On the Right Track with The Fastest Woman In the World

Here is a poignant memory for most Belizeans. Marion Jones, the way she was in all her Olympian Glory carrying, nay waving aloft, the Belizean National Flag at a triumphant moment at the 2000 Summer Olympic Games in Sydney Australia. 

That's the way she was before her complete and ultimate fall from grace after admitting to taking performance enhancing drugs and lying to the universe about this. She paid a high price for her dishonesty including a stay in a federal penitentiary for six months, being disbarred from her sport for life, and losing all the medals she won at the Sydney games. 

Well, this is not the end for Marion Jones who is now staging a comeback in the sport of basketball which is the second love of her life. She has also brought out a new book, On the Right Track (Simon and Schuster) in which she tells her story of coming to grips with the consequences of her actions. 

You may ask. Well, why does Belizegial care about this fallen star? The answer would be that in the tropics, we are proud to lay claim to her roots. You see, her mom (also named Marion) is from Belize. So, in our little corner of the world, the two Marions are a big deal to us. Bottomline is, we care what happens to Marion because in our lingo, 'she da fu we'. Translation, she belongs to us. 

We wish her all the best in her second career as a professional basketball player with the WNBA's Tusla Shock and will continue to follow her story onward. 

HEAVENLY BELIZE!

The month of September is almost over and here in the tropics, life has been hectic for this blogger. This is the time of the year when school reopens, the national celebrations occur and the hurricanes come hither and tither.

We had a very worrying time this past week when it was predicted that Tropical depression "Matthew" was heading directly our way and it had the potential to develop into a hurricane when it reached our tiny jewel. Of course, we all made the necessary preparations. No one was sad, however, when the threatened storm veered away from us and a big sigh of relief was collectively heaved around here by everyone.

In other news from the tropics, a coffee table book entitled "Heavenly Belize" has been released in digital format. It is a captivating aerial view of beautiful Belize captured by Lithuanian photographer, Marius Jovaisa. The book includes photos of the Mayan Ruins, swamps, forests and the outlying islands which are native to our homeland by the sea. Please give the video a review and let me know what you think of this aerial marvel. If nothing else, you will agree that Belize is a land of lush beauty waiting to be explored by the adventurous at heart. Could that someone be you?

AMEN SISTER!

Recently, I received this from Frannie, an online friend. This is so refreshing a view that I want to share with you...

In a large city in Australia , a poster featuring a young, thin and tan woman appeared in the window of a gym. It said, "This summer, do you want to be a mermaid or a whale?"


A middle-aged woman, whose physical characteristics did not match those of the woman on the poster, responded publicly to the question posed by the gym.


To Whom It May Concern,


Whales are always surrounded by friends (dolphins, sea lions, curious humans.) They have an active sex life, get pregnant and have adorable baby whales. They have a wonderful time with dolphins stuffing themselves with shrimp. They play and swim in the seas, seeing wonderful places like Patagonia, the Bering Sea and the coral reefs of Polynesia.


Whales are wonderful singers and have even recorded CDs. They are incredible creatures and virtually have no predators other than humans. They are loved, protected and admired by almost everyone in the world.


Mermaids don't exist. If they did exist, they would be lining up outside the offices of Argentinean psychoanalysts due to identity crisis. Fish or human? They don't have a sex life because they kill men who get close to them, not to mention how could they have sex? Just look at them ... where is IT? Therefore, they don't have kids either. Not to mention, who wants to get close to a girl who smells like a fish store?


The choice is perfectly clear to me: I want to be a whale.


P..S.. We are in an age when media puts into our heads the idea that only skinny people are beautiful, but I prefer to enjoy an ice cream with my kids, a good dinner with a man who makes me shiver, and a piece of chocolate with my friends.


With time, we gain weight because we accumulate so much information and wisdom in our heads that when there is no more room, it distributes out to the rest of our bodies. So we aren't heavy, we are enormously cultured, educated and happy.


Beginning today, when I look at my butt in the mirror I will think, Good grief, look how smart I am!

The Biggest Loser Club

 I thought these two kids were too cute for words. The shocked expression on the baby's face is priceless. LOL

The blogosphere and I have temporarily parted ways as more pressing matters such as work and my personal life have taken a hold of me and will not let go.

It's not that I don't want to, it's finding the time in an already crowded schedule to post a new blog or even to make visits to my favorite links has become somewhat nigh impossible at this time.

No matter what, I wanted to welcome in the month of August with a new blog and to let you all know that I am still here fighting the good fight in my weight war. So far, I am able to say that I am now a proud honorary member of the biggest loser club and I will share more on this when time allows.

For now, please enjoy this featured song, What Do you Want From Me, from my all time favorite idol, Adam Lambert

Good Morning World!

How is everyone doing out there?!  As you can tell from the Brown Pelican's proximity to the water's edge, it is very hot in the tropics at the moment. We are in the middle of a heat wave and the best place to be is at the water's edge or in the water itself.

As for me, I've been crowded into a corner where my unhealthy eating habits are concerned. So, from now on, I have to lessen my consumption of foods like Salbutes (pictured above)  which I love to pig out on whenever I get a chance to visit our local version of Bel Taco. I can only patronize the deli shops here which promote healthy products rather like one I came across recently which had this hand written sign posted up for all the world to view on its front door. Well, I just had to step in to take a peek and to see what the fuss is all about....

Inside I found that the shop owner had a variety of fruits in season for sale which included watermelons, papayas, bananas, plantains, fresh eggs and oranges as seen in the photo below. Of course, mixed in with all the good stuff were items like Vive Condoms and ubiquitous bags of salty corn chips which are loaded with lots of unhealthy stuff.

Welcome to Belize everyone, this is how we do it. The good and the bad all mixed into one happy heap. LOL

If you find yourself here, look me up so I can guide you in the right direction, ok. In the meantime, have fun and stay healthy. See you on the equinox.

Belizegial