The Road Goes on Forever and the Party Never Ends

Out of hibernation

2011-04-20T13:52:00.003-04:00

Like a bear coming out after hibernation, I feel the same way. Made it through my first winter. Now the sun is out most days, the grass is greening up nicely, flowers are coming up, my garden is starting to sprout and I am out to see what the world will bring me today! I am so happy to know that the next several months, the weather is just going to get better. Hiking, biking, heading to Denver for baseball games, traveling, bbq's in my backyard, Ned. Stay tuned for more. Life just keeps getting better.

Trade offs

2010-12-31T15:33:00.001-04:00

Moving from Anguilla to here, I have had to make some trade offs. How many times had I sat in my shorts on the beach watching and listening to the waves lap up against the shore, the birds cawing above me? Not a footprint on the beach for as far as I could see. Looking out at the billowing clouds as they meandered across the sky, beer in hand. Hypnotic in the way that looking at a fire can be.

Trade offs.

Today, I sat outside in my chair, bundled up against the cold, 6-8 inches of snow all around me. Not a footprint anywhere around me. Scotch in my hand. Not a sound to be heard. Crystal clear blue skies. The mountains covered in white glistening powder. A lone squirrel running along the top of the fence chirping at me and pretending to be Louis Armstrong. I actually heard him sing, "What a wonderful World". You know what? That squirrel was right. It is a wonderful world!!

Trade offs are good.

Happy New Year to all!! As good as life is, the best is yet to come.

It's the little things

2010-10-28T22:28:00.003-04:00

Good things come to those that wait.

I have been riding my bike or walking everywhere I want to go. It's wonderful. But, alas, the cold has set in and riding a bike in the cold and the dark has lost some of its appeal. Brrr. So, it's been the bus!! At 2 bucks every time I get on it. That's 4 bucks a day. That adds up!! Today, I met a guy on my street that says our neighborhood has a bus program for those that live in the immediate area. So now, it costs me 75 bucks a year for UNLIMITED bus service. To anywhere!! I can go to Ned for free. Denver, no charge. Eldora for skiing, nada! It's like a whole new world has opened up. I can't wait to go to the bus station and say, "I want the next bus out of here!" Just so I can pretend I'm in the movies.

Stay tuned for where my new freedom takes me!! Let's not forget that not everyone is as free as we are. I love you bro'.

Yin/Yang

2010-10-11T14:05:00.002-04:00

So I go to work on Friday morning, beautiful fall day. Sunny, crisp, never ending blue skies, gorgeous. I leave work at 8PM and it is friggin' FREEZING!! OMG, what the hell happened. Winter blew in. I had on long pants and a sweat shirt. Remember, this is from a guy that hasn't spent a winter in over over 35 years. I've been in them for a few short days but an entire winter?

Now the yang. Fall!! I haven't seen colors like this in years. All the leaves are changing, the grass is a beautiful golden brown, the mountains are a riot of colors, the sky seems endless, the nights are perfectly clear with stars glimmering like, well, like snowflakes, is one thing that comes to mind. And with all the bitching about the cold, I can't wait to sit bundled up on a snow covered mountain top somewhere with a glass of wine in my hand, the sun beating on me, and catch those snowflakes on my tongue. And think of spring right around the corner.

Heroes

2010-09-23T13:55:00.003-04:00

By the numbers. 168 completely burned houses in the Four Mile Canyon Fire. Amazing. That means not just part of the house, but the ENTIRE house is gone!! Can you imagine it? I am having a hard time fathoming it and looking forward with trepidation to seeing the destruction. Also, why did some houses burn and ones right next door have NO damage whatsoever? I have three personal friends that lost everything. They have just the clothes on their back. And you know what? Not one of them is complaining. Actually, one was quite stoic about it. He said, "hey, I went through Katrina and lost everything, so I'll just start again". Amazing!! Oh, by the way, no loss of life!!

Which brings me to last Sunday. There was a street fair on east Pearl St. Food, booths, the usual. What was unusual, was they were able to put together a makeshift parade for the firefighters. Down the street they came, firefighters, families that lost everything, a makeshift band, and people just celebrating!! People waving banners thanking the people that helped them save their homes. There were plenty of tears including from myself. The firefighters actually seemed embarrassed by the attention. These firefighters were young kids, older guys, women, professional firefighters, and volunteers. All races and ethnic backgrounds. When a community comes together it is truly awe inspiring.

If you knew a disaster was about to wipe out your house and you had a 1/2 hour to take things from your house, what would you grab?

Fall

2010-09-17T14:46:00.002-04:00

I figured out that the last time I spent a winter was when I was 18 in Chicago. Am I looking forward to it? Well, sort of. It will be fun and I know it will get COLD, but this foreplay is the best. The leaves are starting to change color, there is a briskness in the air, sleeping in the cool night with a blanket is heaven, and sitting in the backyard with my coffee and a blankie wrapped around me in the morning is bliss. Even the birds and squirrels seem to be cheerful, happy, singing and chirping (or whatever it's called that squirrels do). So I talk back to them. Am I Dr. Doolittle? I'm sure my neighbors think I'm crazy and who's to say I'm not!! Are crazy people the last to know? Anyone out there that can answer that? Ahh, but that's the conundrum. If you know the answer, what does that say about you?

The Joys of Carefree Meanderings

2010-08-18T13:52:00.003-04:00

Lately I turn my mind off completely and go. Letting my feet take me where they want to go. My mind and body just along for the ride.

Last Sunday I let my feet (and a bus) take me to Nederland. About 1/2 hour from Boulder in the mountains. Crisp, clear air, long walk around the lake, live music in the bar, friendly people everywhere. Goin' again this Sunday.....or who knows? Maybe my feet will take me somewhere else.

FREEDOM!!

2010-08-17T13:53:00.002-04:00

There is NOTHING like it. NOTHING!! The ability to go wherever, whenever, one wants. Take a minute to think about it. Remember, not everyone has that luxury. Whether it be in a country where you are unable to do what you want or in a prison somewhere. Take another moment and think about it. I miss you bro'.

Red Rocks Rocks!!!

2010-08-03T13:30:00.003-04:00

Help. I've been kidnapped!! Yep. Saturday night I was at work around 7 PM when in pop a couple friends. They were heading up to Red Rocks to see Michael Franti and Spearhead. They lured me into the car with tequila. I don't know how I could be so stupid. I was brought up to not take things from strangers. Once in the car, I pleaded with them to understand that NOBODY would send them ransom money, but they insisted they could get something!! At that point, I figured there was no sense in fighting it so I went along for the ride.

What a ride it was. Red Rocks is an absolutely magical spot. It's a natural amphitheater that holds about 10,000 people. Geez, there were almost as many people in one venue then all of Anguilla!! And I loved it!! I forgot how much fun that many people can have. Views of Denver are almost 180 degrees. And the sound was perfect even from the cheap seats. There is something about a group gathering where everyone is having a great time, singing, dancing, and smiling. Lots of hugs and general merriment.

The music was uplifting. A cross between rap, rock, and reggae. He is quite a performer and I feel lucky to have been kidnapped to such a beautiful spot.

Well, I am writing this so you know that the kidnappers let me go. They finally realized I have no money, and nobody that was going to send them money, so after being drugged into a stupor by their tequila, I was dumped out of the car in front of my house around 1AM.

Any other kidnappers out there? Come get me!!

My butt hurts!!

2010-07-19T14:58:00.002-04:00

A friend of mine live in Niwot which is 25 miles round trip from Boulder. Yesterday I went to get coffee at a nice Italian cafe here in Boulder. I didn't know it was a hang out for a multitude of bike fanatics. They all come in dressed in their silly little biker pants, shirts, and shoes. Me? I'm in flip flops, tee shirt, and shorts. Hmmmm, what's going on? They were all there to watch the Tour de France!! Can you believe it? I guess they thought I was crazy when I asked them to turn the TV to the British Open, which to them is as boring as me watching the T de F. Anyway, hyped up on a double cap, I decided to screw the heat and ride on out to Niwot. It was perfect. A little heat, lots of water, and a nice long ride!! My idea of fun!! I think people feel I escaped from the asylum when they see my flopping my arms, IPOD earphones stuck in my ears, and mooing at the cows. Screw them!! They say you're only a kid once, but I'm finding out that's utter bullshit. I'm a kid again and to prove it I'm gonna buy me a hula hoop!! Wish me luck that I don't throw my back out!!

Sounds of Thunder!!

2010-07-05T13:11:00.003-04:00

Fourth of July in the States. I forgot what it was after spending the last 4 in Anguillla where it is definitely NOT a holiday. But it made me reminisce that 20 years ago was my first vacation to Anguilla. What a long strange trip its been since then.

I also forgot what a REAL storm is. Monsoons!! Bundled up in a blanket reading a book, listening to the massive thunder, watching the incredible lightening, and being mesmerized by the patter of rain drops. There may be nothing more comforting.

It just keeps getting better.

Sounds of Silence

2010-06-27T12:03:00.002-04:00

Incredible walk today. The mountains are such a beautiful place to take stock, meditate, and view the beauty around us. My early morning walk today was overly peaceful. The only sounds I heard were the birds chattering to each other about what a beautiful day it is and how wonderful it is to be alive. The only other sounds I heard were my footsteps and I realized that they sounded too loud to me. It seemed like I was intruding on nature. I sat, closed my eyes, and listened. It's amazing how much you hear when you truly listen. There is nothing like solitude to get in touch with oneself.

Tomorrow is coming up too soon. We find out what's in store for my bro'. I can't thank you enough for your support through this difficult time. The letters that were written may or may not help, but the outpouring of love and the shear amount of letters is mind boggling. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

Catching up

2010-06-12T20:23:00.006-04:00

Phew. What a week it's been. Started out last Sunday at the Chalk Art Festival in Downtown Denver.

Monday I was informed that I could move into my new digs. It's a beautiful lower unit of an old Victorian home 10 minutes walking distance to Pearl Street, 10 minutes walk to the CU shopping area, and five minutes walk to the trail head. I couldn't be happier with the place and although I just have a bed, dresser, small table, some dishes, and a rocking chair, this place has HUGE potential. Stay tuned for pics of the grounds that are just amazing. It is soooo serene and meditative, that I never want to leave.

However, had to get out the first day and check out the new trail. This entire place has a really good vibe to it. You can be around people when you want but also have serenity when needed. I'm not sure if it's my attitude or the place but I am meeting some incredible people with a really good outlook on life. Soooo different then what the island has become. I feel like a butterfly that has finally been able to spread its wings.

So, enough of the philosophizing. The rest of the week was work related and getting ready for our open house which was a huge success. People from the neighborhood came by to see what we're all about. We had live music, free chair massage, and of course the obligatory wine and cheese. It was so successful we will probably do them every couple weeks.

And got good news from a couple Tucsonans that have promised to visit. My July and August are going to full of visitors and I can't wait to show them around. What a week it's been and I can't wait to wake up tomorrow to see what it brings!! My energy is amazing. My smile is back and my laughter is loud.

Water, water, everywhere

2010-06-03T16:12:00.004-04:00

The creeks are just flowing with H2O. Reminds me so much of Dominica.

After living in Anguilla for so long and being a water miser, it is incredible how much water there is here. You sit down at a restaurant or bar and they automatically pour a glass of water and then leave the bottle on the table. It takes awhile to get used to.

Showers? I was so trained to take a quick one, that I found myself doing that here too. But every once in awhile it is soooooo soothing to turn that baby on HOT and just soak in the jets beating away at tired muscles. Ahhhhh, it truly is the little things in life that make me happy!!

Bolder Boulder

2010-05-31T19:57:00.005-04:00

10K. No problem. Although I did it walking. It's a blast though. You can't help but get swept up in the crowd mentality, the music, the people dancing, the goof balls dressing up in everything from Santa to Elvis. Just a gentle walk thought the streets. I"m hooked!! So then you come up the final hill, which leads to the CU football stadium, you walk in through the field gate and there are literally 40,000 fans cheering, waving, high fiveing. I walked around the entire track to the finish line with goosebumps, waving up at the crowd like I was someone. And at that time, I really did feel like a star. Now I know how sports figures feel when they come into a stadium. Very heady stuff.

Off to the join the people in the stadium to help root on the people following. Then after about a 30 minute wait, the REAL runners come in. Shit, it took me over an hour and a half to do the thing and these guys are running 10K in under 30 minutes. The Ethiopian team comes into the stadium at the same time and running three abreast and hand in hand run around the track and finish tied for first!! Now that's a team!! The place went bonkers.

Then to top it off, parachute guys come down out of the sky and and in the middle of the field, each one carrying a different flag representing the different military services, and finally a huge American flag. I'm awestruck........but wait.....a lightning bolt goes off in my head. I look over a Jess and say, oh shit, I forgot it was Memorial Day. I thought all this was going on because of the 10K. Duh!! At least Jess sets me straight at how happy she is that she is the only one that heard that lame comment. I redeem my self by suggesting "let's get a drink"!!

Man, this place just keeps getting better. Already met some cool new people. Lot of brainiacs here. I'll bullshit my way around and they'll think I am too!! Shhh. Nobody tell them.

I'm still looking for a place to live. Not as easy as I thought since most places don't become available until August 1st for CU. Fingers crossed!!

Oh, yeah, the battery died on my camera otherwise there would have been a lot more pics. Next year!!

Plug in the IPOD and enjoy my ride to work.

2010-05-29T17:48:00.002-04:00

This is just one of the trails I can take to work.

Oh, yeah. Ma, don't worry about your baby boy. He found a place to live!! :)

More pics to come of the BolderBoulder race!!

Swapping

2010-05-27T11:49:00.004-04:00

That title got your attention. Nope not what you thought though.

Another long walk in the mountains today. I realized I have swapped beaches for mountains, chickens for squirrels, goats for deer, and a car for a bike!! I had so much fun lying in the grass and watching two squirrels chase each other around the tree, then up the tree, then back down again. They would look at each other and then scamper off again. I guess they were kind of frolicking. :)

Still haven't found a place to live yet. The place I loved has been rented to someone else. Oh well, just means a better place will come up soon.

Work, if that's what you call what I'm doing, is going great. It's fun to be part of a growing business (pun intended). Lot's of good wellness stuff and a built in pilates studio and masseuse whenever I want. Hmmmm. Guess I traded in panini's for massages, too!!!

This long weekend coming up will be wonderful. I'm going to partake in the BolderBoulder, a 10K run/walk that will have over 50,000 people entered. Great way to meet people. Also plenty of music, food and general merriment. Friday night going to see a Motown cover band. That should bring back some memories. Maybe I'll put on my bell bottoms!! I really do feel like I'm reverting back to my younger days.

And a massage is definitely in the works for apres weekend!!

Rocky Mountain HIGH!!!

2010-05-19T21:37:00.003-04:00

What a difference a few time zones makes. Boulder!! Absolutely beautiful. The mountains, the smell of the pines, the cool running creeks, endless sky, countless stars. Family!!!

Rode the bike to work today. Along the creek, past CU and all that young vibrancy, through a tree lined forest, and voila, 20 minutes later, I'm at work. Face flushed with the exertion but feeling ready to take on the world. No need for coffee.

Still looking for housing. Been looking in the mountains, but recently, thought about a little bungalow in town. Maybe some wood floors, fireplace, outside deck where I can sit and watch the grass grow. Seems weird to be here after so many years by the beach, but I have that same feeling I had when I first moved to Anguilla. Everything ahead of me. New things to explore, see, and do. Looking in the Boulder Weekly, I can't believe how much there is to do. Every day and every night. Music, art, farmer's market, exhibitions, readings, and much more.

Work is a challenge, but it's what my mind needed. Man, I was becoming jello down there. Feels good to be part of something and seeing the possibilities. The best part of work is that it's so much fun, that it doesn't feel like work. Geez, I'm getting paid to do this?

Thanks to N & S in Tucson for their unbelievable hospitality. Also thanks to all the friends that made me feel so welcome and special. I missed you all!

As for C, still missing you!! Come visit soon!!

Molting

2010-05-07T15:42:00.002-04:00

What a ride it's been and now it's time for the adventure to move to a different setting.

Got on the ferry heading for St. Marten. I realized when I got to St. Marten, that during the entire ride I never, not once, looked back. Really made me think. Not looking back. And as each mile went past me, I felt like I was losing my old skin and starting a new one.

It was a wonderful 3-1/2 years in Anguilla, but I had lost myself. My identity. My me. My laughter, my smile. It's all back in spades.

Landed in Chicago and was right in the hustle and bustle of ORD, when I realized that the hustle and bustle was flowing around me. I wasn't part of it. What a nice feeling and I have to thank my time in Anguilla for how relaxed I am. How I learned what respect is. Patience. Understanding. And above all, I finally and truly found what love is. Special thanks to C for that. You will always be in my heart.

So, now I'm in Tucson with a grin on my face that just won't go away. The smells, the clear blue skies, the dryness, the soft breeze, and most of all the friends. Everyone seems genuinely happy to see me and the feeling is mutual. I thank you all for making me feel so special.

Stay tuned for the new adventures to come. I cannot wait and every day is a new beginning, new adventure, new friends. Thank God I'm alive, healthy, and happy. There are always people less fortunate then us. My thoughts and prayers to you S. C is a fighter and she'll beat this thing.

Love to you all.

Dad

2010-04-12T18:01:00.002-04:00

11 years. Seems like yesterday. God I wish you were here. I know you are watching me and won't let me make any mistake too big. I know you are with me. Just wish you were here to talk to. I miss you more then I thought possible. I love you. Keep an eye on me, kay?

R.I.P Merle

2010-04-04T08:59:00.003-04:00

The day finally came for Merle. She is in a much happier place. Me, too. After more then a month of deciding what to do with Merle, I did the right thing for both of us. It's never easy to do and I don't like playing God, but the passing of Merle has been cathartic for me. The day was extremely emotional for me and I can't thank C enough for being there with me.

I brought Merle home with me and buried her under the beautiful flamboyant tree, along with her ever present tennis ball. It took me almost a week of reflection, sadness, and grief, but I realized that although I was literally burying Merle, I was figuratively burying a part of my past and ready to move on to the next relationship and adventure.

Stay tuned. Tee hee. It's gonna be a blast!!

Cafe meanderings

2010-02-18T20:23:00.005-04:00

Meet Poe. He's the newbie at the cafe. The animal rescue here in Anguilla needed a home for him and lo and behold, he ends up here. He's actually pretty cool. Already taking over the place and the customers love him. Tilla the rottweiler is not too keen on him, but Poe won the first battle. Tilla chased him all over running into tables, etc. Poe bolted up a tree and snarled at Tilla. Tilla was pissed and swears revenge, but I'm not so sure. I think (and hope), Poe is wilier then Tilla.

Hired a new waitress. Sweetie huh?

And her brother worked there for awhile too but........maybe I worked him too hard?

Now you know why I love to go to work every day. It's things like this that make it fun.

Elections

2010-02-18T20:14:00.002-04:00

We have a new government!! What a wild ride. There are seven districts that all had to chose someone from the district. Guys were winning with like 300 votes. And these are the guys that are going to run the island. Was fun though. They actually count each ballot live on the radio. In order to keep track you have to tick them off on your sheet to find out who wins. The counting goes on until around 3AM and THEN the party starts. Horns honking, people yelling. What a throwback to the good old days.

So of course the new government takes control the very next day. First order of business? Make the next day a national holiday. Yippee. Nobody goes to work Guess that's their way of telling people what a cool government this one is going to be. Me? Not so sure. Time will tell how the new guys treat expats.

Already the new Chief Minister is driving around in a huge SUV. I guess to show how impotent he is. Or to let us know that he is also on the take like the previous government. The more they change, the more they stay the same. Stay tuned.

Beautiful Anguilla

2010-02-18T19:53:00.008-04:00

With possibly new changes in the works, I am looking at Anguilla with new eyes. Been taking long walks on the beach, hiking the trails, seeing old things again through new eyes. It's amazing how you can live in paradise and forget how beautiful it is.

This is the hike I took the other day, down the path to the cave, and then on to the beach. I pretended I was Indiana Jones and I was entering into the Tomb of the Arawak. The cave was amazing. Further on down the path towards the sea where I was all by myself. Ahh, paradise.

What the "%^$&%?"

2010-02-12T19:02:00.004-04:00

Submarine? Geez, this thing was in the bay for a few days. James Bond maybe. Never seen anything like it. Details-390 feet. Owned by one of the richest guy in the world. The yacht's name is "A" and it belongs to Andrey Melnichenko, a Russian energy and banking billionaire. Designed by Philippe Starck. Google him. The boat?, or whatever the hell it is, is named after his model wife. Turns out they came into the restaurant the other night. Yep. Drove up in a rental car just like all the rest of us slugs. Ya never know who might be eating dinner next to you down here.

The passing, the drums, and the cave

2010-02-01T19:05:00.002-04:00

What a weekend on dee islon mon. Saturday I went off to my first island funeral. A rasta friend of mine's mother passed away. What a beautiful service with plenty of old time singing. They then walked with all the people across the street to the cemetery. Singing. It was a beautiful sendoff to a very nice woman. I only met her once, but that was enough to know what a wonderful person she was.

Saturday was a day of recuperation and then to a drum circle. My first ever. What an experience. If you ever get an opportunity, try it. There were young kids there, adults, and older people. There is something about all these instruments playing together that is good for the soul. Everyone has the rhythm inside them and it is easy to let it out. The facilitator actually told me I had great sense of rhythm and would/could I help her to facilitate in the future. She goes to schools and elderly homes to do it. I am definitely going to help out and even may do it on Saturdays down at the cafe.

Today was a rainy day, but didn't stop a friend and I from hiking down a beautiful trail that winds through lush vegetation all the way down to the sea. Afterwards, we went to some caves that have been here since before the Arawak Indians. I have never been inside a cave where we had to climb into it. There were passages that were quite small and others that you could easily stand up in. We ventured further into the cave when the realization hit us that we only had one flashlight and if it shit the bed on us we were in for a long crawl back to daylight. Well......that unnerved me enough to say, let's get the hell out of here and come back another time. Really fun and interesting to see. I'll be back.

Every time I think I've seen it all in Anguilla, new things pop up. Can't wait for next weekend to see what new adventures I can find myself in.

Forgetting Work for awhile

2010-01-11T20:05:00.003-04:00

Sometimes in the day to day life down here, I forget where I live. Well, the last two days have rekindled why I love it here. Woke up on Sunday to a perfect balmy day with high clouds in the sky. Walking Long Bay along with the dogs, watching the fish as they swam, the birds as the dived, the sun sparkling off the sea. It all brought back the beauty of life in general. Today, a much needed day off. Planned on getting a bunch of errands done, but my body told me I needed a vacation day, so that's what I did. Lunch at Straw Hat, snorkel Long Bay, and then napping on the deserted beach. Ahhh, to be a tourist again.

Been thinking a lot about Merlzy. Getting really close to having to put her down. Just can't get myself to do it. She still loves to see me. Doesn't poop in the house. Goes to the beach with me. But she just doesn't have the same zest for life. Argh. Why are these decisions so hard? Some people close to me have said it's time, but then others say no. I'm leaning towards the ones that say no!! At this point, as soon as it's right in my mind, it will be time. Because of this decision I started reading a great book. "The Art of Racing in the Rain". Highly recommended. A story told through a dogs eyes, which tells us a lot about ourselves.

Stay tuned as I will be looking for support when the time comes.

Where have I been?

2009-12-22T18:25:00.003-04:00

Good question. Have been busy with the cafe, spear fishing, some travel to San Juan, and gearing up for the tourist season. Well.......it's HERE. Headed into the Valley to get some things and it seems like every tourist decided to come this week. Great for business, but not sure I can handle the traffic jams. I mean, it took me over 7 minutes to get into the Valley today. SEVEN minutes!! Damn snowbirds. :) Lot's of lilly whte bodies on the beach. Hope they use sunscreen. Also seems like a lot of younger people this year. Are they the only ones with money?

Christmas is just a couple days away, but there isn't much Christmas feel in the air. Don't know if it's the overall economy or just living here on the island. Not even a Santa sighting yet.

Ran out of water for the very last time. Decided to break down and buy from the government. So come on down and shower to your hearts content.

Speaking of coming down, J&D are on their way here this coming Monday. I truly believe that nobody enjoys themselves more then they do when they come to visit. And their joy is infectious. Even have gone on an alcohol sabbatical to clean out my liver before we down a few rum punches. I will be sure to take a picture of them with their shit eating grins on their face. It's a grin that stays there from the time I pick them up to the time they leave. Can't wait for you guys to get here.

Happy holidays to all.

Things could be worse

2009-10-31T16:32:00.003-04:00

There is actually a hint of fall in the air. Woke up this morning and a cool breeze greeted me when I let Merlzy out. Certainly not like fall in the states, but fall just the same. It does heat up during the day, but today was spent out at Prickly Pear with a group of people and their kids. Something about a half hour boat ride to a deserted island to eat, drink, read, and nap that is good for the soul. It's like going on a vacation without really going anywhere. And yet I am still back in time to take a break from the sun for a couple hours before checking out what gobblins and ghouls might be about tonight. Boo!! Happy Halloween!

I'm Baaaaacccckkkkk

2009-09-29T15:03:00.003-04:00

Both literally and figuratively. Literally meaning just back from St. Barts on the weekend. What a lovely, quaint, cute, french island. Everything that Anguilla isn't in terms of people (mostly white, French), and attitude, (mostly friendly and down to earth). Of course, more snorkeling, frolicking and generally just acting like a crumb. :) Okay, now to the figuratively part. Those that know me, know I had been in a funk for about 8 months. Cafe opening, relationship stuff, shitty economy, general malaise I guess. Well, the trip to the states helped me immensely. Thank you to all that helped me through the hard times. It must show in my face and attitude because so many people have commented on how different I look. (Younger?) One even asked if I had had a face lift. OMG!! So I got back at her and suggested maybe she had had a boob job!! Touche'. Seriously, the dark cloud that has been me is gone and I am my old self. Smiling, laughing, and living life again.

On the celebrity front, Chris Webber was in with his fiance the other day. What a great guy. Does a lot of great community service. Stud basketball player in the NBA but maybe best known for calling the infamous timeout. Of which there were none left. Shit, I hate when that happens.

Off to the states for mi madre's bday. I'd tell how old but she'd absolutely KILL me if I did. Let's just say 29 and leave it at that. So anybody reading this (hmmm. IS anybody reading this?), if you see her, give her a happy bday hug, kiss, or email. I love you, Ma.

Footprints in the sand

2009-09-14T15:19:00.005-04:00

What an incredible weekend.

The deserted island is back. Went to Mead's Bay on Saturday. The beach is about a mile long from one end to the other. Not a single person on it. Merlzy and I walked to the end, turned around and saw our footprints all the way back. We were the only ones on the beach. Kind of felt like Tom Hanks in Castaway. Started to try to figure out how I would eat etc. Hmmm. When I got back to the end of the bay, I picked up my snorkel and fins and went out to see what I could see, sea, see. Absolutely the clearest I have ever seen it here. I missed my spear gun though. I saw a lot of local fish that could have made a nice supper. I told them to go hide cuz I was comin' back for 'em. So next week, dinner is on me!!

Headed off to SXM with my best friend on Sunday to see what island life is like over there. Sundays are wonderful there too. No traffic, people chillin' on the beach. A couple margy's, a couple beers, frolicking in the H2O, smiles, laughter, and sparkles in everyone's eyes. Really enjoyed it. So different from AXA. Need a change of pace from the usual Sunday haunts. Then it was back to AXA for pizza and a movie to end the weekend. Oops, forgot the movie. That's okay, found something better to do anyway. Now I can't wait for next weekend again.

AXA is sooooo quiet now. It's actually the way I remember it from 15 years ago. Love it. Now I just need to figure out a way to make a living besides coffee. Any ideas are appreciated. First good one gets a free panini.

Hey, check out this site. Great ideas and the writing is wonderful.

http://betterwithbutter.com/

Back on the Rock

2009-08-30T14:10:00.002-04:00

Gee it's good to be back home.......sort of!! It's HOT! And I miss the great time I had throughout the month of August. Chicago was a blast. Seeing my Ma and getting some much needed home cooking does things for the soul. Spent a night with J&D. They were gracious enough to know I had been on the road for awhile and was craving some island food. Ja Grill was just the ticket. Everything was incredible and that restaurant could make it here in Anguilla. The rum punches were as good as I can get here and two was more then enough. Had a great time and looking forward to those guys visiting in December.

Also was able to play some golf while I was there. I still stink!!

And the end of the trip included a road trip to Cleveland to check out the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. ABSOLUTELY GREAT!! There is so much to see and listen to. I highly recommend it to anyone that is a fan of any type of music. The one glaring deficiency was the lack of reggae music. There was a small item on Bob Marley, but it just seems like there should have been more.

So now the cafe opens again Tuesday with an entire new concept. The food will all be the same, but we've come up with a way to keep things fresher. Stay tuned for how that goes. Better yet.....COME VISIT!!

Mile High

2009-08-20T12:13:00.002-04:00

The US leg of the tour continues. Geez, I feel like a rock star. Seeing my bro' and family was a much needed salve. I think for all of us. Good to see everyone getting better and dealing with life's punches. Real, true friends are there when crisis arise and they are coming out of the woodwork now. We are all figuring out who those friends are.

Lot's of hiking, talking, and most of all laughing. Hugs around. NC came up and we turned it up a notch. Dinner and pub crawling just like old times. Now, however, I am soothing a sore shoulder from playing "frolf". Yep frisbee golf. Great game. Has the same camaraderie as regular golf. As usual, I kicked NC's butt so some things never change. However, my bro' and El, took NC and I to the cleaners on Sunday on the course and my ego will never be the same. We want a rematch!!

Off to the windy city so see more family and friends. Wish this trip would never end. Someone, somewhere, hit the lottery and send money!! As the headline says, "the road goes on forever and the party never ends"

Fond Memories

2009-08-11T16:47:00.002-04:00

Today is the last day in my house of over 20 years. Have decided to sell the place. No real reason to keep it anymore. Not too smart of me huh? Why didn't I think of this a couple years ago when it was worth a hell of a lot more then now.

What a lot of memories. This place was originally bought as a fixer upper. Who knew that over 20 years later, I would still be in it. Thanksgiving parties, NYE parties, tequila shots, the deck, ahhhh, the deck, walking the dogs in the neighborhood, roof blowing off....twice, family, friends, sleeping outside on the deck, the new front yard complete with waterfall, sunsets, moonrise, city lights, storms, Mando and Mandito, xmas with the Mexicans, romantic times, sad times. I appreciate every one of you that has been through the doors of this house. Your spirit lives on in this house and has made it home for me. God I'm gonna miss this place. But it's on to new adventures!!!

Tucson has been wonderful. To see all old friends has been a real salve for this island boy. I have friends in Anguilla, but nothing compares to friends of over 20 years. It's not true that you can't go back home. You certainly can.

Next stop, Denver!! Family, hugs, tears, laughter. Can not wait!!

Island Fever

2009-08-04T12:15:00.004-04:00

Well, the small island finally got to me. Happens to everyone eventually. I just HAD to get off!!! So off I went. Spent an incredible day and night in SXM to start the trip. One of those nights that you never forget. Or I won't at least. Meeting a best friend to start the "Neal Reunites with Friends and Family" tour was the way to go and put me in the right frame of mind for the rest of the journey. Was still recovering from that when I found myself in SF. Sans luggage. Both physically and metaphorically. Nothing like being in SF in shorts and a tee shirt. Brrr. Hooked up with friends for golf, food and most importantly, plenty of laughs. Also spent some time with Deanna, Tim and the kids. I feel 20 years younger after seeing those guys. Proud as a peacock at how wonderful that family is.

Seeing old friends and family has a way of getting us all back to our roots. Off to Tucson Looking forward to more laughs, stories, and fun. However, I really did leave my heart in SF and have decided that if I ever get island fever permanently, that SF might be the cure.

Treasure Hunt

2009-07-13T16:28:00.002-04:00

The dog days of summer are here. Since closing the cafe, I have lolled around a lot and caught up some reading, cleaned out the cafe, done some plumbing work around the house, and still have lots of yard work, painting and general cleanup to do. Also developed a bad case of RAIDS. (Rapidly Accelerating Income Deficiency Syndrome)

On the bright side, I volunteered to help out a bunch of University of Southampton students that are looking for old shipwrecks and artifacts. It's really cool but generally just a day of snorkeling. Basically one person goes down to about 10 feet of water in scuba gear and an underwater metal detector. I stay directly above him with a GPS tracker held above my head to keep water from getting into it. When he/she finds something, I mark it on the GPS, then we move on. At the end of the day, the head girl downloads all the information which shows exactly where we swam and where we found metal. We went out with the Department of Fisheries on Friday. Upon coming back to the boat, the D of F guys had lugged in about 9 large conch. We ate one raw on the boat and then headed to Prickly Pear to make ceviche. Ahh, conch ceviche and cold beer on a semi-deserted island. Felt a little like Gilligan. Never wanted to leave. Of course the girl running the show kept trying to tell me that this was not a normal day of work for them but since it was Friday they were all taking a break. Good to know it's a worldwide phenomena to only work half days on Friday.

Hoping they call again. Great people to be with and lot's of fun for a good cause.

Zzzzzzzz.

2009-06-30T15:20:00.002-04:00

Someone wake me up when business picks up. Yep, the economy has finally hit here. Or I should say lack of economy. Even though I don't rely on the tourists that much, most of my guests do in some form. So the people that were coming in 3x a week are down to maybe once a week. The island is absolutely dead. No cars on the road, not many at the beaches, just quiet and peaceful. It would be absolutely lovely if so many people weren't in such dire straights. But I'm not telling anyone anything we all don't know already. The world as we know it has changed. Will it ever be back to what it was? Is this simpler life a better life in the long run? Do we really need gas guzzling cars, 5000 square foot houses, yachts? Give me a beach and a cold cerveza and I'm fine. Of course a couple bucks in my pocket wouldn't be bad.

Although my original intent was to close in August, I have revised that plan and am going to take an extended vacation starting July 4th until September 1st. Looks like a lot of work around the house is in store for me.

Star Struck?

2009-06-23T15:36:00.002-04:00

So I'm sitting here wondering when the next customer is going to make an appearance and a really nice lady, her husband, and son come in, order a bunch of food to go. I'm making the food and they are sitting outside waiting. Make some small talk etc. Don't think anything of it. So later in the day I am updating all the credit card slips and one of them is from "Annie Potts". Hmmm. Name sounds familiar but where? Google, baby, google. Sure enough. "Ghostbusters", "Designing Women", and others are her credits. Ahh well, guess neither she nor her TV producer husband thought I had the "look". Shit. Maybe my ship has come in and just sailed right out again. Hope she comes back now just so I can see what they thought of the food!

Big Head

2009-06-04T13:00:00.008-04:00

Okay, okay. I gotta admit. My head has swelled to the size of a balloon! The following website is the most hit website on Anguilla. Had no clue what was going on when this girl came in.

http://www.anguilla-beaches.com/anguilla-travel-tips-veya-cafe.html

Boy, I'm going to be walking on cloud nine for quite some time.

Summer

2009-06-01T12:48:00.003-04:00

I think it is officially here. Spear fishing has returned to my little world. I called Lans and begged him to go. It turns out his boat had been out of the water for quite some time getting repaired and I gave him just the impetus he needed to get it wet again. We went out and it felt so good to have the wind in my receeding hairline, water spraying all over me, crystal clear water and sky to match. I always know when I'm really happy cuz I start singing to myself. Typically, it's "What a Wonderful World". You know, the kind of day when all your cares go away and you realize that life is worth living and it really is a wonderful world.

Cafe continues to run smoothly although much quieter. However, there is nowhere else on the island I would rather be then in this idylic garden setting. So peaceful and serene. Today and tomorrow are holidays here in Anguilla. Being my first year, I had no idea what to expect on these days so I opened. Silly me. Have already made the decision to take tomorrow off and watch the boat races. Seems like that is everyone is doing, although, watching a boat race from the shore is alittle like watching paint dry. You watch them go out and then 3-4 hours later, you watch them come back in. Ahhh, but now is when the fun begins. Lot's of beer, laughter, loud music, and general bs-ing about how my boat would have won if....blah, blah, blad. All in good fun though and the good thing is there is always another boat race soon come. Then, it all starts up again. My boat is "Light and Peace". Mainly cuz I like the name but also cuz it's from my end of the island.

Bday party!!

2009-04-08T16:27:00.006-04:00

It's been quite awhile since updating the blog. My life has become boring :)

Everything in Anguilla has settled down, including the tourist industry. Not affecting me as much as some, but definitely feeling the effects of the downturn. The trickle down theory at work.

Sunday was an incredible day out at Prickly Pear Island. A bunch of us went out there on the "banana boat." A big yellow boat that took us on about a 45 minute leisurely boat ride from Sandy Ground. There were a couple bdays to celebrate and we did it in style. Chicken, ribs, fish, fries, cole slaw, beer, rum punches, beer, rum punches, beer, water, sun, snorkeling, sleeping, beer, rum punches, napping, shelling, beer, (hiccup). All in all, one of the most enjoyable and relaxing days possible.

Can't wait for some new visitors (or old ones) to come again so we can all go out there again. What did I do to deserve the life I live? I have no idea, but I"m gonna keep doing it!!

Tranquility again.

2009-02-13T15:23:00.005-04:00

It's been quite awhile since the last posting and I can't tell you how many people have asked, called, wondered, etc how J&C are doing. They are actually doing GREAT! A little worse for wear, but happy to be back at work and doing what they love.

Nothing new to report. Another newby to the island came to visit last week and like everyone else, left kicking and screaming. She will have fond memories of the island while she is back basking in the 15 degree weather.

Saturdays continue to be a really fun, low key day here at the cafe, with soft music and great vibe. To sit and hear the water in the pond, watch the ever present hummingbirds, and marvel at the dragonflys frolicking is mesmerizing.

Gary is coming to visit and none too soon. Always look forward to friends and family visiting and he will be no exception. There are many rum punches in my future.

Sad, hurt, angry.

2009-01-30T14:09:00.003-04:00

Hard to put into words my feelings. Not sure if this is the time and/or place. I am truly saddened today. I sort of "lost" some of my best friends this past week. As some of you may or may not be aware, there have been numerous senseless robberies on the island of restaurants after hours. In many cases, no money was even taken since these restaurants do mostly credit card sales. The entire restaurant community has been more vigilant and looking after each other. Well, Monday night it hit close to home. My partners were viciously attacked and beaten. No words were spoken. If the robbers would have asked, they would have gladly given them money or anything they wanted. But they didn't. Jerry sustained some serious head wounds with a sharp instrument, and Carrie was beaten with a rock. The restaurant will be closed until Monday. I closed the cafe for two days as well to tend to them and their business. I also had to clean up what was obviously a terrorizing time for them. It is something I will remember forever. For those of you who know them, you know that there was nobody that loved this island more then them. Nobody had more joy for life then Carrie. They are gradually trying to get their life back together but it will take a lot of time. Today, when I saw Carrie I told her I can't wait to see the sparkle in her eyes again.

The good that has come out of it is the community has pulled together like never before. The police WILL find these guys!! There have been so many well wishers and people that are concerned that it has renewed my faith and spirit in the good in people. Please send a prayer out to them, hug someone tightly and make sure you tell someone you love them. Life is too fragile.

I love you all.

New Era

2009-01-22T07:50:00.002-04:00

Tuesday-Where are all the people? Nobody here at the cafe. Why? Duh. Everyone and I mean everyone was glued to the TV, radio, or internet to hear, see, the inauguration. I had it on live through the speakers here. What a wonderful feeling to see, feel, hear, the beginning of a new era. What a daunting task Obama takes over, but he seems to be making shrewd decisions already and I think the world waits to see what will happen. And the guy has to have some stamina. A day of inauguration, parades, parties, and can you imagine coming home to the White House for the first time, crawling in bed, and staring at the ceiling and thinking, "I'm president of the United States" Wow. Do you think he got laid?

Settling in

2009-01-09T09:29:00.003-04:00

Things have definitely settled down around here. J&D left, a lot of the tourists are gone, and the island is going back to the expats and locals again. I'm feeling a lot more comfortable at the Cafe and actually getting out of here every once in awhile at 5 PM and able to catch a sunset with Merle on the beach. Small world though. Guy came in yesterday that lives in my home town and just bought a house in Deanna's hometown. Right behind him waiting for takeout is a girl from the town right next door to where I grew up. It was great to reminisce about old time in the hood.

Looking forward to Sunday as usual, although this Sunday, weather permitting, I'm heading out to go sailing. Haven't done it since being a kid, but they say it's like riding a bicycle. Just hoping my head doesn't get hit too many times.

Steady Al heading down next week, so I better stock up on beer. After that, have some other visitors coming in February. Looking forward to seeing everyone. Always fun to have guests.

Punched

2009-01-03T07:18:00.002-04:00

Made it through the xmas and NY madness. Every day I am seeing more and more tourists coming into the cafe. Seems that word has gotten out on some of the forums. I have heard from several, that the panini are the best they have ever eaten. Of course, the real reward was yesterday when a guy came in ordered a rum punch and then proceeded to announce that it was the best rum punch on the island! What a nice compliment. Here's the problem. I can't remember how the hell I made it. A little rum, a little of this, a little of that. Who the hell knows. However, to put my head back where it belongs, Jada and Dave had one later in the day and pronounced it the third best on the island! Nothing like friends to bring you back to earth.

Took a much needed rest on January 1st. Limed the entire day away at Smokey's and Cove Bay. Merlzy had a ball since there was a huge party going on down the beach and she had her fill of as many rib bones as she could handle. It was her birthday afterall, so she enjoyed immensely.

Really going to miss J&D. They had a blast and both have said it is the best vacation they have ever been on. All I know, is Dave had this shit eating grin on his face from the minute I picked him up at the airport 'til the moment he left kicking, screaming, and crying like a baby. 2 more on the list that will definitely be back. I love you, J, and can't wait til you get back.

Music to soothe the savage beast

2008-12-22T07:35:00.002-04:00

Funny how things work down here. Went down Wednesday to Elvis' to have an after work appertif, ran into an acquaintance of mine. We got to chatting and I told him I'm thinking of having music at The Cafe on Saturdays. I told him I wanted music unplugged. Just someone canoodling on a guitar. He asked me who I had in mind and I told him.......HIM!! He was astounded and flattered. He said he would come over on Friday to check it out, see what the acoustics were like, etc. Sure enough, he showed up, guitar in tow and proceeded to play for about 2.5 hours. Dylan, Buffet, Eagles, Beatles, even a little Zep. Somehow word got out and we had a very nice crowd within an hour. Had our best day ever and people all told me how they enjoyed getting away from the rat race, (if there is such a thing on this island), taking a respite from the tourists, and just limin' away the day. The vibe was exactly what I have been looking for since opening day. He has to go off island for a few weeks, but has promised to do a regular Saturday afternoon gig here. Looking forward to it and now all you who visit need to put Saturday afternoon at The Cafe, on your list of things to do.

Frat boy

2008-12-15T07:44:00.003-04:00

Yep, after all these years, it appears I have finally joined a fraternity. Seems like every restaurant or bar I go into, the owners/managers, treat me different. We are all in the "what the hell were we thinking when we decided to go into the service industry" fraternity. All in all, it's a great fraternity to be in. Saturday went over to Picante since I was craving some Mexican food. Theron and Chloe both have been by my place and I wanted to reciprocate. Obviously, Theron being Theron, started with the shots. I guess that was my welcoming into the frat network. In walks Brett, another bar owner, and proceeds to buy some more shots. Toast were given all around to the new cafe and wishes for the best of luck. Great times, great friends, and here's wishing we all do well.

First couple weeks have been beyond expectations. Most of the island lives for the xmas holidays but since a large percentage of my business is expats/locals, it will be interesting to see how things shake out in the next couple weeks. Many of those locals are planning on being off island for the holidays.

Already looking at costs to expand the seating area. One of the drawbacks now is not enough seating in the garden so we have been using the upstairs for overflow.

Tonight is round two of Mojito Monday's. Always a good time with people unwinding for the day. Supposed to be from 3-6, but last time, people hung til 7:30.

Will probably start an acoustic Saturday from 2-4. We have a really nice group of people that come and hang out and some soft live background music might be just the ticket. Also have plans for some other events, but too early to even let on what those might be.

Yesterday was another Sunday on Anguilla, limin' with Turvin and Pacey at Gwen's. They took Merlzy for a long walk on the beach and I was able to enjoy Gwen's incredible Chicken salad and rum punch. I still haven't found anything better or more relaxing then Sunday's down here.

2008-12-05T16:00:00.003-04:00

Yahoo. Ready for the first customer.

2008-12-05T15:56:00.002-04:00

6:20 AM

2008-12-05T15:49:00.002-04:00

6:15 PM. Getting closer

As promised

2008-12-05T15:39:00.005-04:00

6:00 AM Opening Day November 27, 2008

Holy Shit!!!

2008-12-03T19:11:00.002-04:00

Why didn't somebody tell me this was going to be this hard?!? Man, talk about a fish out of water. I'm clueless. There is so much to learn, do, pick up, banking, ordering, P.R., schmoozing, and getting it right. So far, not a single ad has happened and every day the sales have gone up. Today we did our biggest breakfast crowd and 3 people that had breakfast, then showed up later with more people for lunch. I keep asking people how everything is and they keep saying it is perfect and just what the island needed. Good to hear, but when they actually come back, you know they are telling the truth. One lady said it was the best muffin she ever ate!! The NY Post has asked C for some info on the restaurant and obviously she is going to promote the cafe. Stay tuned, maybe we'll hit the fish wrap soon. One item on my list of things to do is to post some pics on here, but so far, I'm running all day and haven't been able to download them. I figured tonight I would do that, but now I can't find my camera. I can't seem to find ANYTHING! I seem to be getting a little bit of a handle on things and feel confident that soon, this won't be so difficult, but so far, HOLY SHIT!!

Phew!

2008-11-26T19:41:00.002-04:00

After over a year of planning and it's come down to this. Tomorrow is the big day. I can't believe all the last minute details that need to be ironed out. You'd think with all this time to prepare, it would be easy. But......all the food has to be prepped, all the dishes cleaned, shelves hung, coffee roasted, grinded, brewed. And on and on. I could never have asked for better mentors then J&C. They have taken me under their wing and taught me so much already with lot's more to learn. I think they like that I'm a rookie so they have someone to mess with. C's latest menu says, "The Cafe at Veya, featuring the caffeinated stylings of Neal Kahn." I feel like a lounge act!!

Put in my 12 hours today and still have about 2 more to go. Excited. Nervous. Anxious. Worried. Happy. Most of all, looking forward to the start of a new adventure and the end of my old life as I know it. What a life it's been, too. All the different jobs, places, people, ups, downs. Can't wait to see what the next 50 or so years brings. And can't thank everyone enough for the support and encouragement they have given me on this latest adventure. Wishin' my Dad were around to be part of this one, but I know he's watching, smiling, and keeping an eye on my so I don't screw up too bad.

Stay tuned for pics and opening day highlights.

Rehearsal Dinner

2008-11-22T10:36:00.003-04:00

Last night the restaurant had a rehearsal dinner for about 100 people. We got the downstairs looking great so the guests could have a cocktail there. Tiny lights, candles, the whole works. It turns out the wedding is for someone from Food and Wine magazine. The guests arrive, Jerry is greeting them and lo and behold, Tom Colicchio and Mario Batali are there! Two of the top chefs in the world! He goes and tells Carrie and she's like "shut the fuck up. No way". He tells her he's not kidding and she just about shit's herself. She goes and talks to them and they are just gushing over the food and says they wish she were cooking at the wedding tonight! All in all, everyone is very excited and happy everything came off well. The wedding photographer has promised some pics that we can use for marketing. As soon as I get them, I'll post them here.

The new opening date looks like either Wednesday or Thursday since C&J are heading off island for a couple days and won't be able to prep. Stay tuned. It's really gonna happen.............really.......(I think)

Excitement builds.

2008-11-18T19:35:00.005-04:00

It's so close I can almost taste it!! Taste it, get it? Cafe? Taste it? Badaboom. I got a million of 'em.

Spent a day last week with C&J in SXM getting some last minute things for the cafe. Cookware, blackboards, etc. Kind of fun getting on the ferry to go shopping. The deck is in, the shelves are up, the dishes are here, paintings on the walls. I'm guessing Monday or Tuesday.

From the big smile on her face, the birthday girl had a GREAT time. It may have been because everywhere we went, we celebrated her birthday. Day after day after day. This is one 50th that will be remembered for awhile. Although world travelers, they both admitted that the beaches are the best they have ever seen. I can't tell you how much it means to me that they decided to spend such a special occasion here with me. Just hoping when HIS big day comes, they do it again!

N arrived on Thursday night and we did the usual welcoming ritual. For those that have been here, you know what that is, for those that haven't, I guess you'll have to come to find out. Suffice it to say, it involves staying up later than most nights. He stuck around for a few days and took off yesterday. We both decided he's been here enough that he could be considered a local. I think they are even going to start letting him leave an open tab at some of the places. I miss him already.

Power to the People

2008-11-07T18:31:00.002-04:00

Got it! Anglec installed the meter today and lights are shining brightly at the cafe. Not long now. The deck is being built, cabinets going in, plumbing done, artwork coming next week. Possibly next Friday at this time, will be the first happy hour from the cafe. Large Margy's will be half price!!

On another note, there is a general feeling of euphoria here with the news of Obama's victory. Gives a little faith in the system. All of a sudden the US is being viewed in a whole new light. Not too bad a time to be an American.

Season Opener

2008-11-02T10:00:00.002-04:00

Did someone turn on a light? Weird, yesterday I walked Mead's Bay and there wasn't a soul on it. Today.....umbrellas like mushrooms have sprouted, heads are bobbing in the water like flotsam (or is it jetsam), lily white body's turning tomato red on the beach. It's like the tourists dropped out of the sky. The locals all have their incredibly white smiles on their faces, and all seems normal on the island. It's amazing how much the country relies on tourism.

The cafe, alas, has taken another slight setback. Seems a government official went off island without turning in the required paperwork for the electric company to put in a meter for me. So, I sit patiently as we wait for him to return, inspect, and turn in the paperwork to get us going. May be a blessing in disguise as some great friends from the states are coming down to celebrate her 50th,and I'll have time to spend with them. Obviously I won't mention names in case she is freaking out about it. Also, NC is coming down for a much needed rest. He is always welcome here and makes himself right at home. Always good to have friends.

I'll huff and I'll puff........

2008-10-21T12:00:00.003-04:00

....you'll NEVER blow THIS house down! Yeah baby. Mi casa is absolutely fine. Stood there and took the best that a Cat. 3 hurricane can bring. Lost a tree and a ceiling fan but that's it. Power went out at 1 AM on Thursday morning and didn't come back until yesterday AM. Argh. No power, no water, no woman, no cry! Dipping a bucket in the cistern to get water for showering. Got to a point where I could take a shower with just a plant watering can of water.

Actually we got lucky. The storm was moving so fast that it was only here for an hour or so. Around 3 AM it got BAD! By 6:30 in the morning I was walking the dogs and checking out the damage. Bankie lost his boat bar. Found it at the Great House. Smokey's got trashed. Cap got it the worst. Meads Bay pretty bad too. Sandy Ground was a trip. About 10 boats washed up on shore. People scratching their heads trying to figure out how to get them back in the water. One thing I noticed is the wind blew so hard it blew the green right off the leaves on the trees. I'm sure in the next week or so, they will all fall off and we'll have leaves everywhere. Good for the compost heap. Speaking of compost, many thanks to Don for his tips.

The cafe is maybe set back a week or so. No damage there but the carpenters had no power to build cabinets etc.

Many thanks to all concerned. Your thoughts were much appreciated.

Omar the Terrible or just a Blowhard?

2008-10-15T16:41:00.005-04:00

So what does one do when a hurricane is acomin'? Strange things here. It's weird knowing a hurricane is about to hit and there's nothing you can do about it. Woke up and did the usual dog walk/swim, but knew the day had work ahead. Went down to move everything out of the cafe to safe quarters. Checked on some friends to make sure everything was cool and then headed home to take whatever precautions necessary. Closed the shutters, moved plants inside, moved all furniture inside, then waited. That's the part about a hurricane, lot's of waiting.......and waiting....and drinking....and having one more......hiccup. So now the hurricane party is over and it's a wait and see attitude. Not sure what the next few hours will bring, but it's exciting. Cat 1? Cat 2? The waiting continues. It wears on you. Bring it on damnit!!

November 1st???

2008-10-14T17:16:00.003-04:00

Did I say on an earlier post that we would be open October 1st? Silly me. I meant November 1st! All is going well, but decided to wait until everything is completely done before trying to open. Have tweaked the menu somewhat and looking forward to some dry runs soon. Getting food costs is incredibly fun. Carrie decides on what salads to put together, makes up a huge batch of it, then calls us over for lunch. Whoever is around gets a free lunch, we get feedback, tweak the salads some more,and we get food costs. Tough job but someone has to do it. Just waiting on the deck to get finished, overhang, cabinets, some stuff from SXM and we're ready to go! Can't wait, but I realize my fun is over and I'm going to be working long hours. Actually, I guess my fun is just starting!!

So Omar is bearing down on us. This one came up fast. Yesterday it was not even a blip on the screen and now it is looking like a possible cat 2 by the time it hits. More tomorrow.

Merle's big adventure

2008-10-02T13:49:00.002-04:00

Went out today to a really cool rock place, where the guy uses huge boulders that he gets from his rock quarry and cuts them up into tile size pieces. Huge operation all run by one guy. He wasn't there but let me know he would be there shortly and that I should hang out. Merlzy loves to explore anywhere we go, so as I sat in the car, she went wondering off to the unknown. Every once in awhile she would walk back to check on me to make sure I wasn't nodding off. After awhile I don't see her but hear some weird noise. I don't even think anything of it. About 5 minutes later the owner drives up, gets out of his car, and walks over to his water disposal tank which is about 10 feet deep, and full of this vile looking liquid. Bends down and pulls out a drenched rat. Say's, "that's funny, what's a dog doing in my water tank". You guessed it. Merlzy had decided to get some water, fell in and couldn't get out! Thank god the guy came when he did. We hosed her off and she goes sauntering back to the car like nothing ever happened. Anyone reading this, please don't report me to the SPCA! I swear I love her and wouldn't do anything to harm her!

Health Care

2008-10-02T13:40:00.003-04:00

Wow. What is wrong with the States health care system? At the risk of sounding like Michael Moore, something is fishy. So here's the story. Cindy is down helping with the cafe, one night, she slipped and fell pretty hard. Hard enough that she felt like she should go to the hospital as her foot may have been broken. The foot was all colors of the rainbow by that time. Going to the hospital anywhere is a daunting experience but going to a hospital in a foreign country is downright scary. Off we go though. Get to the hospital front door where the security guard is kind enough to get us a wheelchair since she couldn't walk at this time. Only problem is, the hospital is not handicap accessible. Not easy trying to get one of those wheelchairs up a step and through a door that has about an inch to spare on either side. We get her checked in, sent down to xrays, where we had to bump and drag our wheelchair down about 3 steps, off to see the doc to read the xrays, (not broken), bandaged up, and sent home with a 5 day of supply of non narcotic drugs, (shit). Bottom line-105 bucks!! Oh, by the way, that's EC bucks, which translates to about 40 US dollars. So, back to my original question, what is wrong with the States health care system?

October 1st?

2008-09-20T14:48:00.003-04:00

It looks like it's going to happen! It seems like it took such a long time to get to where we are now, but everything is coming together like crazy here. Electric is all in, plastering is done, painting will be done on Monday, and then equipment goes in. Since I can't do the plastering or the electric, I've been selected, (by me of course), to dig the trench for the final electric connection. Geez, I'm not 18 anymore. After about an hour, I'm beat, but I keep moving on and slowly but surely I'm getting there. Thank god for Aleve and other forms of self medication. Last night was a 1/2 bottle of Tequila. (much thanks to Don and Mary Sue for bringing it). I highly recommend it for a bad back. Once the equipment is in, I can start filling it in with decor etc. Probably head over to the nearest island to pick up last minute decor things. Knick knacks and such, but Christian has a lot of stuff to choose from so we won't need much. Carrie is working on food costs and next week we will be pricing the menu. Speaking of menu. Besides the usual specialty coffees, pastry's and such, the following is a rough draft. Whatya think? I hope it gets your mouth watering. Mmmmmm.

Soups
• Cuban black bean
• Indian spiced pea soup
• Icy cold gazpacho

Rotisserie Chicken
Half or whole
• Jerk
• Herb-garlic
• Curry
• Barbeque

Salads
Platter (choose 2-3) or by the pound
• Chicken
• Shrimp
• Sweet potato
• Asian cole slaw
• Curried pasta salad
• Fresh fruit
• Gazpacho-chunks of tomato, cucumber, onion in a spicy basil vinaigrette
• Grilled vegetables

Panini
• Rotisserie chicken, smoked gouda, tarragon mayonnaise
• Mushroom, grilled vegetables, mozzarella, pesto
• Thin sliced ham, swiss, tomato, mustard

Gelato
• Choose from 6 flavors

Looking forward to any suggestions on the menu.

Never the same

2008-09-07T17:18:00.004-04:00

Another Sunday where you never know what to expect. I've come to expect the unexpected on Sundays. You just never know how the day is going to go. Walked the dogs early so I could get to Island Harbor by 8:30 for spear fishing. Hung out waiting but I guess Lans decided not to go. Typical island thing but I wanted to go for a drive anyway. Used a borrowed car to get there,when I realized they weren't coming I went to start the car but nothing. Hitch hiked to Kerry's house to pick up my car (that's another story, why my car was at Kerry's). Had a great coffee with Jackie/Kerry and got to spend some much needed time with the kids. From there it was a nice leisurely drive home. Spent a few hours trimming yard. Zoe stopped by to pay me and gave me the latest coconut telegraph news that the Vet has left the island for good and Amy, the vet tech has quit. Yikes. Hope these dogs don't get sick!! A little relaxation and then headed over to Kenia's to work on the doors for cafe. First off, we had to go into the King's house. Wow. What a trip. I thought I was Chevy Chase going into Bill Murray's pad in Caddyshack. "Sit anywhere." "Uh, no, that's okay, I think I'll stand." Anyway, back to work. What a sweet job. Hanging out under the shade tree, heating up steel until it's maliable enough and voila, like Superman, bending it with my bare hands. Very empowering!! Just another day in paradise. Gonna go pinch myself now at this vida loca dream I'm living.

Dream world

2008-09-01T19:39:00.004-04:00

Went for a walk with Merlzy on Saturday down to Mead's Bay to see what the storm had done to the beach. Really quite amazing. While I was down there I met two couples that had just come over from SXM and wanted to know some good beach bars to go to. I told them to go over to Koko's. Great food, great location, good people. About 3 hours later, I get a call from Lance thanking me for sending my "friends" over and reminding me we were going spear fishing the next day at 8:30. Yippee. It's been about 5 weeks since I've gone so I was stoked. Lo and behold, the next morning, there we were......along with the two couples. They were soooooo excited. Spent the entire day fishing, snorkeling, and generally having a great time. Went back to Koko's where they cooked up lobsters, baracuda, parrot fish, cavalli, shell fish, squid, and plenty of beer to wash it down. For the visitor it was an experience they will talk about forever. I look forward to hearing from them and seeing some of the pics they took. For me, it was just another day in my life. Made me really sit back again and say to myself, "I LIVE here!" It really is like a dream for me and I continue to pinch myself at the lifestyle I've found.

Snails

2008-08-22T16:08:00.005-04:00

Well, things are moving at a snail's pace, but moving they are. Kenia has started the iron work. He's been given 2 weeks to finish. If I were a gambling man, I would bet it isn't done. But of course, I'm not a gambling man. Have picked out interior decor that I need to buy. Still need to buy more equipment and have it sent down, but haven't pulled the trigger yet. Ouch, I hate spending money. Especially when I have none to spend! Next step is to finalize plans for where all the equipment is going and have the electrician start his magic. Keep tuned as things may start progressing rather quickly now. Targeted opening date is October 1st. In the states that would not be a problem, but here...........?????????

Stopped by Bankie's yesterday for a sunset beer. Didn't know they were closed but ran into Candy and Gypsy on the beach who promptly took me upstairs to the bar and bought me a couple beers. What a trip talking with her. Smart woman and been around so she has plenty of stories to tell. Can't wait for Bankie to get back to hear stories of the bus and Johnnie Danger.

Gotta run. It's Friday and the upstairs deck is calling my name.

The Walls DIDN"T come crumbling down.

2008-08-06T16:52:00.003-04:00

Day two. Of course, nothing goes as planned. The good news is my back made it through the night and into today. Tried finishing up taking down the wall but needed a jack hammer. Rented one for 10 bucks an hour which is a steal down here. However, I found the top of the wall to be 8 inch thick concrete. No way I was going to bring that puppy down, so my mind made a smart decision. HIRE SOMEONE! Easier said then done since it's Carnival time and everyone is either lymin', drunk, or hungover, with another 4 days left to go. Not much work will progress on the cafe or anywhere else on the island. So, what's a guy to do? Join the party that's what. Beer sounds incredibly good right now so off I go for many cold ones at Elvis' and then check out the Calypso competition.

The Walls came crumbling down

2008-08-05T16:26:00.005-04:00

Can you believe it? Some 14 months after the seed was planted, work began on the non existent cafe. When pretty much all hope was gone, everything turned around and the cafe is a reality.........sort of. I, like you, will believe it when I see it. Today, the remodeling phase began. With mini sledge hammer and Merlzy to guide me, I whacked away at the wall until piece by piece, it started to fall. Of course, I picked the hottest day of the year and the day after August Monday, so the beer was flowing out of all my pores. Better then a steam room anyday. Carrie and her tribe came by to do some last minute work in her kitchen and brought down a much needed home made ice cream. With nourishment, I continued to pound away at the wall. We'll see what tomorrow brings. The plan is for more of the same, but my back may be crying out and saying to stay in bed. Think it's time for a cold one. Will call Kerry and see if I can rouse him. Those that know him, know that shouldn't be a problem