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- - - 2007 Hurricane Season - - -

- Fairway Weather
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Fri, 18 Apr 2008 10:18:33 EDT
Gorgeous weather, should be fair today with some scattered clouds, perhaps a brief shower. Winds are slight to moderate. Sea temps are up to 79, spring is on the way, a bit late this year. We still have nice cool nights. Even the black kitty sleeps under the afghan with me the past few nights. He has Caribbean Fur (very thin) and gets cold easily (like me).
 
Surfing may or may not happen this weekend, a great time for patient beginners to try their luck.
 
Prayers and wishes for a speedy recovery to the crew member who broke his neck during the spring regatta. The news account says he will be operated on in Tampa soon and we wish him well and pray he may get to sail again someday.
 
My house guest is missing in action. Supposed to arrive yesterday by plane and ferry but apparently did not. Haven't heard a thing yet. But you know sailors, they are often late for everything. I was once 9 months late getting home because I kept getting side tracked, so I know how it goes.
 
A note stuck in a bottle washed up in an old golf shoe on the beach today:
Hello again,
Is there a golf course on the island?

Thanks,
K.
They are building one at Beef Island against the wishes of the locals. We have the wrong kind of dirt here for growing miles of plain old grass. I can only imagine the horrendous chemicals used to keep the grass green in a hostile environment, and then it leaches into the sea and bye bye fishing.
 
 
There is a golf course on St Thomas (Mahogany Run) a ferry ride away, or you can take a helicopter over like some well heeled  tourists do. I know a famous golfer/actor who comes here and does just that, lands his helicopter right at the golf course too.
 
There is a pitch and putt at Long Bay on Tortola.
 
I think one of those hilarious Putt Putt Golf Courses with the fake grass and the windmills, waterfalls and clown obstacles would be hilarious here and probably go over well. I grew up playing Putt Putt, no idea why. But they built and put a Putt Putt  in my hometown and we used to go play there every time some kid had a birthday, it seemed, and thought it great fun. (I know you REAL golfers are laughing your head off at this one!)
 
Every time you got a hole in one, at he Putt Putt,  you won a free game. It seems at some point we went on vacation somewhere and were treated to a fancier Putt Putt with exotic fairways. One day we went to play Putt Putt Golf and they had tore down the hometown Putt Putt, and put up a parking lot and put cars for sale there. I gues the landowner traded one Putt Putt for another type of Putt Putt...
 
(har har har, you can LAUGH now...)
 
I've actually played golf a few times myself.
 
I used to have a friend who would drag me out of bed on Sundays if he couldn't find a fourth to play. I foolishly managed to somehow lose my keys on the golf course one Sunday and what a mess that was. I was horrified because it was a huge ring of keys with the burglar alarm key for my office, so I couldn't even go to work until the keys were found.
 
After that I learned to have  a spare set of keys with just the house and car on it for weekend outings.
 
That reminds me of the Ladies Charity Group that was trying to raise money. Tired of baking cakes for sale, they  figured the golfers were rich and that clean golf balls worked better than dirty golf balls. So one weekend they set up shop down the street from the entrance to the Golf Course.
 
As you drove by, all these smiling ladies with buckets, soap and towels stood on the side of the road by their jumbo hand made sign that read:
 
"LET US WASH YOUR BALLS FOR DONATIONS"
 
For some strange reason they abandoned the idea and the area, within the hour... 
 
I heard they went back to selling cakes.
 
Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.
 
(I pirated that saying!)
 
Warm and Silly Regards,
DearMissMermaid.com




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- Thursday
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2008 06:14:40 EDT
Weather  here is back to normal, roads are cleared of the small and lare boulders from the squally sotmry flash flooding of Tuesday.
 
Sadly, Monday night, the Port Purcell Grocery Store plus 2 other busineses were completely destroyed by fire. Port Purcell had the best grocery prices on the island, and I sorely regret that me and my long list have not been there in a few weeks. Argh!  I like so many others, regret goin to the high end stores now. I hoep Port Purcell finds a way to bounce back soon with their consumer friendly pricing.
 
Wednesday was so hectic, that by the time I got around to writing the weather report, I actually fell asleep at the keyboard. I woke up late in the night, a bit stunned that I was still sleeping at my desk. Climbing into my bed never felt so wonderful, as it did then.  I was quickly joined by a few cats, one who was begging for a belly rub. 
 
Now it's 545am and daybreak is rapidly arriving with blustery winds. The roosters have been crowing for some time now, my cat is fussing for his breakfast as I type. I am so sleepy, I may go lay back down again. 
 
It's cloudy and expected to stay that way, this weekend may bring some more serious rains with thunderstorms. Everyone is happy to have their cisterns get a nice fill up. 
 
Arrived by Express Donkey from Road Town, Kerstin sends us this colorful flyer!  I hope everyone on island will make a way to see the show or buy tickets and donate them to others such as the kids at the Rainbow Home.  All proceeds go to CADA (Community Action Against Drug Addiction) so please pass the word around!

Flambeau Havana

In Flambeau Havana, over 50 BVI performers fill the stage with dance, music, color and rhythms that never rest, as the story of Latin Dance from Spain to Cuba is told. 

Whether or not you saw Flambeau the Passion in the fall 2007, you'll love this production, as the journey that started there in Spain with Flamenco, Sevillanas, and Stepencco, continues onto Cuba with Salsa, Meringue and Rumba.

There are three opportunities for busy people to see the show since performances span two week-ends and include both evening and afternoon show times.  Tickets make great gifts for friends, young people and employees and any group of 5 or more gets $5 off each ticket. 

Also, tickets can be donated for groups such as the Rainbow Home, YEP, KATS, etc.  Please remember all proceeds benefit a very good cause and keep BVI performance art growing.

Please take a look at the flyer  for more information, and pass the good word along. Hope to see you at the show.

Seagulls at Happy Hour

Warm and Dancing Regards,
DearMissMermaid.com




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- Pea Soup and Cat Fish
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Tue, 15 Apr 2008 08:26:25 EDT
This was the thick pea soup calm before the storm yesterday. I forgot to tell you that the picture I posted last night, was taken at high noon yesterday!
 
Today we have very slight winds, which has quite a few unhappy as many like me experienced in home flooding and would like some strong breezy winds to help air things out!
This harbor view above,  is at 745am Tuesday morning.
 
Looking at this satellite at 715am and WHAT is that white dot headed our way?  Is that a teeny tiny center of a nasty mini hurricane squall to be?  Well either way, it looks like we are in for some "moisture" this week, so I better finish mopping up and get ready for another onslaught!
 
By the way, I've entered a new cat photo this week in Bissell's photo contest. If the cat wins, then Bissell will donate $10,000 to the BVI Humane Society!  We will dedicate the donation as coming from Friends of the BVI and Miss Mermaid.
 
Ask all your friends, relatives, loved ones and enemies to vote too!
 
Below is this week's entered photo. Click here to vote before April 22!
 
Please review the images and select your favorite.
 
 
Warm and Furry Regards,
DearMissMermaid.com




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- mini hurricane!
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Mon, 14 Apr 2008 21:53:01 EDT
I took a picture this afternoon of rapidly worsening conditions as visibility closed up to less than 1/4 mile.  All was gray and a few rains came and went. The promised squalls tuned out to be rains with few winds.
 
I had an appointment around 615pm, before sunset, and left out, figuring I might get sprinkled on a few times.
 
I was so wrong!  A full fledge flash flood poured down from the heavens with little winds and the rains just saturated the island. Then the winds picked up briefly and drenched us in cold. We were meeting in a covered but open air place and we couldn't find a dry  spot to be!  Everyone was soaking wet and alternatley laughing and worrying. No one dared leave, as road conditions were treacherous. A light weight car like mine could just be lifted and air born, causing a needless wreck.
 
It was far to dreadful to drive  and indeed, not a single car drove by for the two hours we felt trapped at our open air meeting.
 
I guess those gurus in Colorado are right about this going to be a wild hurricane season. We just had a sampling  taste of it!
 
Two hours later, the rains finally began to subside, and we broke up the meeting and ran for our cars!  It still poured all the way home and then I called everyone that had been at the meeting to see if we all made it home in one piece.
 
I about broke my tail, as I slip slided and discovered my bedroom was nearly 2 inches deep in rain water, something I had not seen before since moving into this place um, 5 months ago. Everyone I talked to was busy mopping like me, as apparenlty no one escaped a bit of home or office flooding.
 
WHOA!  Iam mopping up for the 10th time, then going to lay down and try to warm up under heavy cover.
 
Brrrrrrrr.  It's cold here.
 
BEFORE the storm you can see how the harbor is quickly disappearing, as if I am miles away taking this picture!
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.com




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- Gorgeous
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Mon, 14 Apr 2008 06:23:11 EDT
 Another gorgeous day with a few overcast clouds. We expect some brief rains with winds, aka squalls coming around today .I happen to like rain, so I look forward to it!  I love these cool wintry nights we are having in April, I hope this lasts awhile longer.
 
Cane Garden Bay


As Mary's  father always says, it's OK to get older - just don't get old !
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.com




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- Surf's Up!
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Sun, 13 Apr 2008 21:54:44 EDT
Internet has been down so I couldn't get a report out.
But today was another gorgous day in paradise!
 
Perfect for Surfing
Perfect for Sailing
 
Warm and Funny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.com




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- Ah Those Were the Daze!
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Sat, 12 Apr 2008 13:49:20 EDT
Another gorgeous day in paradise and no storm on the horizon, though I hear those in Minnesota were drenched in the white stuff. In April!
 
Of course we have been treated to cool weather here at night, fun for cuddling.  But today is just downright perfect for the outdoors.
 
 
 
Speaking of anchoring and mooring...
    There is nothing better than the satisfaction of showing up in the harbor with your crew or friends and being able to silently anchor or pick up a mooring ball, without ever saying a word.
    Now, I don't mean you have to be Houdini to accomplish this, use hand signals!  There is no hard  and fast rules for hand signals, but work out some simple ones and follow them. Then you won't find yourself in the  harbor screaming "WHAT?" back and forth or worse cursing and screaming and threatening and making a huge scene.
    Now many folks seem to put the small person (generally female) at the bow and the helmsman generally is the  larger/taller person (the male).
    Now the bow person is supposed to be in charge of the boat's movements, but often the helmsman THINKS he is in charge.  So this is where many mooring and anchoring mishaps happen!
    I suggest you put the taller stronger person on the bow and the smaller person on the helm. Make sure they have run the engine throttle before and understand clearly about forward, reverse and neutral and how to shift there.  If both the bowman and the helmsman understand how the engine is going to react, then you have the perfect combo.
    When approaching a mooring assess the currents and winds and then approach against the stronger force.  Assuming you have already prepped the bow with either boat hook or anchor and rode ready to go, then you are ready for your hand signals.
    The bowman should be in charge and the helmsman should carefully watch their every move and act accordingly. Often the helmsman will lose sight of the mooring itself, so it's very important the bowman uses their arm with finger extended or the boat hook, to point exactly where the boat should  be going.
    An experienced helmsman will just barely creep along with just enough momentum to maintain steerage and gently steer towards the direction indicated. You need to agree upon forward, revere and neutral hand signals.
    For instance as long as you are pointing, that means forward, when you hold up a clenched fist that means neutral. If you are pointing downwards towards the deck that mean reverse gently. Frantically pointing downward can mean back up with more power.
    Numbers come in handy, especially if you've discovered that say once you are within 30 feet of the mooring the helmsman can no longer see it due to the bowsprit or the length of the boat or the width of the crew or what have you.
    Knowing this, then the bowman can begin counting down when the boat is less than 30 feet away. This often gives the helmsman confidence in slowing the boat down by going to neutral. For instance 30 feet can be with the left hand holding three fingers, 20 could be 2 and then 10 is 1 finger.  You get the idea. You can also do 3 fingers with a quick switch to an O made by the thumb and forefinger to indicate 30.  Ditto for 15, one finger rapidly followed by 5. So it just depends if you can get along with 10-20-30 or if you prefer more specifics.  Still no need to say a thing IF YOU HAVE WORKED OUT THE SINGALS IN ADVANCE!
    For instance if the boat generally drift forwards another 20 feet once in neutral at the given creeping speed, then often at the same time the helmsman is signaling neutral , the helmsman is already prepared.
    When the bowman grabs the pendant or line, use the power of the cleat to gain more strength. For instance, don't just stand at the bow and try to pull in the mooring, immediately place it under the cleat and then pull at an angle, this gives you substantially more power.  If the wind is threatening to whip the line out of your hand, then take another turn on the cleat so your line is C-like on the cleat, even if you don't have enough to make your figure 8 yet. In most instances this will stop the line and boat, then you can grab some purchase on it and then make your figure 8 on the cleat. 
    The object is to cleat is off quickly and then if you wish to attach a bridle or your own line, do that after you have initially attached the mooring.  Hand signals make for a happy crew all around!  During a squall or inclement weather or high winds hand signals can save your boat or your life!  I know! 
    I had a near miss where we were on a large heavy boat and  about to wipe out 12 boats much smaller and lighter  than us, the wind had just whipped up from 15 to a 40 knot gust, which sent us backwards, then sideways,  headed towards the smaller moored boats at a rapid rate.
    We persevered with hand signals and I had to goose the  engine a good one to regain control to go forward to where the bowman was frantically pointing. A dark cloud of smoke emitted from the engine as it cleared it's throat to go forward against the sudden 40 knot squall. I followed every hand signal the bowman gave and soon we were firmly tied on our mooring and sipping a warm toddy and quite honestly, we DID sit down and congratulate ourselves on a job well done.  Whew!
    ***************
    One day shortly after my diesel was installed in my 30 foot sailboat, I went out to practice with the engine. I was going forward, then putting it in neutral and trying to measure how far I would drift.  Then I put it in reverse to see if the boat preferred to pull slightly to port or to starboard. I was engrossed in my practicing, and reversing and forwarding and drifting, that I didn't realize I had attracted a small crowd of dinghies of lone males, who came out to "help" me!
    They thought I was a woman alone (I was) and clueless as well (I wasn't, the sun just made my hair super light in those days!).
    They saw me doing all these strange maneuvers and concluded I had engine or steering trouble and needed gallant help.
    I had to explain I was just practicing with my new engine so I could learn to pick up my mooring pendant on my own. Of course by now I have numerous offers of men wishing to come aboard and help out!
    Now how am I going to learn to do this on my own in my own boat if these guys keep helping me out?
    Usually I am the first to NEVER turn down help. But I knew that on many trips I would either be totally alone or with inexperienced passengers, and that being able to smartly and calmly pick up my mooring on my own would be a great asset and a necessity.
    Finally I relented and allowed a few on board and begged them to do NOTHIGN but stand by while I attempted by my little old lonesome to go pick up my mooring without any aid.
    Next thing I know these guys are trying to outshout each other in telling me what to do and I am trying my best to IGNORE them all.  I guess they didn't know I already had several years at sea on much larger yachts and I was certainly accustomed to this maneuver, just used to having trained crew about to assist.
    For awhile this became the norm, anytime I would approach a harbor alone, suddenly men in dinghies appeared wanting to help me moor or anchor!
    It's a miracle I ever learned to do it on my own, by my lonesome.  Of course back then we had numerous live aboards in the islands and many boats were populated with lone males and very few with lone females. Any excuse to meet a sailing female would do, as it can get quite lonesome sailing and living alone on a small boat in a far flung port. (But I LOVED every minute of it!)
    So I was quite popular in any harbor I showed up alone in. Ah, those were the days my friend... 
     
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- April 11
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Fri, 11 Apr 2008 08:28:53 EDT
Another picture perfect day in the Caribbean!  Surf should be up for the weekend.  It's still cool at night, in the low 70's and it feels grand. Only 78 at 8am today. 
 
It's my birthday and I hope I can get through it without further mishap. I am still banged and busied and muttering under my breath when I try to move. Argh  I must be I am getting older.
 
AND A BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO KEN AND MARY AND SUZANNE TODAY!  (and me!)
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.com




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- Beauty and the Spirit
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Thu, 10 Apr 2008 08:52:42 EDT
 Weather is just gorgeous and should remain that way for awhile.  We may have the usual short mini rain showers and we sure need them. Parts of the island are looking more brownish than greenish.  
 
I read Gert's report today (the webmaster for StormCarib.com)  that he plans to be in the islands in July but declines to mention which island (as storms tend to follow him!)  I know we spent one hurricane scare together in the islands, drinking champagne by candlelight with his wife and another mutual friend...
 
The doomsayers have released their predictions today about their forecast for the upcoming season. As usual they want to give us a big scare!
 
Well, Gert, if you are coming my way in July, I've moved again, but not to worry, it's a hurricane proof home with thick concrete walls plus shutters and spare beds...  I've still got four coolers leftover from the last batch of storms, so I guess I better think about stocking up for the season. 
 
Matter of fact, I noticed when I moved last, that so much of my junk is just plain hurricane related. Big buckets, little buckets, 2 mops,  four coolers, a generator, 100 foot cord, ropes, 3 dozen candles in globes, a drawer full of batteries and lights, a box of assorted canned goodies, kitty litter for the emergency litter box and so on. I mean one whole car  load of stuff was just stuff to survive a hurricane!  If I get rid of it, then we will surely get hit, if I don't then everyone's coming to my place in the event of a storm.
 
In the meantime, I've noticed the coolers make nice seats once a pillow is thrown on top and that has come in handy at parties.
 
 
 
A friend of mine who isn't exactly the handy man type recently wrote me and said "If you can't fix it with a hammer, you've got an electrical problem."
 
He could be living in the islands, with that kind of attitude.
 
I remember when after a hurricane, everyone WITH a hammer claimed they were a carpenter and suddenly we had 8,000 carpenters banging away.
 
Then there is the rock. Why buy tools when rocks are free?
 
I docked my sailboat into a marina for a day, because I wanted to scrub her from, bow to stern,  stem head to bilge, port to starboard.  I normally was miserly with my water usage, but I was going to give her a good spring cleaning and plug into the marina fresh water. 
 
After tying up in my assigned slip, I radioed the marina office and asked them if someone could please come unlock the water and take a meter reading. A few minutes later, a young lad shows up with a pound of keys and finally unlocks the water.  However, the little valve, which must be turned to "on" once the lock is removed, seemed to be firmly stuck.
 
I volunteered I would go grab my WD-40 and a pair of vice grips. Meanwhile the man mumbles something like "no problem, mon" and wanders down the dock.
 
I dived below, fetched my WD-40 and vice grips, then climbed back topside and off the boat. The islander had come back down the dock carrying a large rock. I was very slow to put two and two together.
 
As I walked down the finger pier toward the main dock, with my tools, he bent over the water valve and lifted the rock high above his head just as I screamed "NOOOOOOOOOOOO!" 
 
He ignored me (just a foolish woman, what would I know about stuck water valves?) and he smashed that valve with all his might with his rock.
 
This certainly turned the water on!  Now we had a geyser shooting 80 feet into the air.  I scrambled back on my boat to hastily close hatches as this fresh water man-made rainfall doused my boat and bunk.
 
Folks climbed off their boats to watch the show and the hapless dock worker ran off and hid for the rest of the day. I got back on the radio and reported to the marina that we seemed to have a MAJOR water leak and chastised them for teaching their workers to open valves with rocks...  they of course had no idea what I was talking about.
 
Water was shut off for the entire marina. The manager showed up, looked at the offending rock and asked me why I smashed the valve. I explained it was his esteemed employee who REFUSED my vice grips and WD-40 in favor of his ROCK. Indeed, the WD-40 and vice grips lay in a pile of water on the finger pier where I had dropped them to go shut my hatches.
 
A few weeks later, incredibly, at a different marina, I was working aboard a gorgeous 50' Formosa, when a different dock hand does the same rock smashing trick, on OUR water valve  and busts yet another water line. I was down below at the time, when the captain came to retrieve his WD-40 and vice grips and it was deja vu all over. Now the marina had no water!  And this particular marina was full of charter boat turnarounds and there were some very unhappy crews.
 
The captain grabbed the rock and flung it out to sea as far as he could and I shall not repeat what HE had to say about THAT...
 
Honestly, I think it's time these marinas train their staff in the careful art of using tools, not rocks.   Surely we have gone beyond cavemen days, but one wonders.
*****
Meanwhile, that evil spirit that was living in my refrigerator was successfully chased out of the house, but apparently not off the property. I came home last night and my lights were off, yet I was sure I had left the outside one on. I was limping along with my broken toes (courtesy of the evil spirit) and  tripped over something or nothing, and managed to scrape up my knee something fierce on the patio and hit my head on the side of the house, on my way down to kiss the patio.  This is getting ridiculous! I felt tripped, kicked, punched and shoved! 
 
  This morning my head has a big lump on it and my knee is minus a lot of skin, of course it was the good knee I got, rather than the bad one. My toes ache, my knee hurts and my head is sensitive (I keep touching the lump!)  Ugh, I am going to celebrate my birthday tomorrow, looking like the loser in a bar brawl.
 
I am going to chase that evil spirit off my property once and for all. I already went out and bought a few pounds of fresh garlic this morning.  Tonight I am dressing head to toe and tail in white, donning my steel toed sandals, strapping on my knee pads and wearing a white crash helmet. If you hear strange noises at my place tonight, you will know it's me and that evil spirit having our final go-around. He's got to be relocated far far away from me!  I don't mind a few friendly spirits or even ones that play practical jokes, but this one is pure evil and no fun at all.
 
Warm and Beaten Regards,
DearMissMermaid.com




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- Aye Wonder
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Wed, 9 Apr 2008 14:13:38 EDT
I wake up and it's only 640am yet the world is bright as noon. The sky is this incredible azure, like an artist was up early painting a gorgeous morning for us. I got up and admired the beauty, stumbled out to the patio for a better look, fed some impatient cats, decided since only having had a scant few hours of sleep, I dropped the bamboo shade down and laid back down for a snooze.
 
As soon as my head hit the pillow, my neighbor fired up his jack hammer. (I think they should rename that tool  "a-jerk-hammer")
 
*Sigh*
 
Otherwise, it's a perfect day in paradise!  We should have fantastic weather right through the weekend. My crystal ball says so!
 
Someone commented by instant message to me, on yesterday's pics, that they couldn't believe the roads (the big unmarked hole) was left like that. Well, do you think I got out and stole the signs and lights and markers and then took the picture?  Well I did not!  I was driving along, came across the scene and took the pictures. I had come across the identical conditions, a month earlier and didn't have my camera.  I was shocked that a month later, it appeared to look virtually the same.
 
This reminds me of an infamous hoax by a guy who got pretty mad at his home town council. He accused them of not paying attention to local affairs and squandering government money on frivolous trips or some such nonsense.  So in the middle of the night, he goes to the major intersection in town, uses some heavy duty equipment to dig a huge hole in the middle of the busiest  intersection.  Not wanting anyone to get hurt, he  marks it off with yellow "Caution" tape. 
 
Naturally, traffic was a huge mess and folks were pretty irate at this inconvenience. Numerous phone calls produced the usual run around.
 
A few weeks later, the town "powers to be", figured out it wasn't their hole and filled it back in.   I guess some folks will go to any length to prove a point.
 
I just walked down to the seashore and there washed up on the beach in a Ting Bottle from St Kitts was this note:
Just saw your latest post.  Your spell heckler must not have got the
word that they closed down the sugar industry in St Kitts oh, about a
year and a half or two years ago.  All the cane fields now have tamarind
and kusha growing up in them.  CSR still made there, but not sure where
they get the sugar.

And I promise not to complain about your spell heckling ever again as of
course there was a boo-boo in my post you posted as well.

As Harry said in his Nevis post this morning - great day to go sailing! 
And so we will in just a few minutes!

Chris
, I agree it's a great day to go Sail, Sell, Sale, Cell... with your Sailor, Seller, Cellar friends...
 
or just plain old FISHING!

 
And Now To Torture All the Spell Hecklers and Nautically Inclined.....
 
I ran into an old bouy friend recently and I was reminded of how we broke up...
 
 
My buoy friend left me after a big squall. First he skipper date and that made me mad. Made me wonder weather we gonna last or knot. When Aye find him, he said Aye was too obsessed with boating. 
 
Awe sheet!  Ashore didn't see this coaming.  I tried to hull him closer, but he go on fighting.
 
He says Aye am gone aweigh too much.  Aye told him Aye am knot! 
 
Well he could come backstay with me.
 
He said Aye  couldn't even make a pie right.  I mast straighten this buoy out. So Aye said Aye  can pirate with the best of them you old scallywag! 
 
He said he could never reach my sail when Aye was gone sailing.  I asked him why he wants to reach my sail anyhow?  Try a cell phone or VHF radio!
 
That buoy said I never go bowling with him and Aye told him I could tie a bowline in my sleep, how many times I got to show him?
 
He stormed off and said he was going to get drunk on port in his wine sailor.  Aye told him that boat listed to starboard, Aye would sit to port too.  So I gave him a wide berth.
 
But before he left, he said he wanted marine back!  So Aye took it off my finger and heaved  it at him.   Then Aye caught a cabin to town and got drunk on grog and hung out with my pier group. Now, my poor sole needs some serious heeling now. I am pooped. I swear to drunk, I am not God again. At least Aye think knot.
 
And he thinks Aye be obsessed with boating...buoy he is so clew less!
 
Silly buoy!  Shame it came to this bitter end. Now I am footloose cause I didn't bother to beg him to forestay.  What moor does he want from me?
 
I guess my freeboard is over. I hope he doesn't harbor any ill will. 
 
But he ashore luff a big hull in my heart.  Maybe I take him back ladder. Right now Aye need to be alone and have a privateer.  
 
Maybe I compass that buoy up and find me something better. 
 
Yawl don't worry about me. Aye gonna be fine without that bouy.  
 
 
*****
 
 
Warm and Silly Regards,
DearMissMermaid.com




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- Here I Am!
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Tue, 8 Apr 2008 20:47:32 EDT
HORRORS!  I found my April 5th posting in my "to be sent" email!  Yikes!
 
Then today, I never wrote at all, because I was so dang busy all day, working for a living. 
 
April 8th weather...
So here it is dark thirty and I can tell you today's weather was boringly nice with just an occasional brief rain. Right after I agreed to deliver something *poof* it pours down rain!  Well at least the plants on the patio love it, but the under cover plants are hollering for me to come water them. They need secret fertilizer too, so I have my hands full no doubt.
 
Weather for the next week should be perfect!
 
 
April 5th weather (last Saturday)
Strong winds with whitecaps in the Sir Francis Drake channel. Rains are threatening but been few so far. It was breezy and chilly last evening and night, and quiet blustery upon sunrise.  I enjoy the freshening winds, especially on land, nothing to tack, or jive or reef down.
 
 
Note Washed up in a Whine bottle on shore...
"If they want rail to the water racing, (aka boat severely healed over) they are going to get it today!"

Well, I, for one, would always rail at a boat that healed rather than heeled.  But then, maybe that's why sailors are such cads (aka heels).  Or maybe we need to have that old band aid on the hole in the bottom to keep the ocean out.

Keep up the fun writing--I always look forward to the next missive (missile?) from the BVI.
Signed,
d n-----
 
(OK I know it's supposed to be WINE bottle not Whine bottle... Miss Mermaid just couldn't resist THAT one either...)
Being That Chris is in Nevis, His Note arrived in a CSR Bottle...
 
Chris from Nevis writes:
As for your toes - the next time you do that, or smash your thumb with a
hammer, or close the door on your fin, grab holt of it immediately, and
squeeze as hard as you can for like two minutes.  It's like putting a
tourniquet on it - and stops in from swelling and bruising.  And since
it already hurts so bad - what's another coupla minutes?

And tell your spell-heckler that sail boats heel, not heal!
 
 
Well, I can tell you that some of those heeling sailboats are in need of serious healing after yesterday's races. One dismasted, one disboomed (can you be disboomed?) and one capsized. I told you those winds would be rough! 
 
For you landlubbers, the mast is that pointy thing sticking out vertically from a sailboat, with sails attached. It is often (though not always) much taller than the sailboat is long. When it comes down (dismasted)  your boat value is generally cut by 50-75% until you get it back up again...
 
The boom is the horizontal stick attached to the mast and sail. When it breaks, you often have crew injuries, though not always. As long as the mast is still vertical, your boat value is severely diminished but not nearly as bad as losing the mast as well. 
 
Now I bought my first boat with NO mast but it did come with the original boom, which needed very little work to attach to the new mast I eventually had built to original specs. At that point my sailboat soared in value, as it was no longer just a derelict.
 
For those of you who want to know what CSR  is (bottled on St Kitts)...
 
During the 18th century St. Kitts and Nevis were among the finest jewels of the Caribbean sugar colonies, and today on St. Kitts sugar is still a major crop. This modern factory,St Kitts Sugar Factory, which replaced the island's local stone sugar mills, is supplied by means of a small highland railway circuit. St. Kitts sugar is still renowned for its exceptional quality, and this sugar factory also produces rum and Cane Spirits Rothschild (CSR), a fine sugarcane liquor developed by Baron Edmond de Rothschild.
 
When I lived in St Kitts, we used to drink "A Ting and a Swing" which was the CSR served up with Ting (a refreshing carbonated grapefruit drink, also bottled in St Kitts).
 
YIKES!  I sure wouldn't want to encounter this mess one night after dark!  No lights, no barricades, no signs, just lane GONE!
The rock is a NICE touch, if you manage to miss the big hole late at night, then you might manage to crash into the rock...
 
Warm and Bumpy Regards,
DearMissMermaid.com




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- Weather is here, wish you were too!
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Mon, 7 Apr 2008 15:40:03 EDT
Weather is back to boringly normal here. Beautiful skies, pleasant sailing conditions, moderate seas, no snow, no storms, no hurricanes.  Just another lovely day in paradise.   I am so lucky to be here!
 
I spent the weekend going to two different parties that both served exquisite vegetarian Indian food. Yummy!  Now I am looking up Indian recipes and going to give my hand at making some. I seem to have the required spices, just need to track down some chilies.  I know where to find them in a can, but fresh, hmm, will have to do some serious looking. I once grew some on my balcony that came out pretty tasty.
 
I know my spell heckler messed up again yesterday, insisting my "car" rather than my "cat"  jumped into the fish basket and claimed it as his own. (He is probably the unknown subject that knocked the basket off the wall to start with!)  Now I just have a naked hook where it used to be. But I have more artwork to hang, just haven't got around to it...
Kind of hard to see, but there are a few sailboats at sea in this picture in the Sir Francis Drake Channel. We still have haze, making it hard to photograph. Picture taken from Tortola, with Frenchman's Cay in foreground, Norman Island in left corner and St John in right corner.
 
For you garden lovers in the islands:
Orange, coconut, guava, avacado and other fruit trees are on sale at the Agricultural Department in Paraquita Bay. Hurry before they are all gone!
 
For you Flower lovers:
The Annual Flower Show will be at the Botanical Gardens on Sunday April 27th from 1230 to 530.
 
BVI Air Show
April 18, 2008 to April 19, 2008
T.B. Lettsome International Airport Beef Island, British Virgin Islands A wide variety of aircraft performances, aerobatics and ground displays. Free admission & parking. Shade tents, food & refreshments available.
Visit Website
 
8th Annual BVI Music Festival
May 23, 2008 to May 25, 2008
Where the sound of music meets the sounds of nature. Enjoy world-renowned artists at this beach-front venue.
Visit Website
 
33rd Annual Foxy's Wooden Boat Regatta
May 25, 2008 to May 27, 2008
Funds support the Jost Van Dyke Preservation Society West End Yacht Club.
 
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.com




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- be careful
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Sun, 6 Apr 2008 13:33:02 EDT
Breezy windy gusty days. Another great day for the Spring Regatta racers to break more boat *giggle*. It's been goodly fun for them to have these strong winds to really race and race hard.   We have participants from around the world.
 
It has caused a lot of equipment damage and at least one severe injury. Rumor is a crew member broke his neck. He has since been airlifted off the island, after spending a night in the local hospital.  We just don't have a specialist for everything.  I know it's possible to break your neck and not paralyze anything (my Fairy God Mother was famous for breaking her neck 2-3 times and surviving without further injury). I pray this crew member will survive and live to sail or race again one day, without disability.
 
I now put on a crash helmet and steel toed boots and stand three feet to the side of my evil possessed refrigerator when dealing with it. Thus far, this has prevented further injuries to my body.
 
Someone asked me if I was accident prone the other day. I was a tad insulted, as I sure don't think of myself as accident prone at all. But throughout my short life, I have managed to do many fantastic things, travel far and do things many people only dream of. SO I have been extremely lucky in many ways, but accidents have be felled me, but only because I was living an unusual life at the time it seems. Had I lead a sedate normal life, then my chances of accidents might have been lessened. I've had so many near misses, so I feel mostly lucky!
 
Like the time I stepped on a stingray fish!  He swam out from under me, tossing me backwards, and luckily, he didn't shoot me with his poisonous tail. I think we just mutually startled each other! 
 
Stingrays like to fish on the bottom in shallow water and they often burrow themselves in the sand. Back in the dark ages, many stingray fish would hang out at Honeymoon Beach in St John. I once saw an incredible video made into a documentary about the stingrays that hung off the beach there. I hear rumors through the coconut telegraph they still come to Hawksnest Beach (almost next door). With the hoards of tourists coming to the Caribbean now, I just don't know if the entire schools show up or not.
 
Only once did I see hundreds of stingrays at Honeymoon Beach and we all stayed out of the water, figured we would let them hunt in peace and not scare them into lashing their tail at us. Now how many people have seen that?
 
I am just glad I am not forced to drive a car into 8 lane traffic for hours  a day. Whew. I would hate to die while driving a car, how mundane is that?  (tee hee hee!)
 
I had this nice fish basket hanging on my wall. It's handy for serving hors d'oeuvres like freshly made corn chips for salsa. One day the wind blew it down into the floor and the car ran over and took a nap in it!
 
I later moved it to the "cat table"  which is a special table by the window that is used ONLY for storing cats. He has adopted that basket ever since and takes 16 of his 17 naps per day in it (the other nap he takes with me!)
 
I finally caught a great picture of him, curled up in his fish basket, with the woven table as a background.
 
I am selling this framed print (along with many others!) and if you want something unique for your home, boat or office (or cat house!) then look no further. Prints by Dear Miss Mermaid (more added weekly!)
 




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- Races and Spirits
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Fri, 4 Apr 2008 09:51:55 EDT
Blustery day with the sun fighting hard to overcome the clouds that are pushing for elbow room. Seas are a bit choppy but manageable.  We might get a few short showers, but otherwise I think the sun is going to win over today.
 
It's a good thing because the spring Regatta is  happening through Sunday, with worldly sailors overflowing Nanny Cay and other marinas. If they want rail to the water racing, (aka boat severely healed over) they are going to get it today! Might even have a broken mast or two before the race's end. It's a good day to reef the sails or mend the sails (when you split them open from not reefing!)
 
CADA is having a big dance show at the college April 19-20 and 27th and they informed me they have plenty of seats to fill!  Once I  get their flyer, I will post it with complete details. CADA is the Community Action Against Drug Addiction and they often put on plays, dances and musicals to raise funds for this needy cause. Tortola needs drama and arts, no doubt, so go out and support these players and this worthy cause.
 
Can a refrigerator be possessed by a demon?  One wonders.  Especially if you met my fridge. It came with the new old home, I moved into a few months ago. From the outside it looks new and big. But when you open it up, it is woefully small. A carton of  dozen eggs barely fits across the skinny shelf.
 
Instead of nice thick wired shelves typical of most fridges, it has clear flimsy plastic shelves. It appears to be missing shelves and a few bottom drawers. I bought some plastic baskets to make up for this short coming. One shelf is partially busted down the side and no matter where we put it, it seems like it doesn't belong to this model fridge. I also had to install my own freezer shelf. For some reason, everywhere I have lived, I have had to install a freezer shelf. Refrigerators here are always sold missing parts it seems. I have no idea why. I had an old vinyl coated wire shelf, so one day we measured and a friend and I sat down and hack-sawed it off to fit, and installed that in the freezer.
 
But the refrigerator is possessed!  Some days it plays tag with me. The door will pop open when you aren't looking and you turn around then suddenly,  the fridge is wide open. So I shut the door, only to have it pop open again ,when I am not looking. It often does this in the middle of the night!  Then sometimes when I shut the door, it glues itself shut.  Matter of fact, it holds the food hostage for the next ten or so minutes while I fight with the seal and the handle to try to make the fridge open up because I want my lunch out of it. It has done this to friends of mine who are used to helping themselves to iced tea or water in the fridge.
 
They stand they tugging and pulling with all their might then ask me in winded breath "How do you open this?"  I come over and pull and tug and finally after breaking into a good sweat, the fridge will reluctantly open.
 
Then it throws up when you least expect it. Yep, it's done it to me and now I have a witness. My house mate went shopping and came home to stock the fridge. She carefully put everything away, packing it carefully since there is so little room to start with. Then she shut the door. It popped back open, so she shut it again.
 
She turned around to do something and heard this awful noise like an avalanche, and turned around to watch the fridge door pop open, and all her groceries tumble out onto the floor with a great deal of noise. So round two *ding ding* she repacks the refrigerator, gets the door to stay shut and then she begins cooking. Realizing she put something away that she needed, she tried to open the fridge.
 
It wouldn't budge. Nope. It was holding the food hostage and for the next few minutes she had to fight and plead with it to open up. I came home about that time and she said incredulously "What is wrong with this fridge?  I stocked it full of groceries, and it threw them back at me! Now it refuses to open at all!"  I smiled at her knowingly and said "It's possessed."
 
So last night, I wake up at 2 or 3 am, I am very thirsty and I know there is some tasty mango juice in the fridge, calling my name. I walk in and as I reach for the handle I feel very cold air. I see the freezer door is open about a 1/4 inch.  I open it up to see my house mate had purchased 2 tubs of ice cream, which are melting away with the open door. I try to shut it again, and it pops open. So I rearrange the bottom freezer shelf, take out the 7 ice cube trays, put the ice cream in the back, stack up 3 of the ice trays and see from the way the tub budges outward towards the top, that maybe the rest of the ice trays should remain out and not in. I shut the freezer door firmly.
 
On the top shelf of the freezer, (Which I swear I did not touch!) is frozen food from a friend's boat. She had to go to Canada and threw all her freezer food in my freezer and told me to eat whatever, but save her the pork tenderloin for a party when she came back.
 
I open the refrigerator door and am just reaching for the coveted mango juice when all of a sudden the freezer door bursts open, smacks me in the head and tosses the pork tenderloin (solid as a brick) onto my left toes. I screamed!  It hurt so badly. I cried, I limped, I muttered things under my breath. I hopped around on one leg yelling "OW OW OW!"
 
I picked up the pork tenderloin and hurled it back in the freezer, and slammed the door with an admonishment to STAY SHUT and hobbled off whimpering back to bed, with my mango juice. Oh my goodness, my foot and toes throbbed, they turned pink, then red, then blue and now this morning my toes are black and purple. I can barely walk. I have soaked my tosies in icy cold water many times during the night.
 
The kitties kept vigil, I stuck my toes into icy cold water and they immediately came over to drink my cold toe water. Now these are the same guys that insist I give them a fresh bowl of water, 2-3 times a day. But something is special about my toe water. They line up and take turns to drink from it, while my throbbing toes soak.
 
After I am sure my toes are nearly numb, I try to lay down and sleep. But  every hour or so I would wake up in horrific pain and have to soak my toes again in icy water. This morning I am grouchy with a long list of things to do,  and all I can think is PAIN. 
 
I'm hungry and dying to make breakfast, but trying to figure out how to do that, without opening the fridge. I am so MAD at this fridge.
 
My house mate woke up,  heard my tale of woe, looked at my ugly blurple toes, looked me in the eye and solemnly said "I think it's time we consider having the fridge exorcised. "
 
We commiserated that while the rest of the home is carefree and happy with no influence from evil spirits, there is definitely something very unhappy and it's living in MY fridge. An invisible miserable spirit has taken up residence in there.
 
We stared at it with awe, expecting it to open and throw up again. So far it's just sitting there in the corner, both doors firmly shut, holding my breakfast hostage.
 
If anyone has any ideas how to coax this evil spirit out of the fridge (and off the property!)  let me know!  Generally I am good at chasing evil spirits off and finding myself entertained by good spirits. But this one, is being a bit of a pest, and holing up in my fridge.
 
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.com




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- Squally Weather
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Thu, 3 Apr 2008 08:34:58 EDT
Gray skies, squally weather, rough seas, high surf advisory.  Not much need for electric wind (fans) these days.  I was so c-c-cold last night that I had to put furries on my feetsies just to get up and do a walkabout.
 
About a year or so ago, my body quit sleeping all night, maybe it was when I was laid up with the mashed up fins that I became unable to sleep a full night. Anyhow, I wake up and wander around then go back to bed. I could easily go back to working on ships, where you have a watch every few hours and sleep is only a few hours at a time.
 
I miss sleeping all night, as sometimes it makes me groggy by day and then I have to take a nap, though a day time nap seems so natural in this climate. All the wild animals take afternoon siestas. Humans should too, it's been proven to boost productivity. In many Latin countries siestas are the norm. When I worked and lived in Mexico, we had siestas everyday after our sardine and cracker lunches.  My cats each take 17 or so  naps a day/night (maybe I am becoming a cat?)
 
Every time I try to make up my bed, a 4-legged someone is in it!  Some days I just give up, and make up the bed, with the lump in it. After awhile a cat comes crawling out from under the covers.
 
This pelican, didn't seem the least bit concerned, as I slowly approached him with my camera. I guess a mermaid is nothing new to him.
 
 
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- Squally Weather
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Wed, 2 Apr 2008 10:58:46 EDT
Title: AOL Email
Well it's busty and blustery today, um.. I meant gusty! We just had a brief downpour, but it was so thick, all you could see was grayish white for 1/4 mile.
 
Swell, surf and waves are expected to be rough on the North shore at about 8 feet with an 11 second period. Now the surfers will LOVE this, but the boaters will find it sloppy and choppy.

 




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- Grand Weather!
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Tue, 1 Apr 2008 10:22:10 EDT
Barely 80 degrees, beautiful skies, nice tradewinds, moderate seas, a great day for outdoor on the water or in the water activities.
 
Today is my last day writing from Tortola.
 
Tomorrow I am packing and moving aboard a ship that is sailing for Antarctica to study algae and plankton. They were here recruiting crew and me and the cats signed on.  Yep, my little mousers and rat hunters and snake slayers are going to be crew in charge of pest patrols. I am in charge of the galley (chef for the crew and scientists).  I guess I better start knitting furry mittens for my kittens...
 
We will make a few stops before going to Antarctica, so I can shop for warm woolens to wrap my tail in. I guess I won't need sarongs except to sleep in (do they make flannel lined sarongs?)
 
While we are still in the Caribbean region, I guess I can send out posts via the satellite connection on board. Not sure what kind of reception we will get further south, forgot to ask. So much to do in so little time!  Good thing my apartment came fully furnished, and what little I own, that I am not packing,  I am leaving behind for my house mate.
 
I am going to miss all of you, my readers and the funny notes you drop me in bottles that wash up ashore. *sniffle*  I am especially going to miss all the packages and gifts you have sent or  brought me.  (Let's see, how much chocolate does one pack for a year in the middle of nowhere?)
 
But I've been lonesome to get back on the seas, so what the heck, life is short!  Never been to Antarctica, (will someone stamp my passport there?)
 
It's been fun! 
 
Oh yeah, many of you asked about my pic, and I never post one, but what the heck, here you go,  down below is one of me at the beach! 
 
Farewell my gentle readers *sniffle*  I will miss you all.
 
Cold and Soon to be Snowy Icy Regards,
D
e
a
r
 
M
i
s
s
 
M
e
r
m
a
i
d
 
  at
 
         the
 
                         beach!
 
No Antarctica for me this year!  See ya tomorrow!




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- da innner net done mash up again
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2008 08:47:50 EDT
840am and the internet is back on again. Yahoo!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(\_(\_~~~~~~~~~~
 
It's 545am and the sky is starting to lighten up as daybreak creeps across the ocean.  The sunrise is obscurred to the far left by a mountain (not shown). Internet is down again, so no idea WHEN this will get posted.  Perhaps someone will eventually show up at work, throw the switch and connect us to the outside world again.
 
Daybreak March 31, 2008 6 am
 
OLD News.  A year ago I got up before daybreak to take my friend to the ferry for their journey home. We came across this one car wreck (below)on Zion Hill Road. I asked him to take a pic for me, and email it back. He took the pic.
 
And a year later... he mails it to me.
 
We never could figure out what this car did to flip over, but speed was probably involved. No one was around.  The car was empty.  When I returned about a half hour later, the car was  gone. The front tag is missing in action, in this photo.
 
Notice the green foliage around the driver's side. Perhaps they were coming downhill at a rapid rate, careened into the side embankment so hard they flipped it over.
 
Warm and Crunchy Regards,
DearMissMermaid.com




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- WISH YOU WERE HERE
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Sun, 30 Mar 2008 13:35:45 EDT
Gorgeous weather here today. A perfect Sunday for leisure activities!  I have work to do, but plan to spend my afternoon goofing off, if at all possible!
 
Well I wrote that at 7am and POOF the internet done mash up again me son!  Cheese and bread, we are seriously techno challenged here.
 
So here it is 111pm and I notice that maybe the internet done unmash itself and lo and behold, let me zip this out before anything else goes wrong.
 
83 degrees, 11-16 knot winds, great visibility at 10 miles+, ocean temp 77, swells at 3-4 feet.
 
Sunny Regards and a
BIG SLAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY
TO MY KLUTZ BRUTHA
AT MIDNIGHT!  (the 31st)
DearMissMermaid.com
WISH YOU WERE HERE!




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- I was Flashed!
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Sat, 29 Mar 2008 07:08:47 EDT
Surfers are happy again
Below, a newcomer to surfing, after only one week of practicing.
Incredible balancing acts.
 
Last night we had optimum conditions for the green flash!  I was so excited as there I was poised, camera in hand. The sun was a bright fiery ball above the water. There were no clouds beneath it.  It slowly sank behind the horizon. I took a slew of pics trying to capture it, and POOF suddenly the zenith vanished. I snapped away as for that very brief nanosecond, the green flash popped out. I had no idea if I caught it or not.
 
Later at home, I viewed my pics, alas, me or my camera was too slow. All I managed was about two dozen before and after pics! 
 
Several people saw the green flash with me, so I was not without witness and one enthusiastic photographer claims he caught it on film.
 
One lady told me she had seen the green flash in Key West and was told there by the locals that Key West was the only place in the world where you could see it. (Is this their new marketing ploy or are those Parrot Heads  just clueless?)  I believe you can see this unique phenomenon anywhere the sun sets over the ocean. 
 
The woman  was trying to get her teenage kids interested in watching the sun set and possibly seeing the green flash  and they thought she was nuts and ignored her. When we all said "Ohh!  Aww!  Wow!  The green flash!"  their heads snapped to attention, but they had managed to miss the elusive flash again. (Kids:  listen to mom sometimes!  She just might be right!)
 
The reason for a green flash lies in refraction of light (as in a prism) in the atmosphere: light moves more slowly in the lower, denser air than in the thinner air above, so sunlight rays follow paths that curve slightly, in the same direction as the curvature of the Earth. Higher frequency light (green/blue) curves more than lower frequency light (red/orange), so green/blue rays from the upper limb of the setting sun remain visible after the red rays are obstructed by the curvature of the earth.
 
Green flashes are enhanced by atmospheric inversions, which increase the density gradient in the atmosphere, and therefore increase refraction. A green flash is more likely to be seen in clear air, when more of the light from the setting sun reaches the observer without being scattered.
 
Sunset poised for the green flash.

Snapping away I tried to catch the green flash, but this was taken a nanosecond before the flash.  Sad to say  I missed it.
Oooops! Flash went by so fast, you missed it too!
 
Warm and Flashy Regards,
DearMissMermaid.com




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- Daggum internet
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:48:37 EDT
The Internet has been lousy this week. It's on, it's off, it's creeping by or it freezes right up.
 
What's worse is me and my spell heckler are at odds again!  Grrr...
 
In the report below it reads  "about the mountain separating us from Cyrus Bay in St John" and it should read "ABOVE the mountain separating us from CRUZ Bay St John"...
 
I am trying to figure out how to turn off the auto-correct function, cause it has NO IDEA what I am trying to say and seems to insert wrong words for me. I already sound like a dummy some days, this spell heckler makes me seem like a pure idiot others.
 
Warned  and Dummy Regards,




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- Normal Daze Again...
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2008 15:59:01 EDT
A lovely day in paradise as the weather returns to typical Caribbean daze and dazzle. The Easter crowds have thinned right out, the seas and winds are perfect for sailing.
 
WeatherBVI.com  has had a makeover. You can see the satellite, radar and local reports all on one page, woo hoo!
 
81 degrees (28 c) about 15 knot winds, some north swell is kicking around but expected to die down later today.
 
Last night I was sitting outside with my neighbor, we watch an uneventful sunset, and as the darkness began to shroud us we continued chatting.
 
St Thomas could be seen in the distant, with it's tiny twinkling lights. All of a sudden, it came to life, like a freshly lit birthday cake!  No kidding. The lights just kept getting brighter and brighter until here was this huge glow in the sky, hovering above St Thomas.
 
We stared with wonder and speculated that it must be awfully powerful power surge!  I said, "I bet they have a blackout any second now!"
 
Incredibly the lights just glowed so brightly, as if Las Vegas had relocated to the tropics. Then the lights began to dim, and dim, and dim...
 
St Thomas was plunged into complete darkness!
 
We laughed about that, but then we noticed a bright light growing in the sky, about the mountain separating us from Cyrus Bay in St John!  Now it appeared they were having the same phenomenon, then after a few minutes, all was dark on St John.  We stared at the empty spot where the lights used to be and both islands were just engulfed in darkness.
 
I guess we aren't the only ones with electricity woes.
 
 
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.com




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- Weather is here!
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2008 16:01:32 EDT
Weather is wonderful, nice and cool, breezy, with intermittent clouds and perhaps somewhere, someone is enjoying a brief shower. I watered all my outdoor potted plants, so that usually means a rain shower is in short order.
 
Fresh food is back on island again and many are relieved. Just before Easter, a freighter heavily laden with fresh produce and meats destined for Tortola, discovered her berth had been given to a cruise ship.
 
So the freighter left.
 
With all our food.
 
This dried up the meat and produce for one of the islands large suppliers, as well as throughout many, but not all, stores around the islands, dismaying locals, tourists and sailors. Where is the food?
 
Let's give our government a High-Five for screwing up our ports and sending our food south. Freighters have a schedule to keep and I can well imagine the frustration the captain must have felt when his reserved berth was upstaged by a cruise ship. Apparently the cruise ship dock was overflowing already.
 
Cruise ships can be more flexible in their itinerary, but freighters have a careful schedule to keep.  A cruise ship can anchor out and discharge passengers by ship's tenders. Unloading a freighter full of refrigerated and frozen food, offshore, is just not feasible.
 
I prefer loads of fresh produce, but I do keep those pesky cans around for hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, budget emergencies and what have you. I sure wasn't expecting the port authority to cause such an emergency!  It was embarrassing not to be able to find any eggs for Easter. 
 
A few years back, when I lived aboard my boat, I was in an anchorage full of live aboard cruisers at Easter.  I was bored and feeling foolish. So I dyed up several dozen Easter Eggs in assorted colors and shades.  Someone had sent me a mail order gift that was packed in fake soft grass, which I had saved, which inspired my foolishness to start with.
 
Around 3 am, I climbed into my dinghy, with the box of fake grass and a bucket of Easter Eggs. Not using my motor, I quietly rowed around the harbor and silently approached each boat that I knew had live-aboards.  I deposited a pile of fake grass with a few eggs in each cockpit, then silently rowed away. Luckily I had a rubber dinghy, so there was no banging on the sides of the boats.
 
Easter morning I went ashore to have coffee at a popular watering hole for sailors. I heard someone say they woke up and found Easter eggs in their cockpit!  A few others chimed in that they had found some too. Not to be outdone, I said I too had found eggs in my cockpit as well, when of course I had not.
 
For the next few days, it seems boaters only wanted to talk about their Easter eggs, as if a miracle had hit the harbor. Everyone seemed jolly and pleased and apparently ate their eggs, except for one lady who claimed hers were probably full of poison and an awful trick for the unwary, so she had fed hers to the fish.Talk about Paranoia and a true conversation stopper. Someone even mentioned "Gee, you sure know how to shoot down some innocent fun!"
 
There was much speculation over who it could be, but since everyone claimed to have received eggs, there was really no one to point to.
 
The following year, Easter came around again, and guess what. I did it all over again.  Some folks were still in the same harbor, others had long since departed and newcomers had taken their place. I still had a mooring there myself and had come back to stay on it for Easter. Once again, we went through the mystery of the Easter Eggs. It was fun to see how happy people were at this funny twist of a small event. Easter eggs delivered to the boat, and still no one had seen the culprit. There was talk the next few days,  there REALLY must be an Easter bunny after all...
 
One guy piped up that the Easter Bunny must know he was broke (he had lost his shore job and been quite sickly) as he had been blessed with 12 colored eggs and he lived all alone. Most boats had only received 2-4 eggs, so he felt really special.
Flat Seas just before Dusk, under an overcast sky Tuesday.
Photo taken on Zion Hill Road: Jost Van Dkye, Little Jost and Sandy Cay are in the background.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.com




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- Incredible Pics from Last Week's Wave Action!
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:46:48 EDT
Lori H. shares these pictures with us showing the high waves over Easter week:
 
Welcome to Josiah's Bay Beach!
Well, there used to be a beach here...
Below: Closeup of the sea spray.
This Palapa is normally quite popular at the beach (um WHAT beach?)
No surfers out on this day.  Look how high the water splashes up the rocks as the waves slam into it.
Brilliant hues of blues belie an angry sea.
Below: This playground for surfers is bare and the beach flooded.
 
 
And a big hug and kiss to Lori for sharing!
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.com




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- SUNSHINE!
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Wed, 26 Mar 2008 12:36:42 EDT
The sun is out!  Finally!  The rains have dried up after giving up quite a few downpours yesterday afternoon. We already had our current mash up this morning.  (Power went off!)  Internet was at a crawl much of the morning, so getting emails out was next to impossible.
 
Just another typical day in paradise!
 
Easter won't be early again. I bet some of you even had a white Easter!  That poor bunny must be c-c-c-cold. So much for wearing your Easter bonnet with ear muffs in the North...that must be a sight!
 
Well we won't be having Easter early again for a long time!  A gentle reader, Rusty, (was he named after my heap of a jeep?) alerted me to this interesting article about Easter.
 
Over the next 10 years, Easter will be in April 8 times and in March in 2013 and 2016.
 
March 22 — is the earliest Easter date

Last occurrence: 1818

Next occurrence: 2285

 
March 23 — the second earliest Easter date

Last occurrence: 1913 and 2008

Next occurrences: 2160

Today we just have lovely sunshine, and lots of it with gentle trade winds at about 11 knots from the East.  I stopped in the little local grocery today for 5 minutes, and ran into 8 people I hadn't seen in awhile. Gee, maybe I should get OUT more often!

This morning I resurrected the juicer and made fresh carrot juice with an apple. My dear friend had delivered carrots and apples to me, after learning I was having this strange craving while I was ill. THe resulting carrot-apple juice was heavenly and started my day off right. I had some green split pea soup in the makings in my little crockpot and tossed in the "carrot pulp" leftovers from the juicer before I ran the apple through.

I've discovered you can juice most any veggie or fruit, but if the result is not sweet, then toss in an apple at the end, and it gives the juice a natural sweet flavor. My juicer has two containers, one for the juice and one for the leftover pulp. If you don't have something cooking to toss the veggie pulp into, then stuff it in a baggy and freeze it. Next time you make dried beans or a stew, just toss in the veggie pulp and YUMMY! 

So I feel horsey, since I had 6 carrots and 1 apple to start my day.   Using a juicer is a great way to get a load of vitamins into your system when you've been under the weather. I am still feeling lousy, but that carrot-apple juice really perked me up. I'm eyeballing the romaine lettuce and thinking of having that in the juicer for lunch, chased by the usual apple for sweetness.

I've also discovered in the past, that if you end up with wimpy lettuce or greens, just toss them into a stew (chopped) and they are surprisingly good.

 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.com




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- rainy days
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Tue, 25 Mar 2008 11:44:41 EDT
It's 78 degrees and overcast. No morning rains this morning, just large looming clouds and a fuzzy horizon.  Nothing of significance is headed our way...yet.  No snow, no storms, no ferocious waves. None of our beaches washed away, but they sure are different now! 
 
The north shore is flat calm on March 24, minutes before sunset.
 
 
FROM THE MAILBAG (Stuff washed ashore!)
 
Found in a French Wine Bottle
Monterrey volcanic activity reports can be found here.
'It happened in Montserrat a long time ago'...................  (With apologies to the 'Chairman of the Board')
Sleep Warm!
'Luv Frenchie
 
Frenchie is cryptically referring to the fact that on March 19th, I raced through with my spell heckler and somehow re-spelled Montserrat with Monterrey...OOOPS!  The correct name is Soufrière Hills (AKA suffering hills!)
DMM
 
Dear Miss Mermaid,
 
First of all I wanted to tell you how much I enjoy reading your weather reports and updates on life in Tortola. They are both very entertaining and informative.
 
I do wish to point out what I believe may be an error in your report of March 21. I agree that today is Good Friday and the full moon parties and that Sunday is Easter, but I must disagree about the date of the spring equinox. The sun crossed the equator on its march northward yesterday, March 20, 2008 at 1:48 AM, BVI Time.
 
I hesitate to make this correction but I hope that your own high standards will accept and appreciate it.
 
Thanks again for all the time and effort you put into your enjoyable stories!
 
White Dog
 
Dear White Dog,
    What high standards?  *giggle*
    
    We in the BVI are notoriously late for everything, so the fact that we celebrated the equinox 2 days late, is nothing new.   Easter is always the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring Equinox (so we were sort of right) har har har. But seriously THANKS for pointing this out. We had it all wrong. *sigh* Again...
DMM
 
 
WASHED UP IN AN OLD BEER BOTTLE ON SHORE:
I'm wondering if anyone can tell me what fees are payable when cruising the BVI's. My main worry is a paragraph in my cruising guide which says something about daily fees of 2 US dollar per person per day for "registered" boats and double that amount for "unregistered" boats. Obviously this will be a hell of a lot over any lengthy period, and what does "registered" mean anyway?!  Are you limited to 4 weeks per year?  Is it true there is a US man in jail for fishing?  Did he have to pay a huge fine? Is it true that restaurants are frightfully expensive and beer is $8 plus tax and tip?
 
The cruising fees are paid by paying passengers.  So if you are chartering a bareboat or chartering a crewed yacht, or arriving on a cruise ship,  then you owe the cruising fees. The registered and non-registered boats refer to whether the boat is registered in the BVI or elsewhere. So a registered boat is registered in the BVI and pays only half the fees.
 
If you own your own boat and have no hired crew, then you pay no cruising tax.  If you have hired crew, then you the owners owe the cruising tax but your hired crew does not.
 
Hired crew must be professional year round type crew. You can't just rent a bareboat and designate everyone as hired crew and skip the tax. But if you take a skipper from the local company with you, then the tax is paid on the passengers, but not the skipper.
 
I worked as a purser for years, clearing in various charter yachts, and this is how it was always treated.
 
I hope this clears things up for you!
 
Your boat is not limited to a max 4 weeks. Your boat may stay in the BVI for 30 days per year without paying the temporary import duty. If your boat plans to be in the BVI more than 30 days per year, then you owe a $200 annual fee called temporary import duty. Then you boat can stay all year in the BVI, whether in the yard or out cruising. 
 
Passengers must still get immigration clearance and are entitled to visit up to six months per year. Generally, you are only given a month at a time, and you ask for a month extension, each time you need one. Sometimes downtown, they will stamp you in for your entire duration. 
 
The fisherman who was caught without a fishing  license was thrown in jail, and fined heavily,  but the governor pardoned him, forgave his fine, and he is free now. A fishing license is required before you can fish. You may not fish commercially, only for your supper.
 
Generally the authorities are pleasant IF you start off with a cheery Good Morning or Good Afternoon and dress modestly decent.   Do not show up in your greasy engine worked T- shirt nor something ridiculously skimpy.  Do not dress like a raggedy gypsy refugee, even if it is comfy. Try to find a clean pair of shorts that aren't torn or ripped or holy or rusted and don't smell bad.  Men should ALWAYS remove their hats indoors. ALWAYS.  Even that stupid baseball cap, REMOVE IT indoors. You get brownie points for good manners.
 
Wear something nice, and if you have special boat shirts, where that.  Wear shoes and try not to track in a mess with you. Bring your own pen to use, everyone's passports and this ship's papers. If you don't understand the officer, don't just stand there and yell "HUH?"  or berate them. Instead, ask them to please repeat very SLOWLY, tell them you think slowly...
 
If you plan to visit the BVI again in the future, then ask to buy extra forms to keep onboard. That way next time, you can fill out all the paperwork on board and show up organized (you get brownie points for this too!)
 
SMILE as much as you can as if you are just THRILLED to be there. Do not try to rush them or act impatient. It's best NOT to ask them ANY questions until all your transactions are completed and finalized.
 
At that point, you can politely ask questions. (After thanking them for clearing you in.)  Since I often came in weekly, I thanked them and finished with a "see you next week!" and a big smile.
 
If they decide to yell at you (rare) or lecture you (happens once  in a great while) then just stand there and grin like an idiot and agree with them completely and apologize repeatedly.  They rarely fine you unless you really irritate them or are rude.
 
Not all restaurants are outrageously expensive in the BVI. This is not true. But don't expect big bargains in million dollar locations. The beach side restaurant is going to charge more than an inland restaurant with no view or a limited view. If you are hunting bargains, ask the locals where the locals eat out.
 
You will be directed to some very unique places, some that only set up on the side of the road at certain times or days. Prices are much lower there. There are also  local restaurants tucked around, and their menu will be more local food with less fanfare and better prices.
 
For instance in West End, if you go to the Pussers or Jolly Roger for lunch, you can easily spend $10-$12 for burger and fries. If you go down the street to Kellys (a local place) for $10-$12 you get fish or chicken of the day with 4-5 side dishes tucked around your plate.
 
I don't know where you are paying $8 for beer  plus tax and tip.  Beer is not sold for $8 each.  Beer is $2-3-4 depending on place and time of day.  Wine sells for $3-12 per glass because it depends on WHICH wine you order. There is NO tax on food or beverages. Ask if the tip or service charge is included in the price.  It varies.  Some add it in, others do not. Maddening, but that is the way it is.
 
Now that I am ready to email this, guess what?  It's RAINING!  Very foggy with slight visibility. Looks like we won't see much sunshine today at all.
 
 
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.com




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- The Mermaid Lives!
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Mon, 24 Mar 2008 18:20:23 EDT
It's Easter Monday, nearly sunset.   I survived high seas, intermittent squalls and stiff winds. Much of today was overcast and rainy, rare for the islands.
 
Sorry I haven't written since Friday, I had a big booboo and I've been recuperating and unable to do email or much of anything. The last few days were a blur of intense pain interrupted by weak drugs.  But I am back in fine form now, I hope.  (Though, I still feel like I was the loser at a very bad brawl.)
 
I drove less than a mile today, first time I've been out in five days.  I gave a friend a ride, dropped off my laundry to wash, then dropped her off  and BANG a rock wall jumped out behind me and smacked my new heap of a jeep!  I was so mad at that rock wall, I was headed back home and back to bed, I was plum exhausted anyhow. I remembered to stop back by the laundry, toss the wet stuff into the dryer, then back home while it dried.
 
I  picked up another hitchhiking friend along the way, someone I hadn't seen in a while,  and we caught up on the coconut telegraph.
 
I got home, after going out of my way, to drop her off at work,  (hey what are friends for?) and I was just propping up all comfy for a snooze, then I remembered, oops, my laundry was in the clothes dryer 1/2 mile away. My neighbor  stopped in to see if I was alive, seeing that I looked run over by a truck, she then volunteered to run grab my now dry laundry.  (What a sweetie!)
 
She is exiting the laundry, carrying my bag,  when BANG!  A big white car smacks into the back of her new used heap of a jeep, right before her eyes,  and then he slams it into reverse, backs out, goes into first, and leaves with squealing tires and a cloud of black smoke.  My poor friend was left speechless!
 
Smart cookie that she is, she tried to give chase but he was no where in sight. She drove to the next laundry, saw he wasn't there either, and gave up and came back to my place.  I felt terrible about that. We commiserated that we both banged our new heaps on the same day boo-hoo-hoo.
 
I did end up with one load of clean clothes...
 
Big seas have subsided, many seaside bars are hastily making repairs. Beaches along the north shores are all different now, having been massively rearranged the past week. The surfers finally got some time in this weekend. All these reports have come through from friends around the islands, reporting in and wondering why I haven't had anything to say.
 
A boat load of bareboaters gave boaters a black eye recently during the ridiculously high waves.  They went to Sandy Spit to snorkel, in spite of all the warnings, in spite of the terrible seas, in spite of the fact it was so churned up you wouldn't be able to see anything anyhow. They did so, because it was on their agenda to snorkel that day, and they were not about to let mother nature deviate them from their preplanned vacation plans.
 
Duh.
 
Well, while going ashore, they lost control of the dinghy and  ended up stranded at Sandy Spit, minus the dinghy.   I was told that VISAR was summoned to help and the waves were too rough for them to land either, so a rescue swimmer swam ashore and stood by until the coast guard could rescue them with a helicopter.
 
Lawdy mercy, I would be too embarrassed and ashamed, but I am sure I've done my share of foolish things in my past. (But glad this wan't me!)  However,  that was no cheap rescue for foolishness!  Sometimes I think we need a "stupid fine" for people that do ridiculous things requiring costly rescues.
 
Like the guy (years back) who wanted to drill a hole into his muffler pipe and finding it too difficult for his drill, he pulled out his gun and tried to shoot a hole in the muffler pipe, the bullet ricocheted off the pipe and hit him in the head.  He survived, but his rescue and hospitalization was no cheap affair.
 
By the way for all of you that do boating around here, you should have these numbers HANDY at all times:
 
VISAR’s help "WE NEVER SAY NO"
Can be summoned in the BVI in several ways:
- Dialing 767 (SOS)
- Dialing 999 or 911
- Dialing 494 4357 (494-HELP)
- A distress call on VHF Channel 16
 
For good luck I recommend donations to VISAR before your trip (that way you're almost sure to never need them!)
 
You might do something foolish, or you might just get caught in very bad circumstances, either way, help is here and they never say no.  Accidents happen, call VISAR for help.
 
Weather is expected to return to normal, more or less.  The Atlantic Tropical Weather Discussion, while stuffy and technical, doesn't seem to forecast anymore doom or gloom for now.
 
Even my crystal ball is looking happy for the next week!
 
(I hope my spell heckler caught my misteaks this time...)
 
 
Warm and Partly Cloudy Regards,
 
Miss Boo-Boo





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- Bluesy
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2008 14:37:35 EDT
Busy weekend in the islands. Today is Good Friday and the Full Moon. Tomorrow is spring equinox and Sunday is Easter. The BVI also celebrates Easter Monday as a public holiday.
 
Reports abound that the north coast is taking a beating, with some seaside bars being undermined by the ferocious seas.
 
Unfortunatley, I've had a boo-boo, so I am homebound for a day or so recuperating, therwise I would love to be out photographing.
 
I caught this picture of fantastic shades of blues yesterday.  The teen y tiny bits of sugar fine coral is so stirred up in the waters, that the blues were reflecting in different shades against the bright sun.
 
 
The color of blues, Sopers Hole, West End, Tortola
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.com




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- Wind? What wind?
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2008 09:15:00 EDT
Winds?  What winds?  We got the cooler temperatures but not the promised winds. We did get high surf.  But it was no good for the surfers, so just a sloppy day for all. Nice cool nights and cool days too. Gonna be a real cool Easter. Tomorrow is the fool moon, um FULL moon. It is 75 degrees at 830am Thursday.
 
Here is the Sir Francis Drake Channel at 3pm yesterday, nice and flat.
Here is the North Shore at Apple Bay at 315pm, lots of big sloppy choppy waves and not a surfer in sight.
Here is Carrot Bay on the North Shore at 330pm, notice all the white caps close to shore, the fishermen took heed and hauled all their boats up on land.  You can see the sea spray is making the coast look fuzzy.
 
Work is For...
 
 
 
 
In the post below, which I wrote while sleepwalking at 4am, I noted:
 
No more getting stuck in Tortola's infmaouse pot holes!
 
Of course by 7am, a reader had emailed me to ask "What in the heck is a infmaouse pot hole?"
 
My reply:
It's a BIG infamous pot hole, like the big pothole at the top of Zion Hill, you can't avoid it unless you like head-on traffic flying over the hill at  full throttle in your lane, so you are FORCED into the big infamous pot hole. We are keeping it a secret from Public Works, for fear they might find out and fix it...(ha ha ha!) 
 
The truth be known, no matter how many times you call Public Works to tell them about a problem, they don't seem to write it down. Like the water leak at the bottom of Zion Hill Road just before the North Shore Road, that leak has been there over a year now, as precious as water is, you would think they would get around to fixing it in under a year's time, but no such luck. I know, I have called them many times about it. I try to tell them a problem and whoever is supposed to write down problems is always out of the office and NO ONE ELSE can write down a message. No one. After a few phone calls and the one person who writes down messages is STILL gone (on a 365 day vacation?)  I just give up.
 
I feel sorry for the tourists in their rental cars, hitting all these hidden potholes and hidden speed bumps.  I know the first time I drove on Tortola, I hit my head on the roof of the car TWICE the first day! 
Welcome to da islands mon! We got rum for dat dare head bump you got, I see you mash it up good.  
 
No problem, mon...
 
Life is different in the islands, mon!




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- view of life
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2008 04:13:58 EDT
View out the Porthole
Featuring Clouds & Sahara Dust Haze
at Sunset March 19, 2008
Look out Suzuki!  My future used jeep...tee hee hee
No more getting stuck in Tortola's infmaouse pot holes!

 




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- wind and waves may tip the boat but only you can tip the crew
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2008 15:54:21 EDT
It was c-c-c-c-cold last night!  I was wrapped up in my afghan, all electric wind turned to off, the kitties were piled up next to me, the two brother cats, holding each other like Siamese twins.  Temperatures plummeted to the 60's and I thought my teeth would never stop chattering. Even by noon today it had not warmed up past 77 in West End. Winds have surely picked up.  I hope to go take a peek at the North Shore swells soon but alas, I am forced to work for a living today. 
 
However, phone calls from other parts of the island report that Josiah Bay had huge waves rolling right up to the bar and Long Bay Beach on Beef Island was consumed by waves.
 
Rumor is they are surfing in Cane Garden Bay, not sure I will make it that far today, once I escape my desk, but I may try if my eyes are willing.
 
Winds and waves should continue to build up.
 
BEWARE OF RIP CURRENTS AND COASTAL FLOODING.
 
Washed ashore in a bottle from East End to West End:
Good afternoon from east end!

Hey what is his stuff that's out on the horizon? At first I thought is was just really super cloudy but I'm wondering if it's Sahara dust or not.  I got really congested today and even after taking sudafed to relieve it but still I'm congested....just wondering.
L.H. in East End 
 
Yep!  It's the Sahara Dust!  Take a look at this graphic:  It's enough to make you cough and sputter and wipe your eyes, if not your car!  If this pic is right, then we have MORE headed out way. Yuck.
 
I can tell it's the Sahara dust just by the averse affect it has on my eyes, I have to put medicated drops in them, or else my vision goes wonky and stuff seals them shut, even when I am awake!  No telling what pollutants are in that dust, that could cause us all sorts of health problems.
 
I did check to see if Montserrat had blown again, but the only news was the recent visit of Prince Charles and the Dutchess of Cornwall.  More Monterrey volcanic activity reports can be found here.
 
On a foolish note, I've designed some new products with this logo:
Cruising Tile Coaster
 

 
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.com




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- no wind or waves YET...
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2008 08:15:53 EDT
630am and my neighbor is up and banging loudly to make sure EVERYONE in the neighborhood is awake. What a shame.  I heard somebody had threatened to steal his jackhammer if he used it again at 6am and NO it wasn't me!
 
A friend recently suggested that target practice with water balloons might be fun to launch in his general direction.  Ooops!  Darn, I missed the target and hit the neighbor again. Rats. Better work on that aim! 
 
Weather is here, winds are slight, guess the promised strong winds are still yet to arrive. Maybe late today, the seas and winds will be up. But it's the Caribbean, they'll probably arrive late. Nothing starts on time here anyhow.
 
Like the Music Fest, they lay out this elaborate schedule, then they throw the clocks away.  The main attraction is put on late, say 10pm, but rarely gets going before 2am, kind of frustrating.  Of course each band starts later and later, for some reason they think it fashionable to be late, but it's unprofessional. In certain circles, you would be banned. Try playing a gig an hour or two late in Vegas, you'll be run out of town.
 
Years back, a friend of mine was lucky enough to finally achieve status quo and be offered a month long gig in Las Vegas. His band pooled every cent they could, pawned and sold everything they didn't need, begged, borrowed, stole, you name it, to buy the band a bus. They loaded up the bus with their clothes, and their equipment, and headed cross country for what they thought would be their limelight, the gig that would launch them, put them on the map, get them in the recording studios and so on.
 
They planned to take turns driving and sleeping on the bus. Occasionally they would stop at a rest area and let the bus engine take a break. They had no money for hotels, and they mostly made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to save money. But it was worth it, as soon they would be living in a nice hotel, playing a steady gig for a solid month and it came with perks, like free buffets and discounted  drinks. Late at night, the pools and Jacuzzi's are often full of the musicians and showgirls, a fun late night, wind down party.
 
I know because once while in Las Vegas, I had grown tired of gambling (imagine that!) and it was 3am and I was wide awake. I put on my bathing suit, tossed on the hotel robe and headed 34 floors down,  for the outdoor Jacuzzi. I was all alone. Every few minutes, I had to hop out and push the button to make the Jacuzzi run again, it had this annoyingly short timer on it and you couldn't reach it from the tub.
 
About the 4th time out to hit the timer, I had just settled back down, when this backdoor burst open and about two dozen drop dead gorgeous bodies came out in teeny tiny G-strings and the women in itsy bitsy  tops.  Most crowded into the Jacuzzi with me and a few dove into the pool and swam. I found out they had just completed the last show for the night and wanted to work off their aches in the water.
 
They were as surprised to find me alone in the Jacuzzi, as I was to meet them at this odd hour. Most people are either in bed or gambling at that hour, not sitting in the dark in a Jacuzzi. A half hour later, and several bands showed up, they too having finished their last gig for th enight,  and were headed for the water. My room overlooked the pool, and it sat empty all day, but late at night, in the wee hours,  it came alive.
 
Well, back to the band bus...
 
Right in the middle of the desert, hundreds of miles from nowhere, the old bus caught on fire in the middle of the night, and the band barely escaped with their lives. So there stood the band next to the ruins of their bus, even the tires had melted from the extreme heat, all their instruments and sound equipment just burnt to a crisp and reduced to unrecognizable rubble. Their clothes gone, the cooler of food destroyed, even the peanut butter jar was shattered and black.
 
It was hours before a car came along, going the wrong way (east)  and offered a ride, but he only had room for  ONE.  So that is how the band split up. They each caught a ride one by one every few hours, some heading west, others heading back east. My friend tells me he was the last to leave, has never seen any of the guys since, has no idea whatever happened to them. But that was the end of that band.
 
Ut OH!  Somebody escaped from the grave yard again!
If you see a Zombie, return him here.
 
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.com




- Where dat wind hiding?
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2008 15:31:33 EDT
It was cold last night, down in the low 70's.  Winds are pretty low today, boats in the anchorage were drifting in all different directions on their moorings and anchors.
 
View From The Porthole
Aneada Ancorage
Pic by Brent
 
    Gossip from my neighbor that I slept through a noisy police chase in West End night before last!  The police were chasing a motorcycle and both were reported to be exceeding 70mph!  The motorcycle apparently doesn't realize that the roads on Frenchmans Cay are all dead ends, and he was apprehended. I don't know anything else, if you do, email me!
 
    This month we get one Public holiday every week!  What a life!
 
    We have the Easter Festical, the Spring Regatta and the Air Show all coming up soon!  Click here for details on each.
 
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.com




- Palm Sunday
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Sun, 16 Mar 2008 11:51:48 EDT
Winds are slight at 4 miles per hour, temperature is in the 70's, if you work up a hard sweat, you might think it a tad humid (ha ha ha!).
 
I just spent the morning playing in the garden, both the potted garden and the yard garden.  I am not sure I made any headway yet, but I sure worked up a lot of sweat.  I like growing things, things like overgrowing around me, it's hard to catch up and keep it all under control.
 
If you are lonesome for the Caribbean, many of our outdoor plants can be grown inside pots in your home. More info.
 
Waves and winds are slight until Tuesday or Wednesday, seas will build up to over 10 foot swells. So if you want to go upwind, hurry up and get there!  You will have a great sleigh ride back down the wind, waves and sea.
 
The Surfers will be appeased as Tuesday onwards should be great surfing all week, with Wednesday, Thursday and Friday being optimum.
 
If you have a baby, or thinking of getting one or need a unique gift for one and wish to support Dear Miss Mermaid's tuna needs, then click here and check out these sassy babies.  
 
Aerial of Pockwood Pond before the big oil fire.
Pic courtesy of Ken H.
 
 
 
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.com




- Pics of Dump Fire
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Sat, 15 Mar 2008 19:15:25 EDT
Ken H shares these incredible fire photos from Thursdays dump fire:
 
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.com




- Pet Rocks that Work
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Sat, 15 Mar 2008 06:56:35 EDT
Another morning of roosters crowing at 5 and onwards. It's now 544am and they are still crowing for the sun to come up, but dawn is sleeping, the day is still shrouded in darkness. Dogs have uncharacteristically come to life briefly.  A car can be heard racing off to somewhere unknown.
 
Then at 546 the slightest bit of pink streaks across the south eastern horizon, followed by midnight blues easing into gray sky, the pink expands with a bit of range thrown in and sunrise and dawn have both begun.
 
Though I don't get a direct view of the east from my vantage point, it is none the less spectacular, that another day has been bestowed upon us, the miracle of the earth's rogation, the position of the sun and like clockwork, here we are again.
 
At 554am, I try my hand at taking pics of the unfolding dawn and the rainbow of colors starting to appear, shyly, like being slowly coaxed by mother nature, "come on, you can do it..."
 
Daybreak March 15th, 2008
Sunset Sail, March 14, 2008
You've heard of the little tot sent off to the daycare, allowed to take with her, firmly clutched in one arm, her beloved fuffy (baby blankie) to comfort her while mom's away. 
 
Well, here we have cars left in daycare with pet rocks to comfort them until their owners retrieve them once again. The pet rocks are thought to calm the cars' separation anxiety.  Pet rocks are often painted white, so they aren't mistaken for ordinary non-pet rocks.
 
Besides my crystal ball, I have a weather rock tied on a string, hanging from the outside rafters.  It's a hard working rock and sometimes I rely on it for the current weather conditions.
 
If the rock is wet, it's raining
If the rock is dry, it's sunny
If the rock is warm, it's summer
If the rock is cool, it's winter
If the rock is shaking, it's an earthquake
If the rock is swaying it's windy
If the rock is swinging wildly, a storm is coming
If the rock is GONE, it's a hurricane!!!
 




- Surfers back in style
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2008 08:48:31 EDT
ANOTHER lovely day has graced our morning. Sun up, sky out, winds are slight (4mph from the east) but improving. Sea temp 77, air temp 82, waves are chest high. All 6 inches of high tide arrived at 738am.
 
Surfers were happy to get in on some action.
Even moderate waves can be fun!
Sunset came right on time!
 
Yesterday, my lunch company drove by the Incinerator plant which was engulfed in thick heavy black smoke!  They showed me tiny pics on their camera and I hope to get a copy and post for you. People were being urged to leave the area, as there were loaded propane tanks expected to explode. The Fire Department responded, but noting was under control at the time they passed by.
 
Acting Deputy Chief Fire Officer William Penn has confirmed that yesterdays morning's fire at the BVIEC Pockwood Plant was caused by a contractor who was hired to clear a dumpsite where used oil is stored.
 
Penn said the fire began sometime between 11:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. It was put under control about an hour and a half later.
 
Pun Fun Intended...
Well, I guess he shortcutted his work!  Here, I can clear out the used oil (as he lights a rag when nobody is looking) POOF, job all done!  Guess there isn't much oil to haul off now...
 
 
 
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.com




- Lazy Days in Paradise
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2008 10:09:04 EDT
Clear with blue skies, 80 f degrees, (27c) the winds settled down some yesterday and the surfers got to ride the waves for a change. They are moaning this winter has not been near as spectacular as the last few winters of surfing here.
 
You just never know what mother nature will dish up next!
 
 
Da current done mash up again!
 
And it's all my fault. Friends from Minnesota are coming for lunch and I wanted to vacuum and do laundry and mop, all 3 require dat dang current!  No my mop is not electric (I wish!  You know they do make robot electric moppers called Scoobas)
 
But my water pump is electric and the street water isn't hooked up yet, though landlord says "Soon come, mon" (that he has said since December!)
 
Even though I have an accumulator water tank, it is tiny and not enough to mop and I made the fatal mistake of flushing the toilet while da current was mash up, so that probably wiped out most of the tiny accumulator tank. Dang it, I FORGOT!
 
Life in de islands,,,,,
Picture pirated from Ken H.
Photo taken  from SkyWorld, Tortola
 
You can see a tiny white spot at the water's edge below, where apparently the rain spot is hitting the water.  I sure hope no boaters were underneath this!  Water spouts have been known to sink boats.
 
I was once anchored in Cruz Bay, St John, and watched a water spout chase this poor sailboat!  It was coming after him, so he tacked to take a different course and the water spout changed course too, he tacked again and changed course back, and the water spout changed its course again finally catching up to him and appearing to get really close, before suddenly vanishing, right before my eyes.
 
I bet those sailors needed clean underwears after that!  (local island lingo is underwears are always plural never singular, like shrimps, they too are always plural)
 
Ironically, I posted a rain spout pic, very similar to this one, last year on April 23rd.
 
New Section Tile Coaster
Tile Coaster for your Rum Dwink!
Support a mermaid, buy something silly!
 
 




- Winds are Slight
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:49:31 EDT
Just another fantastic day in paradise. Winds aren't as strong as we prefer but enough for lazy sailing (slowly drifting nowhere, at great expense...)
 
Trellis Bay, Beef Island, BVI
 
 
Upcoming events
 
March 14
Jazz Showcase at eh College, Lucia Pulido
 
March 14-15
Reverend Raven (and the chain smoking alter boys) play Jolly Roger
 
 
March 15th
Foxys 40th Birthday (for the bar, not Foxy himself!)
 
St Patrick's Day Celebration at the Royal BVI Yacht Club
 
March 21
Fool Moon parties at both ends of the island
 
March 22-23-24
 
 
 
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.com




- gentle breezes
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Tue, 11 Mar 2008 13:46:53 EDT
Slight winds, scattered clouds, we need a sprinkle, but it hasn't happened yet. 80 degrees at 1pm. No snow expected, no storms, just sunshine and small sea swells for now.
 
 
 
I heard from several readers about the book "Grandma Raised The Roof" and apparently this took place in little Maho Bay on St John. The book is apparently available as a collectors edition of about $80 so I guess I will have to wait on reading that one!
 
Also it appears Raffles is taking over Lambert Bay with a fancy resort. From the drawings I saw, it looks like beach access will be very limited or not available to the general public, I hope this is not true!  Shame to live in a place and not be able to use the beach.
 
Martin sent this link which seems to work without the flash player my computer doesn't seem to like much.
 
 
See: "under development"
 
 
Since many small local hotels are already complaining they are no where near 90% capacity this year, due to the Cruise Ship people pollution, how are these new proposed resorts at Smugglers Cove, Beef Island and Lambert Beach supposed to suddenly be profitable?  Will these big resorts kill off our unique individual guest houses and motels?  Time will tell.
 
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.com




- Another Holiday in Paradise
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Mon, 10 Mar 2008 12:22:08 EDT
We have four holidays in the BVI this month, so very little work will be getting done. Even the school kids only have 12 day of school this month. For all BVI holidays see:
 
 
It is 80 degrees at nearly noon, with slight winds in the West from the East, occasionally gusting to upwards of 10 knots. Seas are pretty flat in the channel, no idea what's happening on the north shore, but my crystal ball indicates waves are about chest high with 77 temp water, which seems a bit chilly, but hey, maybe my crystal ball is chilly...
 
Fireball from Beef Island at Boardsailing BVI and  Aragon Studios
Now that's a creative way to get rid of garden clippings and excess flammable garbage a way to warm up the soul if not the body.
 
This weekend was the annual crafts fair out there, sorry I forgot to mention it sooner.  I managed to dash out there at the least minute and buy these beautiful hand made leather sandals from Guyana that are truly a work of art and fit like a glove.
 
You can check out my latest attempts at art designs here. 
 
There is a rare book "I Built it With My Ass"about a woman who built a house in the 50's or 60's on St Thomas and used her donkey for assistance with all the hard labor.  I am still trying to track this book down, but I understand the publishers thought her title offensive, and made her rename it to something like "Granny Raises the Roof".  It should make for fun reading, if anyone knows anything about this book, let me know.   (I swear to Drunk, I am not God!)  oops wrong analogy, (I swear, I didn't make this up!)
 
OK, go ahead, LAUGH all you want.




- Sindy and Wunny! (Sunny and Windy?)
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Sun, 9 Mar 2008 13:44:03 EDT
Gorgeous day in paradise!  80ish degrees, lots going on all weekend everywhere, I wish there were 3 of me!  (My neighbor got really drunk one time and said the next day, he enjoyed meeting  my twin sisters.....)  Now that is truly seeing triple!  I never bothered to correct him.  Let him wonder when they might be back, as I told him they had flown out early that morning before he arose. Tee hee hee...
 
Beautiful winds, breezy skies, I will check the surfing first hand soon. Waves are supposed to be up and running today.
Sunset as seen from Tortola, Yesterday
 
I can't seem to bring this next web site up, due to it needing adobe flash player, which I have downloaded and installed and it still doesn't work. Rumor is yet another development has hit the BVI.
 
Go take a look, maybe you can see it if you have a high tech computer.
 
rafflestortola.com/wj
 
The government has gone mad here, letting too much in the door and over running the beauty. For shame!  We need more beauty, not less.
 
Yep!  It's TRUE!
Early Settlers (Indians and Pirates) used the manchineel sap to make poison for their arrows or blowgun darts.  Leaves were used to poison the water supply of enemies.  Don't stand under the tree during rain either, as you might blister  your skin.
 
And by all means NEVER ever eat the fruit. It resembles a little apple either greenish or greenish-yellow when ripe. Make sure your children do not chew on this fruit either. Terrible things can happen.
 
The tree can often be found on and near coastal beaches in the Caribbean, as it provides an excellent windbreak and its roots help stabilize the sand, thus preventing erosion.
 
Burning the tree may cause blindness if the smoke reaches the eyes.  
 
One should never eat anything grown wild, that you can not positively  identify as safe for consumption, but there are those who forget this when on vacation in paradise.
 
Click here for today's funny! by yours truly...DMM
 




- Neptune Memorial Reef
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Fri, 7 Mar 2008 12:01:38 EST
THURSDAY EVENING:
Dark thirty, at 749pm AST and the rains have started up again. Amazing. All week we have had heavy multiple nightly rains.
 
753pm and the rains stopped.
 
803pm and the rains came back in full force from the west!  Now that is most unusual.
 
812pm and we are down to a few plip plops
 
FRIDAY MORNING:
 
An uneventful daybreak, an hour later when I looked east, I was surprised to only see 2 boats, I guess everyone else is getting a late start.
 
Temps were 78 in the West End at daybreak and climbed 3 degrees by noon.
 
I have been interrupted repeatedly, trying to write this, so now you are FINALLY going to get the report (I hope!)
 
In many parts of the world (but not here!) body clocks will suffer another jolt this weekend as daylight saving time returns and times in half the world, go back to the future by an hour. The annual ritual of springing forward and falling back.  I've always hated Daylight Savings Time (DST) as nothing more than an inconvenient hoax for inflexible masses. So glad we don't bother with that foolishness here. Of course we don't bother much with watches either.
 
I was dropping off some healthy homemade goodies to a friend stuck at work and starving, lucky for me she works on a beach at a bar (with no food) so I hung around to enjoy the view and work on my tan a bit while she dined on her late lunch surprise, I could hear the "Hmm's" and Yums" now and then.  A tourist came up and asked  7 different people (the only ones there) the time, and no one knew or cared.
 
He saved me for last (I guess I looked clueless...) and I said  "It's half past a freckle..."  as I stared at my naked wrist intently. He bemoaned that no one knew the time, so I told him it was 328pm and he looked at me with a sidelong glance and ordered a drink.
 
I said "OH!  It's past noon anyhow, you can certainly drink!"  Then the bartender looked up and  asked if my cell phone told time, and I pulled it out, and well miracles upon miracles, my cell phone does KNOW what time it is, even if I don't!  Learn something new everyday!  Well, it was 336pm and I told him so.  (Gosh, am I eight  minutes off or is the cell phone?) Hmm...
 
Why do people that don't wear watches seem to always fret about the time?  As now, he said he had to go, he had somewhere to meet folks, and he was trying to gulp down his drink and the bartender said "You can take that with you"  and I said "Drive slowly, and that way you won't spill it" so off he dashed.
 
Shame to be on vacation and in a hurry.   We live here and we aren't in a hurry.
 
I don't wear a watch, but I have a clock in my heap of a jeep and one in my home, so if I really truly need to get somewhere on time, I actually can, and without a watch (it messes up my tan lines!)  Now that my cell phone knows the time, I feel overly informed.  I usually have that nearby.  I wonder what else the cell phone knows, that I don't know...
 
 
 
 
 

 
This weekend is a celebration of Bert Kilbride's life at the Saba Rock Resort upstairs bar on Saturday at 3pm. More info here. His family and friends in Florida will also celebrate his life  on Sunday.  Tomorrow is Bert's birthday, as well.
 
Bert Kilbride, Last Pirate of the Caribbean,  is keeping guard at the gates to the Neptune Memorial Reef, a fitting beginning for his afterlife.  See him underwater here.
 
    This weekend is also the Dark & Stormy Race to Anegada and back. Weather is promising some choppy sloppy waves, as it seems to every year, but last year was a record turn out.  I am sure Bert will be celebrated and remembered there, as the Anegada Reef was one his favorite haunts for treasure seeking.
 
    It's a busy weekend all around, there may be more going on, but I am behind on gossip and news.
 
    The Post Office spit forth yet anther Christmas Gift, this time from the Mad Gringo  who calls me part of his flip-flop brigade.  Inside were 5 beautiful sarongs!  Gosh I feel down right spoiled.  How did he KNOW that my sarongs are getting thin, with a few tears, stains, bleach marks, rust marks, you name it, it happens to your clothes here. 
 
    Now I can get all dressed up in my new threads, drive my new/used heap, and no one will recognize me!
 
    The legend of the Heap of a Trusty Rusty Red Jeep AKA Rose Royce the II, ate the age of 17+, has been sold to a pirate who will do with her what he may.  There was a tiny wet tear in my eye, as he drove her off with a devilish grin.  Her engine purred quietly as he got her out of site quickly before I could do anything foolish (like run after her screaming and crying...)
 
    I will have to get used to driving my new heap, a shy little thing, that looks Virginal, what with her new shiny paint job.  She is only 10 years old, (7 years younger!)   but everyone says she looks brand new (maybe they are just being polite!)  She hasn't been out much since I've had her, I was having separation anxiety with the old heap... so she hasn't been driven much.
 
    Indeed several times I've been asked whatever happened to the new jeep and I've replied I only drive her on special occasions...
 
    Anyhow, heaven help her, I will probably drive her forever, she runs great and looks great and she is used and old, easy to repair,  cheap on gas, cheap on insurance,  my kind of heap.
 
    I managed to see the new heap, about 5 minutes after the owner had first put his FOR SALE sign on her,with a teeny tiny phone number, like he didn't really want to sell her at all.  He had  then  promptly left the island for the day.  I called him every hour, all day until I finally tracked him down, and told him to take the sign off, I wanted her.   She was fresh from the paint shop, looking very nice and new, no dents, no rust, everything still attached. Eventually I was able to test her out, check her engine, get a few things fixed and we closed the deal.  I wasn't even shopping for a new heap, my old heap ran fine, but she too was bought on a whim, as I , was the first person to see her, make an offer and grab her 8-9 years ago.
 
    Even my 3rd heap, before these two, same thing, called the guy, got him to promise to show it to me first, and then I fetched the cash and it was a done deal. No one else even got to put their paws on her or the other two I've bought over the years.
 
    I think there must be a heap of a jeep angel that looks out for me!  I am so blessed in the strangest ways...
 
    Shopping for a car here is hard unless you are rich and can afford a brand new one AND afford the 20% duty on car + 20% on the shipping on it. Then your insurance sky rockets and so on. A week later, someone is bound to hit it...
 
    Used ones, you just have to hunt and pounce and grab it if you like it, if it's a good deal, it won't last long.
 
    I never even got to advertise my heap of a jeep #2, for sale, folks have been trying to buy it off of me for years anyhow. Word of mouth spread quickly! Well, one lucky guy has her now and he says he's going to put her back to looking like her old beautiful self again!  I offered him a roll of duct tape to go with her and I topped off the gas tank to full, for good luck.   Nothing like buying a car and having a full tank of gas to run around and enjoy her with!
 
    Lately I am designing Funny Baby T-shirts and Bibs.  Babies can be funny can't they?  Take a peek a boo at them!




- Life is Beautiful
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Thu, 6 Mar 2008 13:26:32 EST
Looking out the porthole:
Picture perfect day after a night of numerous rain squalls. I gave up trying to dry my mop outdoors. It gets half dry, then it pours down rain on it again. I guess it is fully rinsed by now, if not rotten all together.
 
82 f or 28 c degrees.
 
Moderate winds and seas.
 
Surf is up this weekend according to my crystal ball.
 
Organized People Are Just Too White T-Shirt
 
 




- Funny Disasters
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Wed, 5 Mar 2008 12:14:16 EST
Beautiful warm spring like days here. Yesterday we had lots of showers, none today as of 1pm.
 
Nothing like snow or hurricanes on the horizon, even the sea swells are super small. Water temp is about 77 and waves about chest high.
 
 
 
Ever thought about sneezing?  I was taught as a young child to always block  your mouth and nose with a fast hand with a handkerchief or Kleenex,  while sneezing, then try to escape to a restroom and clean up.  Well, some where along the way, folks quit carrying handkerchiefs. Yet growing up my father always had one in his pocket and I had a stack of them with flowers embroidered on the corner and one always in my purse on Sundays, that being the only time a female child carried a purse it seemed.
 
I guess Kleenex took over or something and folks quit carrying a handkerchief in their purse or pocket and even quit carrying Kleenex. So often folks are caught off guarded, sneezing with nothing handy to sneeze into except their hand. Most folks just use their hand, but some folks just loudly sneeze and don't care to cover at all, letting their sneeze land where it may, and heaven help you if you are in the way.
 
I must admit, if I am ALL ALONE, I sneeze into the garbage can if I get to it before getting to a napkin or tissue or paper towel. Sometimes a sneeze can sneak right up on you and all you can do is go with the flow and hope your hand covering your mouth and nose will block any offending "stuff"  that flies out.
 
You just never know what can happen when you are semi-bored at a nice outdoor bar, watching the ocean, watching the people, watching a few surfers on small waves. Nearby was this tourist lady, I had spoke to her briefly, but she seemed to think me suspect (a stranger starting a conversation?)   Anyhow, seeing that she didn't care for idle chit chat with a stranger, I went back to watching the surfers.
 
She was now about 5-6 feet away, but still I could see her. Suddenly she sneezes with this very loud ACHOO!  I mean it was LOUD like she saved up all year for this incredible ear splitting sneeze!  I sort of jumped it was so loud, and I slightly turned as anyone does towards a loud noise, to instinctively see what it is. In that split second as  she opened her mouth to sneeze this incredible sneeze that was so loud as to almost be scary, something large flew out of her mouth at  record speed and I shuddered wondering who would get hit by THAT.  Yuck!  Instead the offending stuff landed about 20 feet away in the sand near a small crowd of people.
 
Well, this being the Caribbean, everything is funny. Even bad news can be funny. I learned that the hard way when I delivered some incredibly bad news and was greeted with hysterical laughter. Maybe it's a cultural  t'ing here to laugh in adversity.
 
The large "stuff" went by so fast, I couldn't even tell WHAT was traveling at that fast rate of speed, but when it landed in the sand with a soft thud and a muffled ker-plunk, we all stared at these nice pink and white dentures, laying in the sand.
 
The small crowd of people burst out laughing, it was like something out of a cartoon. The poor woman, she should have just laughed too.  I started over to fetch her teeth for her, as everyone was just laughing and staring at the teeth, no one was really watching her.  I looked and  she was frozen in space turning several shades of pink and red.  Suddenly she elbowed past me, fetched her teeth angrily out of the sand and ran out of the bar, hopped in a rental car and drove away.
 
I don't think the laughing crowd died down for 20 minutes as by now those that missed it, had been informed and those that saw it were replaying it in their head and gesticulating a demonstration for those that missed it.
 
She could have laughed too, washed them off and stuck around and realized she had 30-40 new friends who thought she was the icing on the cake, but I guess she didn't understand the laughter, it wasn't meant to be mean, it was just something so AWFUL that it was hilarious.
 
Like the time I came upon a car wreck in the ocean.  A new car that was mashed up on all sides, all windows broken no tags on it and three people siting on the sea wall. One was nearly in tears, the other two were laughing themselves silly. I asked if anyone was hurt and did anyone need a cell phone and all I get is all this laughter! 
 
The guy who looked like he had been crying, began laughing and between all this laughter, I came to understand, from  the three of them, in small bits and pieces, that he had bought a NEW car months ago, and today it finally arrived on the freighter. He  didn't insure it or tag it, but took it out for a nice long spin  before he did the dreaded paperwork.  He  hit a pot hole while traveling a wee bit too fast while fiddling  with the new stereo, crashed into the seawall, flipped over his car on all sides, landing upright again minus all his windows. He climbed out of the broken window and waded back to shore and these 2 guys that were walking saw the whole thing, so they had sat down to laugh themselves silly.   No one was injured but his bank account had just taken a severe hit, for sure.
 
************
 
Lonesome for the Virgin Islands?  Get this framed print to decorate your office and home.
It's an incredible picture by NASA, showing the Virgin Islands.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.com




- Wet and Wild Night
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Mon, 3 Mar 2008 05:06:16 EST
6am and still dark. 78 degrees. the third mini-cane has just passed. We've had raging storms throughout the night, each one about 10 minutes long with buckets of rain.
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.com




Delicious ideas to please the pickiest eaters. Watch the video on AOL Living.

- Here In the Land of Fun and Sun
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Sun, 2 Mar 2008 10:33:46 EST
Temperatures are 81f or 27c.
Winds are  brisk
Sunshine meter is at 95%
A great day to spend Sunday at the beach!
 
View From the Spy Glass
Leverick Bay~ Virgin Gorda ~British Virgin Islands
 
Christmas has arrived.
 
At the post office.
 
What fun to start March off with chocolates!  Makes surviving leap year day seem all the worthwhile.
 
A while back, my camera died a sudden unexpected death and Drew of Minnesota graciously has gifted a camera to the Mermaid so that the pictures may continue!  The post office finally delivered it. Of course I have made a real pest of myself the past 4-5-6 weeks, inquiring about my packages.
 
The usual postman was not in, but a nice lady was substituting. She searched and hunted and rearranged her tiny post office and finally found a box for me!  She asked me what was in the box and I said Christmas has arrived!  She laughed and mumbled something like "So Soon?" 
 
*Christmas packages have been known to arrive 6 months late!"
 
I feel like I have my wings back, I am so used to walking with the camera and capturing images. I must get this new fangled one up and running so I can once again capture glimpses of my world.
 
"Walking with" is  local lingo for carrying something with you whether you are walking or not.  For instance I went into the phone company and the lady demanded to see my passport. 
 
I said, "I only came from West End to Road Town!"
 
(Did I cross a dotted line into a foreign country???)
 
She scowled at me and replied "Did ya walk with any Identification?"  Of course I had, but I wonder why didn't she ask for ID instead of demanding a passport. I thought that is why us foreigners were recently issued expensive picture ID's when obtaining our work permits, so we could prove (without our passport in hand) that we were legally entitled to live and breath here.
 
Once when stopped in a traffic check, I realized I had left my drivers license in my purse, which I had left on my boat,  because what I needed what stuffed in my pockets and I wasn't planning to drive anywhere, but a friend had asked me to run them to the store and I had jumped in the heap of a jeep to do so, without thinking this through. I was explaining all this to the policeman, with a big grin plastered on my face, apologizing all the while for my stupid gaffe, when he  barked at me "Next time walk with your drivers license..."
 
I don't know what is wrong with our BVI post offices. The workers are nice, but they don't seem to do much about sorting. Yet incredibly, our post office makes this HUGE profit. Why?  Because our stamps are collectors' items. The only place in the world where British stamps are printed and sold in US Dollars. Also the designs change constantly so we have gorgeous stamps. Some are a work of art! 
 
Tourists  and philatelists flock to the post office to buy up  our stamps they are never going to use, hence the huge profit the post office brags about. I don't know why that profit isn't used to hire more sorters and buy a truck. It seems some ancient broken down 3 legged donkey must deliver the mail from one end to the other, as the phone bill generally takes 3-4 weeks to go 12 miles and by then it was due 2 weeks ago.
 
Life in the islands.
 
The West End post office is tiny.  Maybe 10 by 4 feet total and it is crammed full of boxes, bags, and envelopes. There is a stack of tiny cubicles labeled A-Z and that is where the envelopes are sorted. So they have to pick up a whole stack of letters, then carefully go through them, looking for the ones you might want.
 
Packages are stacked all over the place, on top of the cubicles, under the desk, on the counter and in the corner, on the floor,  in  no particular order. The post mistress had to pick up each and every package to determine if any were for me. At one point she took my phone numbers so she could call me if she ever found something. About the time we were both going to give up, she found MY BOX.
 
This was a relief because I like many others, simply park illegally to  pick up my mail. The spot is marked off as being illegal, but everyone going to the post office uses it. If they marked it for postal use, then some nut would park on it and take off on a ferry for 3 days. So it seems to work to mark it illegally and then the postal customers who are just there for a few minutes have a place to park. I've not seen anyone write tickets for using that spot. Yet.
 
I've been extremely lucky not to have received any tickets ever on Tortola. I have been yelled out a few times by those in authority who wanted to lecture me loudly while I grinned like a fool and admitted I was wrong and promised better next time.
 
My legendary trusty rusty heap of a jeep is up for sale and it saddens me to see people look at her with such gleeful lusty eyes.  I've also had to put up with a few ridiculous offers and much abuse.
 
Local men aren't prepared to deal with a woman who knows a bit about mechanics. They want to convince me the heap is going to self destruct in the next 24 hours, if I don't hand it over for some ridiculous sum they are proffering.
 
I recently had to calm down a lady friend of mine who was selling her car, as she had been through all the opportunists who had convinced her that her car wasn't even safe to drive anymore and was worth practically nothing and she would be indeed lucky if they bought it at all. I assured her to hold her ground and a few days later she did get a proper price for her vehicle.
 
These guys don't stand a chance with me. Apparently we have opportunists who call about every car for sale. If a woman is selling it, they dash out and prevail upon her that  it is a piece of junk, a time bomb ready to explode and try to steal a bargain.  (Hey maybe I should try this technique...)
 
But, back in the dark ages, when I young and lonesome, I worked all day and went home at night to loneliness.
 
One day in the paper, I saw the local college had some interesting night courses including Auto Mechanics for Women Only.
 
Yep, a class full of women, taught by a male comedian. He was actually an excellent instructor. He thought, if the class was for women only, that females would  feel more comfortable giving mechanics a try. I had by this short time in my life, been robbed by quite a few mechanics over my used heaps that I drove and there were no men in my family mechanically inclined to prevent this, so I was literally a fish out of water.
 
Often I had to work late, so my jeans and sweat shirt were in my car. I cracked up the instructor, on my second night at school, by showing up 2 minutes late, dashing into the shop in high heels, designer nylons, a business suit and a silk blouse with my "mechanic" clothes in a paper sack, inquiring about a quick place to change. I had forgotten to bring shoes and the shop was a bit chilly, so I had to embarrassingly click clack around in my heels that 2nd night. After that, a spare pare of shoes lived in my car until I finished the course.
 
I showed up for every class, though each week attendance shrunk as more women dropped out. This enabled the instructor to speed up the course and teach us even more than he planned on to start with. We learned to work on our currently owned cars, though 2 enterprising women came to class each week without a car. They were struggling to make ends meet and thought if they learned to work on cars, they could eventually buy a cheap heap and keep it running. 
 
I don't much care for auto mechanics, but it gave me great knowledge and confidence.  I did so well, the instructor made a plea for me to enroll in the regular mechanics school where he was proud to have already snagged 2 other women, who were pursuing auto mechanics as a career. I already had a well paying career at the time, I was just lonesome and tired of being ripped off; my 2  main reasons for taking the course.
 
Years later when I bought a hurricane ravaged sailboat and eventually put a new diesel engine in her, I wasn't afraid to tackle my own maintenance and save myself thousands of dollars over the years I owned my boat. I simply mail ordered Nigel Calder's Boatowner's Mechanical and Electrical Manual  and went from there. 
 
At the time it was his first book ever, by now he has revised that one several times and put out a long list of others.  (If you own a boat this is a MUST HAVE unless you are filthy rich with very deep pockets, in that case, ignore my unsolicited advice.)  Nigel is able to somehow translate the technical into layman's terms and the schematics, drawing and pictures are a huge bonus. Even I could understand most of it, and if you don't well, it will cure insomnia, as many mornings, I woke up in my bunk, with my nose still stuck in Nigel's book. 
 
Ditto for my small outboard, I learned the basics of keeping it running and repaired, so that  it never saw a mechanic in the 10+ years I drove the exact same outboard in my dinghy.  I sold that outboard and heard recently that is was STILL running!  Amazing. It must have 15+ years on it now.
 
Well, it's time to go play in the sunshine.
 
Today's Funny Sign!  (But it is SO true in the islands, mon!)
 
Warm and Silly Regards,
DearMissMermaid.com




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- (no subject)
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Sat, 1 Mar 2008 11:00:32 EST
Gorgeous blue skies, moderate winds, frisky seas.  82 degrees at
1130am. 
 
 
Achoo!  Achoo! Achoo!  Back to *achoo!* bed for me, I have been  *achoo!* sneezing since last *achoo!* night. *Sniffle*  *Snort*
 
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.com




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- Leap Year Day had leapt upon us!
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Fri, 29 Feb 2008 13:45:58 EST
Lovely typical day in the Caribbean today. Stiff winds, lotsa of sunshine, scattered clouds. A perfect day for outdoor activities.
 
I managed to send out my report yesterday without getting approval from my spell heckler. I apologize, if you found it hard to read and if you found it comical, oh well!
 
I know what I want to write, just that this keyboard baffles me. Always has, no matter how hard I try to learn to perfect it, something doesn't click.
 
Today is leap year day and I am trying to LAY LOW and go nowhere and be VERY careful.
 
Back in the dark ages, Leap year day, February 29th, was the worst day of my life. It started off with a horrendous car wreck in the morning fog, a trip to the emergency room, an escape from the hospital.  Late that afternoon, while I and my friend, were innocent passengers in a car that was going to be loaned to me, once the driver deposited himself at his girlfriend's house, the police pulled us over, arrested us all and found the driver's  handgun under the seat (We knew nothing about this!).  So off to jail we all go now.
 
I am claustrophobic, so being locked up, in tiny places is not my cup of tea. Turns out the handgun was legal, but the driver was not, so off to jail he went. I was detained alone, and very scared, while they questioned the injuries to my face and body,  wanting to know if anyone had beat me up (nope, just an early morning car wreck in the fog, did all this to my body and I had declined to remain in the hospital, where I was told to stay).  
 
Amazingly, we were turned loose, there being no laws we had broken, and they even gave us  the owner's car and the handgun, which we locked in the trunk. Our friend remained behind bars.  We found out later, he had appealed to them quite earnestly, to let us go, we had done nothing except be in "bad company".  He was trying to help us out by loaning us one of his many cars. 
 
We drove to our remote country home and found it  burning down just before midnight, taking all my pets with it as well. We opened the front door and a blast of heat tossed us backwards like rag dolls, but not before I caught a glimpse of my pets, who looked to be innocently sleeping, on the living room rug, apparently  overcome by smoke inhalation in their sleep.  The day before our furnace had been repaired and we had complained it still didn't work right. It was the fire culprit.
 
As a coup de grâce, moments later, the propane tanks blew up, sending pieces of my home spectacularly high up into the sky, and finally depositing fiery bits of it, over 2 miles away and setting someone else's cornfield on fire. The volunteer fire department didn't volunteer to help with our home,  but they did put the cornfield fire out.  A load of strangers turned out to watch us suffer in our grief.
 
It was a wild day, and even wilder night.  Ever since then when Leap Year Day rolls around, I keep a low profile and stay home with my loved ones.  I pray for my lost pets and feel sorry for them.  I thank the angels that spared me. It's not until after midnight, after leap year day has passed, that I feel safe again.  For the next four years, I try to forget that day ever happened. Just a distant memory that is tucked far far away.
 
Pictures courtesy of Brent  aka Galley Slave




- Drizzly
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2008 09:28:35 EST
Drizzly weather, cloudy skies, days like this are rare. It's only 830am, so it may clear up later.
 
79 degrees, slight winds, moderate seas. Last night just after sunset, the winds picked up to 20-24 knots, it was funny, not much wind all day and at night it was blowing steady.  No fair for the sailors, but great cuddly weather if you are sleeping aboard.
 
I had the wildest trip yesterday. When I get over it, I will tell you about it. *tee hee hee*
 
One thing I learned, is stick to my instincts. There have been about 4 times in my life when I jumped ship before a scheduled departure. If my gut doesn't want to go, then I don't.  This has saved me a great deal of indeonveniece.
 
Like the time I was in St Petersburg, Florida, set to sail a replica of a Spanish Galleon to the Virgin Islands. I think the game plan was to bring it here and do pirate cruises.
 
I worked aboard several weeks.  We went out with the Coast Guard for inspection, who approved the ship, after significant modifications had been made. It gave me no comfort. My gut said "Don't go."
 
So I jumped ship. Somehow, I left behind a pile of clothes, they were in the dirty pile, and I forget now whether I overlooked them or just no longer cared, and lightened my load. The captain had already told me I could NOT leave the ship when I expressed my concerns that I didn't think the ship was seaworthy for the voyage.
 
So, at 4am, I woke up and just KNEW it was time to get off.  I packed my bag and tiptoed down the gangway and walked for miles until daybreak. I found a hotel, checked in, then called the crew agency.  I had another job on a new boat in a few days.
 
Eventually that boat sailed with me as crew from Florida to the Virgin islands.  I didn't see the Spanish Galleon anywhere. I asked around and no one knew a thing about her. Very odd.
 
A few more months go by and I run into  a crew member from the Galleon. So we chat and I asked him how their trip down was.   He said it was great the first day, the second day was troublesome ad the their day the boat sank, a few day later the crew was rescued  in their life boat.
 
Oh mY godda, It's Anagada beach
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.com




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- Bougainvillea
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2008 07:43:31 EST
Lovely day here, bright sunshine, bougainvillea in bloom everywhere in brilliant pinks.  We had rans off and on yesterday.
 
Still no camera at the post office!  Soon come, soon come, they say.
 
*sigh*
 
Patches of clouds dot the skies but sem too high up to give us much rain, maybe a tiny squall now and then might come your way.
 
I am setting sail for St John.
 
Why work, when you can sail?
White Bay Harbor, Jost Van Dyke
 
 
Coming to the islands?  Check out my new beach bag design!  If you live on a boat, it's also great for hauling ice or groceries or laundry.
Tote Bag
 
 
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.com




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- Cow Wreck
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008 07:21:24 EST
All is quiet, except the wind is ruslin thorugh the bougainvillea.  Sunrise is just over the horizon, like an actor backstage, awaitng his cue, any moment the sun will make a bashful appearance, then slowly gain confidwencse and within 12 minutes the landscape emerges from total darkness to sunshine brilliance. A new day has dawned in the Caribbean, greeted by one howling dog and a dozen crowing roosters. 
 
It is now 79 derees, partly cloudy with a small chance of scattered short shower activity.
 
A gorgeous day to go sailing. If you don't own a boat, then step aboard the catamaran MYSTIQUE sailing out of West End Monday- Satuday on day trips around various points in the islands. Snorkel gear is included so you can sightsee beneath the ocean as well as above. Single-use underwater cameras (from $10.99) can capture surprisingly good photos of the neighborhood fish.
 
If you are lucky, you might spot a sanddollar, turtle or a mermaid.  One of Mystiue's options is to sail to Sandy Spit. For you old timers, it's like Gilligan's Island.  THere is a trail that goes around the island and takes you from lush tropical foliage to the arid side complete with cactus and cliffs. The wind is quite brisk along the cliffs, so be careful.  Of course the beach is legendary as is the snorkeling. 
 
As I write this, I become aware of a gentle crunching and munching by my side. Funny, I fed the cats an hour ago, their favorite Fancy Seafood Feast, and they licked the bowl clean, per my strict orders (cats are starving somewhere, clean your plate boyz) I look down at the floor and kitty has brouht home fresh fowl for his breakfast. Another cat comes over to have a look-see and is told with a low growl, that he is inspecting too closely. He steps back, with a jealous look on his face, and gives me an intense stare,  as if to say, "Did you give that to him and forget me?"
Check out this sand pattern made from the tide changes.
Today's funny sign, taken on Anegada by Brent
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.com




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- Unique Techniques
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2008 07:08:17 EST
Ooops, I seemed to have missed a few days. I've had an eye problem and can't spend much time on the computer, so the paying work took precedence. I developed an eye infection, which is odd, given then I am almost compulsive about washing my hands and not touching my eyes. The medicated eye drops to clear it up, make my vision blurry and my eyes tired.  I hope this will just all go away, I am tired of it already, but was told it could take 2-4 weeks to clear up. I was also told to wash my eyelashes several times a day with baby shampoo. Now that is a strange order. Does washing the eyelashes wash out the medicine?
 
But today, is just another gorgeous day in paradise. It feels wonderful to be alive, the sun is out, the winds are moderate and the seas are fairly calm. The surfers have not been too happy lately.
 
However, Saturday, one ambitious surfer was doing an odd routine. He was dressed in shorts and T-shirt, that were dry, standing on his board and paddling out with one long oar to the small breakers.  Then when a wave came by, and they were tiny, he would paddle into position and manage to surf down it laterally quite a bit. Then he would turn around and paddle back out with the one paddle and position for the next wave.
 
Several of us were on shore, studying this odd technique, it seemed to be working, when a medium wave finally approached, but he wasn't quite there yet. He tried to whip his board around into position, and caught the wave the wrong way. Up until now, he had managed to keep his clothes totally dry.
 
This wave sent him catapulting head over heals into the water, with board and paddle taking off in opposite directions. A loud groan from the spectators was heard.  Poor guy.  But he got back up, found his oar and continued with his unique technique of  surfing.
 
A few more waves, he caught and surfed, then  he went ashore.  Next a child came out on the same surfboard, he was laying down and paddling it out. He seemed to be holding something at his side and something in his mouth. We wondered what his technique was going to be. He paddled right past the breakers and into a calmer spot. Then he sat up, pulled up a fishing pole and cast a line!  He drifted with the seas and fished from his surf board. I guess it was a day of strange techniques all around.
Muzette caught this sunset from Cane Garden Bay Beach.
 
 
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.com




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- We be Jammin'
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Fri, 22 Feb 2008 11:14:59 EST
Beef Island airport is reporting 75 degrees and 15 knot ESE winds.
West End reports 80 degrees and 15-20 knot Easterly winds
Nanny Cay reports 9 knot NE winds
Leverick Bay reports 74 degrees and 18 mph SSW winds.
Weather Underground reports from Beef Island, VG (VG?  huh?) with 80 degrees and 13 mph ESE winds.
 
WeatherBVI.com reports that all their broken links are repaired and new links have been added.
 
Muzette is limin' at a secret location in the BVI and shares this picture of peace in paradise:
 
    Just a wonderful day in paradise.
 
    Last night I went to hear Quito play solo at Quito's Gazebo and enjoyed a lovely birthday party. The birthday girl had invited women only, but word got out quickly that two dozen women had invaded Quito's so the men soon flocked there and I believe the rest of the beach may have had a slower night, as the place was soon quite crowded.  The food at Quito's was terrific and came out surprisingly fast, given that they were packed solid. Well, fast by island terms... (same day service!)
    I wish I knew our waiter's name, he handled our huge table all on his own, and never once seemed flapped, or overwhelmed. Cool as a cucumber you might say and he got everyone's food right where it belonged without the usual confusion some wait staff show when delivering food.
    Back 15~20 or so years ago, Cane Garden Bay  was pretty tame during the day. I used to anchor my 30' sailboat right in front of Quito's about where the end of his dinghy dock is now. The beach on a moderate day,  only had 20-50 people on it, and we considered it crowded. *giggle* If you've seen Cane Garden Bay Beach lately, 2-50 would only happen in the off season on a very slow day.
    But back in those days, Quito was often bartending  at his bar, and when it was slack, we would prop up our barefeet and chit chat.  We'd discuss his art work, mostly murals,  that used to grace the walls of the original shack and his music and talk about when his first album might finally come out.  It did arrive a year or two later on cassette before CD's stormed the world. 
    One autumn, just before our busy season was to start a big huge north swell swept into Cane Garden Bay and swept away Quitos bar!  I was busy working down island on a large yacht, and I heard the sad news. Incredibly when I made my way back to the BVI, Quito had rebuilt a new place in six weeks. I think that record still holds as the fastest building ever built on Tortola. It should be in Guinness Book of Records, except that the building has since been replaced again, as Quito later expanded.
    Two of my kitties, turned  7 years old on Valentines Day.  They celebrated with tuna and catnip, then spent their evening out hunting and playing, running amuck in the neighborhood.  They view the fence as something to keep others out, not to keep them in, as they have also discovered the gate and that apparently not many cats live around here, so they are expanding their hunting grounds.  This morning they left a tasty lizard on my welcome mat. I had just tossed him into a little grave when company arrived. Whew. Hate that when friends come over and there is fresh cat-kill on the welcome mat. Makes you feel real welcome...
    The Blues Disciples play tonight and tomorrow at Jolly Roger in West End. It's the only time this year they will play on Tortola.
    I just checked my calendar, my birthday is April 11th on a Friday.  Hmm.  Maybe I'll actually do something to celebrate it this year. Last year I was going to cook for me and my artist friend who shares the same birthday, but she became ill and couldn't make it at the last minute, so it was about 3 weeks before we got around to finally having our birthday celebration and dinner party.
 
T'ings run late in de islands, mon, just like this report!  
  
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.com




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- the day after
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Thu, 21 Feb 2008 17:39:32 EST
Just a wonderful beautiful morning-after the full moon. The eclipse was awesome, nice colors, nice show!
 
WInds are moderate, sun is out, temps are 27c, 81f, seas are shimmery.
 
At 6pm yesterday, my body said "Enough!" and put me to sleep.  Hours later, I woke up and ran out to look at the eclipse, then began checking it off and on. I thought about dragging a lounge chair down to the patio and just lay there staring at the lunar eclipse. I was afraid it might put me back to sleep, then I thought what the heck, might as well try it out. So I went up go fetch the lounge chair and before I had it moved 3 inches, the heavens opened up and the skies poured forth. So that idea was scrapped.
 
I jut kept dashing in and out all night watching the eclipse. All this running around had me wide awake by midnight, so I decided to go hit a Fool Moon party and make a cameo appearance.
 
It was pretty crowded, people I knew were all huggy, kissy and welcoming. I guess the 'shroom tea had made them awfully happy. There were more cars than people around, so I suspect many were hanging out down the beach or in the bushes or who knows where. A fool moon makes people do funny things.
 
Then the hit parade started. I call it the hit parade because the men started hitting on me left and right.  The flirting was in full force. It made me smile, it made me laugh. So I entertained a few interviews,  most of them really comical. I told a few guys they needed to improve upon their pickup lines, if they truly wanted a date. This "Hey!  Come here!"  isn't much of a pickup line!  Nor is grabbing a stranger and trying to force her off into the dark corner a good pickup technique either. Sometimes I think I should offer a "How to pickup women" seminar for some of these guys... some really need some help.
 
One guy came up and said "I been watching you all night, I want to know where you live and your phone number now."
 
I had only been there 5 minutes, so doubtful he had seen me "all night" and two, he didn't bother with his name nor ask my name and three he is nuts if he thinks I am giving out my address and phone to some stranger who can't be bothered with names and tells a whopper of a lie to start with.  Amazing!  No wonder he was desperate at this late hour, his technique was just way off.




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- Eclipse
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Wed, 20 Feb 2008 23:12:29 EST
I have been checking the eclipse every few minutes. At 940 it was still white, at 1020 it was obscured by clouds, at 1110pm it was bright orange and red on one half and other half white.
 
At midnight (all times are Atlantic Standard) there is a tiny Cheshire cat smile and rest of the moon is bright orange and red.
 
My camera is "in the mail" so no pic yet, so sorry!  I saw the postman today and he had bills for me but no packages. He didn't recognize me at first. Duh. I was all dressed up. Yep, it's ME, I do and can clean up now and then and look presentable...
 
Sometimes I dash down to the nearby post office, looking like a wild mermaid with a sarong thrown on with hair flying every which way, riding in my trusty rusty heap of a jeep.  But today, I was in a dress, my hair reigned in and neatly coifed, I drove up in my Sunday only jeep (even though it wasn't Sunday) and it doesn't have ANY rust.  (Imagine that!)  So naturally, he didn't know who the heck I was at first...
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.com




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- Total eclipse of the moon due tonight
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Wed, 20 Feb 2008 12:19:38 EST
Total eclipse of the moon due tonight at:
 
9:43 AM AST, February 20, 2008
 
You can howl at the moon. You can believe in all sorts of full-moon folklore -- from the advent of werewolves to a corruption of the tides.
 
But if you want to see the full moon aglow in a dramatic range of colors -- a shift that could be anything from bright orange to blood red to dark brown or dark gray -- then look up in the sky starting at 9:43 p.m. Wednesday.
 
Starting then and lasting for the next three hours and 26 minutes you'll be able to watch the complete saga of the last visible total eclipse of the moon in North America until 2010, according to officials at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
 
A lunar eclipse can only occur at full moon, NASA scientists said. And it can only occur if the moon passes through a portion of the Earth's shadow.
 
A full lunar eclipse occurs when, according to the official NASA Web site "Eclipse Home Page," the entire full moon is "completely immersed" in the Earth's shadow. The total phase of eclipse is called "totality," according to NASA.
 
Different lunar eclipses can color the moon different colors, officials said. This depends on atmospheric conditions and, according to NASA, "the color and brightness of the totally eclipsed moon can vary considerably from one eclipse to another." The NASA Web page explains that dark eclipses are often the result of volcanic dust in the atmosphere. But since there has been no recent volcanic activity, scientists expect the Wednesday-night eclipse to be a "vivid red or orange" in the total phase.
 
The eclipse sequence will begin with a partial eclipse starting at 9:43 p.m. (Atlantic Standard) and will end at 1:09 a.m. Thursday.
 
The total eclipse of the moon will occur at 11:01 p.m. and last until 11:51 p.m., NASA said.
 
Mid-eclipse is expected at 11:26 p.m.
 
Scientists said the this lunar eclipse is "well-placed" for viewers in North America. The eclipse will not be observable in eastern Asia or Australia.
 
Unlike solar eclipses, NASA scientists remind would-be viewers that lunar eclipses are "completely safe" to watch.
 
"Protective filters are not necessary," according to NASA, "and neither is a telescope." However, while completely visible with the naked eye, scientists suggest binoculars will enhance the view.
 

 
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.com




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- Full Moon and Fool Moon Parties
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Wed, 20 Feb 2008 08:55:41 EST
Another magnificent day has greeted us in the BVI. The sun is out, the winds are brisk, the sky is beautiful, no rains yet, and none more than 3 minutes predicted. The nights are cool and the moon is very bright as today is the Full Moon!
 
We have had some sad days here. A man is missing from Long Bay for nearly a month now, just went out walking and never came back.   He doesn't swim, so it's speculated he ended up in the water and in trouble.
 
Worldwide, learning to swim should be taught at about the same age we teach reading, though it's been proven time and again that babies can be taught to swim before they learn to walk.
 
Swimming has always been treated as an optional skill, but the world is full of water.  Why anyone would go through life not swimming is sad. Even being a terrible swimmer, could save your life, and is better than panicking and sinking. Very sad.
 
Then recently, we had a woman gunned down on her balcony. She appears to have been a  pillar of the community with a family at home, good job, strong church ties, why would anyone gun her down?
 
Next we have two fishermen missing, one found dead the other not found at all, though his capsized boat was found. He went out in very rough weather to fish, no one knows if he had lifesaving equipment on board or not. Very sad.
 
The other fisherman was on a different boat with friends and dove over and didn't resurface, apparently tangling up in his fishing net.  His body was recovered by his friends. Even sadder.
 
On New Years Even we had a former policemen, turned inmate at the prison, hang himself.  I can only imagine that life for a former policeman in prison, could not be good at any rate.
 
So our funeral homes have been very busy since the new year with not only death by old age and disease but deaths by misadventure, accident, and suicide.
 
Life is supposed to be easy in the islands, but as more folks flock to the islands and urge us to speed up instead of being laid back, life changes.  I've seen the recent sharp cost of living increases in food and rents and gas, cause many a lot of stress as employers seem unwilling to hand out raises to go along with the rising costs of living.
 
Now that our government has lied to us repeatedly about the cruise ships, we find ourselves "people polluted" some days by too many ships crowding our ports.
 
I love the BVI, but I never thought in my wildest dreams it would become this busy this quick.
 
It must have happened while I was sleeping.
 
But still, the beauty here is spectacular, and something to behold while we can.  The weather is near perfect year round, so what more could you want. A little shelter, a sarong and a bit of food.  That's all you really need here.
 
Here is another great picture from Muzette. This time she is limin' on Devils Bay Beach in Virgin Gorda, looking for mermaids.
 
I don't know the exact history of the name of this bay, but I suspect from a seafarer's point of view, this bay seemed picturesque, yet due to the boulders, one is unable to anchor in it, though the beauty of it is so tempting, hence the name.
 
By the way, we have classified ads online now in the BVI. Click here.
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.com




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- View from the Hammock
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Tue, 19 Feb 2008 08:19:07 EST
Another gorgeous day in paradise. A few minutes ago it rained on half my home. Yep, the cloud couldn't make up it's mind so it rained on half my property, leaving the other half dry.  Very odd.
 
It's 78 degrees, this morning, about  4 degrees warmer than the night. I have on my fuzzy slippers to keep warm.  I slept with the cat, holding on to his furry body to keep my hands from getting cold. At least the little begger is good for something besides asking to be fed (he asks everyday! Talk about spoiled...)
 
Brrrrr. 
 
Winter is indeed finally here. The overhead fans are at a standstill, no need for the electric wind these days.
 
The construction crew was pounding away at 7 am as usual, but waited until 8 am to start their super noisy equipment.
 
My camera is in the mail somewhere on it's way to me, but Muzette  is sharing her view from the hammock  with us. (Thanks Muzette!)  Now doesn't this picture make you want to book a vacation and come on down here right now? 
 
Muzette had the right idea, she be limin' mon.
Picture taken on Jost Van Dyke, with Tortola in the background.
 
The Hammock is from Pawley's Island,SC,  the best hammock ever made. Designed by on old seafarer too. The comfort is superb.  Every beach and garden needs a hammock like this. I know, I used to own one, and I am saving up to buy another one.
 
The BVI MusicFest has updated their website for 2008.  This year's dates are May 23, 24, 25.
 
Oh and the Fool Moon parties are on the 20th this month, um, well, I guess that is tomorrow!  Some folks will be late for work on Thursday...
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.com




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- Monday Morning
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2008 08:03:51 EST
Brrrrr, down in the low 70's last night and that is at nearly sea level, those in the mountains must have been really cold.  Only 78 at 830am this morning. Is winter FINALLY here?
 
I don't think we will get any snow this year, not at this rate anyhow. But the sea temps are cool and refreshing, so swim fast! 
 
The Sweethearts Regatta was over the weekend, of course my camera hasn't come in the mail yet, but I had a ringside seat of the beautiful boats sailing by. So I drew you a picture:
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~|\__~~~~~~/|\__~~~~~(|_|\~~~~~|\_~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~/\_~~~~~~~(\_~~~~~((\__~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(\_~~~~~
 
OK.
 
Go ahead.
 
Laugh.
 
We can expect sunny days and brisk winds, a bit of a north swell, so beware of the north shore anchorages. The haze is a bit thick, sunsets are continuing to be spectacular.
 
Look at the Sahara Air Dust headed our way. This is incredible and can be mostly blamed on SUV's.  People have bought them to run around the desert and it disturbs the natural lay of the land, stirs up the dust and sends it on over to us. Neat huh?  So what is at the bottom of that desert?  Rock?  One wonders, once it all blows over here!
 
Going abck through my picture archives, I came acorss this fence:
Notice, it is built of chain link, barbed wire, iron with fleur de lis,  wooden pickets, wooden stakes,  and chicken wire plus a concrete base thrown in for variation.   Makes ya wonder...
 
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.com




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- no storms
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Sat, 16 Feb 2008 07:40:20 EST
I woke up at dark thirty after a startling dream that someone had called me and said a big storm was on the way. I jumped up and starting scrolling through the various reports at WeatherBVI.com to see if this was true. Then I checked my phone, and no one had called, it was all just a dream.
 
The usual morning shower dumped on us, and it looks a bit overcast and that is making me sleepy again.
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.com




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- Argh Mateys!
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Fri, 15 Feb 2008 10:42:31 EST
A great day in paradise, a bit rough on the north side, but perfect sailing condition in the channel. We had a big dark cloud looming over us all morning, it has shifted slightly but not dumped any rains on us yet.
 
I heard a hilarious one the other day about a ferry getting underway from St Thomas to West End, BVI. Four very drunk golfers clamored aboard, dragging their golf clubs with them. In their drunkenness they kept bumping into a child,  threatening to bury him under their clubs as they lost control of their odd cargo. The mother was none to happy and admonished the drunks to stow their golf clubs and stop banging them into her child and if they couldn't do that, then  she would toss them overboard.
 
She was reeling from the bad breath of a certain golfer who went on to claim his clubs were worth thousands of dollars and they were here in the islands, hitting a different golf course on a different island every day.
 
Now there are no golf courses on Tortola save for some putt and pitch at Long Bay, but rumors abound that some massive resort with a golf course is going up at Beef Island, even though the vast majority of BVI residents are against it. 
 
But since when did BVI government ever listen to us anyhow?
 
Mainly the thought of all that grass and all those chemicals and all that wasted water to grow that grass (grass doesn't like to grow in the BVI!) and the thought of all those chemicals killing off the fish and so on. If our small charming hotels and guest houses are struggling to keep decent  occupancy as it is, what will a massive resort do?  Put them out of business for good?  Where's the charm in that?
 
The drunks were way out of control and with their bad breath asking for directions to the golf course on Tortola. So one lady volunteered they should go to Beef Island. Now that is one very expensive taxi ride from West End, no doubt.
 
Even though there is no golf course there, the ferry riders, picked up on the cue, and convinced the guys that is where they should go golfing next. (At least that gets the belligerent drunks out of West End!)
 
I would have liked to have been a lizard on a log when they arrived at Beef island, looking for the golf course and found nothing but mud ruts and a beach with artists, water sports, eat and a guest house...
 
 
 
82 degrees, very odd for February, I hope this warmish winter means we will have a coolish summer!
 
 
Saba Rock, BVI, 38 years ago when Bert was building his home there. Picture courtesy of (pirated from!) BertKilbride.com
 
A celebration of Bert Kilbride's life, our BVI National Treasure, who passed away January 8th,  will be remembered March 8th in the BVI at Saba Rock, and March 9th in Florida. Click here for details on both. Come share your Bert stories and memories of this Last Caribbean Pirate.
 
Bert would have been 94 on March 8th. 
Bert Kilbride in 1981
 
 
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.com




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- Siesta
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2008 01:50:52 EST
It's now 2am. I was up this morning before daybreak and began writing the weather report, but then I fell asleep at my desk, so I stumbled  back to bed. When I got up, I went straight to work, and didn't get around to finishing the weather report.
 
I've had this cold off and on for months it seems. One week I am fine, the next week it is back again. Yuck.  I wake up at night with a stuffy nose and can't sleep until I clear it up.
 
The north shore was pretty rough today, but the surfing was good.  I ran into a barge crew member who had sailed roundtrip from Beef Island to Jost Van Dyke and he was looking pretty green and pronounced the sail as pretty rough going.
 
The jackhammer didn't start today until past 9am, (is my neighbor reading this too?)  Even the rooster slept late!
 
The winds have been strong and whipping up into short squalls. I was caught in one yesterday, I stopped by all the bank machines in Road Town and could not coax a dollar out of any of them.  At Nanny Cay, I found cash, so I stopped in for a cold drink and to chat with a friend.
 
A minute later, the winds whipped up and a squall passed with heavy pounding rains. I was grateful I had stopped, as had I missed Nanny Cay, I would have been out driving in that mess at 10mph, never a fun treat. I've seen it rain so hard here, that my wipers can't keep up and I end up creeping down the road. I don't like to drive by the cliffs when it is raining hard, sometimes boulders get dislodged and tumble down to the road below.  I've had my near misses, so I am a tad nervous in that area.
 
The boulder area is also where the lady ghost is sometimes seen late at night. I came across another one car accident there, early one morning recently. The driver was gone and I wanted to ask him/her if they saw the ghost before they wrecked and what time they wrecked and so on. Many one car wrecks at night there are blamed on the lady ghost.
 
I have met her twice. Well sort of.  Before I knew she was a ghost. I thought she was a damsel in distress, there being no houses or businesses in that desolate area.  Late one night I was flying down the road, when she stepped out in front of my car. I slammed on brakes and stopped to offer her a ride. Imagine my surprise, when I couldn't find a soul around. I drove off very puzzled.
 
I imagined her lover had been mean and tossed her out o his car,  in the middle of nowhere, and I was going to pick her up and get her home safely. I couldn't figure out WHERE she went, as there are cliffs on one side and sea shore on the other. I called and called, "Hello!  Do you need a ride home?" and couldn't see her anywhere nor did she reply.
 
A few nights later, same thing happened. It was past 1230am and a lady steps out in front of my car. I slam on brakes to avoid hitting her, then stop to offer her a ride, and she is nowhere around. Again. This time, I stayed much longer, in case she was super shy. But I was wondering, why in the same place, on two nights in the same week?
 
I was telling someone about this phenomenon, when they said, "Oh, that's just that ghost."
 
I found out from asking around, that is why we have so many one car wrecks in that area. One guy reported to me, that he drove right through her and didn't stop, he had heard of her, and figured he wasn't sticking around to offer her a ride. Well, he claims, he went on down the highway, and looked in his rear view mirror and there she was, sitting in his back seat!  At that point he did wreck his car (and his pants too!)
 
So apparently, she likes for folks to stop, even though she vanishes when you do. But if you don't stop, then she hops in your back seat as you fly by.
 
Mainly I just don't drive by there after midnight anymore.
 
Strong winds, nice surf and beautiful days are showing up on my crystal ball.
Pest Patrol Siesta
 
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.com




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- Cerulean Rules
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2008 09:24:17 EST
Dawn brought on the most spectacular colors and hues, an incredible start to an ordinary day.  I was mesmerized, almost hypnotized by the unfolding dawn of a new error...
 
I was sure it was Wednesday.  Some one had promised me something by Monday, so I called them up and said, "Where is such and such you promised Monday?  It's Wednesday already!"
 
They calmly informed me it was Tuesday. I secretly checked my computer, and YUP, it's Tuesday.
 
Another typical Caribbean winter day with moderate breezes, temperate temperatures, modest waves and loads of sunshine against a cerulean sky.
 
The key limes have gotten ahead of me, turning bright yellow, to indicate they are fully ripe, so I have hand squeezed a basket full and stored the juice in the fridge. My latest favorite concoction is iced tea made with green tea, cinnamon tea and lime juice. It's tasty and refreshing.   Of all the various lemon and lime squeezers and gadgets I have tried, this simple wooden one, does the best job and doesn't leave one drop of lime juice behind.
 
My neighbor must be well!  The jack hammer started at 718am this morning. I almost felt like shouting out "Hey, you're an hour and 18 minutes late for work! We just MISS that 6am jackhammering!"  By 8am he was through with the jackhammer and now it's just nice quiet work. 
 
Duh.
 
I had been up since 4am anyhow. I woke up with a stuffy nose, and I can't sleep with that, so I decided to start working. A few hours later, I was getting tired and contemplating a one hour trip back to bed, when the jackhammer started.
 
*sigh* 
 
So, instead I just made coffee and kept plunking away. Now I am wide awake on caffeine, he is doing nice quiet work on his house. Grrrrrrr..
 
So I wonder, WHY can't he jackhammer between 930 and  430pm, when most of the neighborhood is already wide awake and/or gone?  Why must he ALWAYS do that jackhammer ruckus at 6 and 7am?  Does it have a timer on it that only allows it to work in the wee hours of the morning?
 
I think his construction crew is woefully understaffed and this house building business is going to drag on forever. But these days it's HARD to find a fully built "quiet" neighborhood on the island. My home is old, but lots of overgrown vacant lots dot the hills.
 
Sometimes I dream about renting a chainsaw and trimming my garden up by the full moon at 4am and see how my neighbor likes that...  (evil mermaid!
 
But I won't.
 
I am too lazy to be that evil!
 
Which, isn't it true that being evil takes more effort than just smiling and thinking "Don't worry, be happy..."
 
I did however, a while back, have an outdoor party with live entertainment.  I figured no one would dare complain, if I have suffered through all this construction noise.  I don't know the people on the street below that are constructing and such, so I didn't invite them. Well, guess what, they were CHEERING the live music. So at least I made them happy!
Eat Caribbean
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.com




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- Lover-ly Days
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2008 23:32:34 EST
Well, it's dark-thirty and I am just getting my weather report out. I thought it was Monday, but was recently informed, that it is Tuesday.  Ooops!
 
It's easy to get lost on the calendar, especially when you notice that I was turned to the wrong week...  I also noticed that my wall clock said it was March 13th, so um, I fixed that. The time was right, but the dates were off by a month and a day. Typical islander, doesn't know the time, nor the day. I found myself asking if this was 2007 or 2008, then secretly checking my computer clock to verify, yes it IS 2008.
 
It might just be the wonderful weather, makes one wonderful day blend into another and so on...
 
True to my crystal ball readings, the weather is continuing to be just drop dead gorgeous. You couldn't ask for better days.
 
Temps have been 75-80, moderate winds with a daily does of one 3 minute rain shower, enough to keep things green and  blooming.
 
My camera is still dead (no resurrection yet...) but I have dug through my archives and found pics you haven't seen before.
Tropical Bird of Paradise Plant and Flower
 
 
Try to excel at something, even if you're just a great example of a bad example...
 
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.Com
Dear Miss Mermaid




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- Under Destruction, um Construction
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Sun, 10 Feb 2008 10:49:01 EST
Weather is wonderful and expected to stay that way.  I've combed all the readings, and reports and observations, and frankly, there isn't much to tell you except we have perfect weather and it's going to be that way for awhile.
 
Ah, life in de islands, mon, it just can't get much better than this.
 
 
My neighbor must be sick.
 
I woke up at 7 am to peace and quiet. No jack hammers, no rusty creaky concrete mixer running that is begging for an oiling, no cousin of owner on backhoe that screams and screeches and does protests loudly with every move because he refuses to lubricate a single part on it. 
 
I rolled back over to go to sleep, sure it was a dream. 
 
At 830 am I woke up again, and felt so sorry for my sick neighbor, as once again I was treated to pure SILENCE. 
 
I actually got up to look at his house. Yep, it's still unfinished.  But all was silent. I wonder if I should send over a casserole or something, if the guy is that sick that he can't disrupt my early Sunday mornings, he must be really bad off.
 
No horns honking. Not a single horn all morning.
 
The neighbor's work crew,  usually blocks the entire road just before everyone leaves for work. They typically do this 7 days a week. This results in daily horn honking, some of it quite persistent as his neighbors remind him time and time again, this is a public road. They have places to be, things to do, and he and his crew need to find off street parking.
 
But today all was silent.
 
I fear I will hear a nasty rumor that someone chopped his head off, and pray that  I don't, but if I did, I could testify, it was temporary insanity that made them do it. There are a few times in my deep dark imagination that I have wished ill will upon my neighbor. Usually on the weekends at 7 am, I want to take his jackhammer and shove it right where....   well you can only imagine.
 
WHO ever heard of constructing a house with a jackhammer anyhow?  Only in the islands mon. People put up concrete structures, with a plan they only have in their head. Then they study the concrete and think, "Oh a window would go nicely there, and how about a door here..."  out comes the jackhammer and the whole structure is vibrated to death, while a window and/or door is cut out.
 
I think most cultures, actually frame the window or door in, BEFORE the concrete is poured. Then they don't need a jackhammer to tear half the wall back out again. But that is too well planned, too easy, and not the island way.
 
My neighbor must be sick, to give us such welcomed silence this early Sunday morning. Perhaps I will pick some flowers and send them over with a "Thank You for being sick and quiet" card...  and would I be a tad rude if I wished him to be sick every Sunday?
 
 
Only 4 days left until Valentine's Day! 
Leonidas Belgian Chocolates: Valentine's Day Velvet Heart
 

 




- Saturday
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Sat, 9 Feb 2008 17:01:36 EST
Well last night it whipped up pretty gusty, but today winds have been moderate. I miss having a camera as I saw the most beautiful sight, 15 sailboats, all together, half going one way and half the other way. It would have made a spectacular picture. It was one day when the rains came and went all day, then it dried up and a bunch of boats sailed from Jost and a bunch from Cane Garden (to trade anchorages) and when they met in the middle, it was a sea of sails on beautiful blue water.
 
No snow, just sunny skies!  No storms, just clouds way up high, ignoring us.  Come on down, the weather is wonderful, the people are friendly, the music is good, the beaches are lovely.
This is conch in the sea grass, his favorite place to be, and  a lovely delicacy to eat!
 
He has to be killed and tenderized first. Conch is correctly pronounced KONK there is no CH sound (such as crunch.)
 
So if you don't want to sound like a tourist, call it KONK. 
 
My favorite conch recipe is to make  Conch Ceviche. You need a glass or plastic dish to make it in, nothing metallic. The acid from the tomato juice and limes will cook the meat while refrigerated.
 
Remove conch from shell, trim off tough parts, beat with a meat tenderizer and slice into tiny chunks. 
 
Toss into glass bowl along with some chopped onions, celery, and tomatoes, about a cup or so each, if using canned tomatoes, throw the juice in too. Add lots of minced garlic, like 2 heaping tablespoons. Squeeze lime juice (Or lemon) over all, about 4 nice limes. Sprinkle with basil, oregano, thyme, cilantro and parsley. Toss in your favorite hot sauce and optionally a bit of olive oil. Stir it all up and refrigerate for 4-24 hours before serving.
 
When ready to serve, you may serve it as it, or over a bed of shredded greens, with lime or lemon twists and a sprinkling of chopped parsley for garnish. Sometimes I chill the plates or bowls in the freezer, so it's nice and cold on a hot day. Serve hot sauce on the side. Goes well with a loaf of bread.
I made this bread, start to finish,  in under 20 minutes! 
 
Buy a refrigerated can of Pilsbury French Bread dough. Open can, lay out raw dough. Slice diagonally about 2/3's through the dough. Stretch out slightly, to spread open the slices. Separate one raw egg, and beat the yoke, then spread over bread. Stuff minced or chopped garlic between the slices, then sprinkle all with a generous portion of grated Parmesan cheese, then top with herbs, in this case, fresh chopped rosemary.  Lightly pat the dough so the cheese and herbs are "stuck" to the dough. Bake per can instructions, as I recall about 13 minutes at 400 degrees.  (Save the egg white and toss in with the breakfast eggs.)
 
Amaze your dinner guests with your "homemade" bread!  It's delicious too.
 
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.Com
Dear Miss Mermaid




- ARGH MATEYS!
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Fri, 8 Feb 2008 10:46:10 EST
Another gorgeous day in paradise. We had the usual gentle rains that lasted less than 3 minutes. I just love them, after all mermaids are attracted to waters, I should have been a Gemini instead of an Aries...
 
I now know 4 people with the exact same birthday as mine. Very odd, we must be attracted to each other *giggle*.
 
I miss having a camera, but that will be rectified soon, thanks to the generosity of Drew and the boyz.
 
I will hopefully be able to retrieve the ones on my card, before mine died.
 
I think the sunspots attacked me!  My friend nearby lost her computer (it stopped working) when my camera was zapped. ARGH!
 
A big 70th HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Captain Gary Kilbride (oldest son of the late Bert Kilbride, our BVI National Treasure, local legend etc) who will be celebrating this weekend with a huge Pirate party, complete with booty for the top 3 pirate costumes, booze, BBQ and live entertainment by the Limey Birds!  The old lothario deserves that and more!  A hearty roast and toast, what a way to spend your 70th!  I am digging out my costume and the cats are already dressed!  See you there!
 
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.Com
Dear Miss Mermaid




- Sunny Rains
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Thu, 7 Feb 2008 14:45:06 EST
It's mid afternoon and I am finally showing up to write the weather. I started this morning, and things just kept happening and soon, it's mid afternoon and where did my day go?
 
Well we had scattered showers throughout the morning, now we have scattered clouds. This is all my fault. I planned to do some outdoor painting for the past 3 days.  As a result, it has rained off and on for 3 days and not been dry enough, long enough for me to run outside and paint!
 
Life is tough.
 
So, all that snow is stuck up north and none of it is coming here. Matter of fact, we have had a warm winter here,not hot, but warm. I prefer cooler nights. They are cool but not as cool as last year at this time.
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
And now the guessing game!  What do you think this is?  A young man made me a tad upset the other day, so I picked this up and said "You have any idea WHAT this is for?" 
 
And he took one look, yelled "YIKES" and left!  I thought he was going to play the guessing game with me, but I guess not.
Chef'n Flexicado AVO-340 Avocado Slicer
Give up?
 
My dear friend gave me one, very thoughtful of her, I have used it several times and it works GREAT!
 
Still guessing?
 
I will give you a hint. You use it with something beginning with A..
 
 
 
 
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.Com
Dear Miss Mermaid




- Come on Down Anyhow
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Wed, 6 Feb 2008 09:00:24 EST
Another picture perfect day in the BVI. We had a few light rainfalls in the night and early morning.  I love to hear the glub blub of water filling up the cistern. I still shower like a sailor and try to conserve water for the lean times, but knowing that Mother Nature is topping off the tanks, is wonderful indeed.
 
Nothing of significance on the horizon, still no snow, though the nights have finally cooled to typical winter temperatures of low to high 70's depending on whether you are at sea level or mountain level. Our highest mountain is about 1800 feet up, the Sage Mountain Rain Forest.
 
Technically, some years we don't get enough rain for it to qualify as a rain forest, but other years we do.
 
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
An elderly fellow who needed a hearing aid, but refused to wear one, went to his doctor for a checkup. To his surprise the doctor made an unusual request, but he's the doc, he knows best, so what the heck, the old man stood up and with all his might let out the loudest longest fart he possibly could.
 
Doc bent over and yelled in his ear, "That's very impressive sir.  But I said I wanted to hear your HEART!"
 
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.Com
Dear Miss Mermaid




- Sky Blue, Deep Blue
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Tue, 5 Feb 2008 12:27:07 EST
Warm, sunny and bright blue skies adorn us today. It's 82 degrees at nearly noon. Weather is scheduled to be nearly perfect for the next week or so. So come on down, if you aren't already here, and enjoy our peace in paradise or is that a piece of paradise...  either way, you gonna love it.
 
No snow predicted, no storms, the cats are out and certifying that great weather is upon us.
That is Anegada at the top.
 
 
While funerals are traditionally a sad thing to talk about, in my many years in the islands, I have attended several funerals of loved ones that were quite unique and more joyful than sorrowful.  I have been to some quite creative funerals, the type I am not likely to ever see again. In respect for the beloved, I am not using real names or initials, but the rest is true.
 
When CR died, the funeral was postponed several times. That is because his relatives flew in and announced this is not CR!  But rather another name, one that was wanted in connection with a crime committed 25 years ago. So here is one body being identified by one group of people by one name and by his relatives,
an entirely different name.
 
Found in CR's address book was a listing that simply said "Brother" with a stateside phone number, so his roommate had called that number and informed "Brother" that CR had woke up dead of a heart attack at the age of 48.
 
Last seen, CR was watching TV on the couch, and told his roommate his arm hurt something awful. His roommate went to bed and the next morning, there sat CR, on the couch, with an opened beer in one hand, the remote in the other and dead as dead can be.
 
His roommate wondered why "Brother" kept saying "WHO?  WHERE?" and then finally admitting he would fly in posthaste.
 
So for several days, the authorities held up the arrangements while they digested this new identity and questioned numerous drunks who knew nothing about CR's past life.
 
We were all shocked as we knew him as CR and not as a criminal wanted for anything anywhere. No one was harboring a fugitive, at least not knowingly. CR had spent his days in the islands, working very hard at hot construction sites.
 
His nights were spent spending every penny, partying hard in various bars. He was friendly, honest, well-liked, and the first to jump to lend a helping hand. He never lacked for work, and somehow managed to sober up and appear on site each day and work hard for his money.
 
None of us could believe he was wanted for a crime other than drunkenness but indeed he was, and the FBI made sure to match up his fingerprints and lay the case to rest.
 
When all was settled, about a week later, a boat was chartered on another island, for his funeral at sea, the casket delivered with CR inside. Someone wanted to take a peek, and the funeral attendants rushed to sit on the lid and not allow any viewing. We suspect because the casket was laden with weights to make sure it sank properly and didn't float around to be washed up somewhere. The family was anxious to leave the harbor, the captain said, soon as the ferry boat arrives, we will go. That is because CR's friends had to travel by ferry to catch this chartered boat.
 
The family thought maybe the lone roommate was holding the boat up, and arriving by ferry. He was the only one they had mentioned the final arrangements to. Little did they know, that the arrangements had been broadcast in all of CR's favorite watering holes by one and the same roommate.
 
CR's friends arrived and they carried coolers, cups, bottles of rum, bags of ice, snacks, beer cases and so on. A few wore black Tshirts, but most were just lucky to have found clean clothes to adorn. A few were dressed more like pirates than construction crews, in honor of CR's apparent dual identity.
 
Unfortunately, the family became insulted, that CR's friends were mostly this rowdy hard-drinking bar crowd, save for a few souls solemnly dressed for the occasion and sipping bottled water. The vast many, were rowdy hard working, hard partying friends and co workers who were all missing a badly needed day of pay, to send CR off properly.
 
The family decided to charter a separate vessel.  Meanwhile CR's friends set up the bar on the aft deck, and passed drinks around and rowdily toasted CR and spoke fondly about him while a 2nd vessel was secured for the family. I don't think they realized that nearly 100 people would turn up for CR's funeral held midday in the middle of the week. But friends had missed work, traveled to another island to catch the boat and make sure their friend was not alone at the final hour.
 
The family was aghast, as if CR should be quietly put away with as little fanfare as possible. This was the black sheep of their family, someone they only spoke about in whispered tones, the guy that did the evil deed and disappeared, leaving his family behind to be interrogated by not so friendly authorities.  
 
All these years, CR was apparently living it up in the Caribbean, rehabilitating himself into an honest life of hard work and even harder play. Whatever evil deed he did, it had brought him no monetary gain. His life was lead simply, work hard, play hard.
 
The two boats left the harbor and out to sea well past the 12 mile range we went until land was just a distant dot on the horizon. Even the captain remarked, this was not the quiet solemn crowd he imagined when asked if his boat could be chartered for a funeral and burial at sea.   Someone had brought all of CR's favorite rock and roll tapes, and these played loudly on the stereo while his friends drank themselves silly, much like CR did during his evening hours. Matter of fact, he and many of the construction crews, used their favorite bar's phone number as their own. 
 
Stories were told about when CR did this and that and how much he would love this farewell party in his honor.
 
The music was toned down and after a modest ceremony, CR's casket was hoisted up and slid into the sea. Flower wreaths were passed around and we plucked them clean, tossing the individual flowers into the sea and yelling "To CR, whoever you are!" 
 
Half finished beers were poured into the sea and opened Rum bottles were emptied into the ocean. So with a great deal of flowers and large amounts of alcohol, along with  great shouting and toasts from the drunks, CR was laid to rest, while his family stared frightfully, at this unfolding scene,  from the other boat.
 
This wasn't the person they knew and we knew not what his past had been with them either.
 
In their eyes he was the escaped criminal, the one who let them down, the one who sullied their family name. I am sure over the years, they must have been questioned numerous times by authorities seeking for CR, if they knew where he was, they never betrayed that secret.
 
In our eyes he was a beloved drunk who worked hard and got along with just about everybody and we sent him off in a way he would have liked, with a bunch of drunks having a grand time, just like CR spent his spare time.
 
The family had a much faster boat and afterwards, they sped away never to be seen by us again. Their chartered boat was docked, and closed up when we reached port, their rental cars gone.  We made it back into port, cleaned up the boat, hauled off a mountain of garbage, loaded up the coolers, shuffled over to the ferry and rode  back home, satisfied that CR had the kind of send off he would have wanted, with family and friends by his side.  His names and crime finally cleared. 




- Surrender the Booty!
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Mon, 4 Feb 2008 10:33:20 EST
We have a sunny overcast day. 82 degrees at 11am.  Winds are moderate, seas are normal for this time of year but cool. Nothing much on the radar.
 
I have to drag myself to Road Town. The drive is quite beautiful down the waterfront highway with a name so long, I can't remember it. I wish we had simple street names. We either have NO street names or streets named after someone with a very long name. Like I would name the waterfront highway, um Waterfront Highway. Ridge Road and North Shore Road are nice simple names.
 
I live on a road with no name, in a house with no number or name. The house above me has a cute name. Basically I tell everyone to turn at the blooming bougainvillea bushes. They ask what color is the house and I tell them white, but you can't see if for the blooming bougainvillea...  maybe we could name it Bougainvillea Lane...
 
Once in Road Town, the madness starts with the awful traffic and lack of parking. I have several one minute stops to make, but basically I have to find anywhere to park within a mile or so of most of my errands then set out on foot and pray I don't get run down or break anything. We have some sidewalks, but not enough. Often one has to cut between buildings and wind amongst Air conditioning units and garbage and step over open sewers.  It's not easy walking around, sometimes you are forced on to the edge of the road, and drivers go by an inch from your elbow.  And it's hot.
 
Road Town needs TREES to cool the place off.  More trees. Pray for trees. Plant trees. We need trees. I swear it feels 10-20 degrees hotter in Road Town.
 
Here's a GREAT pirate pic of Bullwinkle, a modern day pirate who hails from all over.
ARGH MATEY!  Surrender the booty! 
 
 
 
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.Com
Dear Miss Mermaid




- Rust and Dust
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Sun, 3 Feb 2008 08:55:55 EST
A it overcast today, but not for long, I don't think. Temperatures are down to the 70's at night and brrrrr, dat be col' mon!
 
Last night the winds kicked up into high gear, sending the kitties scurrying for home. I knew then, we had rains coming.  With so many boats in the area, the winds were playing the masts, like 50 flutes all playing in different keys. For the tone deaf, a symphony, for the musically inclined, if you didn't know what was making the noise, you would think the area was haunted.
 
Then the rains came.  First  vertical, then horizontal, then at 45 degrees.  They gave the island a good washing down, settling the low flying dust and debris. Kitties smugly curled up in their favorite spots with that "I-told-you-so" smirk on their furry faces.
 
Speaking of debris, I am still cleaning up from the deconstruction crew. I wonder how one little tiny project can destroy an entire house and yard.
 
I am also giving my heap of a jeep a makeover, in hopes she will eventually sell. Just giving her a bath improved the gas mileage, as a half ton of dust quickly washed off and filled in the garden ruts. Lately, it's popping rust zits, as if mad at me for buying a newer version of it's older self. Not that I am in a rush to part with her, but eventually the insurance and tags will run out and at that point, I can no longer continue to insure and tag both vehicles, when there is just wittle ol' me to drive them.
 
It's been great for my friends who have utilized my two heap status for their own pleasure, and fun for me to have the newer version heap to drive on Sundays. After I sell the ol' heap, I guess the newer one (which is only 10 years old, still a young-un!) will have to start driving on days other than Sundays.
 
Life goes on. 
 
And so does the rust and dust.
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.Com
Dear Miss Mermaid




- Trusty Rusty Heap of a Jeep
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Sat, 2 Feb 2008 10:17:04 EST
Beautiful day!  But hazardous surf advisory may be in effect later tonight. Today there is a small craft advisory.
 
Seas are about 26 Celsius, or about 79 degrees, brrrrr!  But many tourists are swimming and frolicking, it's a tad too cold for this thin blooded mermaid!  Air temperatures are only a degree warmer. Must be winter!  Winds are moderate at about 15-20 knots.
 
Sahara dust is on the way over again. It seems to be a year round phenomenon now. I wonder what happens after all their dust blows over here, what will the Sahara be then?  A big naked rock?
 
Sunday is Superbowl day, am sorry to say, I am just not a fan. I know the fallout from making that remark will be tremendous!  On a funny note, we actually have tourists who come to the BVI for Superbowl. Now I find that downright funny!  Come here where the weather is gorgeous and the seas beckon, to what?  Watch some guys chase a ball around on TV?
 
However, in the true spirit, I placed some bets already, and could win $50-$100 if my crystal ball is correct.   
 
I am still driving my heap of a jeep. I was merrily bouncing my way home from Road Town last week, dodging donkeys and potholes when lo and behold, I heard a crash and then a horrible metallic noise.  I pulled over gently and got out of my heap, and realized I was dragging my left rear wheel fender along the road. Yep, it just fell off!
 
Now I don't normally travel with metal snips either, so me and the fender had quite a go around while I fought to shred the last bit of metal holding it on. I had no duct tape, to just tape it back on and I was aghast!  Usually I ride around with a roll of duct tape between the bucket seats, squeezed in next to the hand brake, because it makes a wonderful drink holder!
 
But, I recall some well meaning soul who was riding with me a few weeks back, helping me unload the heap of sale groceries, out of the jeep,  grabbing my duct tape and bringing it inside. I remember remarking "Hey!  That's my drink holder!"  and getting a strange look. Somehow, the duct tape never made it back to the heap and there I was in dire need of it.
 
I had no where to put my drink!
 
Now I had no way to make emergency roadside repairs, so here I was ripping metal with my bare hands (those dumbbells are making me stronger!). Finally the metal gave up, and I tossed the fender in the back and got on my way again.
 
Only now, I had the giggles!  I couldn't stop laughing. I was all alone and laughing my fool head off, and tears were welling up in my eyes and I had to slow down, I couldn't hardly see to drive. I don't know where this sudden giggle hysteria comes from, but once it hits me, I am a laughing fool.
 
It's supposed to be very healing and that is good, I wish laughing could heal my heap of a jeep!  I laughed for probably the next 5 miles, I couldn't help it. I don't know why my fender chose that moment to fall off!
 
It's days are numbered with me. I think the old heap is mad at me!  I recently bought another heap of a jeep, an upgrade you might say. An old jeep in great shape with NO dents and NO rust and all the body parts are still attached and it runs great and has air conditioning and a brand new paint job to boot!  The mileage was low and it's a hardtop and I just couldn't resist the cute little thing.  Now you can laugh your head off, cause this is the FIRST time in my life I have ever had a car with air conditioning!
 
Can you imagine that?
 
What does this mean?  That I can ride around in the comfort of A/C?  Heck NO!  What this means, is that I can fix my long hair for an evening out and actually arrive without having it knotted up in dread locks!  That is what A/C means to me!  No more dreadlocks!
 
But old habits are hard to kick, and every time, I get in the new heap, I automatically roll the window down.  Then I roll it back up, cause I just remembered I can do that and run A/C.  So I get a lot of left arm exercising lately, what with all this window rolling up and down.  Mostly I admire the new heap in my driveway and continue to drive my old heap around.
 
I went to a business meeting recently and someone saw me getting out of my heap and they said "Oh no!  What happened to the new jeep?"  Not that it is new, but it's new to me and the new paint makes it look new. I said, "Good heavens, I only drive that on Sundays..."
 
I was grateful the new/old heap has old fashioned window knobs. I so hate the electric ones. I am paranoid about electric windows and do not like them one bit. As a passenger in cars that have them, I open the window an inch or more, which often drives the driver nutty. But I figure that way if we are in a wreck, I can put my fingers on the window and pry it open or down or break it a lot easier if it is already open or slightly open. I have a morbid fear of being trapped in a wrecked car.
 
I've been fished out of a few car wrecks in my younger days, and it wasn't pretty. I was always the hapless passenger except once, I was the driver.
 
Yep, I've only had one wreck in all my years of driving. I obtained my driver's license and three weeks later totaled out two cars (mine and theirs) in the fog. I was sure my car was going to blow up, (I've seen that on TV!)  and I remember the sheer panic of trying to escape the mangled wreck before I exploded!  Well, the car never did explode, but much of my face had, though I was unaware of this at the time. I thought all that blood belonged to somebody else (the funny things our minds thinks when we are in shock!). The car was old and had only lap belts and no shoulder harness, so I busted the steering wheel with my face. I was wearing my lapbelt, even though there was no silly law to force me to. I am sure that saved me a trip through the windshield.
 
Through the fog, a man with long hair and a long beard, appeared and helped me out of the car. He looked so familiar.  I thought I was in heaven with all this fog around me and I remember walking with my neck outstretched so the blood would drop on the ground and not on my clothes and I still wasn't sure it was mine, I mean can one person lose that much blood and walk around?
 
Later I was told that on the way to the hospital, I kept telling everyone I couldn't be late for work!  And I managed to arrive at the hospital with blood everywhere except on my clothes. I was so sure I had to go to work and they wouldn't like it if I showed up with blood on my clothes.
 
Luckily, I've had an angel riding with me since, and not been at the wheel of another wreck. I went back to work about a week later.  I snuck in early, so no one would see me. I stayed late, and left after the others. I kept my office door closed and  locked and tried to avoid all human contact. If someone knocked, I pretty much ignored them. I didn't want to discuss the wreck or my face or watch the reactions of people as they gawked at my injuries. I brought a brown bag every day and ate my sandwich alone in silence behind my locked door.
 
My boss would use a secret knock and patiently wait for me to open the door, deposit more work on my desk, pick up my completed projects, then leave and listen to me  lock it again. I was a fast at my work, so he didn't really care, though the lock was inconvenient and I refused to take any client appointments, so he had to do it all. Another week or two went by and he persuaded me to leave the door unlocked, that my face looked fine (it didn't!) but by then the swelling and bruising and mess was much improved.
 
Life goes on.
 
I sit here now and think about that fender falling off my heap of a jeep and it gives me the giggles!  I am going to reattach the fender and see about selling the heap (before the engine falls out!)
 
SO if you know anyone who wants to buy a legendary heap of a jeep, it's for sale!  It runs great, does 4wd, will tackle any donkey trail or goat path, has nearly new tires, a new battery and wants for nothing except an oil change and gasoline. The engine has many years left in her, but the body, um, that requires more duct tape, and what the heck, I will buy a new roll and throw that in as part of the deal!
 
So that's my project today, to detail the heap, give her a bath inside and out, polish up her rust, clean the mud and muck off, stick the fender back on and see what lucky soul gets to call the heap theirs next!
 
I know, it's hard for me to part with it. That trusty rusty heap of a jeep has been through so much with me.  The seats are nice and comfy, I know every engine part on it, when it was repaired, replaced or rebuilt, it's *sniffle* been my trusty rusty buddy all these years. I hope it goes to a *sniffle* loving home.
 
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.Com
Dear Miss Mermaid




- Sing!
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Fri, 1 Feb 2008 17:59:04 EST
being that I am half pirate, and half mermaid, I decided to pirate Bullwinkle's report and post it here:
 
And we thought the fat lady had already sung... 
 
Just a note to those in the Lessor Antilles:
 
A system of unknown intentions is quietly passing a point 325 miles East of St. Martin, slowly progressing to the West Southwest.
 
This started developing a week ago from an upper level High Pressure area and has gained "some" support from the surface and midlevel circulation. grrr    It appears to contain some potential heavy rains and gusty winds? Just be aware it is out there and headed your way ....
 
Just a heads up, Happy New Years, again ... grrr
 
Always keep an eye to weather and remember it does not have to be a grrricane to make someone's life miserable ... grrr
 
Pictures:
Loop:
 
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.Com
Dear Miss Mermaid




- Grrrrrrrrr... Cyberworld eating my email!
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2008 10:20:17 EST
Temps cooled right down last night, a bit warmer today. The channel is calm, but surf is up on the north shore.
 
I wrote a nice newsy lengthy report and the computer ate it. I rewrote a new one and it vanished into thin air.
 
I am sending this out, short and sweet, before disaster strikes again!
From my garden...
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.Com
Dear Miss Mermaid




Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape in the new year.

- Surf N Swell
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Tue, 29 Jan 2008 03:32:37 EST
Winds are slight, seas are calming down, but not for long. Sunshine is to be the norm of the day, though it is still dark thirty as I write this report.
 
Surf was up yesterday, though not as grand as it was on Sunday. Three hapless bareboaters  entered Cane Garden Bay Sunday, with these horrific swells rolling in there. While the lone catamaran was being tossed around, it was nothing compared to the monohulls which were hobby horsing something awful.
 
After awhile, some of the guests decided to come ashore in their dinghy and were heading for the dock!  What were they thinking?  Approaching a hard dock in big swells in a small dinghy. They of course overshot the dock and got caught up in the surf and swell, seemingly clueless what to do next.
 
Seeing they were in trouble, a crowd from a beach bar, ran out in the water, grabbed their dinghy as it rode the crest of the next wave and pulled them ashore and up onto the safety of the beach. Going to the dock would have destroyed the dinghy and injured the passengers. At least now they were safe on shore and not on their "cookie tossing" bareboat.
 
It was assumed they came ashore to find overnight land accommodations. That is what most folks do, having found themselves caught  in this situation. After all, the cruising guides explain that when the northerly swell is up, Cane Garden bay and other anchorages open to the swells should be avoided. Having seen first hand that the anchorage was unmanageable, they could have turned around and left for the leeward side of Jost Van Dyke or the protection of West End. Apparently Cane Garden Bay was on their agenda and the swells be damned.  Sometimes the bareboat companies check the sailing ability of the passengers by slowly running their credit card through a bank machine... if the credit is good, then their sailing resume must be factual. HA!
 
By the way "bareboaters" are those that rent a boat for the week or so, without professional crew. While many actually know what they are doing, many others do not. Having a professional Captain on board, is not saying you're no good at sailing, but rather you'd like to leave the worries and work to someone else while vacationing.
 
I was once a bareboater. Oh brother. This was back in my novice days, and boy did we ever get into all sorts of trouble.
 
Incredibly, after dining and drinking, the bareboaters returned to their dinghy and came to ask the bar crowd HOW to launch their dinghy back through the crashing swells and waves!  The bar patrons explained, you DON'T, go get a room ashore!
 
Swells will subside somewhat Tuesday but should  return in full force on Wednesday, so there is only a brief window of semi-calm. Surfers will be happy to note that Wednesday and Thursday should be stellar days for surfing.
 
I found my camera (in the heap of a jeep) put new batteries in it and STILL it is dead. It won't do a thing!  What is with these digital cameras?  Everyone I have owned just "dies" one day inexplicably.Like a little time bomb went off inside and I almost expect a sneering note from the manufacturer "Oooops!  We just noticed you are out of warranty and your camera was obsolete 30 seconds after you bought it anyhow, so we've decided to disable it completely so you can improve upon our economy by being forced to acquire another one!"
 
ARGH!!!  Sometimes life isn't fair!
 
I can't begin to go shop for one, it used to be we had NO digital cameras on the island, now we have a few to choose from at select locations. My how Tortola is catching up to the times.  But,  I have carpenters coming tomorrow, and I best be home during the destruction, um... construction. I'll let you know what we build after it is done. Actually, me and my big mouth...  I said I wish I had a such and such and next thing I know, a carpenter friend is over here measuring and estimating and so on.
 
I've learned that out of about 5 building supply places on the island, only one has formica in stock, and their selection looks like it's out of the 70's so I am going retro!  One building supply place said they ran out of laminate 8 months ago!  I stood there, expecting him to tell me that in 8 more months they might order some, but instead I foolishly asked what do people do if they want some and he shrugged his shoulders and said "Custom order!"  After prying more info out of him, I was informed these custom orders could take 2 weeks or 2 months or 2 years.
 
Life in de islands, mon!
 
Muzette of Atlanta, shares her surf picture with us:
 
And for the funnies...
 
 




Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape in the new year.

- No More Power Cuts
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2008 11:33:45 EST
Glorious day in the BVI, though I would like a little more wind. Surf was wild and wooly yesterday and an opportunity for great pics. As soon as I find my camera, I will post some. Maybe I better check the fridge and see if it's in there...
 
I ran out of battery power anyhow, which wasn't fun either. Big beautiful waves with seaspray and oh I missed my Kodak moment... But I think I got a few, before the battery died,  if I can just find that camera...
 
The north shore is kicking and the swells big. I might get over there today and try to take some more pics, once I find that dang camera. Am I getting senile and forgetful?
 
Um, now where was I?
 
Oh yeah, Peter D. sent over HIS pic of our new backup generator, and he has prematurely announced that our power cuts are over. Well, I will believe that when Santa Claus comes again next month...
 
 
 
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.Com
Dear Miss Mermaid




Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape in the new year.

- Raining Sunshine
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Sun, 27 Jan 2008 11:00:27 EST
Beautiful sun shiny day today. Going to rain buckets of sunshine all day long. The chance of showers are generally not good at all. Winds are slight to moderate.
 
This beautiful flower popped up where you least expected it, in a crack on a patio.  Mangos are still in season, I thought they were generally gone by fall, but you learn something new everyday, if you just open up your mind.

Dear Miss Mermaid,

I had a wander along the beach at Worthing the other day and noticed this "Green Bottle" lying amongst the shingle - with a message inside. It was from you and said you were looking for some "spare" timber to build an extension to your recently acquired accommodation.

Just by chance...

The "Ice Prince" had deposited a few thousand tons of it a few days earlier and most of it was on Worthing beach.

Have sent you a few photo's - obviously the crow has chosen his bit (he sat there for half an hour or more much to the amusement of the crowds)

I found a nice plank for you (as per picture) and sent it on it's way by "sea post" - should reach you in a few months - tides permitting.
 
Why, thank you!  I have posted your pictures, the lumber looks marvelous. Yes, I want to improve upon the tiny kitchen, so those planks will surely come in handy. I will let you know when they arrive!




Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape in the new year.

- A hint of a rainbow!
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Fri, 25 Jan 2008 10:25:53 EST
 




- Greetings from Wet End...
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Fri, 25 Jan 2008 09:25:28 EST
West End, Tortola, has been renamed Wet End...
 
Some sneaky pirate snail stole our S in West end, changing it to Wet End...then he ran off in  his snail car with the S tied down on the roof!  I kid you knot!!!
 
He drove off so fast, all I could say was, "Look at that S-Car-go!"
                                                    *******
Wet End, Tortola, 2000 miles from reality, where hurricanes and hangovers make the only difference...
 
This morning we were in a fog again, with heavy rains, but all is clear now and visibility has improved considerably. It's going to be a great day with brief bright sunshine interrupted by scattered short showers and low lying clouds that resemble wadded up gray bilge rags.
 
It was cold enough for my slippers and I almost put on a heavy bathrobe over my sarong, (a real fashion plate here!) but it warmed up, so I was spared.
 
I just remembered I left my non-perishable shopping in the heap of a jeep and the window is stuck down and oh dear me, however the heap is parked on a slope, sideways, so unless the rain really blew upwards,  then hopefully it's not too wet.
 
I couldn't resist, I went to Port Purcell grocery store in search of the cheap specials and I found several bags worth. I never know what next week's menu will bring until I shop for the deals.  
 
Ever since busting up the old tail (legs) last year, I've been on a budget to keep those doctors and physical therapists happy (they got to drive new cars and live in big houses and I got to pay for all that, ya know). 
 
Some weeks I come home with a year's supply of jalapeno peppers, (they were 1/4 the normal cost) or this week, Hearts of Palm was priced ridiculously cheap, mayonnaise was half price and so on. Sometimes I have to save up the various specials until I have enough to make an interesting meal.
 
For instance, my funny on-sale-cheapie pantry, now has olives, hearts of palm, artichokes, Italian dressing, various canned veggies and a 2 kilo box of curly pasta. So guess what, Mediterranean pasta salad is going to be on my menu!  There are of course, a load of other odds and ends that don't quite match up with anything yet, but I am saving them until they do...
 
Another week tortillas were priced cheaply, and the month before that I had found half priced salsa and at some point, the year's supply of jalepenos, and I enjoy cooking dried bean variations in my crock pot, so I was suddenly in business to make bean burritos, and other assorted Mexican fare.
 
To top it off, the caretaker came over and raided  the near vertical garden, (I am not limber enough yet to do that!) and now we both have green bananas, mangos and a big basket of key limes. 
 
Could life just get any better? 
 
**************
By the way, Valentine's Day is just around the corner. If you are shopping for a sweetheart of a man, then you know how difficult that can be!  Somehow they don't often care for the chocolate and flowers or the gold earrings (though some of those pirates love earrings!).  They usually read your mushy card, emit a low grunt,  then toss it, when you aren't looking (men don't seem to be as sentimental as women), so if you still insist on getting your male sweetie something for Valentine's day, then check out the Mad Gringo.
 
He  has come up with a gift basket for men, it's actually packaged in a beer bucket (now ain't that appropriate!) though you have to fetch you own beer to add to it.  His beer bucket gift packs comes in 3 prices and includes assorted things that men actually like!  Even if you choose wrong, or the size is off, no worries the Mad Gringo will make it right for you!  Now that's what cha call, good service.
 
On the flip side, if your sweetie is a female, tired of the usual chocolates and flowers, then get her a sexy sarong or several.  You can even buy two identical, as one can be worn as a sarong and the mate as a shawl for an elegant islandy look.
 
PS-Miss Mermaid is single and lookin'...  My last love sailed off into the sunset awhile back and you know how those sailor types argh...
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.Com
Dear Miss Mermaid




- Shut the Duck Up!
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2008 08:21:41 EST
Incredible sunsets in January!  Most unusual.
 
We still have low lying clouds and the chance of occasional small showers. Temps are back up to 81, it's warmer than most winters.
 
Funny stuff!
 
My friend with two toddlers, about 2 and 6, was entertaining other friends with children. Her 2 year old daughter had a classic duck toy, the kind you pull along with a string and it wiggles and says "Quack, Quack, Quack" as you pull it along.
BRIO Duck Pull Toy
 
Doesn't that just qwack you up?
 
The toddler was entertaining the other kids with her quacking duck and pulling it around so it wiggled and quacked repeatedly,  to the delight of the other toddlers.
 
The adults were chatting nearby and their conversation had hit a quiet lull momentarily.
 
About that time, the older brother (about age 6) of the sister with the quacking duck was sick and tired of listening to the toy as he tried to entertain the older kids. So he yelled at his sister:
 
"Shut the duck up!  Shut the duck up!"
 
This of course was met by frozen silence amongst the adults, while they glared at the child, debating just WHAT did that young child say!
 
Meanwhile the beet red mom, who caught exactly what her son had said,  tried to explain "He said "DUCK! He said DUCK! It's the duck toy he is annoyed with!"
 
Well, that sure qwacked up the other adults...
 
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.Com
Dear Miss Mermaid




Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape in the new year.

- Dark Thirty
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2008 18:24:51 EST
Here I am getting my report  out very late, so late, the sun is setting!  It was cool last night and hot today. Nothing of significance on the horizon except the northern swells are expected to pick up and we expect a few scattered short showers.
 
I took a nap last night and woke up about 9pm and decided what the heck, might as well go to the fool moon party and dance on the beach. I was chilly, (it was below 80 degrees!) so I wore long purple  leggings. Sure, I know they are out of style, but I love purple and besides, in the islands,  we make up our own unique style, not to be found anywhere else.
 
Lots of friends had asked if I was going, so hopefully I would run into them. Turned out to be a nice crowd, excellent bands, a large mix of tourists, islanders, boaties and locals.  I would say the crowd was from 17 to 87 with no dominant age group.  My dear friend who lost his leg, was there in his wheel chair. I gave him a neck massage and learned his new leg is on the way and then off to therapy and hopefully the wheel chair can be retired. The terrain here is so awful, that he has actually broken a few wheel chairs. I know he will be thrilled to get rid of it and we will have a big celebration then.
 
I felt real sorry for this nice man, walking down the road with his wife, he looked all happy, and he had on a colorful island shirt, the type many guys wear here when they want to feel dressy but casual. I thought he looked nice and she was telling him he was dressed all wrong and out of place, as they came down the road towards the party. I wanted to go up and ask her if she was totally blind but I said nothing. The way she was picking on him, and the way he seemed to be totally ignoring her, well, I bet they end up in divorce court sooner, rather than later.
 
I looked around, and there was NO norm for how folks were dressed.  I saw T-shirts, shorts, jeans, sweaters, long skirts, short dresses, tight hot pants, skimpy outfits, outfits designed to show off tattoos, sarongs, khakis, fancy shoes, flip-plops, barefeet, sandals, loafers, sneakers, glitter and sequins. I saw lace, silk, leather, ribbons and feathers.
 
The fool moon party is a time to dress any way you want and the more creative or unique or eccentric, the better! Sometimes I wear a ton of glitter, just for fun, or a big ridiculous hat. Matter of fact, I saw two top hats, one in red and one in black. I was envious of the red one. 
 
Kid's Or Adult Parrot HatSpeaking of hats, this would be a good one for the fool moon party!
 
Sure, we can pick out the tourists, they are the ones in new clothes, with no rips, no rust, no stains, no tears, no bleach splatters, no holes. Island life is rough on clothes and sometimes we forget and run out in our favorite things, even though they look like something escaped from the rag bag.
 
People watching is the main attraction and loads of singles as well as couples attend the party. One couple had no babysitter and were trying to push a sleeping baby in a buggy through the mud and ruts and sand and gravel and dirt. 
 
Not many kids, as in usually none, come to Bomba's fool moon party, but the Trellis Bay Full moon party attracts the families and kids as well as plenty of adults. So you get to take your pick.  I think both parties are equally good. Some folks try to make both in one night and WHEW you better have a designated driver or a taxi. It's nearly an hour's drive between the two parties down uncertain roads, whether you take the waterfront or the mountain ridge.
 
While waiting in line at the bathroom, a young lady came up and reminded me that about 6 months ago, she came off the ferry from visiting Jost Van Dyke, and had time to kill before her next ferry to St Thomas. She was  famished and I think I was there picking up my general delivery mail, I was getting in my car, when she approached me and asked if there was any pizza around, she was starving,  and I ended up driving her to the Jolly Roger.  We spent an hour chatting while she consumed an entire pizza by herself (I was already full from my prior lunch) then back to the ferry dock to catch her ferry to St Thomas. She was so impressed that a stranger would offer to do that!  I was surprised and flattered she remembered me. I asked her if she needed a ride anywhere and she laughed.
 
I thought last night's  party was pretty tame, but then again, I didn't stay really late either.  I was thinking how wild I was in my younger days and the young folks now seem more sedate and not inclined to do the wild things I did as a youth. 
 
A lot of taxis were at the party, so loads of folks did have designated drivers. I blame the cruise ships for this new breed of rude taxi drivers that scream "TAXI!" in your face as you walk by. I was standing around, semi-dancing, waiting on my friends who were fetching drinks. I was near the top of the taxi line, but also this was adjacent to the ticket booth, the bar and the entrance to the back lot where band #2 was playing. 
 
First this guy yells "TAXI!" in my face, then when I glared at him, he said "How many is you?" (local vernacular for "how many in your group?")  
 
I burst out laughing and said "Just how many magic 's'hrooms you had tonight?  You be seeing me twice?" (meaning double) 
 
He laughed and still wanted to know where I was going.
 
I said "Look dude, you don't need to yell "TAXI!" at me or anybody else. We can all see the long line of taxis parked here with taxi signs stuck on the roofs and taxi plates stuck on the front and back. Believe me, when folks are ready for a taxi, they will FIND you. You needn't shout TAXI in their face, it's NOT that kind of place.
 
By now, 2 other taxi drivers had wandered over, and they nodded and said to him "You know, she right."  It was ever so peaceful the rest of the evening, as I heard no more screams of TAXI!
 
An anonymous artist left this drawing,  on the side of the shack at Bomba's. A real magic s'hroom will have a ring around the stem near the top, but note the detail he/she put into the cannabis leaves (which grow only in odd numbered groups)
 
 
Latest Gossip/Joke:
Did you hear about the new building downtown? It is 4 stories tall. Since folks here are skeptical about elevators, they decided to put in an escalator, figuring that would appease the islanders, known for their different view of t'ings.
 
The building opened up and businesses and shops moved in.  Folks tried out the newfangled escalators and all seemed well, that is until we had another power outage.
 
I heard folks were complaining, that they were stuck on the escalator for over two hours.
 
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.Com
Dear Miss Mermaid




Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape in the new year.

- Pointy Prick at 3am...
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2008 09:58:47 EST
Another fool moon, more full moon parties at both ends of the island.  I will try to make one or the other, or both tonight, weather permitting.
 
Weather has been feisty, cooled right down to winter temps of late 70's. I had to put  on my house slippers to keep my toseys warm.
 
We have loads of low clouds, giving us scattered sprinkles.  Winds are moderate, seas in the Sir Francis Drake channel are normal, long period swells are building up on the north shore, rumor has it,  and a small craft advisory is in effect today for Caribbean waters and Atlantic near shore waters.
 
It is RARE to get these kind of colorful sunsets in the winter. The world be changing, mon...
 
Imagine having to look at this every evening... I know, life is tough all over...
 
My cats are avid snake hunters. We have 3 kinds of snakes in the islands, all are reputed to be non-poisonous. Of course I worry about all these container ships that come in here and what they might bring us. I read in Hawaii they have special dogs to sniff out snakes and kill them at the ports.
 
My cats have brought home three dead snakes since we moved. Snakes run for cover under the cactus. Their skin isn't affected by the pointy sharp barbs.  But my cats are often faster. 
 
Last night I heard a cat scream followed by a cat loudly fussing. A few minutes later, a cat appeared in my bed.  I was almost sound asleep, so I put my hand around kitty's belly,  to cuddle with him, as he likes this. Now I heard myself scream as I felt the sharp bite of a needle!
 
I got out of bed, wide awake and miffed, turned on the light, and poor cat has about a four inch hunk of cactus stuck in his side. It was rather comical looking, like he had grown a new appendage. I would have liked to have taken his picture, but knowing he needed my help, I resisted and instead looked around for something to perform surgery with, to remove the offending cactus.
 
I couldn't find my hemostats which are great for this sort of situation, and not wishing to wait any longer, I wrapped the offending cactus in a big wad of toilet paper and yanked it out of the cat's side. This of course still left a few barbs stuck in his side. I managed to get all but one out and kitty decides he has had enough of this foolishness and rolls over on THAT side.
 
I gently rolled him back over, while he dug his claws in the bed sheet and insisted he let me retrieve the final barb. He let go of the bed sheet and let me have another go at him. I was imagining all sort of awful things, like it festering and causing a trip to the not-at-all-cheap-vet for expensive toxic meds and so on. Finally I got him all cleaned up, now I was wide awake. Gee, thanks kitty.  I love these 3am "help me human" visits...
 
These things only happen at night. That is because the lazy miscreants lay around sleeping all day so they can go out and party all night. In the last six weeks, each cat has taken his turn to come in late in the night, with cactus stuck to them.  I suspect this is from chasing snakes and not realizing until it was too late WHY the snake ran for the cover of cactus. Not that snakes run, I guess they slither, it gives me the shivers to even think about or look at snakes. Anyhow, cactus doesn't penetrate a snake's skin, so they slither for the cover of cactus and let the cactus do the fighting...
 
I often find myself uncontrollably shrieking (just a startled SHRIEK!)  at dead snakes. Most mornings I get up, throw open my front door, tie it back so it stays open and doesn't bang shut with the help of wind, and go outside to see what the day looks like.  I did this exact maneuver the other morning and after a few minutes of exploring the new dawn, I turned to go back inside in search of coffee and there on the welcome mat was a dead snake. Somehow, I had stepped over him on my way out and was so intent on seeing what was blooming and what color the sunrise was, that I didn't even step on or notice the dead snake.
 
Now that I noticed it, I let out a shriek and jumped back a few feet. The dead snake didn't move. I thanked the cats, and while they were busy with breakfast, I shook the welcome mat out elsewhere to remove the offending corpse. YUCK.
 
Oh the things one has to put up with around here...
 
Valentine's Day is around the corner, check out these Starfish!
 
 




Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape in the new year.

- Oleander
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2008 09:58:47 EST
It's 9am, with zero winds, the skies are overcast, no sun in sight. Visibility has gone from 1/4 mile to 3 since day break.  Temperature is 78 degrees. Sunday there was no promised northerly swell. Where did it go?  That's what I get for listening to the forecasters instead of dusting off my crystal ball.
 
The many rains are good for the flowers and these oleanders are thriving after having been butchered two months ago. The gardener where I moved too, apparently gets way behind in t'ings, then shows up to butcher the plants into little square boxes.  I was a bit dismayed, they looked so forlorn, but now, they have recovered from the shock and put fourth some brilliant blooms.   Of course everyday I go talk to them and convince them they will bloom and be gorgeous. If you are nice to plants, they usually respond in kindness, with exquisite beauty.
 
I feel sorry for folks that live in concrete jungles, forced to stay indoors or in cars, much of their life,  hermetically sealed with perfectly kept temperatures. I know, I occasionally meet them down here on vacation, and they never like the weather.  It's too hot, too cold, too wet, too windy, too dry, too sunny, there is no pleasing them after years of living in a climate controlled environment. I've heard that some even put plastic plants indoors to remind them of what the real world once looked like.
 
Oleander comes in many colors, but this pale pink seems to be the dominant variety in the BVI.
 
Support a Mermaid! Buy this print framed, on postcards, poster print, note cards or a calendar. Click here for options. Ships worldwide!
 
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.Com
Dear Miss Mermaid




Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape in the new year.

- Cold Cash
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2008 00:15:43 EST
We've had some serious rains Sunday  afternoon and then Sunday night we had an incredible thunder storm. I was sound asleep when thunder levitated me and the cat right out of the bed. The storm raged on for about two hours, then abruptly stopped and I can hear the tree frogs singing now.
 
I drove down Ridge Road today, the road that runs along the spine of the  mountain ridge.  I tried to get  picture of Road Town from up above, but the clouds were so thick, this is all I got!
 
I must be getting daffy in my ways. I think I was hit on the head once too many times and it's catching up with me now. I heard Friday that Delta was having another customer appreciation day and gas was a $1 off per gallon. I grabbed my purse to check my wallet, to see if I had enough to run top off my heap of a jeep gas tank and lo and behold, my purse had no wallet.
 
I ran out and searched the heap, no wallet there either. I searched the house, went through the garbage and still no wallet. Last I could recall, I had drove to Kelly's store, the day before, parked at the door, grabbed my wallet out of my purse, dashed in, bought a few things, tossed the wallet in the grocery bag then came home. I save my shopping bags for garbage bags, unless they are holey, hence, the garbage I searched, in case I had deemed the bag worthless and tossed it out, possibly with the wallet.
 
I dumped out my purse and was truly amazed at the collection of stuff I had in it. No rocks this time, but half a file cabinet was in there, along with a sparkplug, 2 nuts, 1 bolt, a magnet, a set of pliers,  a mystery key, five pens, lipstick, meds, a stack of business cards, credit cards, my local social security card, my ugly driver's license, a pile of loose coins, a camera, 2 phones, and a roll of duct tape.
 
Still no wallet. The wallet is bright screaming orange with a zipper, a thoughtful gift from a gentle reader.
 
I called Kellys and they didn't recall anyone mentioning a wallet left behind, but they were going to follow up with the crew on duty the night before. Tortola is pretty honest, many folks get their lost wallets back with all the cash in it. So I was optimistic, briefly.
 
I was feeling pretty foolish, wondering how I could have lost my wallet from the store to home.  I mentally counted up how much cash should be in it, and came up with a depressing sum.
 
Finally, I just went back to work, forgot about buying gas and chastised myself for being so careless.  Around noon, I broke for lunch and opened up the fridge to peruse the offerings. There on the shelf, behind a hunk of cheddar, was my orange wallet. Talk about cold hard cash!
 
I was delighted, no doubt, called Kellys right away, to let them know I FOUND IT.  I have NO idea what I was thinking. I know I came home really tired and unloaded the groceries, made a quick sandwich and retired to a movie, of which I saw exactly 22 minute of it before dozing off.
 
How or why, I tossed my wallet in the fridge is anyone's guess.  Perhaps the cats did it as an early April Fool's trick...
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.Com
Dear Miss Mermaid




Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape in the new year.

- Dreezy Day
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Sun, 20 Jan 2008 22:46:17 EST
Drizzly rainy weather throughout the day. Makes one sleepy and lazy, and longing to live in the islands and just stretch out in a hammock and do absolutely nothing. Well, gee, that sounds like me except I am saving up for the hammock
 
I am going to go take a leak out the window and check the temperature.
 
Um, well, that would be a LOOK out the window, um not a leak...
 
Well, it's 81 degrees and dreezy.  Yes, dreezy. (windy drizzles. )
 
I am traveling some across island today, will try to take some pics and drive the people behind me nuts!  But I mustn't get my camera wet, so if I come back picture-less, blame the weather.
 
My kitty looked so cute, he was stretched out across all the shoes, as if to say these are all MINE and you aren't leaving me today!
 
I tiptoed to go get the camera, came back and of course he had moved and was now only commandeering a few shoes, not all.  He is the same kitty that will sit on your feet and give you that "you aren't going to get up and go anywhere looks, while he makes himself at home on your foot..."
 
So much for those Kodak Cat-Act moments... It was cuter when he was stretched across all of them.
 
 
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.Com
Dear Miss Mermaid




Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape in the new year.

- No Snow Expected!
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Fri, 18 Jan 2008 11:46:44 EST
At day break, we were in a white out!  It almost looked as if we were going to have snow at any moment, but all we got was a few beautiful low key squalls. The winds have been blustery since then and the sun is out against a backdrop of numerous clouds as seen below.
 
Good heavens! 
 
I sent yesterday's report out without consulting my spell heckler! 
 
Argh...  Sorry about that, I know it makes for tough reading and really shows off what an awful typist, I truly am.
 
That is how I learned to be an accountant umpteen years ago. I was employed as a young teenager, at an office that thought I could be a secretary or assistant. Then they saw how awful I typed, that I was hopelessly dyslexic and would never ever survive as a secretary. Rather than can me, they taught me accounting. A dyslexic accountant?  Sure, if you transpose figures, then the error is always divisible by nine.  That was back in the days before computers and we maintained huge heavy ledgers and did massive amounts of neat writing.
 
I tried my best to write things neatly and spell correctly, but mainly they just wanted the figures to be correct. Errors had one neat line drawn through them with a ruler, then a correction made elsewhere in the ledger. 
 
A few years later when erasable pens were developed, my boss proudly presented me a big case of them! My errors reduced substantially, as if you caught the boo-boo the first few hours or so, then you could erase the ink and start over. After a few hours, the ink became permanent.  They even let me start hand-writing memos!  What with the erasable ink, I could actually sound intelligent on paper.
 
For some reason, I learned to run an adding machine and later a calculator, (yep, I was invented before calculators!) without ever looking at it and still be 100% accurate, about 99% of the time. I could run my eyes and ruler down a row of figures with my let hand and rat-a-tat-tat at a rapid rate, with my right hand into the adding machine, never once looking at the machine and come up with the correct answer.  I sure wish I could type that way. But no matter how hard I try, I have never made peace with the keyboard.
 
To this day, keyboards still torture me, I thought computers would change all that and the letters would now be arranged alphabetically, but no, we still  have this Qwerty system.  Go figure.
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.Com
Dear Miss Mermaid




Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape in the new year.

- beautiful
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2008 11:01:18 EST
Another spectcular day in paradise!  The Scuba companies must be thrilled as we have had perfect diving weather for days now! 
 
 
There are so mnay things we take for granted here and often forget the rest of the world is different:
 
For instance the rest of the owrold often alphabetizes their lists and files.  Not here.
 
Our phone book is mostly alphabetical, thus when my friend was dismayed he couldn't find a favorite business in the white pages, I informed him the business had been here 25+ years and surely had a listed phone.
 
I then grabbed the phone book and found the listing.  He grabbed the book back, looked at it, and siad "But, that's out of order!  This page isn't even alphabetical!" 
 
"Well, it's still under R and it starts with an R..."
 
He shook his head. He couldn't believe we operate with a phone book that is only partially alphabetized. "Somebody should tell the phone company!"
 
"Well, you'll have to drive downtown, get security clearnance, take a number and then tell them!  Our phone company doesn't do phone."
 
"What?"
 
"Our phone compnay doesn't talk to customers by phone. You have to see them in person." 
 
"Well, I'll fire off a fax to them and tell them this is ridiculous to have a phone book that's out of order."
 
"They don't do fax either. I know, I have tried. And they don't do email either.  But open up the phone book and some marketing specialist has splashed "We answer to you!"  all over their promo pages. Try to call them, see how many hours the phone rings before someone answers or they disconnect you or if they do answer, they will tell you to come in to their office in person and hang up on you."
 
"Last time I went to the phone company they demanded to see my passport. My passport?  I thought this was the phone compnay not immiration!  I only drove from West End...Doesn't my local driver's license work for that?  I surely don't trot around all day with something as important as my Passport unless I am crossing dotted lines into other countries!" 
 
"Well we need ID" intoned the clerk.
 
Apparenlty the phone compnay won't talk to you in person either, unless you have a passport or other ID.  I proudly showed her my ugly driver's license and she proclaimed the pic didn't look like me at all.
 
What do you say to THAT?
 
 
Only on Tortola...  Beware of the speed bump, at least this one is painted. Notice it is painted right where the tires drive over it. This is so the paint wears out quicker.  See  the utility pole?  You can tell we use levels to do our work around here. Oh and the cows?  Anyone missing cows?  It seems your farm is on the loose lately, horses one day and cows the next. Stay tuned for the pig parade...
 
If this sign looks blurry, then you've had too many 'shrooms already...
 
MORE ON THE LAST PIRATE OF THE CARIBBEAN...
 
Gary Kilbride shares with us, a picture link of Bert Kilbride through the years.  A celebration of Bert Kilbride's life will be held on his birthday In the BVI on March 8th, stay tuned for more info soon...
 
coming soon.  Bert's obituary from the Sun-Sentinel is posted here.
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.Com
Dear Miss Mermaid




Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape in the new year.

- Only one problem of course...
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2008 08:26:18 EST
We had heavy dew this morning in the form of a very light gentle rain that put a nice shine on this part of the world, that settled a bit of the dust and everything looked a tad cleaner and smarter.
 
There is nothing significant to report wether wise, it's a great day for sailing or diving or limin' at the beach, mon. The temperature and winds are quite agreeable, life is GOOD.
 
From the MailBag
Dear Miss Mermaid,

Your photo of sunset on 13 January needs to be recognized as what I can only say is the all time greatest BVI photo that I have ever seen.  Listening to Kenny Chesney's Old blue chair at the moment it arrived on my screen almost made for life altering changes at that instant.  Only one problem of course,  cash...lots of it.  Oh well, one day.  Oh to be in your shoes (sorry, fin) sometimes.  Keep it coming.

Lee B.
Augusta GA
 
Thank you *blush* Lee, for such a nice note. A bit of trivia,  Kenny Chesney's Old Blue Chair song is about the old blue chair on Jost Van Dyke. Some time in the past, I wrote about the attempted theft of same chair. Some people...
 
 
"Only one problem of course,  cash...lots of it."
 
No problem mon! 
 
You don't need that much cash. Back in the dark ages, when I discovered I was really a mermaid trapped in an executive suit, landlocked over 200 miles from the nearest ocean, and I could no longer resist the call of the sea, I went into action to "free the mermaid!"
 
I assessed all my wordily talents and my willingness to learn more skills. I spent a year picking up more useful skills, reading a ton of books and during that same year, quietly sold or gave away everything I owned, nothing went into storage. I didn't bother to tell anyone what I was up to, until about a week before my departure. Needless to say, my lover, friends, clients, coworkers, and family were completely shocked and thought me certifiably nuts.
 
Before I could be committed to the locked, armed, secured and heavily sedated wayward home for disillusioned mermaids, (you know the type, they have people in white coats dispensing dangerous drugs to make you think you are crazy) I packed the remainder of my stuff into a very small sea bag and placed the proceeds from disposing of my worldly goods into a savings account, and took off, a few days ahead of my announced schedule (slippery mermaid!) lest anyone try to stop me.
 
"Only one problem of course,  cash...lots of it."
 
No problem mon! 
 
Through previous contacts made via a classified ad I had placed in the back of SAIL magazine, I obtained a trainee crew position on a large charter yacht based in the Caribbean. I thought I had a ride on a boat from the US to join the charter yacht, but it fell through, and it was cold, so I simply sailed my favorite thing to weather (a commercial jet!)
 
I joined that yacht as a trainee, earning about the same in a week as I previously used to make before lunch each day. But money was not my object. I wanted to go to sea and see what I could see. I had heard the ocean calling my name, the wind whispering in my ear, the islands inviting me.  I had no debts, (as stuff was sold, debts were paid off)  I lived frugally and besides, professionally crewed yachts pay a salary plus food and accommodations. So not much else you need.
 
Eventually, I utilized more skills, studied books late into the night and found myself in better paying positions such as Chef, or Purser, and eventually Captain of my own small boat. I also briefly worked as delivery crew, bartender on a large ship, and chief purser on a cruise ship. After about 4 years or so of living out of my small sea bag, traversing the seas and islands on numerous charter and private yachts, I stumbled upon a hurricane ravaged thirty foot boat and thought I could buy it and refit her like new again. I mailvordered a small avalanche of more books, and by golly with books, tools, and a little help from my friends (we all need a little help from our friends!)  I rebuilt that boat and made her seaworthy.
 
She became my traveling  live aboard home for the next 10 years or so, and I did manage to fix her up like new again and do specialty charters or teach sailing on her. Those years of travel and sailing and living aboard either my small boat or working and living aboard fancy large yachts, (while my boat was stored) were the time of my life.
 
I had youth, energy, gained strength, and learned the fine art of seamanship on all manner of things that float. I worked with the worst and the best of crews. I jumped ship if things were abusive (yes, we have modern day slave drivers out there!) and stayed when it was comfy. If the yacht stopped traveling for a length of time for whatever reason, I updated my one page resume and sought out a new yacht or ship that was going somewhere...  anywhere, I had the wanderlust to keep sailing.
 
I thought I would spend a lifetime at sea. One day, though, I was in a bad accident at sea, that left me with major injuries and slight but permanent disabilities. I was overseas, and not in the land of litigation, so there was zero compensation for my misfortune, it was just plain bad luck, that took its toll on me physically, emotionally and financially. My days at sea had suddenly ended and I was truly like a fish out of water, devastated and clueless as to my immediate future. By then I had spent well over a decade and more footloose and fancy free, going where the winds blew me. Sometimes good things come to an end, and you just have to look for that pot of gold at the end of the next rainbow and see what happens next.
 
"Only one problem of course,  cash...lots of it."
 
No problem mon! 
 
Somehow, I managed to reassess my skills, put them to use and more or less reluctantly return to a landlubbers life, but this time in the islands, on an island, and close to the water.
 
I still have dreams almost every night, of being back at sea again. I wake up to close hatches that aren't there, to check compass headings in a dreamlike cockpit or pilothouse. I sleep and dream at night of the faraway places, I once saw and often seem to visit places in my sleep I have yet to visit while awake. I guess it's a mermaid thing. My heart belongs at sea.
 
Many of the larger yachts and big ships will allow a captain to travel with his mate or family as companions rather than hired crew. Few captains do so, because often their mate or family doesn't care for the life at sea. Other captains prefer to sport multiple secret families in various far flung ports.  I love the life at sea.  Unfortunately, I haven't yet met a seafaring captain creature, interested in a mermaid companion, or I would happily hop aboard and never look back.
 
"Only one problem of course,  cash...lots of it."
 
No problem mon! 
 
No one comes to the islands to make a small fortune, (unless they start with a big fortune!) If money and cash are your thing, then STAY PUT, cause you won't make much here and living on boats in far flung places or living on islands in the middle of nowhere is often like traversing a time machine. Cash pay can be fantastic or dismal or somewhere in between.
 
You often are not treated to the latest and greatest, shopping for anything beyond necessities is often chaotic and frustrating, cultures are different and if you want to feel at home, then you need to ingrain yourself with the locals, their customs and lifestyle. 
 
In my opinion, it's urban sprawl that instills a false need to forsake mother nature and search out the most cash and money, and somehow equate that to success and happiness.
 
The further you are from urban sprawl, the closer to mother nature, one can become, and the need, want and desire for excessive cash and money is substantially lessened. There is true happiness to be found, that isn't measured by the size of your wallet or bank account or "stuff".  Worldly possessions are fun to own, but a heavy burden too.
 
There is a great tremendous exhilarating freedom, when all you own zips up into a small bag and your skills and passport are your ticket to your future.
 
"Only one problem of course,  cash...lots of it."
 
No problem mon! Bring your skills and willingness to tackle the unknown, to make do without, to make do with what's at hand. All you really need is a bit of food, a bit of clothing and a bit of shelter. Life goes on.
 
We have great island and sea ingenuity, those that learned to fix things in a non-traditional manner because they lived on the edge, on a far flung island, a remote boat or what have you. That a metal spring to keep a  door closed can be made with a rock and string, that a heap of a jeep can be held together with duct tape and rope, that rum can start your fire cheaper than lighter fluid, that a strung up bedsheet upon a small raft, can be powered by the wind, that woven palm fronds can provide a roof or wall, that hibiscus flowers, which bloom for only one day can then be made into delicious tea...
 
Cane Garden Bay, one of the many anchorages I spent numerous nights, over the years, anchored or moored on a small or large yacht.
 
 
 
 




Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape in the new year.

- Another Enchanted Day
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 18:40:46 EST
Wish you were here!
 
Sunset January 13, 2008
 
It's dark thirty on the 14th, all is well, another gorgeous day in paradise. No snow, no storms, just great weather today and for the next few days.
 
I know, I checked my crystal ball.
 
Frenchie writes in that the bright star I saw (yesterday's sunrise photo) was Venus, at that time of morning and given my location and the fact that Venus is 4 times brighter than any other star.
 
CabinMan writes in that the bright star was really an alien ship coming to take me back to the land of Mermaids and that I should be ready to greet "the others".
 
So, I am still here, sorry CabinMan, it must be Venus, though I was so looking forward to meeting and greeting "the others."
 
I am still 50 emails behind, so hold on tight, if I haven't answered yours yet. I am slowly catching up, you know how slow we islanders are about everything.
 
We still have 2007 calendars on sale here, at FULL price. Go figure.
 
I am still waiting on the Christmas candy, stuffing curtains into the stockings looked ridiculous (curtains were being sold at Christmas, where the Christmas candy is usually stocked...) 
 
I was also informed on Christmas day "What did you give us curtains for?  They taste terrible!"
 
I wrote this report several times today, my computer kept crashing, just didn't want me to write for some reason. Maybe it was "the others" trying to send me a message.




Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape in the new year.

- Morning Has Broken
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Sun, 13 Jan 2008 09:42:33 EST
81 degrees, moderate winds, gentle seas. All is well in the BVI.
 
Some days, words can't describe how beautiful our world is. I woke up to this, a bright star in the sky and the morning breaking in red and orange hues, over the Caribbean Sea. I don't have a direct view of east, this picture is facing southeast. The star is a tad blurry (I was too at this wee hour!) but it shown brightly, brighter than my old camera could capture.
 
 
Morning has broken, like the first morning.
Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird.
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning,
Praise for them springing fresh from the Word.
 
Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlit from heaven.
Like the first dew fall, on the first grass.
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden,
Sprung in completeness where His feet pass.
 
Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning.
Born of the one light Eden saw play.
Praise with elation, praise every morning;
God's recreation of the new day.
 
Morning has broken, like the first morning.
Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird.
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning,
Praise for them springing fresh from the Word.
 
Written by Eleanor Farjeon in 1922, under the original title of "A Morning Song (For the First Day of Spring) and can be found in many hymnals
Recorded by  Cat Stevens in 1971 as "Morning Has Broken"
 
    As the sun shyly crept over the horizon, I played, in my head,  Morning Has Broken by Cat Stevens,  and it seemed like the most beautiful song in the world.  Even without the music, I could hear every distinct word, every nuance of his voice, the chords on his guitar and the tickle of the ivories from the marvelous pianist.
    As a young child, one Christmas, my parents decided to buy us kids a group gift which was a folding phonograph player.  It had two speakers, not one,  and we felt rich indeed to own such a treasure. We were each given one Album and mine was Teaser and the Firecat by Cat Stevens with this song on it. I must have played that song 10,000 times over the next few years and it is forever inscribed in my fuzzy brain.
    The music is so exquisite, one can well imagine beautiful ballet dancers performing elegant steps to this heavenly song.
    For some peaceful trivia, On 10 November 2004, he was presented with a Man for Peace award by the private foundation of former USSR president Mikhail Gorbachev, for his 'dedication to promote peace, the reconciliation of people and to condemn terrorism'; the ceremony was held in Rome, Italy and attended by five Nobel Peace Prize laureates. A year later, on 4 November 2005, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Gloucestershire for services to education and humanitarian relief. In October 2003 he received the World Social Award for "humanitarian relief work helping children and victims of war".
    We need more like him in this troubled world. 
 




Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape in the new year.

- Paradise
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Sat, 12 Jan 2008 10:45:32 EST
This is a drop dead gorgeous day and I wish I could just be out in it all day. I have work to do, such is life. Somebody has to go bring home the tuna for the mermaid and the cats.
 
It is 80 degrees, the sun is out, the sky is pale baby blue, the waters are winking crystals at me, as the sun dances off the ripples.  All this against a backdrop of scattered puffy white clouds, as if the angels dropped a bag of fluffy cotton balls.  The terrain is pretty green these days, as we have had adequate rains. It's a bit warmer for January, I haven't felt like wearing slippers or long pants or anything resembling warm clothing.  I can't complain, growing up, I always thought it would be cool  to live in year round summer, and mostly that is what we have here.
 
Thanks to Denise and Robby who hail from Louisiana, my pantry is now stocked with all sorts of Cajun goodies and spices. I love that Cajun food (Gumbo, Jambalaya, Creole etc) as I spent about 2 dozen weekends in New Orleans one year and the food was heaven on earth. 
 
Furthermore, they spoiled my rotten cats, bringing them organic cat nip and toys and treats. The little traitors were suddenly sitting in their laps, purring up a storm or rolling in the catnip and totally ignoring me as if I was just the hired help, only here to open the door at their very command or fill the water dish at their beckon. Apparently the little furry miscreants can be bribed away quite easily.
 
Growing up my mother would sometimes treat us to this incredible Shrimp Creole she made in a big heavy iron pan, and she wasn't afraid to spice it up just right.  It was one of my favorite dishes she made and she had no leftovers to store when I was around.
 
Since I moved last month, the cat's have proudly presented me with a dead rat, a dead snake and adopted one lone lizard who is allowed to live inside without interference as long as he eats bugs.  He is currently lounging on top of the rolled up bamboo shades, looking rather fat and happy.  I am proud to say that I am pest-free thanks to these critters.
 
Miss Mermaid is full of booboos of late.  I get so wrapped up in things, I forget sometimes to dot the I's check the T's and re-read to see if anything I write makes any sense at all.  
 
Gary Kilbride pointed out he isn't the only "son" of Bert Kilbride, but rather the oldest of 7. (Gary, Burt(Chip), Mike, Pat, Jimi, Tyrel & step-son Dan). It's amazing how we have had perfect sea conditions for diving since Bert passed on. I like to think he is out there taking one last look around his underwater world.  
 
By the way, has anyone lost a horse lately?
I was up at Rudy's Bar a few days ago, by invitation from friends who arranged to have Rudy cook us some of his fine food, chicken, ribs, corn on the cob and Lyonnaise mashed potatoes. I think Rudy uses about 1/2 pound of butter for each corn on the cob he cooks and I shudder to think how much went into the potatoes, but my plate was clean when I was done.
 
This horse came galloping up to the bar, as if she wanted a beer, but after being shooed away, with a flip of her tail, she sauntered down the road.  She seemed a bit confused when cars whizzed by, and stopped on the side of the road, munching some overgrowth before continuing her aimless journey. No one at the bar knew where she belonged, including Shadow, who owns his own horses in the area.
 
 
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.Com
Dear Miss Mermaid




Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape in the new year.

- Knots
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2008 10:03:23 EST
Gorgeous day in paradise. We are thinking of putting hurricnae season to REST, finally, though why January is so warm, is anybody's guess. At 1030am it is 82 or 81 degrees in West End, Tortola, (depends on which thermometer you believe, both digital) tradewinds are gentle. 
 
Nanny Cay reports 7 knots with 14 knot gusts, however, Leverick Bay reports 18 mph with temperature of 76 degrees and gusts at 19mph.  Beef Island airport reports 4 knots and 75 degrees temp.
 
I can't reconcile the temperature differences, though another reader pointed out they might be indoor air-conditioned readings *giggle*. And knowing how islanders do things, that could well be true!
 
Jost Van Dyke reports that there is no snow on the slopes today...
 
 
I see that Gert, the wonderful webmaster for StormCarib.com fixed the link for donating to the BVI Humane Society, in honor of Bert Kilbride.
 
Meanwhile, Bert's son contacted me about yet another booboo I made (tee hee hee). Some days my spell heckler just can't catch it all!
 
Gary writes:
Your yesterday's post has the following
 
"Winds were clocked at 3 knots per hour" 
 
Not meaning to be picky, but this in an incorrect statement!
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Knot is a unit of speed, equal to one nautical mile per hour.
 
So "3 knots per hour" is saying: 3 nautical miles per hour per hour!
 
Ps:  Thank you for the wonderful post about Bert:)
 
 
 
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.Com
Dear Miss Mermaid




Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape in the new year.

- Calm Seas
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2008 11:03:37 EST
Since yesterday afternoon, the Caribbean Sea on the south side of Tortola, has been like a glassy lake. I almost expect swans to pass by. 
 
Winds were clocked at 3 knots per hour at the airport readings, when this picture was taken. Unfortunately, I was half asleep, and it didn't occur to me to give you the time of this photo. But the red hues caught my bleary eyes, and I stumbled around and found my camera, to grab this, even before my first cup of coffee.
 
Low level clouds with a slight chance of small isolated scattered showers are expected. If you are sailing to windward, I would do so today, with the help of an iron jib (that's a motor for you landlubbers).  Then when the winds pick up again, in a day or two, you can sail back downwind and have a real sleigh ride.
 
Back in the dark ages, when I taught sailing, my favorite tune to play while sailing downwind was Ravel's Bolero. The music starts out so slight and has a calming effect on the nervous student at the helm. Since learning to sail downwind take a bit of concentration, the music seems to evoke that, or maybe it was just me, I was and  still am in love with this incredible orchestral piece that was originally composed as a ballet. 
 
Sailing downwind is a bit of a ballet in itself. You want the wind just right over one should or the other, and keep the main from jibing.  You are one with nature, sailing downwind.
 
Going downwind on a small sailboat,  feels like slowly going nowhere (at great expense) and life is good, really good. It's an illusion; you are typically going much faster than you realize.
 
Bolero is one of the most exquisite tunes, first performed by Maurice Ravel in Paris in 1928. It was one of the last pieces he composed before illness forced him into retirement.
 
Imagine writing a tune that evokes such emotions that 80 years later, nuts like me are still fanatical about it. This morning as I watched the sun rise, it was Bolero that played gently in my mind.
 
Sunrise this morning. You can view the full size picture here.
 
Perhaps  Bert Kilbride, bless his soul, has calmed the seas, for a perfect day of scuba diving, his passion in life.
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
DearMissMermaid.Com
Dear Miss Mermaid




Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape in the new year.

- Correction to Link, In Memory of Bert Kilbride
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2008 14:05:27 EST
I made a boo-boo on this morning's post! (Gee, how often do I do that?)  Bert's wife, Gayla, bless her heart, called me up to correct it.
 
To make a donation in honor of Bert Kilbride, go to the BVI Humane Society web page, scroll down and click the "donate".
 
 
Actually, I tried to make the entire posting last night, but the Internet crashed, (so not much new there!)  I was relieved this morning it was up and running but I was half asleep and got the link wrong. Ooops!
 
We all thank you, the animals thank you, Bert's wife and family thank you.
 
There will be a memorial service, actually more of a Celebration of Bert's Life,  held both  in Florida and in the BVI at a future date.
*****************
 
It's 3pm in the BVI, sun is out but WHERE are the winds?  Seas are calm and temperature is 84, most unusual for January, usually it is a bit cooler.  Maybe the seas warmed up because Bert is out there diving...
 




Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape in the new year.

- Lost Treasure
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2008 05:01:44 EST
It is dark thirty, winds are still, ocean is calm, temperature is 81.  All is well in the BVI except we have lost a BVI national treasure.
 
Bert Kilbride, age 93,  died yesterday morning at 825am, with his wife Gayla, by his side, holding his hand and reading to him. He lived in the BVI from 1964-2005.  Bert was a colorful character who left behind many lasting legacies.
 
 
 
Bert called himself the Last Pirate of the Caribbean, a name he well earned with his various exploits.   He has been a diver for almost a century and a treasure seeker for over 5 decades.  He was an inventor, a builder, a contractor, and an entrepreneur.  He had bought and developed two barren islands (Drake's Anchorage, a Scuba Resort, on Mosquito Island and Saba Rock) and owned a SCUBA diving tour business for 30 years. 
 
In the 1960's he created the "Resort Course" for the beginners interested in SCUBA diving.  It is now taught worldwide under the name "Introductory SCUBA Course."  In 1987 he was awarded the NOGI Award for SPORTS/EDUCATION for the creation of the resort course.  (The NOGI Award was created in the 1950s and it is the oldest and most prestigious award in the diving industry.)
 
Bert  was made the "Receiver of Wrecks" by Queen Elizabeth in 1967 and called a "Pirate" by others in the BVI Government when he would not produce a map of the shipwrecks he had found on Anegada Reef (138 wrecks).  
 
In the 1990's, the governor of the BVI called him a "Living Legend" in his speech on the radio. 
 
In 2004, for his 90th birthday, Guinness Book of World Records proclaimed him the "Oldest Scuba Diver" in the world.
 
Bert left a large barefoot print all over (and under) the BVI and we are likely to never see such a bountiful eccentric modern day pirate  like him, among us ever again.
 
During my years of working aboard charter and private yachts in the BVI, two of our favorite spots to anchor, was at  Drake's Anchorage and Saba Rock near Virgin Gorda. That was because Bert & Gayla owned Saba Rock and had converted their home into a bar. Many days Bert was around, hanging out, regaling us with fantastic stories, most of them actually true!  I could sit and listen to Bert for hours and he often had me in stitches with laughter.  He was one of the most colorful characters I have ever met, and he definitely earned the title of The Last Caribbean Pirate.
 
Sadly years later, after a few hurricanes slammed through the islands, in the mid 90's, ripping out their docks and tearing off the roof, Bert and Gayla sold the rock, jokingly, as a "topless bar".  A museum is there now at the new resort, which resembles nothing of the old rock Bert commandeered in his day.
 
His family asks that, in lieu of flowers, a donation to The BVI Humane Society, PO Box 190,  Road Town, Tortola BVI  would be appreciated.  [link fixed by Gert, see posting above]
 
Farewell to Bert
A National Treasure
May You Rest In Peace
 
 
 




Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape in the new year.

- One Thousand Words
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Tue, 8 Jan 2008 15:26:19 EST
Beautiful gorgeous day in paradise!
 
 
 
 
Warm and Sunny Regards,
Dear Miss Mermaid

DearMissMermaid.Com




Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape in the new year.

- Sunny Skies are Here Again, Wish you were too!
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Mon, 7 Jan 2008 08:10:30 EST
Rains finally let up late yesterday, it's going to be green here for January as the showers were widespread aross the islands.  I had company comin from East End to Wet End, but they were bringing precious cargo in the back of a truck, so the trip kept getting postponed until fnally we have to give and save for a sunny day. Looks like they are coming today with beautiful artwork for me to "store" on my walls until their new home is built. Lucky me! 
 
However, we have a high surf advisory in effect until 11am this morning.  I hope the seas subside somewhat as late this afternoon I have friends from afar, making thier final journey by small boat from St Thomas to here and I know they would like to arrive dry (Ha!).
 
I went out to drop off laundry yesterday during what I thought was a dry spell, and the heavens opened up like the levees up above had burst forth. The little laundry man was at work and would have liked for me to spend a day chatting with him, but much as I wanted to, I could not, things kept happening that needed my attention.
 
To top it off, I had another flat tire. Thankfully I had one last lone rusty can of fix-a-flat, I put that into the tire, and it pumped it right up, and sealed the leak. As of this morning, 24 hours later, the tire is still fully inflated. I have always driven with a can or 2 or 3 of this in my heap of a jeep, and let me tell you, it has saved me numerous times.
 
I will get to the tire repair mon soon, who will mutter under his breath (the stuff stinks when you go to repair the tire properly) but who on earth wants to change a tire in the pouring down rain, especially when the one and same is wearing a short dress with freshly painted finger nails? 
 
I once ran across an elderly English couple who had a flat and they were on that awful muddy rutty road from Smuglers Cove Beach.  I was returning from the beach, covered in sea salt and sand.  I pulled over and offered them my can of Fix-A-Flat. THey kept trying to politely decline, yet they were all dressed up and they thought I was wildly out of my mind if I thought some can of junk was going to fix that flat tire and it was indeed sitting on the rim. Somehow I convinced them to let me give it a try, afterall,  I was dressed for the beach and they were dressed for church or somewhere fancy.  I looked over the tire to see if I could find anything offending like a nail to pull out, and sure enough, there was a screw, I pulled that out, stuck the fix-a-flat in the valve and in about 2 minutes the tire was plump as brand new.  I wiped the mud off their disbelieving chins (which had largely dropped in awe) and informed them they had to drive IMMEDIATELY and sedately for about a mile or so , then they could resume driving normally. I then hopped in my heap and drove away, yelling at them "Go!  Go!  Go! You have to DRIVE to make the stuff spin around the tire so it will stick right!"
 
A week later, I recived an unsual voice mail. THis couple had asked half the island until they found out WHO owned the trusty rusty red heap of a jeep, that had saved their tire that fateful day.  I was invited to their home for high tea and a complimentary can of fix-a-flat. Turns out their tire held up fine for days until they finally got it fixed properly. Sometimes that stuff works for months. But it's recomended you get to the tire repair place eventually.
 
*************
 
Now onto Eddoes!  It is spelled with two D's hence the confusion, though sometimes seen with one D, also known as taro and dasheen.  (See yesterday's post).
 
A dear sweet gentle reader sent this recipe across the high seas in a Catto's Rare Old Scottish Highland Whisky Bottle which rolled up on the seashore this morning:

EDDOE SOUP
 
1 lb. (450 g) Eddoes (white or nut)
1/4 (100 g) fresh meat (pork, beef or chicken, salted or fresh)
4 pts. (2 liters) water
2 onions
Sprig of thyme
3-4 blades escholot (Shallots or Scallions)
1 tbsp. butter
Salt & pepper to taste
 
Peel eddoes and put in water to boil with salt and fresh meat cut into small pieces. When tender, crush eddoes. Return to saucepan, add onions, thyme and eschalot. Salt and pepper to taste. Simmer until smooth. Lastly add 1 tablespoon butter and serve with or without pieces of meat.
 
I too have enjoyed reading your news.
Eddoes are available even in the Scottish Highlands
regards
eric
 
 
Common name: taro, eddoe, dasheen, "old" cocoyam
Scientific name: Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott
Family: Araceae (Arum family)
Plant part used: tuber (thickened underground stem)
Where grown: throughout the Tropics and Subtropics
Native to: Polynesia and East Asia
Use: Taro can be prepared in many ways, but should not be eaten raw, as it contains calcium oxalate crystals that can cause throat and esophogus swelling. It can be grated and "hash-browned," made into a pureed soup, added to stew, or deep fat fried and eaten as crunchy chips.

Taro is a staple, starchy food of the tropical Pacific and West Africa. Poi is a paste made of cooked taro that is pounded and thinned with water. It is often slightly fermented.

BOOKS from Dear Miss Mermaid's Chef Store, you might enjoy:

The Encyclopedia of Country Living: An Old Fashioned Recipe Book The Encyclopedia of Country Living: An Old Fashioned Recipe Book by Carla Emery
Buy new: $19.77 / Used from: $16.79
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Excerpt - page 312: "... esculenta, or Colocasia esculenta) is also known as "candala," "dasheen," "eddoe," "gabi," and "yautia." It's a Latin American staple whose leaves ..."

An Embarrassment of Mangoes: A Caribbean Interlude An Embarrassment of Mangoes: A Caribbean Interlude by Ann Vanderhoof
Buy new: $10.17 / Used from: $4.44
Usually ships in 24 hours
Excerpt - page 183: "... mangoes, and toast: eggs and hash browns- made from boiled eddoes, ..."

http://astore.amazon.com/myfavoritechefstuff-20/detail/1932205632/002-9895114-6513643
A Taro Cookbook by Hana High Student Body
Buy new: $19.95
Usually ships in 24 hours
 
 
 
 
http://astore.amazon.com/myfavoritechefstuff-20/detail/1566475767/002-9895114-6513643 Hawaii Cooks With Taro by Marcia Zina Mager
Buy new: $15.95 / Used from: $12.95
Usually ships in 24 hours
BON APETIT!





Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape in the new year.

- Rains and More Rains
  • From: DearMissMermaid at aol.com
  • Date: Sun, 6 Jan 2008 08:37:59 EST
The promised  scattered showers have arrived today, the garden is thrilled, the cistern is glub, blub, happily drinking it all up.  The horizon is playing peek a boo, clouds are low, visibility short. Sea swells are big on the North shore, so watch out for rip currents. A small craft advisory is in effect until tomorrow morning.  Seas should start subsiding somewhat by Monday afternoon.
 

Washed up in a Labbats Blue Bottle on the beach this morning,  was this rolled up note:

I read your comments on Storm Carib everyday and thought I would thank you for your wit and humor that I appreciate every morning from Pickering Ontario Canada. I started checking the site after I worked in Nassau some years back. It was my first trip down south and I made some lasting friends that were born in the Islands. I have since worked on a few of the Islands for 1-2 month jobs. The last of these was on ST Vincent. I did stay on Tortola for several weeks some years ago working on the Hydro cable that went over to Virgin Gorda. I enjoyed that job the most and had local people to work with and show me around. It was a hot fun job working in Tortola and Virgin Gorda. I quickly learned about the electricity you joke about. I hope it gets better for you. During my time in the Islands I had the pleasure of sampling many local lunches and dinners. I had Edoe soup one day at lunch and loved it. However I can’t find a recipe for it anywhere. Can you help?

Derek

We be Freezing Mon!

Derek, you have stumped the mermaid!  I have no idea what Edoe soup is. I did some brief research and noted it is written about in Rita Springer's cookbooks . I found a nice article about her and her cookbooks.  The Edoe soup is listed as a Bajan favorite, (Bajan being folks from Barbados.) Maybe one of the other StormCarib.com Correspondents or readers can shed some light on this.

Warm and Sunny Regards,
Dear Miss Mermaid

DearMissMermaid.Com




Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape in the new year.

Older reports from the BVI have been moved to another page.

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