Having a Moment

When your two good friends make an article in Vogue, it kinda rocks. Go Megan! Go Didi! Go greenissexy.org!

Well Put

Someone in power is finally going to state the obvious truth that gay marriage is absolutely necessary, and they’re not going to put it up for a vote, because that’s not what you do with basic human rights. You don’t let six wolves and four sheep vote on what to have for dinner (or in this case, what, fifty-two wolves and forty-eight sheep?).

The National Guard will stand outside the courthouses and force you to grow the hell up, and you will be remembered in history like those sad ugly white people yelling at the black kids coming to class.

And this isn’t the fifties. This is the twenty-first century. Your bisexual grandkids will still be able to Google your sorry ass and see that you were a spiteful hateful closeminded bigot. They’ll have your lying ads, annotated with footnotes showing how you knew you were lying at the time. They’ll have your ugly homophobic comments and your hate-filled fake news reports captured in crystal clarity on whatever magical Internet++ they’re using decades from now. And they’re going to be ashamed of you.

All you’ve done — all you’ve accomplished with your lies and hate and fearmongering — is to delay the inevitable. In the next few years, every widow who loses her home because she “wasn’t really married” to her life partner, and the life partner’s kids have a good lawyer? Every man who dies scared and alone because the man who should have been his husband wasn’t allowed to be at his bedside? Every not-spouse who dies because of not-health-coverage, coverage they would have gotten were they married? Every one of those things that happens between now and whenever the National Guard puts a little learnin’ on you?

That’s on you.

That’s your legacy.

-Suicide Blonde

You suck.

Yes you, Missy Miss. You and your little retail store.

I applied for a part-time position at your store because I am rather bored. It is a painless, no-brainer sort of job and I don't care about the pay.

First of all, I know you a little, but you still had me fill out a stupid application. THEN, when I gave it to you, you had the audacity to ask me if I had any retail experience!

This really gets my buns a burnin'. First of all, yes, I do. A lot. BUT WHAT IF I DIDN'T??!! This is the most easy, basic job there is. I am not some sort of special needs individual. I am friendly and use at least a portion of my brain. Do I really need retail experience? NO. Why do YOU think this job is so special? It's not. It is a stupid retail position...say 'hi', be nice and helpful, ring up customer at cash register. A trained chimp could do it!

I don't even want that stupid job anymore. It's annoying for me to think about.

Ick.

I hate this house. It is horrendous. Who would think to build a multi-million dollar villa and paint the whole damn thing that awful blue? With purple columns. Hideous! And I know that it is impossible to see, but instead of a real palm tree, they have some nasty metal "artsy" one.

Sadness is when...

The father of one of your closest friends dies. Sorry Rainey.

Flashback to summer '09

A review in pictures... Above: Little Will (Cousin Ryan's boy) visited with his mom Leslie. We spent the day at the pool at the Marriott on St. Thomas and went down waterslide A LOT. Twas fun!

More of the little dude. He really took to the water and was doing a great job.

Then...Megan and Little Michael's going away beach party at Francis. There were sooo many people. The kind of day that makes you really love St. John.

Kenny, the host with the most. Broke out shrimp cocktail when everyone needed a snack to temper the alcohol. Above he is serving it up to all the ocean-bound folk, below, preparing. Proudly served in lovely crystal glasses.


What a turn-out!

The time is now!

Okay, all 3 of you. It is time to tell you about my work project and call you to your duty of sharing it with everyone in your world (if you want, that would be great).

Gleegarden.com

That is my new website! I am broke as a joke at the moment, and I am not sure how this will end up paying off (people have to click on the ad banners at the top and side of the pages and make purchases through them), but it has been fun! And it will continue to be fun.

I only want to represent the best, so I welcome ideas. Lani and Didi have already been an awesome help, and I welcome more product must-haves from your lives.

Hope you enjoy, and if you do, please pass along to all you know. Much love to you for your support!

Project

So, I haven't been too incredibly bored since being back on St. John because I have the fun project of starting my own biz. I love having my own schedule and actually being interested in what I am doing, although there has definitely been a learning curve.

Details to follow, since I will need all 3 readers help getting the word out about my no-so-private website/biz. Info soon come.

Rock on

The weight of sadness due to being back on St. John for an undetermined/infinite amount of time is really looming over me today (just got back last night, sans luggage, of course). With that said, I thought I would share some wonderful things to try to brighten things up a bit.

1. I have recently discovered Monocle magazine due to a visit to my cousin Ryan's abode in Alaska. It was so refreshing to see such a sophisticated, smart, and worldy publication unlike anything I've ever encountered before. What I wouldn't give for a subscription! Why is this so difficult, you may ask? Well, a subscription costs 75 pounds (about $150 U.S. Dollars!) for 10 issues. Another day.

2. My favorite design blog, Design Sponge, which I check religiously sometimes multiple perusings a day as she updates a lot (and yes, I do have a lot of spare moments), showed me to another great blog some styley hip ladies that I will now need to check frequently. The link...

http://www.vivavenacava.blogspot.com/

These ladies make me wish I was living another life. A much more traveled, urban, stylish life.

3. Lastly on today's parade of goodies, my nephews, Landon and Eli. I love them and can't stop thinking about how I miss them! They are so well-behaved, hilarious, cute, loving and fun. And they adore their Auntie Momo (that's me!). Here are a few pics of my recent visit to Wyo.

Keller hyphen Carroll OR Carroll hyphen Keller?

At last. The brilliant video footage from Micah of Didi and Tim's performance at Lani's wedding. My moose ears? A gift at the beginning of the ceremony for the long travel distance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMYp2erPdhw

Off da rock!

Getting off the island! Getting off the island! It has been since August that I have been stuck on this little 8 x 3 island. A few short excursions to nearby St. Thomas took the edge off. So now, as all 3 readers already know, I am OUT. For a month or so. Seattle, Alaska, Oregon, Wyoming. I am a happy girl. The only thing that would make life more perfect is if I didn't have to return to St. John. I will try to update on some of the fun travels stuff, but I can't make any promises.

Shopping, friends, music, wedding, more friends, family, more family. YAAAAY!

Drunk to the left. Drunk to the right.

I knew it! This place is crazy.

Lonely Planet-Top Bars in the World

Noted

Important things to remember about tropical rains/flooding:

1. If you are finally desperate enough to order that water to fill your cistern, it WILL rain the next day, and it will rain soooooo damn much.

2. Keep electronics, important papers and whatnot off the floor, because it is likely that they will get completely saturated by the leaks in the house.

3. It is nice if your car doubles as a boat.

4. Plastic bags become an absolute necessary fashion accessory.

5. Open air cars with windows that don't work and a soft roof that turns into a bathtub really suck.

6. Do not, for any reason whatsoever, go swimming at the beach for the next several days. I don't care if you're on vacation.

Ode to the beaches of St. John

The beaches here are beyond lovely. Hawaii can suck it. Mexico can suck something too. Pretty much everywhere in the world-aside from, I hear, Bali-can find something to start sucking on and suck, suck, suck till sore and raw. Here are a few shots. Sadly, I cannot track down a bunch. But these will do.

My madre at Francis Bay

The Garza girls at Gibney

Salt Pond

Denis Beach all to ourselves. Definitely a personal favorite.

Brown Bay

The most famous...Trunk Bay

Sadly absent: Salomon, Maho, Ditleff, and my rock beaches with unknown names.

Me and My Beloved Virgin

That is the title of the book I am reading right now by a famous old St. Johnian, Guy Benjamin. He's a brilliant old man with the Coral Bay elementary school named after him. Reading his book about how amazing St. John used to be-before the influx of building and tourism and such-makes me want to leave and never look back. We humans sure know how to ruin a good thing.

But I will be leaving soon, and as wonderful as St. John is in so many ways, there are a lot of totally ridiculous things that do not add to the charm, but just straight up piss me off. Here's a little list:

-Tip jars in the grocery store check-out line. I don't think so.
-Snotty and indifferent customer service. Why would I throw a tip in your little plastic jar if you are so rude?
-West Indian men. So over-sexed, brutal, macho, abusive. My West Indian lady friends always say that I am lucky to be with a white man, and totally feel like it is their role in life to be with these useless losers. They expect me to cheat on Jason without a care in the world. I AM GENERALIZING. There are a few exceptions, but VERY FEW.
-Chickens. I want to kick them, but instead just throw rocks in their general direction.
-Rats. The only time I have seen them is in my apartment, and that is NOT a good place for them to be.
-Lack of good friends. All my most amazing friends are in the states. I miss them constantly.
-Non-committal friends. People make plans, don't show up. Don't ever make plans, don't do anything but drink. I loved all the fun things we did in the States...dinner parties and this and that. Doesn't happen down here without a lot of effort (usually on my part).
-Idiotic government. I could rant for ages. I know all governments are pretty idiotic, but down here is a whole different level.
-Lawlessness. Murder? Well, no problem as long as you are related to a police officer! Rape, ah, too much trouble to investigate, don't want to piss anyone off.
-Disregard for environment. Maybe it is just more obvious here. 3/4 of the island is national park. People come here to visit a tropical paradise. Locals protect it voraciously. Well then why does everyone (locals and tourists) put their cigarette butts out in the beautiful sandy beaches and throw their garbage on the ground? The oceans are filled with plastic and the fish and coral are dying off. Again, humans always find a way to ruin a good thing.
-Tourists. God, people can be so annoying. Walking down the middle of the street, disrespect for local culture, not properly tipping (it is 20% here, just like in the states). "Go back to your suburb!" my neighbor Tyler would say. People come here to get away and experience something different, but when they get to experience 'island time' and the slower, laid-back pace with less amenities, they can't handle it. Drives me nuts.
-Expensive crappy food. It costs a lot to eat here because it costs a lot to transport food here. Our vegetables suck, our milk is spoiled, organic and local choices are rare. If only we were a more self-sufficient island with food production, like back when Mr. Guy Benjamin grew up here.
-Yucky bugs. Admittedly, this is a pretty weak complaint, but cockroaches and such are icky, icky, icky.
-Mildewy, smelly clothing and towels. I've had to throw some things away because they got too moldy. That smell has delved deeply into the interiors of my memory bank.
-Laundry. I curse you laundry! If I lived in a normal house with a washer and dryer, I would actually enjoy this task. But no. I have to trek weeks of dirty laundry to a busy, stiflingly warm laundromat. It is a sweaty, nasty, tedious workout. And it is expensive.

Those are my rants for the moment. When I get disgusted it makes it easier for me to think about leaving this place that I really do love. But guess what I love more??? SEATTLE!

Mum and Me

Yesterday my mother left her first visit to my little tropical paradise. And she absolutely loved it. I told her to brag about it to all the people who haven't made it down here in the FOUR PLUS YEARS that I've been stuck on this rock. Yes, I am bringing THAT up again.

There were soooo many pictures, I couldn't possibly chose from all of them. Unlike Sadie's visit where we only took about 3. I think that is because she used to live here, but SERIOUSLY--neither of them brought a camera on vacation. What is up with that? My camera goes everywhere with me.

The pic above was taken whilst covered in salt and grime and emanating a boozey smell after a day of boating to the BVIs. Oh, those days in the sun are long ones. I believe we were asleep for night around 7:30 or 8pm, which happened a little too frequently after days of sun and drinks. Life really is not so hard down here.

L-L-L-Lani!!!

I love this girl, and now I get to be a bridesmaid at her wedding. If only we could get her into those euro trunks again (she stuffs). Ridiculousness.

Homogenity on St. John

St. Patty's is such a whitey's holiday, nary a West Indian in sight during the revelry of our little island parade. Not a disappointment, drunken hilarity reigned supreme.



Roland had an amazing costume with Incredible Hulk slippers. He followed the Mocko Jumbie all over the place.


Guess who I was thinking of when I took this picture. Miss Joy Fischer. Pretty cat with a pretty necklace.

I would've put up some video, but alas, I have no clue how. Pathetic.

Happiness is...

Our box of oranges from Dominica. Delish! I love that island, and I love the fruit that comes from there. It's like candy.

Pain

Part I.

8 Tuff Miles, I am your bitch. Granted, I was not supposed to drink such a large quantity of alcoholic beverages the night before getting up early to walk my way over steep and hot terrain to Coral Bay on the other side of the island, but still. Jason and Sadie went with me, and although we were all exhausted and sore, I was definitely in the worst shape. Is it supposed to be hard to go from zero ft to 1,000 ft (and up and down a lot on either side)? Well, it was. Very exhausting. I am trying to ignore that little 4 and 5 year olds had no problem with it.

Part II.

Work is a nightmare. My boss is gone, my co-worker is on vacation. I don't get paid enough for this!

Part III.

After two wonderful weeks, Miss Sadie once again left me for life in the States. Almost as terrible as the first time she did it a few years back.

Feeling the love

This one here is a tribute to Pat and Gary Cail who renewed their vows after 30+ years of marriage, along with many other couples, at Trunk Bay on 14 February 2009. It was really touching. Like a lot of couples, marriage can go through a lot of ups and downs, so reaffirming those 'I do's' had a special meaning. Note the man in the small swimsuit in the background. I wish we had a better shot of his ridiculousness. I am cruel. So much for Valentine lovin'.

Who are the people in your neighborhood?

One of my closest island friends and also, fortunately, my downstairs neighbor......Tyler (he made an appearance in my first post)! I like the very appropriate subtle appearance of Kenny sitting at the bar in the background. I find myself at Gecko Gazebo with Tyler several times a week.

http://www.on-stjohn.com/2009/02/09/our-favorite-bartenders-tyler/

4 Years

As of a few days ago, I have officially been living on St. John for 4 years. In commemoration, I am throwing down some pics of my mainland friends who've spent time here with me. There are definitely a few missing (like Tim and Laurie...can't find the pics!), but you guys are all totally rad for coming to visit your isolated island friend. It's not easy being so far away. xoxo


My girls...Joy and Jacynth at the Quiet Mon. Wild times on that trip!


Zimbo and me. Sorry about the sideways, but it was straight in my picture file so I don't know what happend.


Jean and Sadie at Hawksnest. My partners in crime that left me for the stateside life.


First visitor prize! Lynette and Julie. Good ol' Wyoming gals.


A typically odd picture of Jason that I just had to stick in.

Alas...

Yeah, not much from me lately. Just don't want to bore my 2 readers with stories about idiotic tourists and daily work life. But here are a few notes of interest...

-Sadie is coming to visit! And so is my mom! 2 weeks each, and it will rock. Even if our 'hallway' gets a bit cramped.

-Bought tickets to Lani's wedding in Alaska this summer, which will be amazing to enjoy during the solstice. BTW Lando...not sure if you were serious about me giving the speech, but I'm coming up with sort of a 'Cheers/speech' instead, which would be a little more my style and less nerve-racking. Also get to hang with cousin Ryan and little Will and do all sorts of outdoorsy things which Alaska is known for. Cannot wait!

-I am once again on the gala committee for the Friends of the Virgin Islands National Park. This year, the party is at the MOST exclusive villa on St. John that was just listed for sale for $32 million. It will be fabulous and fun, and rest assured, I will be drinking my share and more of Veuve Clicquot. Here's a link to the villa, Presidio del Mar, which also rents for $4,600 a night!

-Barack Obama is president, and I really did not realize I would be so thrilled!

-I just bought a king size Heavenly bed set, which for anyone who is stayed at a Sheraton/Weston/W/St. Regis understands it is the most amazing bed EVER. Thank god for work discounts saving me a good thousand off the price.

-Seems as though I will be summering in Seattle. I am glowing with anticipation of the gorgeous NW and all my friends. And the music scene. And the affordable groceries. And and and.....

-Just in case you think everything is coming up roses, there are those pesky tourists again. I really can't stand them. Seriously. They walk down the middle of the road, they don't seem to realize that they are OUTSIDE the U.S. and not everything is 'perfect' like their beloved country, they think they're the only people who exist in the whole universe, they wear stupid clothes, they drive on the wrong side of the road, they act as if they're getting drunk for the first time, they are disrespectful of local culture. I could keep going, but won't.

Instead, I leave you with these. Pics from my December trip w/ co-workers to Coral World on St. Thomas, where we played w/ sealions and got stung by some nasty old jellyfish. Love the pic w/ Jamie getting the sealion face slap.