They say it’s your birthday

02/27/2015 February is one of the weirdest months. How can someone be born in February but only have a birthday every 4 years? Such is Bill’s life, he is a Leap Year baby and yes, I’m married to someone who is almost 15. Happy Birthday tomorrow and Sunday Bill, or do we wait until 11:59:59 Saturday night and celebrate until 12:01:00? Don’t expect cakes and gifts.

Yesterday morning I noticed Emmy sitting in an unusual spot and staring at the wall. I followed her line of sight to this:

I believe she is a lizard slayer but doesn’t like the taste, unless she eats them and I don’t know it. And EWWW, I hope not because that’s just too gross. She sleeps with me.

Last Saturday we Bill helped out at Camp Bay school. I went along but didn’t really do anything physical because of my arm. The school house is 2 rooms, Kindergarten on one side and 1-6 on the other. Only one of the 2 rooms had working lights and the rooms were painted dark colors and had dark painted wooden window louvers. There are 3 people from Canada, Brian and Addie and Nancy (I think) who had a fund raiser for $$ for the schools down here. There are several they are hoping to fix up. They were there working hard as well as Ben Welcome and his crew. Bill helped Brian do the re-wire.

I walked down by the church that was below the school. What an idyllic setting for a church. I met the woman whose Father donated his land for the school and the church, she was a super sweet, very pretty lady. I enjoyed talking to her.

When we left for the day both rooms had electricity. After leaving there we stopped at Jimmy’s (La Sirena) for a beer and onion rings. OhMyGAWD, they are so flipping good!

Sunday we hung around here and worked, still so much to do all the time. I guess it doesn’t matter where you live, if you own a house there is always work to be done.

Monday was a run errands kind of day. I decided I needed to get stuff done and not go to the beach. Anyhow, I would have gotten weird tan lines with my bandage on.

Tuesday I had an appointment at the physiotherapists again. It was to be at 10 but I didn’t get seen until 11. ARGGHHH! I hate to wait. By the time I got out of there it was after noon and I had to get my butt to Oak Ridge to help out at the Vet clinic. It was pouring all morning and the Vet area was a mud hole. Helping Paws Across Borders is here for 2 weeks and doing free spay and neuter operations for people who can’t afford to pay for the surgery. They were also doing vaccinations, worming, flea and tick and general animal care. One poor dog came in with what was thought to be a tumor; turns out it was a litter of dead puppies and pus. Luckily the dog lived. There was a boy named Diego that kept bringing in dogs. We aren’t really sure where the dogs were coming from but he must have brought us at least 10.

I was exhausted when I got home and soaking wet from sweating bullets all day long. And YAY! I was going to do it again on Wednesday. I ran to the store Wednesday morning and got stuff to make Avocado Deviled eggs for the Vets and the people working there. They are yummy, even for a person who doesn’t like Avocado (like me). Recipe is:

Deviled Avocado Eggs – Mash 1 large avocado with 3 egg yolks. Add 1 tsp. chopped cilantro, 3 tsp lime juice, 1 tbsp chopped red onion, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Top with a sprinkle of chili or paprika.

Wednesday was INSANE at the clinic. Those poor vets were inundated with animals. By the time I got there at noon there were over 50 animals, by the end of the day we were on our way to 200. IN 1 DAY!!!

I got home and showered the sweat off of me for another day. It’s so awesome that these vets volunteer here and Belize and Mexico to help the pets, if you ever visit the island you will see the need.  Read about them here. Jennifer Cherry, the founder was one of the vets at the clinic.

I didn’t make it Thursday to help but they were covered anyhow. I guess it was crazy then also because RECO, (Roatan power company) had issues and power was out on the island, one of the vets left and never returned. Life on an island is always exciting.

Thursday morning I had another physiotherapist appointment and an appointment to get my hair taken care of. I honest to God followed a car from French Harbor to Coxen Hole, a tourist van none the less, and the driver drove with their left foot on the brake and the right on the gas, the WHOLE FLIPPING WAY AT 20 MPH. There was too much traffic to pass and the guy directly behind the slow moving vehicle was tailgating to the extent that I would have had to pass 2 vehicles in one fell swoop. I was so pissed but there was nothing I could do except turn up the music and enjoy the ride. Did I tell you my new car has a working CD and radio. What a novel idea! The doc wants to see me maybe 2 more times. He has helped me immensely but after being muscle and tendon constricted for 8+ months, I can’t expect miracles.  After that I treated myself to a visit with Nadia @ GLAM, my hair gal. I love Nadia, she is so much fun and I love the way she does my hair. Heck, she went and got me candy samples from the place next to her that makes delicious chocolate AND she gave me some Moroccan Oil for my hair. Sure, she is 30 minutes away but that’s OK, she’s worth it.

I stopped to get more paint at the Stihl chainsaw place (don’t ask) but the paint lady was gone and she had the samples with her. Of course she did. I said I would be back in the morning.

I was getting around this morning to go to get paint and to the “Farmacia.” I honestly felt like I was melting and went to look at the weather station @ 9 A.M. The outside temp was 79, inside was 82 and the HUMIDITY WAS 95%. No wonder the sweat running down my back felt like the Nile! I ordered the paint from the store. I didn’t have all afternoon to wait to order AND get the bill so I told them I would be back to get the paint and to please have the bill ready for me. This is the concept of this store. They get in a shipment, check it in and put it away. Then when the customer ACTUALLY WANTS TO PURCHASE something they have to scan through pages and pages of items looking for the number to find out the price. It takes them 30 minutes. I die a little every time. I am so OCD I want to number and code everything in the whole damn store. If these people weren’t so nice, I would go elsewhere. When I went to pay for it I used my new DAVIVIENDA debit card. How awesome that is. I also used the ATM too. No more standing in lines at Lafise to withdraw money. Banking in the new realm is fascinating stuff for me.

This afternoon I went to help out with an art project at Cattleya School. I went there once before when I rode with Jurgen to pick up the students. I feel like a slug because I have not gone back but I will talk to Connie and see what I can help with. The students here are learning disabled and/or handicapped physically. Cynthia was teaching animals parts to the students and Janice and I were helping the kids make the animals out of clay. There were only 4 students today, Loren is pretty self sufficient, he is a very talented artist and is very precise with everything he does. Paola is a doll, I love her. She is pretty good also, she knows what is expected of her and she likes to write and draw. The other 2 boys are young, one is Angel and the other is Denzy. Denzy was a handful to say the least. He didn’t want to sit in his seat, he hid the clay, grabbed everyone’s clay, crawled on the floor and tried to squish the clay animals.  And YAY, I was in charge of him. He and I made a cow and a rabbit, well, that’s what they were supposed to be.

It’s been a long busy week for me and it’s not over yet. Tomorrow is the airport gig from 11:30 to 4’ish, Rambo is painting downstairs some more tomorrow, have to get that done before Cheryl and Cis get here. I also found out that my friend Karen (KP) who was a waitress when I tended bar at the Old Corner Hotel is coming to visit from Australia the end of April, I haven’t seen her or Cis and Cheryl since the early 1990’s. And if all of that isn’t fabulous enough, Chance is coming the first of August for 10 days. SO much to look forward to this summer.

I plan to help out at the vet clinic again next week and who knows what else I’ll get into. Stay tuned for more photos from our wonderful life on this rock. Have a great weekend everyone! To my stateside friends and family, stay warm!!