Caribbean Queen of endurance marathon, Eleanor Patrick is not afraid to say it. She loves to win. She doesn’t underestimate her limitations though, but should she falter at some time (and she knows she will) she said, “I will try until I win, if God spares life.” Eleanor added the Caribbean Aerobics Championships Endurance Challenge Trophy to the collection of trophies in her room. It outshone all the rest — her championship wins of 1995 and 2001 — because it was the tallest of the lot. “I feel elated and satisfied that all the hard work has paid off. I’m thankful that Selwyn Melville brought back aerobics on a competitive basis and extended it to the Caribbean,” she told People. She reaped the rewards of jumping, doing occasional push ups, leg lifts and other choreographed moves on one spot for two hours, six minutes and 16 seconds. All the while she was telling herself: “Stay relaxed Eleanor, stay relaxed and enjoy the event.” Her eyes were focused on the instructor and when he stopped, she knew the competition was over. “At that point I said ‘thank you Lord’,” recalled the 36-year-old. She had her share of receiving red cards, having to get knocked out of competition on many occasions. “It makes you feel as though you didn’t do something right and I would usually go over my training and work harder,” she said. “But the judges decision is final and you have to respect their decisions.”

Winning, on the other hand, does stir contention she said. “You have to expect that some people would like you and others won’t.”
To deliver proper execution, show form and strength, her formulae — hook up with a trainer “who prefers to exhaust all of one’s reserves” and another “who insists on standards beyond measure.” She was referring to personal trainers Gerald Alfonso/Long Circular Mall Gym, Gaston Dick/Body Academy and International Olympic Track and Field coach Frederick Andrade. Secondly, it was important that she maintain a three-month routine of aerobics, weight training and running. Lastly, she stuck to a balanced diet of carbohydrates, proteins and fats, lots of fruits, vegetables and water. Still there was place for junk food (pizza, fried chicken), but eaten on a moderate basis, she assured.
Should she do try-outs for cheerleading, Eleanor would be the precise weight, 120 lbs, but contest her in arm-wrestling and she’ll cream her opponent. Her strength is remarkable. Bench pressing and push-ups are her pet exercises.

She has a lean physique as opposed to “a very slender frame” she was ten years ago. “I was smooth then,” she said. There are no bulges representing oversized muscles now, but a well-toned, well-defined Eleanor. It works to her advantage but sometimes can be intimidating to members of the opposite sex. She explained: “You know Trini men already. I would get a stare, sometimes the pick-up lines but some have it that I tend to be reserved and unapproachable.” She’s a “swanky” dresser and doesn’t hold back on wearing the short pants or short skirts “to show people that I’m a girl. When they see the muscles they would come up to me and ask what sports I’m into.” At the beach, when Eleanor dons her two-piece bathing suit the stares intensify. “It means that ah looking good,” she said as she blushed. The former St Francois Girls High School student grew up in Woodbrook. She moved to Maraval in her pre-teen years. She remembered having an enjoyable childhood, playing games like pitching marbles and football with her two sisters and one brother. “After leaving secondary school I hadn’t chosen a career I wanted to pursue. But I just liked fitness and training, health stuff. I worked in a bakery, then I did clerical work with the Ministry of Sports, the Museum, Kent House and Land and Survey.” Her mother, with whom she lives, single-handedly ran the home when Eleanor’s father died nine years ago.

“I began entering competitions when Tony Walcott, one of the fathers of fitness, told me how good I was in aerobics and that I should enter. I came eighth in the first national competition I entered. Coming eighth out of 100 felt good as it was my first try and I told myself if I work harder I can make it to the top and that I had some homework to do.” That was 10 years ago. Eleanor hasn’t let up since. Her waking hours are tailored to fit little else, other than year-round training and secular work. There’s no room for a social life. Eleanor’s a businesswoman in the field of credit reporting. “Work is flexible for me. I get up at 4 in the morning. The first thing I do is say my prayers. By 6 am I’m at the gym.” She ends her day late at nights with a dose of “Flintstones” (cartoon) or a comedy. “I like reading books on fitness and sport injury, sometimes a spiritual book or a cook book.”

MAMA always told me, “Speak softly, tidy your room and always behave like a lady.” My papa was the opposite. He taught me to puff Broadway, pack a jack and sip rum when I was a wee five-year-old. He took my mama, a good Catholic schoolteacher and introduced her to the world of a whe whe bank and beer garden in his city abode. But she was the one who chose him. After all, he had journeyed to her country home and sang “Golden Earrings” while she danced the cocoa. She could have chosen the school’s young headmaster, but he had a hole in his sock and most probably couldn’t sing. Furthermore, papa acted as a pirate in “Swiss Family Robinson” and even though I have to put the video on slow motion and watch frame by frame to see if I can find him, my mama was always proud of the pictures of him on the ship in Tobago. Hansome was his name, and handsome he was. And next to causing hearts to flutter was his love for the outdoors. Betting on horses was his favourite pastime and while Mama would dress me up to the nines to see the queen, my papa would take me to the races, all decked in my straw hat, matching straw bag and pretty frock. On a Sunday morning, papa would be up and turning the pot, for very soon he would be packing the car trunk with food and grog and we would be off on our trip to Granville beach, where his cousins resided. Mama would be hesitant but for us the children, it was always exciting.

Hunting was another of my papa’s pastime and after a hunting spree with his partners, he would again turn that pot into a wicked curry and wake us up for some delicious wild meat. I often wondered how my mama felt about my papa’s free-spirited ways, but not for long. They always say, “The good die young but the wicked live to a ripe old age” and so, I was only nine when my six-foot, strong papa fell face forwards to the ground with a massive heart attack. I was told that while others screamed and bawled, I grieved, and that my handkerchief had to be wrung again and again for the tears that kept flowing. For years I must have lived my father’s life; that free-spirited, untamed, lovely existence spurning a mother who was strong and strict. And, even though my mama was religious, the only picture of my papa kneeling, which was during an earthquake, struck me as an action that was real and sincere. His interactions with people as people with nothing attached to them was also credible.

MY IMAGINARY DAD
It was only in my adult years that I tried to re-create the father I would have liked to have in my teenaged years.
 Of course I would have to do some dressing up to the one I actually knew but it was important for me to have my dad back, even if it was only in my imagination. This is what I envisioned:

Read meh mind

He was trying his best 
to shut me out
reading his newspaper
I wanted to talk to him
about the news
but I was too small
for his big shoes
I didn’t want to make
no set ah noise
while he was reading
I wanted to sneak out
and lime wid de boyz
but he caught me red-
handed by the door

“I was only going to see
how de weather was…”
bold and brass-face was I
“I jus’  didn’t want tuh
worry yuh,
cause yuh work hard all day”
I was sure praying for me
 
He took me up and put me
on a stool, and he
look meh straight in de eye
I sure was important
he was taking me on
Is time he do dat
I was waiting so long

Well, it didn’t take a day
dis journey wid him
neither a month or a year
Man I feel like a boss
for the joy which we shared
He really was impressed
by the mind dat I bared

Gone now, but not forgotten, my papa has left a legacy of a “sun child, fun child, strong child of the West Indies”  I would like to think, but deep down I know it would take a lifetime of constantly creating images of him to take me through the storms of life.

When I was told that I will be speaking with Dr Tariq Mayun, a certified Trichologist from the United States, the first question that came to my lips was, “What is trichology?” Simply put, trichology (pronounced try-col-uh-gee) is the scientific study of hair and scalp disorders, and is the branch of medicine that has to do with hair, its anatomy, growth and its diseases. Dr Mayun was here to launch the local chapter of the Caribbean Association of Professional Trichologists (CAPT), which took place at the Kapok Hotel in St Clair. For him it was almost like a reunion, as he had trained most of the special guests, including Trinidad’s first certified Trichologist (and CAPT President Marcia Smith). The word trichology is taken from the Greek word “tricho” meaning “hair” and although it is a very unique field of study, it is by no means a new science; it first began in England in 1902. “So you can say trichology more than 100 years old,” said  the ever smiling Dr Mayun. “Actually it was first done in London, and sort of grew by word of mouth, spreading to Australia and various parts of the United States, where this practice is becoming common. It is something that all people in the cosmetology field should be familiar with, especially when it comes to treating hair problems.” According to Dr Mayun, he didn’t choose the field, “it chose him.”

The Philadelphia native began at the University of Alabama to study business. He studied cosmetology after that and went into the field of professional hair care in a big way. Even as a youngster, he somehow knew that he would be involved in hair care. “I remember gently scratching my momma’s scalp… then she would fall asleep,” Dr Mayun said. “Then I would play with her hair. She realised that I loved doing it, and as I grew I started to cut my own hair, trying to follow her, because she would cut my hair with these hand held clippers from back in the day, y’know? And I’m talking like, age 9 or 10. When I turned 12 she gave me my first clippers. So now I had my tools; razors, scissors, comb and now these clippers. I was so proud. I loved hair so much I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.” Within the hair industry, Dr Mayun was considered one of the best, and as a result of this, he wished to honour all those in their field within the Northern California area and Southern Tennessee. It was then his search took him to a lady by the name of Hattie Thompson, a woman who had been in the business of hair care for over 50 years. “After I interviewed her I saw this plaque on the wall and I asked her what it was for, this ‘trickology” (sic) thing. She corrected me and said, ‘No, you’re saying it wrong, it’s try-chology… a scientific study of hair and scalp disorders.’ So I was all flip and like, ‘Well, I’m a hair doctor!’ You know how it is, my chest was all out ‘there,’ pretty big (laughs). But she set me down and showed me some photos and talked about different treatments for different conditions. By the end of the interview I felt so small. I thought I knew so much, but I didn’t know anything at all.”

Hattie Thompson offered to train him, but he turned down her offer at first, because of an impending trip to Europe. However, it nagged him that he did. Upon his return, he became her student, bringing her out of her semi-retirement. Dr Mayun studied with her for 2 ? years obtaining his cosmetology degree in 1990, followed by his Masters and PhD in trichology from the Institute or Trichology. He worked closely with her over the next four years, four days a week travelling over 130 miles a day to Alabama. Eventually, the constant driving got to him and he settled in Alabama, where he’s been for the past 18 years. At present, he is the director of the International Institute of Trichology and lectures and educates worldwide to all who are willing to learn about trichology and its related case studies. “I believe that in the next five to ten years, trichology will become a household word,” said Dr Mayun. “Few people (even within the hair industry), about less then ten percent of the hair care industry, know about trichology. They may have heard the name or know a little about it, but would you believe that in the state of Florida alone there are over 17,000 trichologists? That’s how it is there, and this is why I take pleasure in educating. I believe that every cosmetologist and hair care practitioner should know about trichology, because everything goes hand in hand.”

Often times a client is referred to a trichologist for treatment of scalp conditions that can range from sebhorrea, to hair loss and thinning, dermatitis, dandruff, psoriasis, or even dry, oily and itchy scalp conditions. Consultation follows, where the trichologist takes the client’s medical history, family history, diet and exercise information, etc. A pre-diagnosis is next, where they determine what kind of disorder the client has. Examining the hair is done with both hand held and electronic microscopes. Hi-Frequency, a machine that stimulates the scalp is also used, along with infrared and ultra violet light. Tricholoscopes and Woods Lamps can show up any fungus or bacteria on the hair. “So basically we analyse and diagnose, then try to find the cause. Some things we can treat on our own, other things we need alternative help from health care practitioners, sometimes dentists, dermatologists, nutritionists, endocrinologists… we sometimes see problems within the endocrine system, either too many or too few hormones in the bloodstream. So it’s not just about hair alone, we do this from a holistic approach, because in most cases, a person’s diet or particular lifestyle has a lot to do with hair loss or any other condition.” Now 50, he’s also a single dad with four children of his own, ranging in age from 16 to 32. He’s leaving our shores today, but he made sure to get himself a ‘Trini to the Bone” t-shirt to take back home. “One thing I can say about Trinidad and Tobago is that I feel really at home here,” he laughed. “I have a great admiration for how hard you work here, especially in trying to educate the public about trichology. I believe that every medical professional should know about this, and everyone should work together to promote healthy bodies, which in turn will promote healthy hair. That’s why our approach is a holistic approach. It works both ways. Healthy hair means a healthy person and vice versa.”

It seemed all illusory until 22-year-old Michael Zephyrine from the little village of Ste Madeleine, San Fernando got his chance to meet the world renowned tenor Placido Domingo at the Metropolitan Opera House in Manhattan, New York. Even prior to his joining The Lydian Singers under the stewardship of Pat Bishop, while in fifth form at Presentation College, San Fernando, Michael had started his collection of recordings of famous opera singers. He would use the money obtained from various “gigs” to purchase them. Singing in the church choir and learning the notes on the piano at home had paid off. Michael would become a competent singer with a baritone pitch, pianist, and reader of music. It was an overwhelming moment, meeting one of his heroes, but Michael braved it. He still remembers Placido’s words: “The best listeners make the best singers.” Placido shed advice on the importance of absorbing as much music as possible while a student. On finding out that Michael was Trinidadian, Placido said he had been meaning to visit the Caribbean. All of this became a realisation when the holder of eight national titles in music gained entry to the music school of his choice. After he was sure that music was what he wanted to pursue and law had to take a back seat, Michael sent three copies of his demo tape to schools abroad. “As soon as the tour of Miami with The Lydian Singers was over, I went straight to New York to audition for the schools,” Michael told People. The results were remarkable. Michael was accepted to each of the schools he had applied — Juilliard School of Music, the Manhattan School of Music and the Mannes School of Music, three of the top music institutions in the world today.

The experience was “nerve-wrecking,” he said. “Imagine standing in a long line in the corridor waiting your turn to go on stage before a panel of judges.” As if to intimidate entrants, he said auditions were very audible from where he stood “so you knew what you were up against.” Nevertheless, Michael aced them and stood out in the process. He was the only student from the Caribbean to be accepted at the three schools at the same time. The choice was difficult, but Michael opted for the Mahattan School of Music where he is now pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in performance and classical voice. He begins his third year in September and is currently in Trinidad to secure funds for his tuition. On the Lydian’s return from concert in NY later this week, Michael will launch his recital “Voyage” — a travelogue of song at Naparima Bowl on June 28. His school professor, renowned tenor Neil Rosenshein, has given him voice tips for while in Trinidad. Michael has his own medicine. He said: “Don’t be fooled by classical singers who tell you remain silent for two days before a performance. The key is to eat right and rest. I do vocal exercises every day (scales) and I do a lot of walking or jogging coming up to specific performances.” You’d understand why he must pay special attention to his voice as he’s known in school as “the composer’s singer.” “I work with student composers and premiere several of their song cycles,” he informed.

With his knowledge of arranging for Skiffle Bunch and Lydian steel orchestras and composing for various choirs, all Michael had to do was apply his voice. Also impressive is the fact that he can sing in seven different languages — Russian, French, Spanish, Italian, German, Portuguese and English. Life on campus “is nothing short of amazing. It’s getting up next to a soprano and violinist among others. You have to be obsessed with music to survive. With that environment you have to come out a top-class musician.” He’s teaching them, his colleagues, a little thing or two about TT’s culture. “They are learning Trinidadian terms. They’ve learned ‘limin’, now I’m teaching them to say ‘wham now!’ I’ve taken them to Brooklyn to get a roti.” His recent school performance was playing the title role in the opera, Julius Caesar by Handel. “It’s a baroque opera that requires the voice to be agile. Playing that role was challenging,” said Michael, the only undergraduate student among the performers. “I was able to meet distinguished artistes at the end of the show. I received invitations to do performances of early music (baroque music) and it’s a challenge that I’m willing to accept.” He’s able to connect the theory of “principles of good singing” when he observes Rosenshein in action. “Neil’s an amazing teacher and an outstanding performer. When I saw him sing at Carnegie Hall in the opera ‘Anthony and Cleopatra’ I was totally blown away. It was a humbling experience. It allowed me to see what he teaches, he practises,” said Michael.

His tutors have told him he’s a strong coloratura singer, but he prefers not to label his voice, “since you’re now learning to explore the capacities of your voice.” What makes a good singer, he explained: “One who is able to communicate with the audience through the song and get the composer’s intention through to the audience. I have to be honest with the audience. I don’t go for the vocal fireworks.” His career pursuits have made him “more mature, more settled and more focused. It’s given me perspective of what my art requires of me.” Michael didn’t feel that he was leaving off the artform, calypso (since he won the National Schools Calypso competition three times in a row), but was glad to get the chance of opening up an avenue for classical music in Trinidad and Tobago. He said: “I don’t think we reach our potential in classical music. It’s greatly lacking. If I can go abroad and pace myself with the best the world can offer then I’m showing others that this is doable.”

When my husband died I was left with only Sohrab, our big black-and-white cat to keep me company. Three years later, at seventeen years old Sohrab was suffering from liver cancer . . . For six months I asked around for a Siamese kitten to replace Sohrab when the inevitable happened — but there were none when it was time to put Sohrab to sleep. I couldn’t live without a cat, the house would be completely empty, desolate with no creature to greet me in the morning or when I came home. My vet knew of a ginger and white kitten that had been abandoned somewhere in Diego Martin. He was so tiny his rescuers had to feed him formula with a doll’s feeding bottle. At 8 weeks old, he needed more room than the carrying case where he was living safe from that family’s dogs. I called him George; he, I think, called me Mum for he’d follow me wherever I went. He’d sit and cry outside the bathroom until I opened the door. To make sure I didn’t escape he’d sit on the side of the bath while I had my shower, and help to dry me by licking water drops off my legs. He loved to play with water (a clean toilet bowl was one of his favourite toys). He’d play for hours with a toy mouse, tossing it up, catching it, biting it, worrying it. He was a most sociable kitten; visitors had to be warned to make no sudden gestures because George, who didn’t know his own strength, would take it as an invitation to play mouse — with some rather painful results.

He had the big operation all pet tom cats should. He was scarcely a year old when — no, it’s too painful to tell how and why he died . . . The next day I went straight to the TSPCA to get Rustum, a small ginger kitten with, I’m sorry to say, an e-coli infection and ringworm — though I didn’t know it when I took him home. A rather large veterinary bill cured his tummy trouble and we were both cured of ringworm when I had a call to say my kitten was ready to leave Mother. I sallied forth to Las Lomas to fetch my Siamese kitten but the moment I picked him up, he bit me. I knew then he was not for me, nor I for him, for Siamese know exactly who they will and won’t live with. Reluctantly, I gave up my hopes of having a seal point Siamese, and settled instead for Sam, a very vocal kitten who looked as if he might be a chocolate-point. Like all Siamese he was born pure white. When I collected him at ten weeks old, he was just developing his points on his paws, the tips of  his ears and tail, and his nose. Sam hates riding in cars. He screamed all the way from Las Lomas to Cascade. Rustum took one sniff at this new kitten — and hissed. Next day, on our way back from the vet where Sam had his shots, we stopped off at the pet store for cat shampoo. With all trace of Las Lomas odours removed, Rustum agreed to tolerate the newcomer and we settled down to menage a trois. The time came for Rustum to have his big operation. A month or two later Sam was showing no signs of needing his operation but the vet advised an even bigger operation since Sam’s testicles hadn’t descended as they should have by the time he was six months old. What was — is even stranger was his colouring. Instead of solid chocolatey fawn points, you see from his most recent photographs, Sam has developed milk-chocolate tabby markings. “Well, he’s a tabby point Siamese,” said my vet’s wife. And I suppose he is. He’s small (my pet name for Sam is “baby-puss”) — or maybe he just seems tiny so when compared to Sohrab and Rustum.

He’s very talkative, has a piercing Siamese voice — although it’s still rather high (the result of his operation, perhaps?) his blue eyes are slightly crossed. Now he’s older, his back is pale chocolate;  although the pads on his paws are dark brown, his nose is pink. Well, we can’t all be perfect. Nevertheless, he is beautiful, sleek, svelte, handsome — and knows it. Rustum was a fine specimen of a ginger tom, too, until he had an accident and broke one of his back legs. He’s due for an operation to fix the leg next month (no, I don’t understand that either, but I trust my vet). However, even with a broken leg, Rustum is still top cat — and Sam knows it. When Rustum is stretched out beside me on the sofa, Sam has to sleep on a Danish chair. Although, at the faintest rattle of cat chow poured into their feeding bowl, Rustum is first in the queue, he’s lost weight since his accident, seems to have lost his appetite and soon gives way to Sam. However, a broken leg doesn’t seem to hamper him at all. He races upstairs and down chasing Sam — or being chased by Sam. He leaps five feet to the sill of a window always left open so that my pets come and go as they please. Rustum has an endearing habit of stretching out and waving (there is no other word to describe it) his left front paw as he comes towards me. In the mornings when I go out to collect Newsday, he runs ahead, turns on his back, waves his paws in the air for his morning tummy tickle. Neither Sam nor Rustum sit on my lap (we’ve all three decided it’s far too hot and humid in Trinidad for cats to sit on laps). They’d rather lie on their backs, paws in the air begging me to stroke their tummies and tickle them under the chin — Sam holds my hand in his front paws, even extends his claws if he’s not ready to call it quits on his daily rational of love and affection.

Even though I have no fixed bedtime, sometimes from the garden, sometimes from their chairs, or the sofa, they keep watch. I close the patio doors, they open their eyes. I set the burglar alarm, they prick up their ears. I switch off the lights and the ceiling fan and put a foot on the stairs, they race each other upstairs to stake a claim on my bed. (We tried sleeping all three on a single bed, but, since they refused to curl up together, with a cat on either side holding down the sheets and snuggling as close to me as possible, it was rather like
trying to sleep in a straightjacket). Rustum and Sam are my companions. They’re there, waiting to greet me every time I come home. One sleeps on, the other under the bed. What more could I want for companionship — except . . . but he’s gone . . .

Janelle Pascall is only 18, but the responsibilities she has are tremendous. By the time you read this, she will have completed her A’ Level Examinations at the Pleasantville Senior Comprehensive School.  She will then be preparing for her greatest challenge to date, representing Trinidad and Tobago at the sixth annual Global Young Leaders Conference in Washington DC and New York City. Pascall will be among 350 outstanding scholars from around the world to attend the conference. This year’s theme is The Leaders of Tomorrow Preparing for the Global Challenges and Responsibilities of the Future, and lasts for approximately two weeks, beginning June 20 to July 31. From her home in Pleasantville, San Fernando, the quiet teen was hard at work on her presentation skills for the conference.

It was her  Principal, Nedd Mc Cree that recommended young Pascall to represent her school (and country) at the GLYC. An easy choice, especially as Pascall is also both school and class prefect and is the Student’s Representative on the Local School Board. She’s also and active member of the Students’ Advisory Counsel (and sits on their board as well). “I have to choose a world leader that I admire and find out everything I can about them,” the soft spoken Pascall explained. “I also have to familiarise myself with most Global concerns, so in preparation I am doing a lot of research on the Internet, looking at CNN and also reading TIME and Newsweek. By doing that I won’t get lost in the crowd, because there are going to be at least 80 countries represented.”  From these, students (selected at random) will be put into groups and will be presented with a hypothetical problem to solve. This will entail their representing a country in a crisis situation, be it war, famine, or flood. Situations could also include poverty, crime or weapons of mass destruction. “I think that I’ll do well; I’m not nervous at all, really,” Pascall confessed. “If I was asked about the crime situation here, I would be able to handle it. For instance, regarding the kidnapping situation, I believe that there can be more crime stoppers put into place and have more stringent measures to protect a person’s anonymity when they report a crime. People should not have to fear when reporting any sort of activity within their community.”

Pascall (who has two younger sisters), would like to become a journalist when she completes her secondary school education. “This is another reason why I am excited to attend this conference, because it will give me a chance to also interact with some of the key people in the business,” she said. “I’m really looking forward to this opportunity to learn from this trip and even grow. I’m really excited… not scared… excited.” When she’s on her study breaks, she downloads music by her favourite artiste (Nelly), but said that the music of Sade is what she studies to. She went on to talk about the youth and ways they can be made to contribute to society… no doubt she will impress those she will meet. Rest assured that Trinidad and Tobago is in capable hands at this years GLYC Conference. We wish Pascall much success.

 

With the release of a much-hyped book by former first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, we’re all about to revisit the 1999 presidential impeachment hearings. In many ways, it was a much simpler – and pettier – time. Whereas today’s headlines refer to heavy issues of war and peace, interspersed with the continuing worry about terrorism, back when Hillary Clinton was first lady instead of a US senator from New York, our paramount concern was of a more salacious matter: Did Bill do it with that intern or not? It’s amazing to recall how the nation agonised over the impeachment of President Bill Clinton, the first US president in 130 years to be subjected to such a trial. For many of us, the strongest memory remains one of extreme befuddlement. Even as the months-long. Monica Lewinsky scandal played itself out in headlines and on TV, it was hard to believe the entire nation was brought to a standstill over nothing more than sex between consenting adults. Sure, the attack dogs in Congress behind Kenneth Starr’s investigation of Clinton’s alleged perjury insisted their motives were of loftier stuff, but most reasonable folks understood the nature of this particular witch hunt.

Clinton’s political enemies caught him in a lie. Because of that, they wanted nothing less than his forced departure from the highest office in the land. With the release of   “Living History” on   Monday, Hillary Clinton invites us to return to those not-so-hallowed days as she travels the nation’s airwaves to plug her new book, a memoir of her life in the White House during the Clinton administration, including the impeachment. The memoir itself – the result of an astounding  $8 million book deal – isn’t that unusual; former first ladies such as  Betty Ford,  Rosalyn Carter,  Nancy Reagan and  Barbara Bush have all written books about their time in the White House. But this is Hillary Clinton, the only first lady in history to go on to win a congressional seat. The Hillary Clinton who was half of the “Buy one, get one free” strategy that made her and her husband arguably the most admired and reviled couple in American political history. Not only that, it’s Hillary Clinton as the beleaguered wife of the cheating husband speaking for the first time about Monica Lewinsky. The juiciest stuff is already out there. Several newspapers and TV shows have run excerpts of Hillary’s account of her reaction to news that Clinton had an affair with Lewinsky.

A short tease

“I felt nothing but profound sadness, disappointment and unresolved anger,” Hillary writes about her reactions after her husband confessed his (latest) infidelity. “I could barely speak to Bill and when I did it was a tirade. I read. I walked on the beach. He slept upstairs and I slept downstairs.” OK. For any more, you’ve got to buy the book. In typical Clinton fashion, there’s already some reported discrepancies over Hillary’s account. According to the Washington Post, previously published accounts by former White House staffers differ on whether Bill actually told his wife himself or let an underling do it. And the timeline is fuzzy, at best. Whatever. It’s her book. Revisionist history is a part of any political memoir. And “Living History” has everything to do with politics. By most accounts, Hillary Clinton plans to run for president in 2008 if the Democrats don’t win in 2004.

She has almost everything a woman could desire…a plush home, loving parents, a successful career, awards and adulation. So, what is one thing that still eludes her in life? In an intimate tete-a-tete, Raveena speaks on matters closest to her heart — love, marriage and life. Cine Blitz’s Purnima Sushmita caught the daring damsel in a relaxed mood at her home in Bombay. Purnuma writes, Raveena is intelligent, attractive, vibrant and most importantly, single. In short a dream woman, as far as eligible bachelors are concerned. But alas that special someone is still playing truant. Her friends insist that she must settle down with a man who conforms to her mental wave length. Raveena though doesn’t give a hoot what the world thinks. You would never find a trace of discontent on her visage. Wiser with experience, she has realised that in order to survive in this highly competitive arena, she needs to keep her emotion in check and her dedication to work absolute. And she has done just that. Raveena took Best Actress award for her role in the movie AKS. She managed to steal the award from top-of-the-line actresses, Rekha and Madhuri. “I was very pleasantly surprised when I won the award. “I was sure it would be Rekha because my role in AKS was a glamorous one. Often the critic award goes to the actresses wearing cotton saris and no make-up. Both Rekha and Madhuri have a lot of experience. They have handled the kinds of roles which we are only getting now. So it is not fair to say that I am competing with them. I feel the award was given to me to encourage heroines of my age to handle these kinds of roles,” she said.  

Whether it’s her vulnerable presence in the movie, Daman or her vibrant appeal in AKS, she has indeed lapped up all her adulation. Raveena is certainly basking in all her glory. She seems to drink deeply from this cup of contentment as she purrs….. “Yes, I am happy with the lot.” Talking about the hot steamy roles she did opposite Nagarjuna in the film, Agnivarsha she noted that she was fully dressed while doing these scenes. “Even in the passionate scenes in AKS I was fully dressed with just my expressions reflecting my passion. Similarly, in Agnivarsha there is no nudity — all the steam you see comes from the passion that I carry through the entire scene,” she cleared the air. She was quick to say that she draws the line on nudity in films. Isn’t she afraid that these steamy scenes will go against her when she wants to marry and settle down? “Oh what a hypocritical question this is!” she exclaimed.  She continues to speak in high pitch, “I’ve been one of the actresses who would draw the line. Even in the scene with Nags, we barely touched lips. And when I get married, it would be to someone whom I know very well. Obviously he will also know me well enough. And if he doesn’t, well he isn’t man enough to stand next to me because I’m too much of a woman.” Purmina continued the conversation by commenting on her prolonged single status. While her contemporaries are settling down, she is still single. What’s stopping her from tying the knot? “These things happen when they are meant to. I’m not the kind to have flings. I might date a man, if I am a little interested in the person. If I don’t find anybody till I am getting grey, I’ll go in an arranged marriage,” she had as an answer for this question.

She added that she had been engaged before and it was a painful experience when she decided to get out of it. “I’m not willing to take another risk,” she said. She had been a tomboy since she was a kid. “Initially, I used it as a defence mechanism, which then became a permanent characteristic. Even today when someone tells me I am looking fantastic, I refuse to believe it. I would prefer to be a hero’s buddy than a sashay across and fling my cloak or spin my wand around.” Raveena confessed that she entered the Bollywood Film Industry with an aim to bring the real to life stories across. “Not just love stories but those with hard hitting issues of politics, poverty and patriotic stories that can command the attention of the audiences in any part of the world,” she said.