I am not sure why this is, but West Indians will not use your bathroom. I've had some of my friends here ALL DAY LONG and they never once go to the bathroom. How do they do that? Why won't they use my bathroom? Oh well, guess I don't have to worry about it being clean!
***DISCLAIMER*** This is not actually my bathroom...but my bathroom isn't disgusting or anything.
Where everywhere you go is everyone you know.
That is one of the bumper stickers floating around the island and it is so true. It is a blessing, and at times a curse. It's all in how you look at it. It is simply impossible to go anywhere on St. John and not run into people you know.
You know how it is when you live in the states and you bump into a friend at the store? Well multiply that by 50 and that is what it is like on St. John. Throughout the course of the day you will chat with more than a dozen people that you know from here or there. Makes it really hard to hold on to a bad mood that you may be in. Maybe you have to fake that smile with the first couple of people you run into, but before long, you forget all about why you grumpy.
Returning to island after vacation is always so nice. Even though most people don't realize you have been gone (whether it has been a week or 6 months), they always have a quick smile and a few minutes of pleasant small talk. This time was a little different for me. My "could be a beer belly" turned into a definite "baby bump" in the 2 and a half weeks I was away. People are not afraid to say something now and I've turned into a Buddha of sorts with lots of belly rubbing going on.
3. A fast reliable internet connection.
There are a couple of things that I miss about living in the states.
1. Water pressure - Geeze, you guys don't even need to use soap in the shower! It's like being pressure washed!
2. Grass - I love the way a lawn feels, love the way it looks, and most of all, love the way it smells when it is freshly cut.
Back home!!! It was a long day of travel, but we made it back to St. John on the 10pm ferry (thank you ferry boat people for holding the boat a couple of minutes). It is just soaked down here. The potholes now have potholes. The yard is a big mud pit. My house smells like mildew. Sent King to the store for a couple cans of Lysol. Charlie and Alakay have been fattened up. (They like CeeJah's feeding methods....keep the bowl full at all times.) Ahh, good to be home!
We went for an ultrasound while we are in Michigan and it has been confirmed....Steve is a boy! He was shy about giving it up, but after several attempts of trying to see between his legs, King shouted out "THERE IT IS!!!!" Just a brief glimpse, but King saw it before the doctor could even say anything. This is Steve's first picture. I think it will be hard for Luca to adapt to the baby's real name, which is yet to be determined, but it will NOT be Steve.
In the VI, any time you make eye contact with someone, you say "Good morning/afternoon/night" It's just what we do. This is a topic that comes up a lot on the travel forums. People who live in the VI instruct visitors to use these greetings when they are here. It's not like a magic bullet that will instantly make things go well for you, it's just something that most locals like to hear before you utter anything else. Often times you will hear visitors complain about "having" to do this, or about how they did it and locals were still rude to them. Whatever....
You know what happens when you do this when you are in the states? People look at you funny, treat you like you are "special needs", or just off your rocker. Whenever I visit the states I have to constantly remind myself NOT to do this, avoid eye contact, ignore the people around me. This is one of the things that bothers me the most when I visit the states. I find it sad that people in the states are so disconnected from one another. It's a real bummer that extending a greeting in the states to people whom you don't know, but encounter, is so surprising that it tends to put statesiders off. I would much rather be in a place where a handful of people will still treat you rude if you use these greetings than in a place where only a handful of people appreciate the greetings.
Had a great time on the annual Tawas trip. Good to see everyone, relax in the sun, read some books. I was up early every morning, but it was like sleeping in since I was up around 5:30am instead of 3am. Every morning I would go out to the beach and poke the coals in the fire pit and try to revive the previous night's fire. I would wait for the sunrise and drink coffee and read a book.This is one of the best sunrise pictures I got. The crappiest days had the most beautiful sunrises!
1. We all made it MI in one piece! Tired, and a bit grumpy, but here!2. Eating blueberries, corn on the cob, and wilted lettuce.3. Eating a big bacon cheese burger. This was Steve's request, I don't like hamburgers.4. Luca and Luigi getting along really really well. 5. Watching a stupid show on tv. Two old people were in a fist fight and neither one of them made contact even thought they were swinging like crazy. If you are going to get in a fist fight, this is the way it should be done.6. Seeing Mom and Dad. It's been too long. They both look great!7. Mom and Dad's new computer set up. The iMac is FAST and the internet is FAST. I'm getting spoiled. 8. The coffee mug my Mom got me. 9. A big fat long nap.10. Looking at baby clothes. They are just too cute! King wouldn't let me buy anything though.
It was travel day, and there wasn't a lot to smile about. It was a long day, arrived at Mom and Dad's house around 1:45am.
1. We made all of our flights.
2. They were able to seat us together on both flights.
That's it, that's all I got.
1. Taking Luca to a prenatal visit. He got to hear Steve's heartbeat. We also heard him swimming around.
2. Veronica (my midwife) gave Luca a little globe thing off of her desk. He commented that he really thought it was cool and she said that she has had it on her desk for 10 years and hardly looks at it any more. She said she thought Luca should have it. He was very happy :-) Veronica is a real sweetheart.
3. Vacuum sealing our stuff to go into our suitcase. Those Space Bags are cool!
4. Dena and Katie came over for a bit last night. It's always good to see them. Luca gave Dena a sweet hug and a puppy dog face and said "I want to come with you." She caved, and Luca spent the night with her.
5. Getting everything done that needed to be done before we leave. I don't think that has ever happened before!
I'm not doing it and you can't make me! I didn't really do anything on Monday other than clean the house some and veg out. Luca spent the night at Dena's house on Sunday and went to Carnival Parade with King during the day, and Fireworks at night.
Today is going to be about finishing up some work in the office, packing, and getting ready to leave. There is a good chance I won't be posting much while I'm on vacation. I make a real effort to unplug for the time we are at Tawas. But I'm sure I'll have some stuff to say when I get back!!!
Here is a short clip from the pan band that was playing at Carnival last night.
1. Getting a butt load of laundry all done! Still working on the putting it away part.
2. Watching Alakay try to play with a bar of soap. Apparently he learned that it really tastes bad, but that didn't really deter him from wanting to pick it up and throw it around.
3. Hearing a big pan band at Carnival. They sounded so good and everyone was having a great time. Nothing says Caribbean like a good, big, steel pan band.
4. Watching Luca shoot his bubble gun near the road at Carnival last night while dancing to the music. All of the people walking by and driving by loved the bubbles that filled the air. Who doesn't love bubbles???
5. My fresh clean woobie. I love that thing!
1. Giving Alakay a bath. He tries to bite the water and lick all the soap off.
2. Eating a Gyro for breakfast. It was soooo good!
3. King picked up a day of work for cash.
4. Watching Luca with his two new friends at Carnival. One of their names is Stevie (Steve E)...very close to the name he gave the baby.
5. Getting a hug from a cousin in law's teenage daughter. I've only met her briefly, and she is very quiet, but it was so warm and genuine that it gave me warm fuzzies.
1. A friend told me of two big personal decisions they are making that are very positive. I am soooo glad to see her do something for herself for a change.
2. I felt Steve moving.
3. Luca convinced Kim and Lou to go to Carnival with him and King. Kim called me around 8pm and it sounded like they were having a BLAST!
4. King cleaned our room.
5. I was just happy it was Friday!!!!
1. Going to the chiropractor. He always cracks me up!
2. Watching all of the kids at Kid's Village. The little St. Johnians were exploding with excitement.
3. Eating a beef pate. I imagine it's really terrible for you but booth #2 has the BEST pates!
4. Luca loving up on 'Steve'. I think that name for the baby is stuck. He'll probably always call it Steve. He kissed my belly about a thousand times yesterday. Says goodnight to my belly before I go to bed.
5. Sitting on Cruz Bay beach with King. We just sat there for awhile and looked at the water and all of the laughing gulls taking baths along the shoreline.
