Sound Meditation in my Studio
Sound therapy is nothing new. It is a catalyst for deep meditation. It helps to align and open blocked chakras, leading to overall health and well-being of both the practitioner and participant. Whether you agree with the existence of the seven body chakras or not, sound bath and sound meditation have been scientifically proven to alleviate stress and relieve tension. The simple act of making time for yourself to be still, clearing the mind_is a restorative activity. A sound bath can set you up to tackle your next big challenge! I beca…
Summer Holidays 2: Antigua or Bust
I really thought it a good idea to take a challenging summer class in conjunction with a 2 week stay in the Caribbean! HA! In truth I had no intention of taking a class when booking travel in February. Instead, I’d have spent a mentally taxing spring, fulfilling the myriad requirements needed for my first year as a speech-language pathology grad student. But alas, I didn’t learn of my acceptance into 2 programs until after I’d given up on it (and subsequently dropped all spring courses)... , I had to pick up those classes fairly quickly this …
Summer Holidays 3: Art in Antigua
When on vacation I disconnect completely from life in America. I shut off the television and read only local news, and I actively engage with my art materials. In Antigua last week, I pulled out my favorite pencil case--gifted to me earlier this year--my favorite colored pencils, and my favorite watercolors. Between walking, swimming, eating, drinking, and getting Covid (for a few days), I made art to help me to process my experience of being home for the first time since 2019. Study in seagull: have I ever discussed the joy of observing sea…
Homeward Bound 2023
Me and hubby at one of Antigua's 365 beaches 😂 I'm looking svelte at the resort bar The last time that we ventured home to Antigua was summer 2019, for the first ever Christopher/Joseph family reunion. The round trip was our last set of family flights before the Covid-19 global pandemic. My very last solo air travel was the winter England visit on 2020. Once lockdowns started and general fear of airborne transmission set in, airplanes were no longer an option. During these past few Covid-years, we have driven to our usual summertime…
Reminiscing on Blood Pudding
Spending the last couple weeks in the UK, I have had multiple opportunities to have all or some of the full English breakfast. As I've sat with knife and fork poised, I heard many native diners order their fry ups without this particular delicacy, "full English, no black pudding..." time and again. Perhaps they also know how the sausage is made? Indeed, when I was a child in Antigua, I was witness to the life cycle of the common blood pudding (or black pudding, for those of a finer constitution). My grandparents had a…
wedding planning : cocktail hour appetizers
I'm back and forth on the wedding reception menu. First, I wanted a menu of food from my native Antigua, but as the dishes are specific to the island nation, it would be tough to get a caterer who could make passable versions of pepperpot, fungi, or dukuna. So, I thought about having other ethnic fare, then I was back to the food of my homeland. Surely there must be an Antiguan cook in the tri-state area?!! But I'm still not sure. As there's time to think on it, I've tabled the dinner menu and have begun to concentrate on…
Winter Holiday: UK 3.0
Banksy 'n 'em It's funny, each time I travel abroad, I fall in love with something new. England is no different: Me, traveling. In winter 2023, on the advice of a fellow traveler, I started following and fell for the the Northern England EFL team Hartlepool United Football Club (this season relegated to the National League) On that trip I also fell in love with a young woman bartender, an island girl like me, but from Dominica, who was living in a flat with her partner, and making a life for herself. Saviola and I chatted about o…
The Dog Saga
I’m a cat person. It’s a color that runs through and through. Cats are clean, smart, and independent—much like me. That said, I once entertained the idea of getting a doggie companion; shortly after Azrael died. I simply could not see myself ever replacing the beloved feline with another, lesser member of the feline species. This new pet had to be a fresh start. Azrael, the best cat ever lived In preparation for this dog—mind you this is 20 years ago—I read all of the dog books in the library, surveyed dog owners in the neighborho…
The Outdoors Rx
This past winter totally effed me up, emotionally! Numerous days inside, coupled with diminished physical activity, and almost no environmental vitamin D contributed to my being bummed out. This lasted all the way up to our April holiday in the sun. Those brief two weeks in Antigua made me happy and recharged my batteries for the start of the spring. The combination of sunlight, outdoor exercise, and reconnecting with my family, that is. After being back in the states for about a month, I can feel the pull of the doldrums. Spending more…
2019 Year in Review
We, at the theater January we were full of optimism... but then the Live version of RENT aired on teevee. Rather than let that early disappointment color our perception of the year to come...we decided that 2019 had nowhere to go but up! February was a month of contrasts. We Hewesies were again full of joy and anticipation as we partied down for 3 near-consecutive snow days, and saw our new favorite band Katie Bowers perform at the Cat's Eye. But all this light and fun was followed by the grim news that we should take better care o…
Spring Break Done Right
Here’s how my extended vacation unfolded: This trip back home to Antigua was supremely well-deserved. Here in the mid-Atlantic region of the USA, we've spent a full winter wondering how our mostly-temperate zone turned into the arctic tundra. It was cold. Record frigid temps, short days, self-imposed hermit status, and general winter doldrums caused an uncharacteristic bout of depression that even March could not remedy. By the night before our 3am departure for the airport I was still fretting. So much so that I caused myself to have …
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