cry, you helped me to learn what it really means to enjoy life. And although it pains me to accept that you are no longer with us, I take comfort in the fact that you are no longer suffering or in pain now that you are in heaven. You will forever remain in my heart as a friend, a fellow patient, a dream street family member and a cancer warrior. <3

Light will prevail

21/01/11

So today, as soon as I got home, current went... :( tsktsktsk

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Let light in...

I don't even know when it came back. So sad. Apparently they had to replace a transformer or something. Well that took forever because I slept, woke up, ate, limed, went back to sleep and still no electricity. :S But it eventually did come back even though I was unaware of when exactly. That is why I couldn't post something new for you! :( Sorry! 

So anyways, today we ran more tests for our applied maths project. :D Yay! We got the idea here >>> http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas/Phys_p036.shtml?fave=no&isb=cmlkOjc1NTQzMDgsc2lkOjAscDoyLGlhOlBoeXM&from=TSW . Check out the site! It's pretty cool :D Our friends seemed more excited than we were hehe. Now I just have to write up the paper so I'll have that out of the way. 

Don't crush our coaster!!

Non Nobis Solum Sed Omnibus.

"Non Nobis Solum Sed Omnibus" ~ Not for ourselves only, but for all.

One of the many things I love about my school-our motto. Not for ourselves only, but for all. This motto not only implies that we should treat others with kindness and generosity but rather it instills a deep commitment to service to community; that what we gain, learn or achieve should not only be used to benefit our lives but also to benefit and positively impact the lives of others.
So much has this motto impacted my life that when deciding which universities to apply to, a dedication to community service and creating active citizens were high on the list of my requirements. So do not ever think that the Lord gave you all the lovely blessings you have received in your lifetime so that you can hoard them all to yourself. Share them with the world. Make a difference.

Talking To The Moon

YAYYYYYYYY! The girls are feeling much better today! Thank you Lord! :D

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Through the rear view mirror.

The moon is scary gorgeous tonight! When we were driving it seemed as though it was about to roll out of the sky and onto the road. That's how big it was! I didn't get a good picture that would truly get across how unbelievable it was but here's a picture nonetheless.

Since the moon has been so full and gorgeous for the past two nights, perhaps you should take a listen to a song from Bruno Mars' album, "Doowops and Hooligans" called 'Talking to the Moon.' Gorgeous song for the gorgeous moon. You can also hear a cover of the song by one of my friends at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbPohFE0FNM and subscribe if you like! Gorgeous girl singing a gorgeous song for the gorgeous moon :P hehehe

Double Post

17/01/11

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Tamarind!

Crazy things are going on in school. Crazy, scary things. Everyone is sick! :O And not just a cold or virus, throwing up, nausea, sick! What madness! Time for me to stay my tail home! I don't want any of that by me! Vitamins! Tea! and Sleep! I cannot afford to get whatever it is that is going around :S

18/01/11

When I got to school this morning the birds were chirping really loudly, so I was serenaded while I did my math homework. Just thought it would be cool to share with you.

Sadly, the mysterious bug going around got to most of the new WBC. Only four of us were in school today. I hope they get better soon. It sounds bad :(

So, I was pretty productive the 1st week of school but then we basically 3 days off the 2nd week and now I'm in a slump. Grrr...now I have to re-motivate myself.Chelsea fighting! :P

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Full Moon Finally!

CARNIVAL 2K11!!!!!

CARNIVAL IS IN THE AIRRRRR!!!

My dear friend, Leslie, the TRUE Carnival chile (even though he isn't a Carnival baby :P he is at heart haha), and I are very excited and hyped for Carnival. We cannot wait for the fete-ing to begin! He'll be playing mas (lucky!) and is planning to hit, get this, a total of 5 fetes you know! Wild chile I tell you! Hopefully once I stick to resolution #1, I'll be able to join him to at least one of these. Excitement!!!!!!!!!!! Can't wait to see Kes again! "AH WOTLESSSSS!!!!!" So we shall be enjoying ourselves this Carnival season because who knows when next I'll be here to particpate in the festivities :P Ahhhh... sweet T&T :D

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Slightly eerie.

:P

HELLO BLOG!

Jus Bloggin'

I find that I am running out of things to say in my blog. Perhaps I need to roam the blogworld for some inspiration. Did you know that originally I wanted to name this blog chilli bibi? My grandad used to make it for us when we were small and since my initials are CB and I always carried some to school my friends took to calling me that. Sadly the name was taken though, by a fellow Trini. She posts local recipes on her blog. Maybe I'll post a recipe one of these days. Hmmm.....Anyways! Off to find some inspiration! :P

Zzzzzz...

Post for 14/01/11

Sorry for another late post but I was sleeeeeepyyyy last night. I fell asleep early too so I thought that I may have woken up before morning to make this post but apparently not. Even with all that sleep though, I'm still tired :( Grrr. So my resolutions started to fall through a bit :'( and it's only the second week of the year :O but I'll try to fix it. I have to keep organised and on top of my work! Time management! (That probably means I should stop blogging right now and hit the books :P) Later!

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Christmas decorations :)

Self-Exploration

During the long and tedious process that is the university application process, I have been forced to ask myself many questions. In which of your accomplishments during high school do you take the greatest pride? Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you. Why are you interested in the academic discipline chosen? These questions have led to a bit of self-searching and self-evaluation. I have been faced with some harsh realities (e.g. procrastination will not help me to succeed in univeristy :O ) and as such, I have been forced to make some changes in my life (i.e. resolution #1 Resist all attempts to procrastinate). Evidently, no matter how troublesome and never-ending writing these essays may seem, they serve their purpose to admissions officers and surprisingly to us applicants who are able to grow and develop through self-exploration of our past, our present and our possible future.

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Mannie Ramjohn Stadium

View From La Pique

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View from La Pique

A lot of my classmates keep saying that they're going to be so sad when they have to leave our school and how much they are going to miss it but honestly I am ready to leave. It's not that I don't love my high school and want to escape or anything. I just think that I've have grown throughout my years there and that it has influenced and changed me as much as it can. It's time to move on now and start a new chapter in my life. I think I'll experience a new type of growth when I go to university, more learning how to stand on my own and be independent. I treasure all the wonderful times I spent at my high school and all the unforgettable memories created but I am ready for a new adventure and frankly, I can't wait! :D

Far East Movement

Free Wired

I got the Far East Movement's new CD, "Free Wired" over the Christmas vacation and I am in love with it. I have listened to the CD at least once a day since I bought it. I listen to it whether I'm cleaning, lounging or studying. It always gets me pumped and puts me in a better mood. EVERY song on this CD is awesome, upbeat, energy filled and radio-worthy. Even the slower, more mellow tracks like "Rocketeer" and "Fighting For Air" radiate FM's free wired vibe while showing their versatility in other styles of music. The beats on these tracks are unbeatable :P Definitely the product of lots of FM club nights :P They even came to Trinidad to open for Maroon 5 last year. Their performance was amazing. They have so much energy on stage. They commanded that stage perfectly and amped up the crowd :D Much excitement! So check out Far East Movement if you haven't yet. They are definitely worth getting to know. Also check out some of their songs from before they became the Billboard-topping group they are today, "RoundRound" from The Fast and The Furious:Tokyo Drift soundtrack and "Folk Music" courtesy KevJumba.

Free Wired Tracklist

1. Girls On The Dance Floor (feat. The Stereotypes)
2. Like a G6 (feat. The Cataracs & Dev)
3. Rocketeer (feat. Ryan Tedder of One Republic)
4. If I Was You (OMG) (feat. Snoop Dogg)
5. She Owns The Night (feat. Mohombi)
6. So What?
7. Don't Look Now (feat. Keri Hilson)
8. Fighting for Air (feat. Frankmusik)
9. White Flag (feat. Kayla Kai)
10. 2gether - Far East Movement + Roger Sanchez

Far East Movement in Trinidad

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Unknown Contraption

I'll Be Missing You

Late night road trip with la familia.

My family and I went on a late night errand tonight, one of our usual escapades. While we were driving, I realised that when I go off to university, we won't be able to spend time like this. Picking up ourselves and deciding to go on a random excursion down to Icacos will no longer be the norm. It saddened me, but that sadness only encouraged me to spend more time with them whenever I can and enjoy the simple moments of closeness when we talk and laugh together. I'm sure I will miss them and miss Trinidad. I will probably go through moments of feeling homesick. But these feelings and experience will just allow me to grow as an individual. As one of our teachers said in worship today, "Never say that you are going through stress but rather, say that you are growing through it." Besides, we always have holidays to palance. :P

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Jhandi.

The Origin of Hear Nah

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"A good book on your shelf is a friend that turns its back on you and remains a friend." ~Author Unknown

You may have wondered why I named this blog "hear nah." In Trinidadian dialect, 'Trini' slang if you will, the phrase "hear nah" is usually what one would say to get someone's attention before they tell a story or interject their opinion into the conversation. For example, Sheila walks into the room and collapses onto the chair next to her friends exclaiming, "Hear nah. If you see dramas to get to school today eh! Accident on the highway cause traffic for miles!" 

So, dear readers, I am calling your attention to my blog and indicating that I'm about to tell you my story. Hope you enjoy my second week of blogging! :D I'm so excited!!! :D :D :D

Simple Pleasures

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Granny's Bouganvilla

This is a bouganvilla plant my Granny planted in our yard a long time ago. It's the biggest bouganvilla tree in our yard and has the most gorgeous colour. Granny passed a away a while ago but every time we pass by the  window, we remember her and her beauty, both inner and outer, that was even greater than the beauty of the tree she planted.

It's so calming to just stare out the window sometimes and just let thoughts of work, school and to-do lists float away and stare in awe of God's work. Take some you time and enjoy the simple pleasures in life :)

Lesson of the Day.

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Lesson of the day.

I passed this on my way to write this post and I decided hey, since I'm on a roll with this whole 'lesson of the day/moral of the story' thing, why not continue.

So, "Don't let yesterday take up too much of today." What does it mean? I think it warns us not to get stuck in the past, dwelling on things we cannot change. What is done is done. The past is in the past and we must learn from it and move on. Whether it be bad grades or a fallout with someone close to you, we learn from yesterday so that we can improve today and tomorrow. Life is too short to live in the past. Let's live in the now and dream and make plans for the future. Spend time with the people who make you happy. Laugh scandalously. Release your inhibitions! (song lyrics! haha Natasha Bedingfield -Unwritten). Sing like no-one's listening and dance like no-one's watching. You only have one life to live so live it the fullest! :D

On the other hand it can be interpreted to  mean don't let things you had to do yesterday end up having to be done today (i.e. "yesterday use up too much of today"). Then again, I could be seeing that because I am a procrastinator :P

The Value of a Good Laugh

Today was a rather chill day, productive yet relaxed and that is all due to the value of a good laugh. How lovely it is to just sit around with a few good friends and laugh at each other's quirky anecdotes, odd mannerisms and just plain at each other (good-naturedly of course). According to these 'good friends' of mine :P though, my laughter is hilarious. Apparently when I laugh, it 'bubbles' out of me as though it's too much for my body to contain. 

Laughter is definitely a very important thing to me. Laughing and smiling are probably my favourite things to do. I think laughter is good to have in the classroom also. I like to laugh at myself when I make stupid mistakes. I like to laugh at our teachers and their unique mannerisms and sayings. I like to laugh as a class. Laughing makes the lesson so much more enjoyable and memorable and lightens up the stressed atmosphere that permeates when exams are around the corner. After all, laughter is medicine. 

Our applied math class is pretty small (12 people) so we are very close with our teachers and classes are intimate. However, when my friend, Riane shares something funny with me, my laughter erupts loudly, shattering the calm discussion or silence in the room. It has become the norm to see my teacher's face looking up at me incredulously and to see all the heads turn to our corner of the class, but these reactions only fuel my laughter causing me to gasp for air. Oh the memories... 

In conclusion, SMILES + LAUGHTER = HAPPINESS = MEMORIES 

So people, laugh with your loved ones while you can and create memories that will last a lifetime :D

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Streetlamp through the windshield.

Being Assertive

 This is my blog for 05/01/11. Woke up a bit late and my computer was giving problems to post but 4 hours into the 6th is not so bad. Here goes...

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Bhagi (aka Spinach)! YUM!

As part of the C.A.P.E. syllabus, students are required to complete internal assessments in each subject. These assessments are done through labs, tests or projects.  For one of my projects, the topic I chose is very meaningful to me personally so I want to put my best effort into it and do well. My teacher and I however keep butting heads. At first she had issues with my topic, so I explained to her my reasoning, she understood and approved. Then, she had a problem with my questionnaire because SHE found it confusing because of the terms used on it. Mind you, she is not the one answering it but rather health professionals who know what these terms mean. Anyways, again I explained to her what the purpose of the question was, she understood and allowed it. Now, she says that my presentation of data is confusing, so confusing, in fact, that she had to consult with another teacher in the department who also couldn’t make heads or tails of it. So now I’m really concerned because I don’t know how much simpler I could make those graphs look, but, I’m also fed up. I’m fed up of having to explain something every time I hand in part of the project, fed up of always having to justify my methods and fed up of how she automatically decides something is wrong once she doesn’t understand it. I’m fed up, so when she tells me not to use my current method (even though I explained to her the reason I’m collecting my data that way and she understood) I take it and say okay. No fight. No rebuttal. Nothing. There was a reason I never joined the debating club – I always get fed up of arguing and finally give in.

Now, after the Christmas vacation, when I’m ready to resume the project, my mummy finds the marked draft and is appalled at the mark. When I explain to her what happened she reads the project and is utterly befuddled since she can’t see anything confusing at all (she was a Language Arts/Literature teacher). She tells me that I MUST go back and talk to my teacher about it and get her to explain exactly what is wrong with the presentation of data. So today I approached my teacher and as she went through the data citing the problems, I explained my reasoning and again she understood. She decided that she had to consult with the other teacher again and get back to me, so I asked if I could be there to hear the problems first-hand. I now have a meeting tomorrow with the two of them. 

When mummy first started kicking up a fuss about the mark, I got upset because I didn’t want to deal with it anymore, but now I realize that if something really and truly matters to you then you should fight for it. Just because you keep hitting a brick wall doesn’t mean you should just give up. Being assertive and being able to communicate in a clear manner are very important skills in school and eventually in the workplace. Hopefully, it will all work out and all confusions will be demystified. In the end, this is just another lesson that prepares me for university. Be assertive! Note: NOT aggressive (like the cheerleading chant :P)