Getting In The Last Word

My brother, Howie and I, use to always see who could get in the last word. My son inherited that from one or both of us.

Todd and I alternate taking Nathan to school in the mornings. It was Todd's turn to take Nathan and I kissed them goodbye and quickly went to my bathroom in the back of the house because I had to go. I had just sat down and here Nathan comes busting in the room.

"Mom, I want you to take me to school this morning," he said.

"No, I will come and pick you up this afternoon. Now go." I wanted to "go" myself, in peace, and without an audience if you know what I mean.

As he reluctantly left, I hollered, "I love you!"

He hollered back, "I double love you!"

"I triple love you," I yelled.

And before he slammed the bedroom door letting me know that he was getting the last word in, he hollered, "I fourple love you."

Cable and Wireless

We have been without internet for the last six days. When we don't have internet we don't have American phone service. (Vonage) It is our lifeline to home. And when I don't have it, it doesn't make me very happy. Thank God we do have the ability to go to the Yacht Club and get online but that requires going out and fighting the traffic and maneuvering the pot holes and it's just a chore.

Cable and Wireless is the phone company here that provides our internet service. It took me awhile to get use to that because I thought they offered cable T.V., too. But they don't. The cable company is Cornwall Communications.

For the last month the internet has gone out every other day if not every day. One of us would call the service rep and they would make us unplug the power cable to the modem and type in a series of numbers in the address bar and blah, blah, blah. I grow weary of doing the same thing over and over. Just fix it and make it stay on! Sometimes they would get it up and it would work for a day, two if we were lucky. And, it always seemed to go out on Friday, just in time for the weekend. This last time they weren't able to get it working even after walking me through all 542 steps. So, they said that they would send a technician out in one to five business days. That was on Friday. I woke up this morning to rain and the Jamaican phone ringing. After I woke Todd up to go answer the phone, he said that Cable and Wireless wanted to know if we were still having trouble with our internet. He told them yes and the man told him that he would be here sometime today. When I looked at the clock it was 6:37 AM. Now, I have never had a service call that early in the morning. But, since it was the internet repairman...he could have called me at 3:00 AM and I wouldn't have minded. With it raining, I quickly asked the Lord to not let the power go out just in case the repairman were to come. That would be just my luck. The internet service man here but he can't fix it because the electricity was out. Sure to his word, he was here at 8:30, the power stayed on through the rain and now I just pray that the internet will stay on.

While we are on the subject of utilities. How many of you have your cable company's phone number memorized? Well, I do. Let me tell you about my special relationship with Mrs. Green at Cornwall Communications. I think the cable goes out more than the internet does. So, we have to call Mrs. Green and let her know and she tells us to put the box on channel five and turn it off and she will reset it. We do this at least once a week. Sometimes I have to unplug the box and read her the 39 digit number on the bottom of the box. Awhile back, I wanted to get ESPN and Todd wanted the Golf Channel. They call it a sports package and it costs a few dollars more but we agreed that we wanted it. We called and they told us to put the box on channel five, turn it off and they would add it. Sure enough they did. However, every time Todd would have a few minutes to watch golf, the channel wasn't working or if the power would go off which here that can happen daily, we would have to call and tell Mrs. Green our sports package wasn't on. She would tell us to put the box on channel five and turn it off and she would reset it. This last time Todd went down to pay the bill he told them we didn't want the sports package anymore because it was never on. They told him that all he had to do was call them and they could add it back on. He told them that he was tired of calling and that he shouldn't have to do that. They told him that if he changed his mind to give them a call. After all, isn't that what every satisfied customer should have to do? Yesterday was the Biggest Loser finale and NBC wasn't coming in good so I called Mrs. Green. I didn't even have to identify myself. After I said, "Hello Mrs. Green." She immediately said, "Hello Mrs. Hood, how are you today?" Something is wrong with the system when the cable company recognizes your voice. I bet you can guess what she told me to do. That's right, put the box on channel five and turn it off. But this time she told me that she knew the number on my box that I didn't need to read it to her.


Note: Sorry Uncle Howie, no picture of Nathan calling one of the utility companies.

"You Are As Blind As Your Granddaddy!"

...is what I tell Nathan when I send him to find something and he comes back and says, "I can't find it." So, I go to find the object and it's right there in plain view. I was the same way though because I remember my mama telling me, "If it were a snake it would bite you." But Nathan is worse than I ever was. Every time I send him to get something, I know that I am going to have to go get it myself.

When we were home for Easter, I got pictures to show just how "blind" he is. When we went to Grammy and Pappy's to hunt Easter eggs I hid one of Nathans eggs a little lower than eye level on the side of the fifth wheel. I don't know how many times he ran past it, looking right at it and never seeing it.

It's an orange Easter egg, not a running light!

Then one day when we were at Mama and Daddy's, Uncle Howie hid the eggs for Nathan to find and I told Howie about the incident at Grammy and Pappy's and that he needed to remember where he hid them because Nathan would never find them all. I was in the house and he came and got me laughing and told me to get the camera that Nathan couldn't find an egg that was in plain sight.

There it is in the tree.

He couldn't find it. Uncle Howie started doing "hot" and "cold" with him. When he would get close to it he would say, "You're getting hot." When he would move away from it he would say, "You're getting cold."

"You're looking right at it."

He even posed for the picture with his egg!

"You're getting colder."

He still doesn't see it.

"You passed it."

"Look in the tree."

"I found it!"

He did finally find it but it took him a very long time and way too may hints and clues. We really had fun laughing at him and he didn't even get mad at us and run and tell his DeeDee.

A Visit to Studio Tripp

While we were home we made our quarterly visit to see Uncle Tripp. Uncle Tripp owns a hair salon called Studio Tripp. Since we have come Jamaica, Uncle Tripp has been very gracious to work us into his schedule when we are able to make it home.



Nathan has always been good about getting his hair cut. He would rather not get it cut like most boys but he listens to his mama and suffers through it.

I got my hair cut as well. I love to get in Uncle Tripp's chair and let him work his magic. It's time for Todd to get another cut too and that task will fall to me. Uncle Tripp showed me how and although mine doesn't turn out as good as his does it comes out good enough. When I was sitting in Uncle Tripp's chair he told me that maybe he could come in July to visit and he would bring his scissors with him. I hope I can hold him to it!

A Quick Trip to Christiana

Friday we took a road trip to Christiana, Jamaica. We went to meet with all the missionaries on the island to say goodbye to Tom and Brenda Lantz. They are the missionaries we work with here in MoBay and Brenda must have foot surgery, so they are leaving the island on Wednesday. Tom will return periodically to help us host missions teams.


The first hour of the drive was much like a road trip in the states but that quickly changed when we turned south and headed up the mountain. Then the road looked a lot like this:

except the road was sort of paved. Todd did a good job maneuvering the "long and winding road" and he managed to make the trip without hitting a dog, goat, or donkey. They dotted the road more than the potholes did. Along the way we passed through several wide spots in the road that were called towns. The people stared at us wondering why these white faces were interrupting their daily lives.

When we finally reached Christiana and drove through the town, Todd had to watch not to hit people more than he did watch for other cars. I don't believe I have ever seen so many people in the streets. As we were creeping along, an elderly lady darted out in front of us with a younger man in tow. He was apparently trying to grab something she had. She turned on him and swung her half gallon jug of water at him. He ducked just in time not letting the blow land on his head. We continued driving and separated the two. I think he may have left her alone after he saw that she wasn't going be an easy target.

Nathan enjoyed climbing the tree in the Livingstons front yard. Todd and I took turns with him outside because he couldn't get any of the other MKs to play with him. They live up at the children's home and don't have cable so they wanted to stay in and do something that they don't get to do which is watch the cartoon network.

It made for a long day and I was happy to see the lights of Montego Bay after the long drive back.

Picture Day at Tomlin Middle School

Every year since Nathan's birth, I have taken Nathan to his Uncle Howie's school so they can get their picture made together. I think we may have missed a time or two when Nathan was in school himself. This year we barely made it. Picture day was Friday morning before we left to come back to Jamaica. Nathan has been some kind of icon since his birth at Tomlin. Primarily because his Uncle Howie's classroom walls are wallpapered in pictures of Nathan and he always talks about his wonderful nephew. Also, the assistant principal, Susan Sullivan, was one of Nathans swim teachers. Everytime I take Nathan to Tomlin and we pass students in the hallway, I always here one of them say, "There's Nathan." This particular morning was no exception. We met Uncle Howie in his room and walked over to the gym where the pictures were being taken. As we approached the court yard I heard several students say it again, "There's Nathan."

Walking to the gym.

Their special handhold.

On the way to the gym Nathan held Uncle Howie's hand. They have a special handhold that only they can use. The photographers weren't set up yet so we had to wait about thirty minutes until they were ready. Thank goodness Mrs. Gunn covered Uncle Howie's class until we made it back. Nathan got a little impatient but the trusty DS kept him busy.

It was nice to get a chance to visit with all of the teachers that my brother teaches with, especially Patti Hanks, who I use to work with at Lakeland Senior, and Susan Stephens. Susan is one of the sweetest people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.

Susan Stephens and me, with a fresh haircut.

I was worried that the background was the same color as Nathan's shirt, but when we left we had to pick which background we wanted. School pictures have come a long way. Everything is digital and you can pick your background and the photographer can look at the picture and tell if it needs to be redone. I know that cuts down on picture retakes.

The photographer got out of my way.

Below are all the school pictures that I have of these two. I am not sure of all the dates but at least they are in chronological order. I know one thing, Uncle Howie has more pictures with my son than I do. Professionally taken pictures that is anyway.

2001 - 2002

Cute little sweater vest.

I hate when they make you cock your head!

Nathan at age four.

I don't know if Montego Bay Christian Academy has school pictures or not. They have most everything else our American schools have, so hopefully they will offer school pictures, too. After all, I need a school picture of my handsome man in his school uniform.

Fish Fry at Aunt Mary and Uncle Eugene's

Fried speckled perch, hushpuppies and delicious guava cobbler.

Being from the South, we have always had fish frys and many in my family including myself love to fish. Todd loves to go speckled perch fishing. His grandfather, Pappy Sr., as I am told was the best speckled perch fisherman in his days. I guess because of that, there a few things Todd would rather do than go spec fishing. My uncle Eugene, (my dad's brother) and Aunt Mary are avid spec fishers and very seldom leave the lake without catching their limit. And because of this, they always have fish frys for special occasions and fund raisers for their church.

Grits, cole slaw, and baked beans were the sides for the fish and hushpuppies.

My Daddy too, likes to go spec fishing, but more than that, he loves to eat speckled perch. He even eats leftover fish for breakfast. Thursday night was my and Nathan's last night at home and since Daddy's birthday was Saturday, we were going to take him to Carraba's to celebrate. When Aunt Mary called Thursday morning asking if we wanted to come over for a fish fry my daddy was more than happy to change our plans.

When we arrived, besides my family, Aunt Mary had invited my Aunt Bertha (who is eighty four years old), and Uncle Guy and Aunt Andrea. Uncle Eugene, Uncle Guy, Aunt Bertha and my daddy are siblings. So, it turned into a mini-family reunion. The best part of the evening besides the wonderful food, which by the way my Aunt Mary makes the best hushpuppies I have ever put in my mouth, was when all of the siblings started telling stories about their childhood and my wonderful Granddaddy. I will spare you the details but they told stories that I had never heard. It appears that my Granddaddy wasn't always as gentle with animals and others as he was with me. He was the most precious Granddaddy a kid could ever have and I have been told often that I was his favorite grandchild. Some say that it is because I look so much like my Grandmother, who I never had the privilege of knowing. Her name was Kitty. I am the proud owner of her wedding ring that my Granddaddy gave her. My Aunt Andrea knew how special my Granddaddy was to me and she saw to it that I got it.

From L to R: Aunt Bertha, Daddy, Mama, Aunt Andrea and Uncle Eugene.

Hailey and Nathan sat at the bar.

Nathan was thrilled that his cousin Hailey was there so he would have someone to play with. Her sister, Layna, came also but now that she is sixteen she doesn't have much time for the kids. She sat with the adults and loved listening to the old stories too. Only four or five times did she get up and go in the den to text one of her friends. Somehow Nathan convinced Hailey to play Power Rangers. I guess he wanted to show her some of his moves.

"Dino-thunder, ninja storm accelerate, hi-yah!"

I think Hailey had a move for Nathan...

Looks more like WWF than Power Rangers.

Thank you, Aunt Mary and Uncle Eugene, for a wonderful evening with great food and family!