this was a good week (43/100)
This was a good week! Here’s why:
• We’re back from our little summer break to Buda (pronounced “BYOO-dah,” I’m told the locals are quite particular about this). It was good to get away, and while I’d love to tell you all about the town itself, the truth is we never left our little rental cabin, except to spend hours in the pool. It wasn’t my beloved Caribbean, but in pandemic times, this fit the bill nicely.
• Since it’s a holiday weekend in the United States (and the last unofficial weekend of summer), here are some ideas if you want to take a vacation, but won’t be leaving your home. Honestly, we may try a couple of these just to extend this week a little!
• These images of happiness definitely make me happy.
• This is a pretty epic book announcement page, by a really clever and somewhat eccentric cartoonist and illustrator. I’m so looking forward to receiving her book. (An example of her work: this post about Kenny Loggins ruining her Christmas has not ceased to make me laugh in the almost decade since she wrote it.)
• And speaking of books, do yourself (and your children) a favour, and watch Jaqueline Woodson read her beautiful book, The Day You Begin. It’s only about 7 minutes long, and worth every second.
• I just got a sudden hankering for corn soup — a traditional soup made in Trinidad (and frequently the perfect street vendor food to grab after the clubs close, and you’re on your way home hungry). This recipe that I just found is pretty traditional, so this might have to go down this weekend!
• And speaking of Trinidad, today’s soundtrack: that link about having a vacation at home above invites you to listen to the music of your destination this weekend. On the way home today, I was listening to Kes the Band, my favourite soca group in Trinidad, and when this song came on, I got such a wave of homesickness, I burst into tears. The song came out last year, and I went looking for the official music video. It features vintage footage from Carnival celebrations in Trinidad in the past, and is just so full of the joy and love we Trinis feel every Carnival season.
So, I figured I’d share it today — click here or the image below to listen. It make make you jump and free up just like a Trini.
(Also, a little cultural note for context: the Savannah is where it all goes down at Carnival time in Trinidad’s capital city, Port-of-Spain. When we’re not “jumpin’ up” to soca, year-round we’re often buying a coconut from a street vendor for some fresh coconut water.)
Have a great weekend, everybody.
