Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and other stuff

[guysanto*]

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Listen guys, gals, I really have to stay off the internet. It's not helping my hands. I had to take injections the other day in each hand for cappal tunnel syndrome. My son is trying to get me another table, mouse, hand and arm rest, and everything to alleviate my hand problems.

Nekita, well, you should take it easy, because your Health is of primordial importance. This does not mean (I think) that you should avoid typing or contributing 100%. [Others are invited to correct me, if I am wrong on this one.] What I noticed is that in a great many contributions this year, you have warned us that you should not be "in the internet". You have mentioned on several occasions that your son and your daughter want you off this thing, your daughter because she thinks that you should be cleaning house instead and you son because he worries about your health [and you, yourself, because of your hurting hands and wrists]. Well, let me tell you what I think and your other friends on the forum can give you advice as well.

PLEASE TAKE IT EASY. We love you on the forum, but carpal tunnel syndrome is not a minor annoyance and you should truly seek expert medical advice and follow it. Besides, others on the forum may have suffered from the same syndrome. I believe that Marilyn Mason has. She probably would have some great advice to give you. Contact her on or off this forum and listen to what she has to say on this subject, since she has experienced it first hand. You likely have to slow down if not stay away for a while, but we'd rather have you contributing for the next fifty years than to have you permanently off in a few months because of permanent injury. Please do take care of yourself!

As for your daughter, you can always tell her to clean the house for you, but don't tell her that I said that.

What do your other forum friends have to tell you on that subject? The line is open (on Global Haitian Community) for personal matters and friendly advice, so don't withhold and feel free to help any of our forum brothers, sisters, and friends...

I suggested to plan for Brazil next year. No one had said anything. I gave you some Brazil web sites to look at how Brazil's Vodou is commercialized. It seemed that you did not visit it.

I am not advertising for Brazil. If you go, you don't enjoy it, I'll give my contribution. It seems that you did not see it. It was in Creole. I said I will be your guide so I won't have to pay, or I'll pay a little. Jaf is talking about praying with your eyes open. In Brazil, they pray half naked if not 80% nude. Some churches have to put sign to dress properly.

Nekita, it was great to read in past notes (several of them) of your world travel experiences. Once you can safely manage your carpal (not cappal) tunnel syndrome, you may want to organize your observations in a travelogue (personal observations on your travels). I know that you have traveled extensively, whereas most of us have been limited to Haiti and U.S./Canada, for financial reasons or otherwise. However, we can enjoy those sites and other cultures vicariously through your eyes.

The vast majority of Haitians that I know have not even traveled through HAITI, let alone the vast world outside of it. As little as Haiti is, that is indeed A VERY SAD REALITY. I have been fortunate enough to visit all major regions of Haiti except one (the Northwest). Being in places like Cap-Haïtien, Dondon, Milot, Grande-Rivière, the Citadelle (at least a dozen times), Saint-Raphaël, Saint-Michel de L'Attalaye, Fort-Liberté, Ouanaminthe, Pandiassou, Hinche, Mirebalais, Gonaïves, Saint-Marc, Petit-Goave, Grand-Goave, Leogane, Fondwa, Jacmel, Cayes-Jacmel, Cayes, the various entry points on the Haitian-Dominican border from the nothermost port to the southernmost one (what's the name again? I think it used to be called Saltrou, but that they changed the name to something prettier under Papa Doc...), Cavaillon, Camp-Perrin, Port-Salut, Port-à-Piment(!!), Jérémie (of which, being Jean-Marie Florestal's hometown, he has written about so lovingly) and the most breathtaking view of a little bay corner that I have seen in Haiti, near the entrance of Jérémie, called Anse d'Azur, etc. And there is so much more about Haiti that I would like to know and visit. One only has to look at the extraordinary books of photography from Israeli photographer Daniel Kedar to realize how beautiful Haiti really is beneath the scars (in particular, look at Haiti from Above). Or, if I may say so, look at the small sample of beautiful pictures of Haiti from this site, Windows on Haiti, from which other internet sites have shamelessly stolen from (that is, never obtaining permission to reproduce the pictures). Look at all those pictures, and realize the essence of Haiti than one may well be missing, when concentrating uniquely on the "salopri" politics of Port-au-Prince. How many Haitians (percentage wise) have had the opportunity (or even the desire) to visit thier country, to go up its mountains and go down its valleys (though, I have to admit, the road conditions are often hellish!) But I feel that I have seen enough of Haiti to be able to talk knowingly and intelligently about it, even though I am equally certain that there is more that I do not know than I truly know. I would not have that sort of confidence however, if the only thing I knew about Haiti was Port-au-Prince or perhaps just one or two other spots.

So, perhaps we could start a travelogue about Haiti as well. I would highlight it as best as I could. That would be one of the most important and most interesting developments of Windows on Haiti's lifetime.

But, as human beings, we can talk about our travels outside of Haiti as well. I, for one, DO NOT KNOW the Caribbean, aside from having be
en to the Dominican Republic a couple of times and to Cuba one time. I WILL NEVER FORGET MY TRIP TO CUBA, and I WILL FOREVER BE OPPOSED TO THE ENORMOUS STUPIDITY OF THE CURRENT U.S. POLICY REGARDING CUBA. A policy that has been punishing an entire people, due to the U.S. refusal to accept that every country has a right to be autonomous in their decision-making. A policy that is inexcusably criminal, and that has deprived American citizens their constitutional rights to go where they please and visit a mysterious land that lies nearly at a stone's throw. But until the day I die, I will be grateful for the opportunity I had to visit the Haitian community in Camaguey, Cuba and I can never forget my profound discovery of what the word Haitian truly means, in the warmth of the embrace of an extraordinary community to which I was extricately linked only through being HAITIAN.

Going beyond that, I know some among us (Serge Bellegarde comes to mind, since he has travelled so much in the Caribbean and in S
outh America) could also contribute to a constantly developing travelogue of the world through the eyes of Ann Pale or Windows on Haiti forum members. We could share our personal observations of being at various points in Haiti and outside of Haiti (Haitians have been at or actually live in every part of the world!)

I am not planning to spend my summer in the internet next year.

Nekita, you have been saying this for a long time. I am wondering whether you do not suffer from, like I have, internet addiction or "Internet Withdrawal Syndrome", instead of merely Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, as you think. I wonder if Ann Pale forum members have helpful advice about how one can safely break from the internet without getting the jitters. (By the way, I am not asking anyone to stop visiting Windows on Haiti!)

But, dear sister, you do show signs of addiction to this medium. You should either indulge completely (to the extent that your health allows) or stop complaining about it. If it is your secret pleasure, don't make your life miserable about it. You are here among friends, and we want our friends to be happy visiting us. There is really no point otherwise. As for the Haitian educators and spiritual leaders not being "in the internet", please Nekita, give them a break. Either show them how (they may not know, if they are older) or maybe they are being quite effective in other media. Or on a person to person basis. The point is that we should stop complaining about our community and just take active steps to transform it. I know that you already do, but you have a persistent tendency to complain about the negatives. I want you to contemplate the positives for a while, Nekita. I am sure there are many. We can build on them. [Little by little, the negatives will disappear on their own.] You have so much to offer... don't stress.

Living in Boston most of life with all those Irish, Ireland is another place I would like to visit.

Good for you, Nekita! But let us concentrate on the Brazil trip that you proposed. While you guide the other forum members in the mysteries of Cadoumblé [I know that Jonas will be part of that trip], I hope that you will not mind when Leonel and I make a side trip to see the beautiful women on Rio de Janeiro's beaches. [What do you say, Leonel?] I promise, Nekita, that we will not take all the men with us. Besides, Jaf already has the perfect woman, so I am sure he will not (or cannot) come with me. He will be busy writing a sequel to "Viv Bondye, Aba Relijyon", this time concentrating not on Christianity but on Vodou and Cadomblé. In the meantime, Leonel and I will be thanking God for the sight of his most beautiful creations.

Don't forget to keep Gelin in your group. I definitely do not want him to be near Leonel and me. Not on that trip.

Let's plan for a windows reunion next year . What do people think?

Well, it could be done. There are just a handful of faithful. I could easily name them, but that's besides the point. Others might want to join in, but if they have been so protective of their on-line identity, I fail to see that they would be interested to meet with us in public. But hey, it only takes a few to make a party! Especially when Leonel is in the mix... (his mother will be cooking).

[T-dodo]

In the meantime, Leonel and I will be thanking God for the sight of his most beautiful creations (in Rio de Janeiro).

I just wanted to remind Guy and Leonel not to leave me behind. I yearn to go back to the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema sipping Caipirinha while watching the "garrotas" (as the beautiful creations there are called) in tangas endlessly taking more sun baths. While doing that, I will gladly contribute to the travel log on Ann Pale by writing about my trips throughout Haiti and the rest of the world. Like Guy, I can easily include in my palmarès, visits to Port-de-Paix, Cap-Haitien, Limonade, Gonaives, Mirebalais, St Marc, Malpasse, Croix des Bouquets, Jacmel, Leogane, Fondwa, Grand Goave, Petit Goave, Miragoane, Cayes, Camp-Perrin, Jeremie, Leon, Moron, just to name the most important cities. And, when he wants to extend that to international cities, we can also cover the
whole area between Buenos Aires and Hong Kong. I willbe watching the developments. Meanwhile, Nekita, Guy may have a point there.

[Frantz*]

Hey guys,
I don't want to be left out. Agreed, I rarely write a line these days but I am on and on every single day. To JMF I say: Port-a-Piment is also a beautiful place to visit... how could you have missed it???? Right Guy? Copacabana!!! Hum!!!! Please don't leave me behind .. I wear glasses... you know... :)
padel

[T-dodo]

Padel,

I discovered a lot of the places during a period of time when we used to go the provinces every summer weekend "lan fèt champèt." Perhaps Port-a-Piments has his during the school year. In any case, I failed to add La gonave since I have been on the island as well. But, there is certainly more for me to see that I have not seen yet.

[Marilyn*]

First, I've wanted to visit Brazil ever since 1986 when one of the 1/2 owners of the Brazilian restaurant I frequent suggested that I do so. The other 1/2 owner, a Peruvian, was prodding me to visit Peru! I ended up visiting Peru 3 times because by that time I had fallen in love with the Peruvian's brother, a small-town lawyer on the north coast of Peru who visited the family in Boston in 1995. But, that's straying a bit from the subject ...

Except to say, he's the reason I learned to accurately understand spoken Spanish and to read Spanish! Where'd Clement go, by the way? No, he was not that guy. My guy's name was Lincoln [not very Spanish or Peruvian, eh?], named after the Illinois lawyer, Abraham Lincoln. But again, that's straying a bit from the subject ...

Back to Brazil. I never got there, even though many restaurant chefs, bus boys and waiters beckoned me there over many years, to visit their relatives and friends, to
see the sights that meant so much to them. Besides Peru, however, I had to spend my travel dollars to get back and forth to Haiti to keep up-to-date on things there and to keep my contacts there up-to-date on what I was developing at the Creole-computer technology level. So, hélas, I never did get to Brazil.

All the above just to say, I really, really do want to go to Brazil but, guys, relax! I won't rain on your Copacabana parade! You don't need your mother to chaparone you on your trip to Brazil.

But, please, please, please, share with us Ann Pale'ers your adventures after-the-fact, ok?


Marilyn

[T-dodo]

I yearn to go back to the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema sipping Caipirinha while watching the "garrotas" (as the beautiful creations there are called) in tangas endlessly taking more sun baths.

It is unusual for a poster to be quoting himself, but I have to go back and add to that story. This is a phenomenon I saw only in Rio. That is: that infatuation that the "garrotas" have with their body and the exposure of it to the sun and anything else that is not called "clothes." This explains why Brazil must be the country with the highest annual sale of "tangas."

The "Cariocas," the official name of a Brazilian "garrota" coming from Rio de Janeiro, has a narcistic affair with her physical appearance. In general, this infatuation is developed by her exposure to the sun. And, this can be found in any tourist brochure laying around in hotel rooms in Rio. Once a carioca has got a sun tan, she beleives being the most beautiful thing on earth. Of course, if you are beautiful, why hiding it, which explains why tanga is so popular there. That inner feeling is palpable just by your sightseeing of this beautiful seaside megapolis.

Once I stayed on the second floor of an efficiency unit about five blocks away from a section of Copacabana beach. Strolling to the balcony any time between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., and you are immediately struck by the non-stop flow of people in the streets below to and from the beach holding a small "nat" (in kreyol, straw mat) on their back, a bag full of sun tan lotions, a football or volleyball and other beach paraphernalia. The faces of the garrotas are glowing with that carioca feeling of confidence in their beauty. It can be mesmerizing. No need to describe the kaleidoscope of colors, both humans and beachwears. The feeling the sight inspires is infectuous.

[Leonel Jean-Baptiste*]

Messie wo, Guy, madanm mwen al nan Window a tou wi papa... (just kidding)

My first question to Marilyn: What happened to the Brazilian or the other 1/2 Owner (if you know whanna mean)? Goddamn, 1/2 +1/2= A WHOLE, Komanman, mwen pwal eseye adisyon sa. Thanks a lot, Marilyn.

Now, about Brasil, none of you is going to tempting me with SINS... My Lord does not want Sinners. If there's a church or the favorite place for Haitian men, "LODGE", I will go. Otherwise, I won't. I take that back, I will go just to pray in Rio...

Bann mechan, se voye yo voye nou! Nou pap sis.
leonel

[Nekita Lamour*]

I am trying to follow Guy's advice. I don't want to talk about Rio in Brasil. Otherwise, I won't leave the computer. Who would rather pray? You really can pray , take theology classes and do other things in the same area. Believe me in many places in Brazil the most mundane and the most religious intertwine including the infamous Copacabana. While there, I saw a flyer posting some theological training for the average church goer which the Catholic church calls "faith formation", "faith training." A newstands had the cathecism of the catholic church which Tayi made references to along with X rated magazines, EL Globo newspaper, post cards with those beach tanners. Every goes and happens at the same place.

I was there in August, their winter which means Copacabana beaches were cold and empty. I did buy post cards of the ladies in thongs. We say tanga in Creole. I know of "thongs" what got a president of the Unite
d States in big trouble.

I really have to go.
Bye for a while. I put my travel on Africa in " Ann pale University."
Nekita