The Soloist

Too many things are going wrong. The economy is now looking like a horror movie that has no end, crime is not going away and too many road accidents have occured since the start of the year. At least some people have found the cahones to give the Government an ultimatum. Let's see how this one pans out.

I don't know about you but I am extremely disturbed by the ease with which murderers are ending the lives of women. Once upon a time, women and children were off-limits. It's almost as if these callous, cruel beasts are taking over where the infamous Chicago and New York mafia mobs left off.

Thank God, there are also many opportunities to have a laugh. Like last Sunday night as I was marking papers during the Superbowl game (I only watched the commercials). I almost fell off the chair when I realised there was a power outage. My first thought was that the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) had migrated - but alas, I'm stuck with that miserable lot.

Seriously, though, who would believe that the big, bad US of A would have a power cut in the middle of its one-man show? Maybe it's a sign for them to stop competing against themselves and include some Third World countries in their annual baseball series as well as the "football championships". After all, we are used to blackouts.

For Lovers Only

Come Thursday, it will be teddy bear time again, and purveyors of jewellery, flowers and chocolate get to make what they didn't at Christmas. Just in case you all go stressing yourselves and putting yourselves into unnecessary debt, remember, this is a day only for lovers!

That's right: husbands and wives, boyfriend and girlfriend, and all others in romantic relationships. Not singles, not parents, not children, not teachers, and definitely not the dogs. It's not a day for showing brotherly love either. Don't get it twisted. So don't go whining that you are single and plan a singles shindig. Wait till Cupid shoots his arrow your way or live vicariously through the millions of lovers all over the world. Your day will come.

Since this will be followed in short order by Easter, Teacher's Day, Mother's Day and Father's Day, save some of the dough. Think of creative and inexpensive ways to show your love. Throw in a few love letters and poems while you're at it, little things mean a lot.

lifestyle@gleanerjm.com