Finally

Today I have to meet my builder at the bank, where he signs a contract with them and gets a check to start construction of my house. It's taken years but it will finally start.
Wish me luck!

Writers block

I'm having a hard time coming up with topics for my blog lately. I've been putting a new studio in at work. I've been going to the beach at lunch. and I've been having a great time with the OI Girl in the evenings and weekends.
When I'm not at the computer, I think of all kinds of good stuff to write here, but when I'm here, I achieve a perfectly blank mind.

I don't like it when

People talk about love but they mean sex, like in songs.

The exception is "make love" which means sex, but love and sex aren't the same thing

OK weekend

I made it through the OI Girls birthday Saturday, I ended up getting her some earrings and a necklace. And a purse and lipgloss and a travel jewelry box. And we had a fancy dinner. It was cloudy Saturday so no beach, Sunday was sunny though.
It was an OK weekend, but too short.

Pre B-Day Day

Tomorrow's the OI Girls birthday. I haven't got a present yet. Any ideas? She wants dinner at this fancy restaurant, The Lighthouse. We're going there, but that doesn't let me off the hook, gift-wise.
I'm glad it's Friday, too.

House Building Woes

I'm trying to get my house built. I keep having one more hoop to jump through. There seems to be a problem with this insurance that I need, it seems overly expensive and something seems amiss.
And now the bank is playing games - again. They approved the loan and now apparently they want me to re-write the application, using more of my money and less of theirs. When they said that I pulled out their policy and quoted it to them, which states we do it the way we were doing it. They said they'd get back to me.
Neverending bullcrap.

Frikkin America

On the shortwave this morning, the news was that Fidel Castro announced he'd be officially giving up power. Now the US is crowing about how much it will cost to "rebuild Cuba".
Cuba doesn't need rebuilding. And if it does, who says it's the US's job to do it? For years and years, the US has been poisoning everything it touches. Not being Americanized is one of Cuba's greatest blessings. I'm not saying anything about Castro, just that not having US influence is a good thing that should be maintained.

It seems to me that Americans think every country wants to be like America. That is a great falsehood. The only people telling Americans that every country wants to be like the USA is other Americans. Believe me, other countries DO NOT want to be like the US.
I'm an American, but I've lived outside the US for over 10 years. Americans seem the least able to grasp the concept of a different culture. They seem to think everywhere is like the US. Go to the post office here and wait 5 minutes, you will see an American confused by the mail slots, one says "Cayman Islands Mail" the other says "Foreign Mail". The American can't decide where to put their mail, because they think they're not a foreigner in another country. "I'm not a foreigner, I'm American, which slot am I supposed to use?" You will see this, virtually every time you go to the post office. Where's the Starbucks?

The US economy sucks even when Americans think it's good. I was working two full time jobs for 10 years before I moved here. I was so broke from taxes all I ate were beans and noodles and shit. Then I see the lady at the grocery store with jewelry and steaks and a BMW pull out a wad of food stamps.

The US health care is among the worst on the planet. Many countries have a longer adult life span and lower infant mortality rate than the US.

When I go back for a visit, it is worse than many of the "third world" countries I have visited. It is filthy dirty, everyone is in debt, maxing out credit cards and suing each other.

The US is going to destroy Cuba by going in there and building McDonalds and Wal-Marts.

Another Good Weekend

I had a good weekend. Saturday I rode the scooter all around the island. I found a secret, tiny beach. I should have taken this pic BEFORE I climbed down there. The sand was very soft and deep.
Here it is on Google Earth, I guess it's not a secret any more

Here's me, on the tiny beach.

Sunday I went to my regular beach, then picked up the OI Girl from the airport around noon, had a nap, and went back to the beach. The IO Girl had a great time in the US!

Sat Morn

It's Saturday Morning, I'm going to take the scooter around to the East End of the island, I picked out some spots to check out on Google Earth. Here's a video of the area I want to explore from the air, taken when I was going to the Brac last weekend. I seek deserted beaches. Also a pic from Google Earth, the same area as on the video, I turned it upside down for you so it's the same orientation as the video.






The OI Girl is in Florida this weekend, visiting her Mom and Aunt who are up there from Costa Rica. She'll be back tomorrow afternoon.

Super P-O'ed.

My boss let a worker into my office and let him use my tools without permission. And he messed up some of my projects, setting me back at least a week. I was super P-O'ed.

Tomorrow the OI Girl is going to Florida for the weekend. Her Mom and Aunt will be there.

New Mode

Here's my new mode of transporation. Mine's a 2005, the pic is a 2007, but I haven't taken a pic of mine yet. So far I like it. It cost me $3.21 to fill it up with gas yesterday!

Brac Saturday

I'm on Cayman Brac again, for the Sister Islands Agriculture Show. LAst night I had to record a public meeting for future broadcast. It started at 8 and went till midnight. It was supposed to start at 7:30 and I was there early, like about 6:30. I was really tired and a little annoyed by the time it was done. It was supposed to be 7:30-9:30.

Today I just hope I can get a good signal over the phone line back to Grand Cayman. That's all I hope for today.

Agriculture Show

click photos to enlarge

Pre Dawn Cruise ship

Why the long face?

Goats

Pigs
Cattle Rustler


Yesterday was the annual agricultural show. It was pretty fun for a day at work. The organizers wanted the vehicle in place by 6:15 AM, so I had to get up pretty early.

Happy Birthday to me

Yesterday was my eleventh anniversary of arriving on the island. I've been here 11 years. Happy anniversary to me!

Super Bowl

I'm glad New York won the Super Bowl, sorry New England didn't get a perfect season. I just want to point out that my team, the Washington Redskins, beat the world champion New York Giants.
Don't forget it.

Saturday

It's Saturday, Glad for the weekend off. There's Art At Governors this weekend, but I don't have to do the broadcast.
Next weekend is Cayman Brac work, and Wednesday (a holiday here) I am working.
I'm feeling kind of blue this morning, no reason.
I almost got to do a little scuba teaching this morning, but it fell through. I think OI Girl and I are diving this afternoon.
I didn't post yesterday because I promised a friend I'd fix his computer and that what's I was doing.