04-20-08

Arrived in st john in the late evening after 9 hrs of flying. While on layaway met a very filial group of brothers taking their father to st thomas then a 7day catamaran trip. I'd like to do this one day - its been a while since the family's had some adventure!

After checking into the wyndam, we were amazed by the lack urgency - someone would show up and just walk back to their office. Juxtaposed with the wasp implants into the island where service was top of mind and where their pride rided on it. That said, the room and view were pretty sweet.

Shortly thereafter, we took a cab to Duffys a supposed hot spot for cheap beer, cheap drinks and cheap women; which, really means run down local town center where everyone dresses to look like 50 cent meet south african conflict diamond army. It was ghetto to say the least but we managed and had a great time.

There is a concept of 'personal space' that I continue lean back as a fundamental behavior of humans. I've been told I 'hold my space' quite well and holding space is critical to establishing the 'offense being best defense' balance of powers. Its almost as you refract energy that puts ppl in their place and make turn a pack of aboriginals into beta dogs.

I digress. We hit K-mart to load up on supplies and then head over to St. John via Barge.

(It's all about Tug Life: Check out the guys playing Dominos Dayam you sittin on 22's! 22 ft from bow to stern!)

The hardest thing getting used to in the US Virgin Islands was driving on the left hand side of the road. The challenge is, the cars are all US-based; meaning, that you drive on the left hand side, meaning the hard-to-see turns are further away. As Kathleen continued to remind me in song and tune, "to the left to the left..."

After the 'longest 15 minute drive' we reached our rental home and was quite surprised:

We slept but not well. The crickets take some getting used to and of course the security situation was top of mind. Half the doors (out of 20) were unlocked. I blocked off the driveway with the jeep and kept an open ear for movement.

Movement turned out to be small flees which buzzed by our ears as we tried to sleep. In the end I took 5mg ambien to sleep with a touch of psp (thanks shaun).

Morning. We woke up late to the sound of the familiar - the blackberry 8830. After some fast action to leave by 3 we set a course for lameshur bay, a relatively secluded small beach on the southeastern tip of st john. We weaved mountain singlet track roads sprinkled with goats and donkies where we met some hippies who needed a ride to a 'biological research station.'. I wonder if they grew the kind... Nice ladies with their 70yr old father who was too proud to accept a ride and knew when the old man speak drolled on too long. Active guy and great respect. I only felt bad being so uncivillized as to spit my dip as we drove on the unpathed road, 4wd operating in full effect.

The beach was very comfortable, shallow and calm. We swam for an hour. Its amazing what a little exercise will do for yiur body and mind. We watched one couple in their thirties build a stone arch with another mid age couple coming to watch and help out. How we are so like children.

As dawn approached we moved to cruz bay, the closest miniopolist on st john where we enjoyed a VERY nice meal at ZoZos. At the bar, a scene picturesque of those cheezy bahammas tshirts. (See picture)

The drive home was wrought with car sickness particularly for kathleen. But we made it. And safe. I'm getting the hand of the jeep and driving along the cliffs.

Good things:

- Kathleen is looking extra sexy today!
- Watching the sunset at zozos
- Cold coors light at the beach
- Finding new episodes of Family Guy
- Knowing our stuff is safe

Needs improvement

- delicate balance of annoyance and nagging
- gps kinda accurate
- lost eggs we bought yesterday
- itchy skin
- spots on skin