10/08/2015 I’m on a roll today. Blog # 2, with # 3 to follow tomorrow.
The morning after the Rehab concert we delivered my beloved Pilates Allegro Reformer to my friend Jill’s Pilates Studio, Core Pilates. It has been sitting in the downstairs unused by me and I felt guilty as hell about it. If I haven’t used it in 2 years, I’m not going to, I’m getting older, not younger. When I messaged Jill to see if she was interested in buying it she was amazed because, like she says, “who owns a reformer?” Well, I do and back in Washington I used it almost nightly. It was also a fabulous prop for my crazy friend Kevin to perform on during our parties.
Most people don’t see a Pilates machine and have hysterical fits of laughter from memories about a friend using the machine. I feel sorry for them and grateful for all of our gang in WA who were able to experience the hilarity of Kevin performing feats that we never thought were humanly possible on a Pilates machine.
When we got home we piled the Beach Boys in the car and headed for Big Bight for them to go swimming. They knew where we were and literally FLEW out of the car and ran to the beach. Excitement was coursing through their veins. So was the testosterone, but that was in their brains. They were scrappy.
Handsome BarrioWe love our Beach Boys. These guys are getting huge, Gringo, on the right weighs 40#, more than his Momma and he’s only 6 months old!They chased each other around this small key most of the time we were there, under the logs, over the logs, around the edge, run in the water, back out, jump and snarl, run some more. I just stayed out of their way.They sure love to swim!And roll in the sandLove the unusual palapa roof on the dock next doorBarrio being weirdIlias from Pineapple was there with a drone.
When the pups were tired and laying around, too pooped to play any longer, we brought them home and I had the fun job of bathing all 3 of them and then I bathed Frito too because she stunk.
We have been spending many evenings on the roof, watching the sun go down. The dogs love it up there, they “guard” the property quite well. It also gives them a large unobstructed battlefield. OMG. It gets crazy up there with 5 dogs running laps.
Lola climbs on Highways back all the time, I believe it is her showing her supposed dominance.It is non-stopTestosterone running extremely high. The rule around this house is “You don’t hump family.” Max didn’t get the memo.The most loving dog in the family, Highway.I know this is way out of focus but I love all the teethHe scares no-one. They lick his gums.It almost looks like they are singing..Handsome HighwayLolaShe is a gorgeous dog but “the lights are on and no-one’s home” This girl is totally lost in space..My buddy Highway.They love to stick their heads through the rails. Before the rails, they leaned over the edge and we were always afraid they would get rough housing and someone would fall off, one of the main reasons for the rails. Well, the dogs and people.
Bill bought a whole chicken for the dog food and threw it in the crock pot for 5 hours, then we added veggies and cooked rice. It makes enough food to add to their dried food for about 8 days. The chicken turned out really good.
Dog foodThey love raw zucchini and carrots
In fact the chicken was so good, we made one for ourselves the other evening and invited Mr. John, our neighbor up for dinner. I made mashed potatoes, stuffing, the whole works. Biggest meal we have had for a long time. I also made my all time favorite peanut butter pie. I could eat a whole one alone, and then puke for 2 days.
After dinner we were cleaning up and Bill was feeding the pups some scraps. They were salivating all over.
I LOVE Max’s eyes in this pic.Patiently waitingThis is raw sweet potatoes, they LOVE them. I also dehydrate them and freeze slices, they will eat them all 3 ways.I’m fortunate my dogs match my floors, that way I can trip over them several times a day.
The other day I got the brainy OCD desire to organize ALL OF THE DOG COLLARS (from Helping Paws Across Borders vet team) that were in 2 huge bags in my spare bedroom. Frito bean decided to help me.
There are so many collars and after being used for 2 weeks, they were all mixed up. I LOVE to organize.I did not do them by color, only by width and size and style.All buckled ones together, all leather together, all harnesses and snap (cloth choke) collars separated.It was fun but when I was done I couldn’t stand up straight because I had been leaning over for an hour+.All in one bag now. Only 10 more suitcases of supplies to organize but I think Kathy and I will do that with a bottle of wine.
Today is Thursday, tomorrow is the 100th birthday party for Aunty Clara in Coxen Hole and Saturday finds me back at the airport again. I still have one more blog to get out today about our day in the jungle with Doña Maria, it was so amazing. If the dogs keep on sleeping and I can keep on concentrating, it will be published later today.
09/29/2015 It’s been another quiet week here. We are happy to be able to enjoy the roof with the dogs. They seem to think it’s free for all time up there and go a little crazy. Until we get the pergola built, we have to wait until the sun goes down some or else we’ll melt up there. Speaking of melting, it’s been stinking hot and humid here.
The Beach Boys and their roadiesBarrioHighway brandishing his teeth. It’s all show and they know it and lick his gums when he does that. Sometimes I wonder if they are like Highway’s dental floss servants or something. Like the Remora fish on turtles..whatever.Andee, it’s baaaacccck! Very useful carrying things to the roof, my favorite gift ever..Thank you.MMMM, very very cold Dos Equis with some limes and salt. It goes down way too well.
We decided since we had such a boringly normal week we would hit BJ’s on Friday. If you’re an ex-pat and not been to BJ’s, you’re missing out. BJ’s is a wooden building on the waterway in Oak Ridge. The building is nothing, the view is fabulous, boats coming and going, cruising by, people headed home when going by boat is the only way to get there. Like many of my friends, boat access only. With only water access, it’s a different way of life. We arrived at BJ’s around 1.
I happened to have a petition that was being circulated on the island to try to get a good cop returned; he was rotated to the mainland. I wanted to get some more sigs on it so I took it there. I was successful in many ways that afternoon.
The Banditos, the guy on the far left was a tourist who got up to sing.BJ herself, enjoying the music.Larry in the hat and Kelly, a wanabee Larry in the matching shirt behind him.My friend Carmen singing with the band, she’s good!Peggy and Alex, didn’t get to hear Peggy sing!#3 wine down.Betty and BJ. All of the photos at BJ’s are courtesy of Marilyn Northagen Poirier.
So this is my story:
#1. They had white wine, even if it was served in a jelly glass. Thank you Marilyn, you rock and thank you for taking proper wine glasses to the bar for them to use. I had a jelly glass full of wine.
#2. I got a full page of signatures on the petition. I had another glass of wine in a wine glass.
#3. I think I may have had another glass of wine after Marilyn and I got some exceedingly good news that caused us to act out on the pier.
#4. I danced several times in my bare feet, it was fabulous. I had another glass of wine and was drinking Kelly’s drink also.
#5. I believe I may have also guzzled the last sip out of Marilyn’s glass at some point before we Bill decided it was a good idea to leave.
#6. May have made plans for a party at our house, which is fine, but I didn’t remember when it was for.
We got home before 4 PM and I drank a bottle of water and went to bed and slept until 9 PM. When I woke up I filled a bowl with lettuce, put grated cheese and dressing on it and ate it. For dinner. I then drank more water and could not go to sleep. It sucked because I had the airport gig the next day and obviously I drank too much wine on an empty stomach. I had already slept 5 hours. Ridiculousness.
I now have self imposed limits.
On Saturday I volunteered to fill in for one of the greeters at the airport. I always enjoy my time spent there, getting to meet new people and talk to them about the island; it’s a fun afternoon. My friend Kathy had just arrived back on the rock and decided to wait until I was done and then I would give her a ride to her boat. (She lives boat access only) We had a great day in immigration, it went smoothly despite the fact that 2 planes landed 10 minutes apart. I met lots of fun people and hopefully made them feel welcomed to the island.
Kathy and I stopped at the grocery store on the way home and as soon as I walked in I saw people I had spoken with at the airport. They all said hello and a few aisles later I helped them pick out some booze for the week. I mean, obviously I would know this. I gave Kathy a ride to BJ’s and then came home w/ groceries for the party that we may be having. Only issue is that while at the store, my phone was dead. I always keep my grocery list on a program called KEEP on my phone. I could NOT access my list. I forgot shit.
That’s OK though because Bill had to go to ACE in the morning for something plus he was picking up primer for our other friends who were coming to dinner and live boat access only too. He stopped at the store and got what I forgot, which by the way was very minimal. AS IN, I remembered.
Sunday we busted our butts cleaning up around here, we were indeed having friends over. The house does get bad, there are things laying all over the kitchen island and the porch and house is a mess with dog stuff. BUT, when you have 6 dogs and a cat, you get special passes for hairy floors and hairy whiskers. It’s the hairy whiskers that get me all the time. Sunday was the eve of the blood moon and the lunar eclipse.
Bill and I on the roofBrett, Alex and BillBrett, the other half of Brett and CarmenCarmen, they are from South Dakota and now live here.They have an awesome water access home on the beach. Pretty sweet deal. I posted photos before of being at their place.Sunset over the North shoreSky over the south shore. All of these photos were also taken by Marilyn ..
We saw zip, zero, nada of the blood moon due to clouds. However, just when we thought all hope was gone, the clouds cleared away and we were treated to the eclipse. Of course, my camera was downstairs and I was ultimately too lazy to go get it. Just for the record, I only had 2 glasses of wine and then switched to water. A much better idea for me.
It was a fun evening up on the roof with great friends. It will be much nicer once we get it finished up there and have a few creature comforts..
On Tuesday I joined Nidia and her friend Lidia on a trek to go visit Doña Maria, who lives alone in the jungle. Nidia and Lidia had been to visit her not too long ago. She had a request for a few more items so we were going to deliver them. These photos of Doña Maria were taken when Nidia and Lidia went to see her.
Peeling sugar cane with her macheteShowing Nidia her church dress, she needs a new one.She also needs some new shoes.She LOVES Coke so they took her some and also some groceries.
We started our trek at the Roatan Culture Village, a place I never knew existed. It is an old resort that must have been pretty darn amazing in it’s day. We parked my car and walked through a gate and I was dumbfounded. There in the midst of the jungle is this eerily cool old resort. It is very run down, has had no visitors for some time.
Roatan Culture Village, I’m not sure the name is really evocative of what went on here but it sounds educational.Huge old pool, there was also a kiddy pool off to the right.Lidia and NidiaBenches from a bygone eraThere was a pool (Billiards) hall, a dance hall and another small pool.Brightly painted benchesA fabulous old building on the groundsThe other pool with a submarine in itA good shot of the DEEPEST SUB TOUR @ 1/2 MOON BAY. I have been told this was made by Karl Stanley.
The path to Doña Maria’s houseBridge # 2, wasn’t too bad.Welcome to the jungleThis is the spring where Doña Maria comes to get water
We trudged all the way up to her house and she wasn’t home. Now, it’s not like she has a lot of places to go. She is 82 and lives in the middle of the jungle, alone. She has no electricity, no running water,no bathroom, no kitchen. She has a few neighbors further up the valley.
Her mud oven, she is 82.Clothesline. Nidia said her son comes and stays with her every now and then, looks like she did his washing.Mud walls surround the mud ovenThis is her home. Her chickens live on the bottom floor and she lives above them.This is where she stores her dishes. She asked for a few plastic drinking glasses which we bought for her.She keeps the fire going all the time but gets it really burning when she is cooking.
We walked on up to her neighbors house but nobody was home there either.
On the way to the neighborsThis bridge was a little shakyThe handrails were loose tooNidia was doing acrobatics on itHer neighbor’s homeBlue tarpThe back wall was all mud and sticks
Disappointed that Doña Maria was not there, we headed back down to my car. On the way we dropped the coke off at her house, kind of hid it as a surprise for her.
We put it in the black bucket, I’m sure she will be thrilled when she sees it.
Our plans are to go another day, very soon. I bought her shampoo, cream rinse, soap, dish soap, laundry powder, toilet paper, some plastic glasses and a pair of used Keen shoes in great condition. Nidia has a few dresses and some slippers for her. Hopefully we’ll go soon! We didn’t leave the other things we got for her because we were afraid someone would happen by and take them so we will be going back and I will be taking a walking stick and wearing more bug spray for sure.
These last few photos are random shots so bear with me.
My friend Kathy’s watchie took this photo of a snake in her yard. We all (ASS)umed it was a boa but turns out it is a rat snake. A big assed rat snake,Hello, I see you………………………..Yep, big assed snakeNot to be outdone by Kathy and her big assed snake, Bill killed another Coral (poisonous) on our porch the other eve.Cactus growing out on my cactusweirdBarrio and Highway, airing their stuffFacial deconstruction/reconstruction with eye removalMore dried sweet potatoesBrotherly love
Calling it a night. I organized 2 bags of dog collars after I got home from an early morning with Because We Care and CALM Ministries from Baton Rouge, LA. We passed out school supplies to 400 kids in Oak Ridge.
More on that later, didn’t feel it was appropriate with my confessions of too much wine..
09/08/2015 It seems like it’s still August with the weather as hot as it is and not a freaking drop of rain. The lack of any measurable precipitation makes me very thankful for the well we share. We don’t get well water very often but when it’s this dry for a long period, we appreciate the fact that it is available as needed.
Sunday the pups had another beach day. We took them to Paya Bay beach (don’t hate on me Jeanie, I gave them the finger). I’ve been there before and seen the beach but never swam there. We met our friends (and Tank’s parents) around 11. Tank is my boys brother, he is such a love. Paya Bay is a good 25 minutes from home down a hellishly bad dirt and dust laden road. Gringo had crawled up on my lap and fallen asleep. We were almost there when I once again felt a warm trickle down the inside of my thigh. Yep. Gringo peed on my lap for the 3rd time. I think he has a fetish.
Claire and I took the boys in right away. It was a first for mine to swim in waves and initially they ran from them. Once they realized the waves were’t going to swallow them up they put their adventurous faces on and swam into them. Remember, they are at face level with the pups, calf level for me. Much more traumatizing for them.
Gringo attacks the wavesBill & Kevin, solving all the world’s problems in one short afternoon. Pups left to right, back row, Tank and Barrio, front row, Gringo and Max. I know my Beach Boys.Tank, Max and Gringo. Not sure why the water isn’t clear along the shore. It must have something to do with the sand on the bottom or the waves. It was clear a little further out.Paya Bay Beach Resort. You can see the water clears up just off shore.Deserted beachMy friend’s place on the left (you can barely see it)Look how handsome Tank is..followed by Max and GringoEven closer..love these boys6 boys on a beach, only 4 of them listen.My MaxilliciousL to R: Barrio, Tank, Max and GringoAnd he says he doesn’t like the dog..sharing a kiss (French nonetheless) with Tank..
The pups had a blast until some locals came with small kids. Bill and Kevin put them on leashes. Soon after that Claire and I decided to exit our warm bath in the ocean, got our stuff together and headed for home. The boys were passed out soon afterwards.
3 on the floorMax is awake. You can still see the scar under his left eye from the fight he and Barrio had.Barrio fighting sleep. Notice the claw mark on my arm?He gave in
We came home, they all got baths, I fed them, showered and we all slept…
Monday morning Maxillicious and I picked Brenda and Toni up in Oak Ridge at BJ’s. We were headed for a day of R&R at West Bay Beach, it was Max’s first time at a civilized beach. We once again chose Bananarama because, well, it’s my spot. After 8 years I just don’t go elsewhere.
Brenda and Toni are moving back to Germany in less than 2 weeks. I’m sad but happy for them. Brenda and I met at the first vet clinic I worked at for Helping Paws Across Borders and we really got along well. We also worked together at the last one and have been doing some dog stuff together too. We plan to do one last clinic before she leaves. Insert super sad face. Toni is her German boyfriend and he is an uber sweetheart, instant love. It was great to spend a day with them and Max at the beach. It was very empty, just a light sprinkling of people minus the annoying, “Wanna massage ladeeee?” NO. I ACTUALLY DON’T. We floated and ate and had a few drinks and floated some more. After 4 hours we decided it was time to make the trek back to the other end of the island. I have to brag. Max was a perfect angel. While he and I were floating, (well, he was on the raft) a lady and man were nearby. They asked me if he liked to swim.
Can this get any cuter??
I said, “he loves it.” They then said, “You’re the lady from the airport.” Yep…that is me. Small island. Small world.
Yes, I know my life sucks.My spot, BananaramaCrystal clear waterThe guy and his ultra cool droneDRONEMr. SandmanMy fav spotBrenda and her new man, Max. I had him wear a harness instead of a collar in case I needed to grab him, the harness is much more grab friendly. Plus it matches the water..Brenda w/ Max and Toni is floating in the background.
While we were eating Max started digging in the sand, which was fine, he likes to dig. However, he was digging with his nose. Check out the video HERE. He was really “digging it”.
He fell asleep on the ride home. Once I dropped those 2 off at BJ’s he got whiney and cried the whole way home. I fed him because he wouldn’t eat at the beach and afterwards he just chilled out. Max was the only dog still inside at bedtime, he didn’t want to go out with the other ones. Later that evening I went to lay down on the bed and I carried him in and flopped him down with me. He jumped down a few times and wandered around, terrorizing the cat and finally jumped back up and laid down. And that is where he slept until 6 AM. He didn’t move except when I moved him because he was hogging half the bed. Bill had his feet hanging off the side because Max was in his foot spot. He didn’t pee, thankfully..and he didn’t eat all the cat litter. However, Emmy hates me and has done nothing besides lunge out after my bare ankles as I walk by the bed and bitten me. Several times. She rules the roost, or at least she thinks she does.
I recently wrote a little piece for a fellow blogger about living in a small place. You can read it here. Thanks Clara for having me, check out her blog at http://www.expatpartnersurvival.com.
Facebook has several local Roatan pages, things for sale, cars, looking for advice, etc. I peruse them once in awhile, mostly for the entertainment value. Take this one (copied verbatim) for instance:
I am selling. A Nissan. Altima rims 2001. Tourism Air Conditioning. With papers. In rule. Interested. Can talk to the 9770-xxxx. With XXXXXX (don’t want to use their name or number). The car. He is. On Gipson quite west end Roatan.
No price, no condition, no mileage..that’s how we do it here on Roatan.
I worked at theairport again this past Saturday and had a woman approach me as I wove me way through the immigration lines chatting to people. She said, “You’re the blogger aren’t you”? So much fun meeting people who are following my blog. Check out Angie’s blog here.
Find the frog..2 days in a rowgross..HMM, counter height now.Yes, this is a Kangaroo scrotum bottle opener. Thank you KP, it is well used..Sharing a supposedly indestructible Nylabone tree trunk. They will destroy it.BANANAS, home grown from a tree we planted 2 years ago. We have several trees but what happens when you grow BANANAS is, the whole stalk ripens at the same time so you have a shitload of BANANAS. Too bad I don’t live closer to the BANANA DONUT man.A big bowl of apple BANANAS, I froze enough to make many loaves of bread and to make treats for the dogs.This is only part of the bunch that we left on the counter to eat. The dogs love them frozen. These are smaller than regular BANANAS and some people say they taste like apples, we think they taste like strawberries.After dinner wrestling, 5 tails, 5 butts and 20 legs
I have mentioned my friend Sam Arch and his Dad before. They run Arch’s Iguana farm and Sam is the one who takes me snorkeling with Frank the Barracuda and, he took my friends and I to Pigeon Key. Anyhow, this is a great write up about the Arch family. I’m proud to call them friends. You can read the article by clicking here.
It’s bedtime again and Max is curled up on our bed. I don’t know if this will cause an issue with him and the other dogs or not. Do dogs get pissed off about that stuff? Preferential treatment and all?
I’m off to snuggle with my furry little boy.. (Not Bill)
Mermaid on a Raft 