Dinner with Mom, Dad and "The Girls"

Last night I went out to my parents house for a final farewell dinner before I head back to Saba. I got to enjoy some time with them and their 2 "girls" Gwen and Shirley, both Mastiffs.

Pictured above is Shirley who is just a year old. She stands as tall as my waist and weighs in at 155 pounds! Last night I was having dessert and "felt" something on my shoulder and turned to look only to see her head just ABOVE my shoulder checking out the dinner table!

They both are gentle giants and are sweet as can be.

A day of Shopping

Whenever I come back to the States Paul always gives me a list of things to do, things to get and things to bring back to Saba.

I'm his little international personal shopper and courier service all in one!

One of the special items was NOT for Paul but for Leanna who works with us at Tropics.

She wanted some new bras and I was certainly up for the challenge today.

I went to a couple of places and they were just simply BORING!! I know that this particular piece of undergarment should serve a specific purpose but that doesn't mean they should look like Granny's panties.

So I came across a store that offered a fresh and younger perspective on this. I was standing in the aisle and actually held one up to my chest (I really don't know why but I did). This lady from across the clothing rack says to me "I don't think that will fit"

THE NERVE!

She was not a petite little flower so I said back "Honey, it will fit me before it will EVER fit you!"

So, Leanna, I hope you enjoy my special purchases for you and, Travis, I hope you enjoy them even more!!!

Nipple Cookies

I got home late last night after a nice evening with my family in Annapolis. Everyone brought some homemade goodies for "the feast".

Driving home I felt about as stuffed as a blood tick but couldn't help myself by sidling up to the table for 2nds, well OK, thirds........

The Fries family spread included Cole Slaw, Potato Salad, Corn Pudding, Fresh Corn on the Cob, Fried Chicken, Hamburgers, beets, key lime pie, chocolate chocolate cake and Hershey Kiss Cookies.

Speaking of Hershy Kiss Cookies, that reminded me of a story about them from a couple of years ago. My sister had gone to pick up my nephew from soccer practice at school one crisp Fall day. She was wearing a light weight polo shirt and the weather had turned decidedly cool when she got there. Now keep in mind that she is the PTA, Brownie, Boy Scout, Soccer Mom, Booster Club Poster Child.

She walked around greeting all the boys and the coach with her spirited enthusiasm and when she got into the car my nephew immediately sulked to the back of the minivan. She asked him what was wrong and he replied

"Mom, I can't believe you actually talked to everyone in, well, in YOUR CONDITION!"

She asked him what he meant and he pointed to her chest area and exclaimed

"Mom!, you KNOW what I'm talking about"

Thinking this was absolutely ridiculous she arrived the next day at practice to pick him up with a big plate of goodies and went around asking the boys and the coach whether they would like a, you guessed it,

NIPPLE COOKIE!!

Hurricane Bill

Well it looks like Hurricane Bill is safely north of the Leeward Islands and there's virtually no chance that it will change course which is great news!

Look out Bermuda though and perhaps even our area of the East Coast though.

Just getting back from a really nice homemade meal at Bob and Margie's house. It was delicious and the company was great.

Holy Mackerel!

In my earlier post I had worried about Tropical Storm Ana bearing down on the Leeward Islands and the Netherlands Antilles and now I hear about Tropical Storm Bill which is predicted to become a Hurricane and increase in strength to a possible Category 2 storm which is making a near exact track as Ana!

Ana visiting Saba on Monday and Bill to follow on Thursday???

Good LORD!!

I think God is punishing me for my post about my plane trip back to DC on Tuesday last week.

Tropical Storm Ana

This will be one to keep an eye on!

http://www.click2houston.com/hurricanetracker/index.html

From this web site it shows that the Tropical Depression has increased to a Tropical Storm and has been named Ana. The 2009 Hurricane season is getting a very late start this year which is good news but, naturally because I live there now, the first named storm of the season is making a beeline towards little ol' Saba.

It it keeps its track it could pass right over the Netherlands Antilles and the Leeward Islands.

We'll see what happens............

Now I'm feeling guilty for not being there to assist. (I think I was born Jewish and switched at birth with all this guilt I harbor)

I think I see a Lot of Weight Gain on this Trip!

While we were at the shore our friend's Janet and Tony stopped by with these gallon containers of homemade Italian ice. Janet is actually our "inherited cousin" from childhood. Her parents Aunt Shirley and Uncle Joe were my grandparents best friends.

Janet and Tony started this new Italian Ice shop on the boardwalk called "G's".

We were treated to Strawberry Lemonade and Mango! Ironic that they came in Johnson's Caramel Popcorn containers!!

I was almost too embarassed to go on the beach yesterday.... Almost....

a Day at the Beach

My Mom and sister Molly and I left bright and early from Annapolis for our quick trip to the Jersey shore to see my other sister Lila, Kurt and the kids at the beach.

So much for a beach day!

The weather turned cloudy, rainy and quite cool with temps only around 70 degrees which would have made for some serious shrinkage had I actually gone swimming.

We hit a pretty hard rain storm on the drive up but the day was far from ruined with homemade Italian hoagies, Frozen Italian ice, caramel popcorn, taffy and a nice walk on the boardwalk!!

And who said rainy days at the beach are lousy??

Crazy Trip

I have safely arrived in DC. Thank God! The trip from Saba to St. Maarten was uneventful and the transfer from St. Maarten to Miami wasn't sooooo bad BUT my transition from island life back to the states was, excuse my expression, FRANTIC!! The flight from Miami to DC was, to say the least, quite "diverse"!!!

Had I carried on a live chicken and several slices of fresh watermelon, I would have been voted the most popular passenger on the plane!

Thank The Lord that my seat was 3E which put my in front of the proverbial curtain instead of behind it today.

Thank the Lord for small favors. Happy Tuesday from (Saba, via DC) today!!!!

Heat Advisory

After hearing stories from so many people back in DC about how fantastic the weather has been all Summer long I see that the forecast today is showing a heat advisory with temps at 93 degrees and sun index at nearly 100!!

I guess I'm bringing the weather of the Tropics with me when I come back tomorrow.

Sorry about that!

From a Nuisance in our yard, to the BBQ Grill, To Your Plate...

Living on Booby Hill we have had to suffer the nuisance of "free range" goats tromping up and down the mountain on a daily basis and wandering into our yard every single day and eating everything in sight. Not only does it wreak havoc on the dogs who go absolutely nuts every time they sense one nearby but it does nothing for the landscape.

So we decided that since THEY eat everything, then turnabout is fair play. A local by the nickname of "Froggie" offered us some of his Saban goat meat and Paul pulled out the good ol' grinder and made Goat Burgers out of it which are now proudly displayed on our menu at Tropics!

Come on down and enjoy what's known as our Tropics Cafe Burger complete with chevre goat cheese and Tropical Mango Salsa.

Surprisingly enough it HAS been a hit on the menu and visitors love it!!

"Lucky" Bamboo

My sister and her husband visited Saba back in late February and gave us this gift. It's called Lucky Bamboo and came in this cute little pottery vase.

Over the last 5 months we have diligently changed the water and sprayed it and nurtured it.

Earlier this week Paul asked me if I knew why it hasn't grown an inch???? "Because it's fake" he says. I looked closely at and realized it is indeed a Faux Lucky Bamboo.

Things like this convince me more and more each day that I really am an idiot!!

Mama Juana

Mama Juana is a drink from the Dominican Republic that is concocted by allowing rum, red wine and honey to soak in a bottle with tree bark and herbs. The taste is quite similar to port wine and the color is a deep red. It is seen and advertised as an aphrodisiac, with many natives of the Dominican Republic claiming that the drink has similar effects to Viagra. Women have also claimed that Mama Juana enhances sexual desire.

We finished early last night at Tropics and stopped by a local watering hole for a nightcap and they were offering Mama Juana. Feeling a bit daring I decided to try "a taste". The bartender said it was great if I wanted to get my groove on with a girl.

Groove On?, Girl?- Ummn No on both accounts!

They say it's like an aphrodisiac. Perhaps I didn't drink enough of it but the only thing it offered my was an immediate case of Narcolepsy.

I understand they offer a similar product on other islands that use rum, herbs (including Marijuana) and other stuff and call it Fire Water. And that one gives Hallucinegetic side effects!

Gosh, the things I'm learning here in the Tropics.

Happy Thursday and Full Moon day from Saba.

Back to Business

Well, Carnival is all over and all we have to remember it by are those "blackmail worthy" pictures on Facebook, left over glitter that is still stuck to my body and a sore liver.

Today it's back to business at Tropics and we have a good week in store for us.

Today is Taco Tuesday and we should be busy. Last week we sold out after serving over 40 orders in about 45 minutes! Tomorrow is Caribbean Lobster night and this Thursday we are back to our monthly wine dinner.

This month's dinner features American Wines and we are pairing the wines with various fun and creative foods including:

Napa Valley sliders (mini burgers)with white cheddar
Salmon Chowder with Southern Style Sour Cream drop style Biscuits
Smoked Duck Tacos with Sweet Potato Hash
Seared American Bison Loin with American Wild Mushrooms and Garlic and Blue Chesse Grits
Vermont Maple Syrup Bread Pudding with Walnut Pralines

We have a new dive group in the hotel as well which will help make the weekend busy too.

On Monday, our normal day off, we'll be hosting the graduating medical school's class party for about 60 or so students and staff.

I'll be back to taking pictures as soon as my little camera charges back up and is ready to snap away.

Happy Tuesday from Saba!

I survived Day 1 of the Parade

Day 1 of the Carnival parade is over and my body is feeling it ALL OVER!

The celebration started yesterday at 4pm and everyone "danced" their way all through the town until it ended at the sports field. Nearly 4 hours of non stop movement is not something I'm used to.

Once home I scrubbed myself down but still can't get all the glitter off my body. I think I will probably find a little piece here and there for months to come.