I am a chatterbox. I mean it.
I’d always rather be wearing feathers on my head or otherwise prancing and parading. You can probably tell from the pictures below.
I’m Laura. I wish I’d made people say it the Spanish way my entire life but I’ll answer to it either way. Or to “hey, you.”
I’m a classy Puerto Rican chica with a serious aversion to Rosie Perez and all things leopard skin (especially seat covers). I’m the oldest of four sisters, the shortest of the bunch, and the biggest closet-mooch of us all.
I’m good at being a wife about 75% of the time, with a Mr. Laura who is good at being a husband 100% of the time and a baby that’s awesome at being a baby ALL of the time (even when it’s 5 a.m., she’s woken me up, and she’s clearly the only one who thinks so).
I’ve lived in Trinidad and Tobago for the last four years, after my husband’s job search led us here. I’m no stranger to the suitcase life and I’ve lived in the UK, Canada, Spain, Puerto Rico, and a sweet lil’ assortment of US states (Arkansas, North Carolina, and New York). I’ve moved so much I think boxes are perfectly appropriate ways to store things in your living room. You may proceed to tell me I’m wrong.
I LOOOOOVE living in Trinidad. It’s far from home, and I miss arugula and berries and city life and autumn and layering my clothes… but it’s 100% worth it, always.
If you were to follow me for a day, you’d see that I spend my time doing this stuff, thinking about this stuff, and writing (or rather, meaning to write and trying to write) about this stuff:
- Being a parent without losing my mind (or, most of the time, my dignity). I’m having great fun with Miss Baby and I’m besotted by my huge-cheeked blue-eyed chatterbox mini-person. I may not write about her every day or give you regular updates about her–and this is why I don’t write about the baby as much as you might expect–but I’ll talk your ear off about what it’s like being her mama, what it’s like bringing her up here in Trinidad, and why I wish she didn’t love mashed bananas so much (she loves them, I can’t stand the smell of them).
- Running and exercising. I never thought I would be able to run and so I am just beside myself that I can! It makes me happy and pleasant to be around. I’ll also go on and on about Zumba, swimming, and cycling, all of which make me wash my hair a lot more than I probably should and recharge my batteries for this new “I’m a baby’s mama! / OMG, when did THAT happen?” thing.
- Taking pictures. I used to spend a lot of time taking pictures around the island. Nowadays, I spend a lot of time taking pictures of Miss Baby. There will be a happy medium one day soon.
- Sewing (and dreaming of having a sewing binge). I’ve sewn since I was 14 and my closet is full of clothes that I’ve made. I’m on a bit of a baby-induced hiatus (she doesn’t make a good pincushion and she thinks fabric is for spitting up on, not for dresses) but I still dream in dresses, and skirts, and blouses–the brighter, the better.
- Counting down the days until I next see my family. My family is awesome. I miss them. They’re so cool, you would miss them too. That’s why I write about us past/present/future… in case you can’t hear us from where you’re sitting right now (we’re a pretty rambunctious bunch).
Oh–and after a bout of grad school and a string of office and administrative jobs, I now keep myself fed, in work, and, most importantly, happy as a freelance writer and copyeditor, working from home–not always in real shoes, sadly, but always in real clothes.
Want to get in touch? Contact me here!
Your blog looks great! =) I wish I knew how to sew…maybe you can teach me?? hehe
Thanks! Online sewing lessons may be coming soon–though those may involve training up a house photographer–but in the meantime I’m happy to pass along any tips and answer any questions. I’m always looking to convert new seamstresses:-)
Online sewing lessons please! This would be great when I’m far away on the other side of the world! You could then take full credit for converting a new seamstress.
Wow. What an amazing bio (and life). Love the blog.
Thanks! I figured I needed to make something good out of packing and unpacking suitcases about 25 times in my life–so far!
Thanks for visiting my blog! I’ve really enjoyed looking through some of your past posts. The travel bug is infectious, isn’t it?
Fantastic blog!
Glad to see that you’re doing amazingly well in life!
Hurray for internet randomness
robert_dikcis@yahoo.com
Wow, your blog is so exotic and it’s so cool that you live in the Caribbean!
Thanks for stopping by and glad you like! Love your blog–and between the two of us, we have almost all the span of latitude of the northern hemisphere covered!
Came across your blog by chance and absolutely love it!! Looking forward to more posts!! My husband is from Trinidad and we go back (we live in Canada) for Carnival every year!! TRIBE 2011 here we come!!!!!
Thanks for the compliment! Coming back for Carnival every year…. so awesome! Tribe looks AMAZING this year–which section are you in? (Please don’t say Mayan Eagle or I’ll die of jealousy)….
Hi. That’s my message, really: hi.
As an English carnival-obsessed freelance writer and editor (and other things) who’s in Trinidad and playing in YUMA with my dodgy knee, i felt compelled to say something; just wish i had the recipe repertoire and willingness to do exercise as well.
So, if you chose YUMA over Spice in the end, maybe see you on the road
I DID go with YUMA–Oracle it is! If you see me, come and say hi!
Love your blog! Its one of my daily reads. Its refreshing to get someone’s perspective about TnT carnival who isn’t from there. You’re doing a great job!
Thank you!
Hey, found your blog via http://www.trinidadcanrivaldiary.com Great read, plan on dropping by from time to time.
Loved your Carnival post mortems.
shells recently posted..Carnival 2011 Review – TRIBE The Way of the Warrior
Thanks Shells! I’ve been reading yours and your reviews since waaaay back (probably since 2009, when I wasn’t playing mas)!