Monday Fun-Day

Yesterday was a fun filled day. We spent the early part of it scuba diving, the first time we've gone since Easter week end!

Then a large group of us went down to the beach for an afternoon and sunset picnic and a huge bon fire at dark.

I have to say it was the most fun I've had in a good long while. That's what day's off should be all about!

Tomorrow I officially become one year closer to death when I turn 44 years old. I think I've counted about one hundred new grey hairs (and not just on my head)

Happy last day of June from Saba!

New House guests arrive today!

Bob and Margie from DC and 3 other friends from Colorado arrive on the last flight today.

We'll already be down at Cove Bay for the birthday party so I can zip right up the hill to meet them around 5:30pm.

This is a short video clip of a landing on Saba that I borrowed from UTube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVdaFv6kbkw

Saba has the shortest commercial runway in the world but I think I've mentioned that once before. As "one" gets older, they (I) tend to start repeating themselves (myself) from time to time.

Saba has the shortest commercial runway in the world.

Saba has the shortest commercial runway in the world.

Saba has the shortest commercial runway in the world. Have I mentioned that before?

Elmo LOVES Parties!

Paul's godson Trevon will turn 2 on July 1st, the same day as my birthday. Since his birthday falls on a weekday, we are celebrating his day with a big party down at Cove Bay tomorrow.

My job was to make the cakes. Having never made a child's cake it was quite a feat. He loves Elmo and we all agreed that the party, cakes included, should be "Elmo themed".

I think they turned out pretty darned good!

My thought for the day

I heard that Farah's dying wish was to make the world a safer place for all children.

AND, then only hours later Michael Jackson dies.

Isn't that just utterly profound????????

They also say that "stuff like this" happens in "3's". Ed McMahon, Farah and then MJ. Well at least we're through with THAT ROUND. Whew.......

Farah's passing

In hearing that Farah Fawcett passed away today I could only think of those days back in 1976 when I yearned for her poster on the wall of my bedroom in a little town called Lothian, Maryland. I was at the tender age of 11.

It never happened.

It wasn't until many years later that I changed my fascination with this red swimsuit image in my mind for another red swimsuit image and a desire for a "new poster"........

That one never happened either.

Don't laugh. I'm just telling you like it was! Happy Thursday from Saba............

and More blooms!

More of the passion fruit vines have started to bloom! So far we have 2 varieties that have blossomed out and although they look very similar, they are, in fact, 2 different species.

They have started to cover the trellis and fence and within no time they will fill the whole area. It is pretty neat to see all the various kinds of plant material that I never got to experience back in the states.

On the 4:30 flight to Saba today our friend Roger arrives for a week. He will spend most of his time diving but it will be great to have him here. On Sunday Bob and Margie arrive for their week here. During the overlap, our little cottage will become "quite cozy" but it should be fun!

Happy Wednesday from Saba!

"Nemeo & Juliet"

Last night we went to the performance of Nemeo and Juliet at the Youth Center. The school has been working hard all Spring to get ready for their version of a Caribbean Love Story which was a blend of Nemo and Romeo and Juliet.

We all received bottles of bubbles to blow during the show that made the auditoriom feel like you were inside an aquarium!

The costumes were fantastic and all the kids looked like they were having a blast. It was great! Although the refreshing adult beverages served from the concession stand probably made it more adorable, but that's just my opinion.....

Happy Monday from Saba.

I got a little Passion

Fruit, that is. One of the Passion Fruit vines that were planted has started to bloom!

The flowers on it are simply amazing. There are 2 other varieties that have really taken off as well and are beginning to bud too. I am looking forward to seeing what they look like in the next couple of weeks when they flower.

Happy Saturday from Saba!

Happy Juneteenth!

"Juneteenth" is the unofficial day that celebrates the end of slavery in the United States. It is not yet (and trust me IT WILL become one) a legally recognized Holiday. It is also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day.

So in anticipation of that, go ahead and pour yourself a Hennessey and Grape Soda, make a big pot of Collard Greens, polish up that '74 Eldorado and take the day off!

Happy Juneteenth everyone from Saba!

A Day at the Beach

Monday is our day off from Tropics Cafe and we spent the day at the beach. Usually there is no beach on Saba but once in a great while the waves wash in sand to Wells Bay and... we get a beach!

We got to spend the day on the "rare" beach having some nice snacks, cocktails and fun laughs today.

Tomorrow, however, it is back to business running our litttle cafe..............

Back on the Rock

I arrived on Saba on the 4 O'Clock flight yesterday afternoon. That makes for a long day when you get up around 4am, cab it to the airport, fly from DC to Miami, layover and then to St. Maarten, layover and then to Saba. Start to finish - about 12+ hours!

Paul had the dinner shift covered at Tropics Cafe which gave me a little while to have some quality time with the doggies and get unpacked.

Last night was Theater Night at the restaurant and during the month of June we are doing a Tribute to Mel Brooks and featured Young Frankenstein (that would be Herr Doktor Fraank-eun-Schteen)

It's gonna be a hot one today! Back to the rock and back to work! Happy Friday from Saba....

Circlehood of the Ya Ya Sisterhood

My final Night in DC was celebrated with cocktails on Mark's rooftop patio and of course special accessories were supplied for the big event!

The sisters of the Ya Ya Sisterhood had to make the night extra important by offering up their own glitter to the event!

Goodbye DC and I look forward to my next visit!!

Happy final farewell to DC and Happy return to Saba day.....

A Wet and Wild Trip to Annapolis

The trip to Annapolis was, shall we say a bit on the moist side... They were calling for thunderstorms and high winds and about halfway to meet the family for dinner the heavens opened up and this is what we got to trudge through!

The rain and hail was coming down so hard that the windshield wipers couldn't even keep up.

Everyone made it safe and sound and I had a great final dinner and said my goodbyes to the Fries clan through lots of hugs and tears.

Happy "one day left Stateside" from DC.....

Full Moon in DC

I got to spend some time last night with friends I haven't seen in a long time. It was good to catch up. It was also a full moon and this is the view from Mark's rooftop patio overlooking the city.

Tonight, it's off to Annapolis for the Fries family dinner and farewell.

Happy "countdown to Saba" day from DC.

My Chore List

Before I left Saba I was given a "to do" list for things I need to pick up stateside to take back to Saba. I've procrastinated long enough and though I have gotten many of the items earlier, today was crunch day to get the rest.

You'll notice there are still some line items which HAVE NOT been scratched off yet but we were getting so close to Happy Hour I got distracted.

Now I do not "DO" lists. But that's probably why I never get anything done!

Dusting off my Real Estate hat!

The team that took over our business here have been fantastic in handling our clients with superior service and expert skills. They currently have a property listed for us and another one about to come on the market. That said they asked me to join them to meet with both of them for a little "touchy feely" just so the property owners know we're still in the loop and have their best interest in mind.

So this week end I got to put on my dusty old real estate hat and "go to work".

It feels a little foreign to me but just like riding a bicycle, it comes right back in no time at all.

Hopefully the market will start to rebound a bit and get them sold so we can make a few dollars!

The only unfortunate thing about this is I had to cancel out on the WVA week end away. Total bummer but Papa needs a new pair of shoes so the Cash Cow had to take priority over the Party Cow.

Happy "Realtor" Saturday from DC.

"Four Eyes"

When I was a little boy I was told that I should eat lots and lots of carrots because they are good for the eyes. Needless to say I haven't kept up with my beta carotene intake! I simply refuse to accept the fact that my eyes need some assistance now due to AGE.....

My friend, Matt is an eye doctor and was able to get me in quickly and expidite the glasses too. And they were 2 for 1. Thank goodness my girl friend Lola needed a new pair as well.

Happy cold and rainy Friday from DC.....

"Take me Home, Country Road"

I've got a handful of "work related" errands to do today which will take up most of my day. Being Metro bound and without wheels it takes a bit longer than normal to get things accomplished!

Tomorrow, though it will be off to West Virginia for the boys week end at Steve and Troy's farm. Ahhh, 40 some odd gay men running around the hills and mountains, frolicking in the river and bon fires at night.

This is Steve's next door neighbor ( :) ). He's (they) quite talented with the banjo. Thank goodness he (they) hasn't ever seen Deliverance, the Movie. We don't want him (them) to get any weird ideas this week end.

Of course it's been raining like crazy over the last couple of days and according to Troy and Steve the bridge over the river may be flooded out going into the farm!

Rain, mud, flooding rivers, wet sleeping bags; It's sound just perfect.....

Happy Thursday from DC (soon to be WVA- "Where the Mountaineers are Free" and in this case, this week end, free balling)

The Fries Family Reunion

The primary purpose of my trip home to DC was to surprise my Mom for her 70th birthday. My sister, Molly hosted the party on Saturday night and there were scores of people to celebrate her day, great food, live music and most importantly the whole family together. We figured it out that the last time all five kids were together was at Molly's wedding in June of '01. Eight years between, simply NOT acceptible!

Off to get some more "chores" done here in DC.

I spent a few minutes this morning enjoying a nice hot cup of coffee on Mark's roof terrace listening to the sounds of the city; honking horns, buses, trash trucks, sirens, planes roaring overhead and the occassional police helicopter zipping by.

Happy Tuesday from DC!

Sunny Monday

Today was a productive day for me in the "big city". I went for my dental checkup and teeth cleaning in Alexandria followed by picking up some of the things on "my list" that was prepared for me to take back to Saba, met with my real estate broker and had a nice lunch with my friend Betsy.

Now I'm back in DC and enjoying the sunshine and view from Mark's rooftop deck. The views are awesome. You can see all of DC's landmarks including the Captial building in the distance!

Happy Monday from DC.....