Do I want a what?

I went to get my hair cut today and the Canadian lady who has been cutting it since I've been here is just a horrible conversationalist so really, we don't talk much. Last time I saw her I was stuck in the chair with scissors to my head listening to her go off about how hard it is to quit smoking and that I just have no idea how hard it is. "Yes Ma'am, I never smoked. I don't know how hard it is to quit smoking." Listen to me! Don't ever start! Do you know how I quit?! Ask me! "Um, how'd you quit?" BY PRAYING! I prayed!

Keep in mind while this convo was happening some religious program was on (which is normal for around here), blaring in the background just fueling the fire of this woman. So I learned my lesson from the last time, so I just kept my mouth shut...besides I also learned that when she has different TV programs on and the louder they are, the more she gets all crazy and starts blurting out shit that scares me, so I just said hi and kept my mouth shut since the TV was really loud this morning.

Things were going fine towards the end and I was excited cause she wasn't going crazy and I was almost out of there. Then out of nowhere she asked me if I wanted a tail.

*blank stare*

What? Do I want a what? A tail? For my hair?? Um, no Ma'am, please don't give me a tail. "Well Kid if I just take it up a little here on these sides I can..." No. I don't want a tail.

So yeah, I was really close to getting my first tail. Shit.

Work out question

Well maybe it's not a work out question, more like an eating after a work out question.

So you know how you're supposed to eat within 15-20 minutes of working out? Why? I get it if you're hungry because it goes directly to the the muscles or something, but when I work out, I want to throw up...so really, eating is definitely not what I'm thinking about after I get done working out. If you're not trying to "bulk up" but either slim down or tone up, does it matter that you don't eat 15 minutes after you get done working out as long as you don't eat bad food when you do decide you're able to eat again?

Just curious. I don't even know if I'm asking this the right way.

Mullets and love and other oddities

I realize even the outline of me going into the ocean looks a little pansy like, but come on! The water is cold! Besides, as you can see, I was sunning myself prior to getting into the water.

Let's move onto later that night, Jessica, the girl flipping everyone off on the dock, decided to put Kim's hair into a mullet. I love her, even with her mullet, but once you have a mullet...I have a feeling we'll be seeing more of it. And I have a picture of her face with that mullet. I just want her to still sleep with me so I won't post it.

Moving right along, Kim took some pictures on her camera of the Boiling Lake that I was just able to upload. She's got some pretty good ones of the lake once the clouds moved away. The last picture is a steaming stream we followed to get to the lake. Six days later, I can officially stand up all the way AND walk normal. For awhile I always thought I was going to walk around like that.

Being forced

Okay, so I like a little mirror time at the gym, no secret. However, I get there 2 hours ago and of course these bulky guys (and a rather attractive muscular black man with such white teeth and a pretty smile that just screamed out "sex" everytime he walked by me. *ahem*) were all hogging the mirror. Well, if you're as pretty as that attractive man, I can share the mirror, but the other guys just needed to leave, but they didn't. So these guys were forcing me to do something that I didn't want to. That's right, cardio.

Those bastards.

I'm beginning to think an intervention is necessary

Dominica had this holiday earlier this month or last month (all my days are blending so I'm not sure which), and due to that holiday, we ran out of toilet paper. Well, we couldn't wait 4 days to get more so of course I went to the only place that was open...the school...and stole theirs. Seriously, next to Kubuli beer, it's the greatest. Unfortunately, due to it being the greatest, I can't stop now. They keep restocking, I keep restealing. I guess if "restealing" was a real word, it would mean stealing the exact same thing over again...and as far as I know, the toilet paper isn't recycled? One, that would be gross. Two, well, this is Dominica, so it just might be?

Let's just move on from that...

Since I've been here I haven't seen any frogs and truthfully, I want to see a fucking frog. I was waddling home last night (I still hurt from that hike yesterday) and finally saw one! It was fucking ugly so of course I love it. I even named it. His name is Sam. Just don't ask me how I know his sex....

BOILING FUCKING LAKE part 2

So the blog right below was getting there and seeing Boiling Lake. This is the trek back. And yes, I felt like I could have died.

BOILING FUCKING LAKE!

Sweet mother of GOD what did I sign up to do?!?! Ten minutes after some confusion on the bus, we ended up on our way to Boiling Lake. We all had our waters and food and shit, so we were ready.

I would like to point out that not even a mile into it, I was winded. Maybe not winded, but I definitely HATE incline anything! But I was a trooper, took my breaks then realized if I stopped too long, my legs would shake and become wobbly. The entire hill was up and down up and down up and down and FUCKING UP AND FUCKING DOWN nonfucking stop! Whatever, I'm a trooper. 7 miles to get to Boiling Lake, 7 miles to get back. The trek back was just as hard and the trek there. I had marking points in my head when I came back, then realized I don't know anything.

The first pic is of the actual Boiling Lake, but after that some of the pics will be from the walk there and the walk back. They only let me post 5 pics per blog, so I might have to do another blog.

Really glad I did it. When we finally made it to the van again, I decided never ever ever EVER again will I do that. But now, meh, I'd probably do it again. One of the pics you'll see Kim and me looking into this crater that was pretty hot, in the area (still a few miles from the actual Boiling Lake) there were some really hot spots, and I was more interested in that part. So if I go back, I'll probably just end up there. Besides, that's where the clay was and that's where we all got dirty playing in it. :) My body hates and the idea of a body rub sounds wonderful, but Kim is just as sore as me and additionally, the idea of someone touching my legs right now kinda makes me whimper.

THEN! The second we walked through the door, Randy (the guy who showed me the snake pit) knocked on the door. Of course I'm muddy from the feet up and the second thing out of his mouth was "Uh, what happened to you?" He was looking for a donation for his school, so I gave him ten bucks. Then I asked him if he'll show me the snakes. The only problem with that, is we have to wake up at 7 to be there by 7:30am, where the snakes usually come out. He said he'll see cause it's really early. :) If I have to bribe him...I will! I want to see those snakes before I go!

Weird

I hate that the newspapers don't come out more often here. I mean, I realize nothing is happening, but fucking say that! Shit, I always find something to write about! @#$@#%#$%#$ I should be giving lessons!

Anyhoo, we had an earthquake here a few hours ago. I was actually trying to get into the shower and found it was hard to put my foot in because everything kept shaking. It lasted maybe 2 minutes and it was super big, somewhere in the 5.something range. I was hoping for a non-death from anyone cause tsunami, but it didn't happen. Once again I was thinking of the pictures to be had, but now that I think about it, that might be a little selfish. When Hurricane Dean came through here in August 99% of Dominica's banana crop was destroyed...and it sucks...because I really want a fucking banana. Well, I mean, it also sucks more for other reasons, but seriously, I really do want a banana.

Where was I going with this? Think...oh, so if someone can find how big this earthquake was, can you tell me? The only thing I can find just talks about the earthquakes from 2004. And actually, there's this church here that is always in the newspaper (well, "always" meaning the once a week newspaper) that was destroyed a few years back. I thought it was from the same hurricane from a few years ago that tossed all these huge ships onto their side that still just lay on the beach, but actually the church got destroyed by a earthquake in 2004 from just a 6.0 earthquake.

Okay, going to fight for some mirror time at the gym.

That's 3 and a HALF handfuls per cheek, you know

This morning started when I got curious and just surfed around and found my cousin's myspace page. She's 18 and her sister is 16. Do you know what that means? That there is someone younger than M. Now see, I think this is just fantastic. So fantastic that I texted her to let her know, and Oh sweet Jesus! A guy came in the computer lab wearing a T-shirt with tons of cherries on it. What is it with guys wearing baby blue tight t-shirts with palm trees on them and now this clown comes in with a whole bunch of cherries on his shirt. They're all pretty good size men. They just need to knock that shit off. He looks like he's wearing a fucking table cloth.

Totally have no idea where I was going with the first part of this...this guy completely took me off guard.

Moving on. So this is the bathroom, and yes, the rolls of toilet paper you see are the ones I stole...and keep stealing. I'm beginning to think I have a problem stealing Ross University's toilet paper. I know it's wrong, and I do feel bad about it, but come on, this is some great long lasting toilet paper here! I'm just sayin'.

Anyway, where I was going with this, being that I have a rather shy bladder, I can't pee if people are near. Most everyone knows that, so I'm just going to move on. So Kim went to school and I decided, even though I can hear the construction workers above my apartment, I am going to pee. So I sat down, a little nervous because they were right above me, and I began to pee. For some reason, I decided to just look up, in midstream, I saw two guys staring back at me! And they waved! They freaking waved to me! I'm obviously in the middle of something here and you waved to me! Don't wave!

Anyway, I don't want to relive that day, the day that I had to stop midstream and finish peeing at the school because some construction people decided to be friendly and not only watch me pee, but waved to me while I was trying to get over my fear of peeing when people are near. Well, all that hard work went out the window.

That being said, the construction guys decided to come back again and Kim wasn't home and I didn't feel like waving to anybody so I went to lay on the dock. I came back at home a few hours later and they were still there...so I decided to walk to school and get back on the computer. Well, that and I had to pee again.

While walking to school, a 12 year old girl ran up to me from across the street to tell me I was pretty. Ah well, that was nice of her. I liked this girl, she wasn't trying to molest me like that other 12 year old...which was good because Kim wasn't here to defend me like last time.

I don't have crabs, and please...don't poke my tit.

I was walking Kim home last night and something caught my eye on the ground. It was dark, so I didn't know what it was, but I didn't want to kick it...or get "it" on my shoe, so I had to stop suddenly and Kim looked back. The "it" moved and got on it's back legs like it was going to fight me! It was a sewer crab! So, obviously startled, I said "Oh shit" and stepped back. Then all of a sudden I hear Kim screaming this God awful scream that I thought something happened to her, so of course I'm looking at her to see what she's screaming at, well it was the sewer crab. I mean the dude looked pissed...but we're bigger. I was just startled for the record.

Now, that being said, I didn't do what Kim said I did. "I only screamed because you screamed and scampered back." First off, I don't scream, I may moan loud, but that's for other reasons. Second...I don't scamper, I merely stepped back. Just wanted that out in case others got conflicting stories from her.

So today I went snorkeling and sometimes I forget how bad I am at it. Like, I understand now how to properly put on the mask and breathing tube thing (and for the record I left my flippers at home so I would actually have to use my legs), but seriously, I never look where I'm going...I just follow the shells. However, when I went into the water, I saw that there was this guy with about 20 local children, probably like between 7-17 years old, and I saw that they were playing games, so I tried to remember that and go a little further out in the water.

A short while later, Kim and Jessica come and we all head out on the dock. We're almost all the way to the end of the dock and they started to study and I decided to take my shirt off, but I was laying on my stomach, nothing was showing. Kim and Jess decided to go in the water when soon I hear them calling my name. I look towards the water where they're at, and I realized I'm surrounded by a ton of kids. Obviously since my shirt is off, I couldn't get up and move, so I just put my head down and my arms to my side when I noticed a poke in my left tit.

I turn my head and this girl who was maybe 12 or 13 poked my left tit and ran into the crowd of kids. Are you serious? So out come Kim and Jessica and all the kids jump into the water. 5 minutes later, Kim kinda a tad bit goes off on this girl about how that's disrespectful. The girl said she was sorry and pretty much avoids us for the rest of the day. So now that I think about it, she had to reach in between my arms to get to the side of my tit. Where I'm going with this is I think we have a soon to be lesbian on our hands and more than likely, she's going to be nuts like all the others in about 8 years. Just fyi.

You know, all I'm sayin' is, usually people ask me if I'm a girl or guy, they don't try to feel for the answer.

Just an update

I got my eyebrows waxed...and I'm much happier now. Oh, and I got a juice. Just thought everyone should know.

Got talked into this and not talked into that

So somebody mentioned there hasn't been pictures on this blog for awhile, meh, I forgot my battery charger. I decided I'm going to steal Kim's for awhile...I should probably let her know...

Last night I was doing things I probably shouldn't be doing (no no, not those things, but other things) and totally got called on it. @#@#$!@$@!#$ *ahem* Anyway, thanks to the person who called me on it. :) So I decided to walk around Portsmouth around 10pm. Probably not the safest thing I've done, however, I fucking love walking around the streets at night. I think I only got followed twice too (which isn't bad at all, I get followed more during the daytime), then my taxi driver picked me up and took me back to the school.

I asked my taxi guy if he knows where I can get a guide for a tour of Boiling Lake. I'm not exactly sure where Boiling Lake is, but I believe it's about 15 minutes past Roseau. He said he can tour me, and then he told me the cost. "40 dollars U.S., just for the drive, then $170 U.S. for the tour."

I'm getting rather annoyed lately with these taxi guys trying to extort money from people, and I told him no thanks. He said for me, it'll be $40 U.S. for the drive, but he'll lower it to $150 (U.S.) for the tour. Yeah, Dude, no. It costs me 8ec (less than 4 bucks U.S.) to get to Roseau, then it's 150ec for the tour by other people (and probably by people who know a lot more than him about the hike). So let's see, really, all together, it would total to be about 158ec for the whole tour...paying $190 (U.S.) for the tour (knowing I'm getting scammed) or get the same tour for really, around $75 (U.S.)? Decisions decisions. I've been finding it's been hard for me lately to put up with dumb shit like that. Wow, I'm bitchy right now. I better go get my eyebrows waxed. I bet that's my problem.

Bessie? No, it's Sara...

I was looking at a picture of me with Bessie's friend, Mary, the nice cow that lets me, nay, that wants me to pat her and well, it was hard to tell us apart. That being said, I went to the gym today. First things first, I haven't posted much in the past few days because, well, how much can you say when all you did was lay in the sun all day? Let's see, I didn't wrap my hands around a bus driver's neck like I wanted to for trying to extort money from me. I didn't wrap my hands around any of my boyfriends' necks, although one deserved it. So really, if I posted anything in the past few days, it would sound like I was looking for "Atta Girl, Sara" with some clapping to go along with it.

I just need to get this off my chest and I know it's random, but it needs to be said. Men who are buff or semi buff, really really REALLY should not wear baby blue tight t-shirts with palm trees on them. I'm just sayin', it doesn't look right. I was talking to a friend earlier about this and she agreed with me on this.

Back to the gym...the school opened a new gym (off campus, closer to my place actually) and it's so much better (still not awesome, but anything would have been an improvement from the old gym the school had). I decided to do chest and triceps and stomach. Kim pointed out that I used to have a defined stomach. You know what?? Perky's is across the street! So damn Perky's Pizza, okay?! As you can see, a little bit of a sensitive subject for me. The past few days, I've been eating really well (well, or not eating at all, slim pickins over here, you know?), drinking my protein drink that they over charge you at the school bookstore, and drinking a lot of juice. That's the one thing that is absolutely amazing here is their juice. I could write a song about it.

So due to eating well and swimming (and trying to swim more without the flippers so I can actually say that I'm swimming and also to get a workout when I do snorkel) and working out at the gym, I should look at least the same as when I left Seattle...just darker. :) I like my tan...it's just the tan lines that I hate. I hear there's a nudist beach on one of the islands close by...I can even out the tan lines....I think someone told me there's a nudist beach at St Kitts or somewhere nearby. I need to talk to her again to get the info. I would love to go to a nudist beach before I leave.

I'm a little tired and my body hates me for what I did to it a few hours ago in the gym. I will have a flat stomach again! You will not confuse me with Bessie!

I don't have crabs...and I'm trying to keep it that way

So while Kim was studying, I went to the beach to lay out on the dock and also snorkel. Being that I slept 13 hours last night (not sure why, wasn't really that tired), laying in the sun just brought on a headache...well, that and not eating for awhile. All the dumb ATM machines are being "serviced" for the past 10 hours. All I'm sayin' is maybe they should think about hiring somebody else to "service" them. That's all.

While feeling dizzy, and quite upset at this guy that swims all around the dock (about 40 meters) 5 times, takes a quick break, then does 5 more laps. I almost threw a rock at him. But I'll be honest, I'm jealous. Because all the dude had were swim goggles. I have snorkel gear and flippers (yes, that I stole) and I still couldn't beat his time. Next time I see him, I'm throwing that rock, then I'll "save" him and ask him what happened.

So back to snorkeling. I look for sea shells, I can't help it, they're nice. So I found this awesome shell that was about 3 to 4 inches long, but it was so white and not broken and perfect. I picked it up and this crazy crab came out of it! They're supposed to be empty when I touch them! And I don't know if they're "crabs" per say, but this little round up shell I picked up and flipped it on its back, this big crab came out of it, pissed off (I could see his eyes) crawl most of the way out of the shell to flip himself back over, then disappear in the shell when he saw me coming. I WANT THAT SHELL! So I picked up the shell, swimming with it for awhile, trying to get him sick so he'll "fall" out, I was also shaking the shell in the water and outside the water, but he wasn't going away! Dude was in there good.

Pretty soon I started feeling bad because I must be scaring this poor guy to death, so I think I learned somewhere (since I'm such an expert in sea life), that these types of crabs or whatever they're called (they don't look like crabs btw), they just "rent" the shells they're in and then move onto another shell. Since this shell was only 3 to 4 inches long, I decided to swim with the guy for awhile, and show him new shells, bigger shells he might be interested in. Okay, so he didn't like the rock I showed him, fine, so I took him to this HUGE shell (it was in the sand with moss on it, but come on, compared to his little shell, it was a mansion! Well stubborn toes didn't want that one either. And I learned that everytime I put Mr Stubborn down, he would crawl away really fast from me. Once I lost him, but then I found him. I want that shell.

Finally my guilt took over and I decided to go for the bigger shell. The mossy one kind of stuck in the sand. But the size of that crab in the little shell, I was scared to find what was in this shell! I took a rock, dove down there and moved it. Nothing came out, no bubbles, things were looking good. I let the little guy go and now I'm thinking about how to get this big guy. The only thing concerning me was that there was this one fish just eyeing the shell...I didn't like that because...um...that just might mean something was in there. I took my chances and grabbed the end of the shell when I noticed that my first little friend was getting attacked by this, I don't know what. *sigh* Since I was the one "helping" him find a new home, I felt somewhat responsible, so I dove back down there, picked the little guy up, flung his enemy, and dove back down to get my big shell, and started to swim back to the dock in the deeper water (where the little guy kept trying to head in the first place).

I dropped Mr Stubborn off and headed to the land with my heavy guy. I figured once I cleaned him up, he'll be looking good. So I'm on shore now (somewhere along the way I lost my snorkel...luckily I stole two snorkel breathing tube things) and something is coming out of this big shell. Oh hell no we're not repeating this all over again. This time though, it look like he was trying to get out of his shell (I finally put two and two together and realized sea life likes just that, the sea). I walked into the water and dropped this guy off...but it looked like a baby octopus! But now he's just happy as a clam (now that he's in water again), and so am I because I have my find.

Busy day ends with a headache. I guess I should warn Kim the apartment kinda smells like the ocean...

Pears and pizza

Okay, there's a picture I saw of myself when Kim put lotion on my back. First off, absolutely no definition in my back. Two, due to me always wearing my wifebeater, I have the wifebeater tan, meaning not only do I not have any definition in my back, but it's sickly white. Three, I have no shape, well, actually, I have a shape of a pear, but that doesn't count. Four, I look like the dough boy from the back, I'm happy there's no pictures from the front. Five, Meagan, you can tease me all you want, but I'm going tanning when I come back to Seattle! It will help!

Funny

So every once in awhile, my mom lets my dad on the computer to write me an email. My dad's a retired Seattle cop, 6'4, huge man. Now, here's his email to me. Probably my favorite email.

Hello again, Kiddo I just got home from my hi-tech flagging job. Just read your latest blog report and viewed your latest pictures with Mom. Glad to hear and see your getting along with the locals[Bessie] and the crab on the rock. We had a little wind storm around here yesterday and this is the first time that I can recall that we didn't lose power. I suppose this means the next storm will do twice the damage to make up for what it didn't do yesterday just to make it even. The weather channel said the wind gusts got up to around 92 mph around the Bellingham area and those type winds are like in a stage 2 category type hurricane. Yesterday I wimped out and drove the car to the flagging job instead of riding the bike because of the wind and rain. There is a parking lot we can park in, put our 12 dollars in a ticket machine for the receipt so we can get reimbursed for 8 of the 12 dollars later. Hey. parking for 4 dollars a day in Seattle is a pretty good deal. Anyway, I had a 10 dollar bill and 2 ones. At this point, it's blowing pretty hard and raining pretty hard and my 12 dollars and I are getting real wet real fast. I put a dollar bill in the machine and then another dollar in and the machine won't take the second dollar bill or the 10 dollar bill and it's still dark out yet. So, now enters the macho, bald headed parking lot attendant. I told him the machine isn't taking my money. He immediately gets pissed off and start cussing, ranting and raving about how some dumb shit must have screwed the machine up by using a faulty credit card and jammed the machine with it. He's ranting and raving, clenching his fists, sticking his manly girly chest out and being real macho. I said 'don't look at me, I don't have a credit card. He gets his flashlight. looks in the slot where you put the money and sees something stuck in the slot. He got a screwdriver and pulled that something out and it's a wadded up, wet dollar bill. I gave him my remaining 11 dollars, asked for a receipt, got one and left. The nerve of him, accusing me of having a credit card. The very idea of having one could get me in trouble with Mom. Moving on to today. Here I am in the intersection of 8th and Cherry, with traffic stopped so the guy running the fork lift can get out onto the street [otherwise, the traffic won't let him out because a lot of them are jerks]. If you remember, the streets around there are pretty narrow. There's a couple of spots for free 1 hour parking across the street from the construction site. I've got traffic stopped in all directions for the fork lift and this guy parks his pickup in one of the free spots. After he gets out of his truck, he makes a point to walk over to me in the traffic. With a voice that sounds like he's afraid of something, he starts telling me how all the tower cranes aren't safe to be around because they are all falling down. I think he was talking about the one that fell down in Bellevue, hit that building where somebody was killed. I don't know if you remember that. It happened in the last year or so. Anyway, I've got traffic all screwed up so I can get the fork lift out and this guy wants to talk about how unsafe tower cranes are. His voice is shaky and sounds like he's about to cry. With this shaky voice, he then asks me to do him a favor, taps me on the arm, and says 'Watch my truck for me, okay?'. He then walks off down Cherry street to who knows where. Yeah, I'm going to stop everything I'm doing watch your truck so that big, bad , mean crane doesn't fall on your truck. For the next three hours, he's gone and I'm swamped with traffic, not because of him, but, because it's busy. I probably should have called a meter maid and had his truck ticketed for being parked there over the limit and maybe tried to have impounded. This is the second time I've had something like this. The other time, two girls were walking on the other side of the street from the site and one of them goes out of her way to cross the street towards the crane, while I have traffic stopped because the crane has a big heavy load of iron and I don't want any of it to maybe fall off the pallet board down onto a car or anybody. She then asks if it's safe to be walking over across the street where she originally was because that big load of iron that is now directly over her head doesn't look safe from where she was. Sara, what am I missing here? Here's the kicker though, when that guy came back to truck today, he didn't even give me a wink, a nod or a wave to let me know that he appreciated me personally keeping that crane from falling on his truck. It must be a fear factor that draws these people towards the cranes. If I called these people dumb s.o.b.s, I probably would be giving them credit for something. There's burnt out light bulbs out there that are brighter than these people. Now, remember to keep in mind, that when you're perfect like me, you can criticize others. Well, so much for my little note to you tonight. I'm going to go out to my little gym and pretend to work out and then call it quits for the day. This way I'll be more ready for my people tomorrow. Maybe I should just whack them with piece of that iron, ask them if it hurt, and then determine if I can let them walk under future heavy loads so they won't be afraid anymore. I'm just a retired public servant that can't seem to let go. It's in my blood and maybe will be in theirs one day if they don't knock it off. Lots of love, dad

Seriously, I hate when people just cut and paste long things

So I'm just going to give the link. It's kinda interesting. I was more interested in, well, everything about the country that doesn't seem to be doing all they can be doing and it got me curious on why that is.


http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029394365&a=KCountryProfile&aid=1020173366434

Went back to Cabrits National Park

So I kinda, well, you see, my mouth...it just sometimes runs...nevermind. It gets me in trouble.

Grandma's second letter

I can't help it. I like the way my grandma writes. She makes me smile.

Hi Sara:

Well been a bit since I've dropped you a line and have a few minutes before going to beddy by so here goes. I am having a bunch of women friends in this coming Wednesday so I said to your darlin grandpa on Saturday that I sure thought it would be a good idea if he went out and cleaned the gutters and then helped me rake leaves etc. It's really hard to imagine his enthusiasm (nah it's not hard at all is it). Well anyway I gave him the Lamarche look and he knew he was doomed. He got out the ladder etc and I grabbed the trusty rake, gloves, warm jacket and off I went. Well I/we raked and cleaned and did all those neat things that makes your neighbor glad that you live next to them. Picked up about 13 big bags of leaves and stuff off the roof and then I grabbed the trusty blower and did our driveway and sidewalk out in front and even blew the street (on our side) to a breath taking beauty. I kept waiting for the Seattle Times and P.I. and surrounding newspapers to come in and take pictures. I even went in and brushed my hair and put on a fresh coat of lip stick (just in case) - Well I don't know it must have been because it was a weekend but no one showed up - however you and I know that it looked spiffy. Did I tell you that we had a fairly strong wind storm today and it now looks worse than it did on Saturday - There just is no justice in this crazy world. Oh well I will tell my friends what I did and will take them out on the side of the house to see all those magnificant black bags bulging with something.
We didn't lose our power altho they were saying this evening that they had up to 93 mph gusts of winds (of course those were a little north of us), but we had up to 60 mph so it was really blowing. My poor old rhodie baskets that were hanging out in back must be sea sick as that wind just twisted them around and around, sort of like one of those fairground toys you get on.

Was over seeing your mom today for a couple of minutes as I had a couple of things to give her for her jewelry collection. Now they had a lot of of branches (not huge tho) in their yard, but she said this evening that they had not lost their power so that was good.

Understand that you got a bunch of goodies from your folks and I also understand that in the end you still had to pay another fee to get it. Boy those people down there have got you coming and going.

Watched the BIG SeaHawk Football game tonite on Monday Nite Football and the good guys won. Every year I hope they do well enough to go to the Super Bowl. Well they made it one time so I guess there is a certain amount of hope out there.

Have been doing a little bit of Christmas Shopping, but usually by this time I am finished and let me tell you that isn't the case this year. What are you hoping that the man in red will bring you - By this time I usually have quite a list from you. Does this mean that you are too OLD for Xmas gifts (Somehow I find that so hard to believe) but sometimes people change when they get to super warm climates and keep thinking that it is Summer time (is that the problem - if not let me know OK?).

Went with your Aunt Roxie to a Cash and Carry Show on Sunday and she is like a little kid in the candy store, so it's always fun to have her around. She's doing well and always asks about you and wonders how you are doing way down South. Your Uncle Rick did himself good taking her on - or was it the other way around.

I am STILL complaining about my old SSSSSSLLLLLLOOOOOOOWWWWWW computer and as of now still haven't done anything about it. I have some genealogy on it and am not quite sure just how to download or save it. Now Aunt Janet just sort of has given up on me by trying to explain how to do it. I invited her over for Thanksgiving if she doesn't go to Kathleens and then maybe I can sneak her into the room and get her to do it - yep one sneaky grandma.

Grandpa is really having a time with his memory, which is too bad as I don't have anyone anymore that I can play "do you remember when or that" oh well he doesn't seem too concerned about it so I guess that is a very positive thing. Taking him into the doctor this Thursday for a regular checkup. Not really quite sure why we go as it is the same old story each time, but someone has to support our local doctors I guess. He also is always asking about where you are, and I think he would be a lot happier if you were somewhere closer where he could just lay his hands on you. He always grins when I mention your name (but then I do too) as we both miss you.

Been reading your blogs and it sound like you are having fun - but are you getting bored. I suppose if worse came to worse I could get Boots to stay with your grandpa and I could hop a plane and arrive down there and then you could show me around this island. How does Kim like it - do you think that she will get her degree there or will she be transferring somewhere else. Has the job situation improved, or is it just not something that you can crack the bureacacy (sure I spelled that wrong).

Been getting some recipes out for Thanksgiving and I will definitely save you some pumpkin pie (or don't you like that anymore).

Well sweet cake you can tell that there is not a lot of interesting things happening up here in our lifes but wanted you to know that we think about you all the time and MISS YOU.

Love you

Grandma

Vain Moments part 2

So I just figured it out. So 2 hours ago I was trying to add my profile pic, so I picked out the picture I wanted, but where blogger.com puts it was the very first thing you see, and it takes up your whole screen! Then you had to scroll down to read the posts. I mean, shoot, it's a hot pic, but I can't be that vain...I mean, I can't show how high my self esteem is right off the bat. :)

And for the record....I just got done working out in the gym at the campus. Just did chest and stomach. Fucking stud. What??

Vain moments

So I have quite a few vain moments, can't help it. High self esteem. Anyway, it said I can post a profile picture, so I figured I'll post this one as my profile picture...thinking it will be a small version to the side. I swear, I didn't mean for this to be that big and right there. And um, I can't remember what button I pushed to put it there. *ahem* Zach? Some help here? Hello? Anyone?

Talking to myself

I'm just sayin'....I'm on a tropical island...my body will be cut in December.

Sara pay attention! No more cookies! No more Perky's! You will be active every single day you are here. Today is not a stunt you will pull again. Meaning you will do more than go to the post office and to campus and then take a nap! You still with me, Sara?? You didn't even take a 5 minute walk to the beach! Lazy, stop it.

In my defense, the weather wasn't awesome. I mean, it wasn't raining, but it wasn't super sunny. Definitely not cold, but not awesome enough to play in the water....okay, it might have been, I wouldn't know because I didn't take a 5 minute stroll down there to find out. It'll change tomorrow.

Look at that ass

I went snorkeling, collected shells, made another boyfriend, watched Kim make two new boyfriends, and just stayed out on the dock in the sun. They repaired the dock that the waves destroyed a few days ago, so I just stayed out there. I tell ya, it was a rough day.

Oh, and had a scary stare down with a crab. He wasn't moving, he didn't want me to touch his scrap of fish. Hey Pal, it's all yours.

Um, about yesterday's post

I don't want to talk about it. Just to say a few things about it, all lesbians are the same all around the freaking world! They act the same, they say the same stupid shit, and I realize there are a few exceptions to this rule...for the most part, 98% lesbos are the same. And my stupid mouth gets me into a LOT of trouble. BUT! I will fix the trouble I got myself into, I just have to wait for a couple days to do it.

Moving right along from that....

So you know that "hot body I better have when I leave Dominica" that I kept telling everyone about? Yeah, well, today I woke up around 8:30am, had an egg bake (which sounds disgusting but it's egg, cheese, and bread and delicious in a very not so healthy way), splashed around a little at Purple Turtle Beach, took a nap and then just woke up for some Perky's pizza. Um, in December, I'm not exactly sure how "hot" my body will be...but I just might have to buy an extra passenger ticket that those extremely obese people have to buy. You know, just to give everyone a head's up when you see me next.

After eating our not so healthy but ever so delicious breakfast, I called for a taxi to take us to Purple Turtle Beach. I would like to point out that our "taxi" guy, after picking us up, said he had some errands to run first before dropping us off at our destination. Uh...okay? Oh, and they don't give you a discount for doing things like that. His errands? He needed bread. So we head to Tina's (a grocery store that smells like...something I don't want to write about, but luckily it's on the way to where we needed to go). Unfortunately, that store didn't have his bread. So now we're in downtown Portsmouth and we stopped at another grocery store. Ah, he found his bread, but he had to run back out to the taxi (where Kim and I were just waiting) to get some change for the bread. Now he ran back into the store and picked up his bread. Awesome, now we get to go to the Purple Turtle Beach.

We first went snorkeling and saw all these weird fish. Kim pointed to this one kind, I think it's called a blow fish (it's the kind that blows up and spikes come out if you touch it). I wanted to touch it to see the spikes, but Kim said no. I thought it would be cool to see it puff up and a little prick to my finger I thought was well worth it. Again, Kim said no. Since she would be the one to nurse me back to health (since I refuse to ever again go to Portsmouth Hospital), I didn't touch it...but I wanted to. And if it pricked my finger, I could send you guys the pictures of what not to do in the sea! So blame the lack of that photo on Kim. Although she just said I should be thankful I still have my left arm. For the record, she said the exact same sort of thing when I said I wanted to touch sea urchins and jellyfish, so I'm just curious on how much she actually knows about these sorts of things. I mean sure, she's been to more exotic places than I have, but has she ever touched one?? Does she know anyone who has ever touched one of these things??? I'm just trying to keep an open mind about things and I'm totally thinking of the pictures that could be had...I just want that out.

The first picture is of Kim and me after we went snorkeling. As you can see, I didn't touch anything dangerous so I still had all my limbs. The second and third picture is of us playing on the swing. For the record, jumping on the swing HURT. Like, that rope hit places it shouldn't have hit. We're talking one step away from getting a rope burn in areas no one should ever get a rope burn. As you can see, getting off the swing wasn't exactly easy. Hurt almost as much as getting on the thing.

We called our taxi guy and he said he'll be there in 20 minutes (we learned it was "his 20 minutes"). So we had time to kill and we walked down the beach and found this other swing. I couldn't reach it. The last time Kim's friends were in town, I was able to swing on it, now, as you can see, I can barely reach it, but I tried and the locals were just watching me...probably making fun. I would too, since it's obviously something I couldn't reach but I kept trying for. I'm sure it was a sight.

An hour later (oh, I mean, "20 minutes" later), our taxi guy picks us up. Takes us close to our apartment and we walked down to the beach from there to go snorkeling for sea shells. Since the waves were crazy the past few days, we thought we would find some good shells. We found two good ones since the water still wasn't very clear there. As for Purple Turtle Beach, it was nothing but sand, so no shells there, just crazy looking fish Kim wouldn't let me touch and crabs that I had to keep jumping over because those critters scare me.

After snorkeling at the beach that was a 5 minute walk from our apartment, we went home and slept for an hour and then had pizza. I'm in the computer lab now at school and I'm thinking about bringing another chair closer to me and put it side by side with this one, and then my ever expanding a$$ could sit comfortably.

Someone behind me just mentioned going to the gym. That's where I should be taking my large and in charge ass. Try to justify the pizza I just had.

Oh no

Um...I'll write tomorrow....stupid studid stupid.....

In my pocket

So I just looked down and realized that I have something called "Max Size...Longer...Firmer...Fuller Increased Male Enhancement tablets". Seriously, don't ask why I have these in my pants....I'm really not trying to do anything I'm not supposed to. Especially here. Especially here with those. Especially with those anywhere.

But hey, you need some male enhancements, just let me know. I also got it in cream form.

Our future doctors

So after every big test (once a month) that Ross University does, big parties are thrown. Anyway, from what I hear, 2 of our future doctors got to go to the ER for alcohol poisoning last night. Honestly, I rather have the students practice on me instead of actually letting the hospital here in Portsmouth touch me. Seriously. The first picture is of the party where two people got carried out. No joke, I rather pump my own stomach then go to the local hospital here. You go in with one thing, I swear you're going to leave with something else. I'm not into the trading one for another....cause it's usually worse than what you went in for.

So Kim and I now compete. She picked up her first local boyfriend and well, he decided that what we needed was him in between us. I don't know, I'm not sure if I could share him with all that charming talk he was doing. I better just stick with her then so I don't get jealous and have her run away with him. :) Oh, and when this picture was taken, I told him he really needed to watch where he put his hands. I didn't want to break my camera over his head...but I would have used his own beer bottle for that. I'm not the jealous kind...but boys (and girls) need to learn where they can touch and where they can not. He wasn't a fast learner...I was going to teach him.

So the waves were crazy last night. I have never been anywhere where I saw big waves, and there are never any big ass waves here, so last night was weird. The next picture is when I decided to actually go into the water. I never "jumped waves" before, so I didn't know the secret. Such as, if the waves are bigger than you, don't try to jump them, dive into them....ah, 20 tumbles later a guy felt sorry for me and let me in on the secret. :) It helped.

Things I learned. Dive into waves if they are bigger than you, jump them if you are taller. Our future doctors don't know how to drink, but other than that, they are smart as hell. I don't want to share Kim with the locals. She's a keeper. If you're a slow learner on what areas of the body you think are appropriate to touch, probably not a good idea to practice on someone I care about. You know, just FYI.

Okay, I didn't want to do this, but it needs to come out

When Tanya and Julian were visiting a few weeks ago, we went to this Creole festival thing (the "real" pictures were posted, I was just trying to avoid this other one) and Tanya pointed this out to me, and well, I had to take a picture of these pants. The next picture is, I believe, when Julian told us to behave. But dear GOD what was up with the pants???

Snake mission a failure

So yesterday I woke up all early to go see the snake pit Randy showed me. All I took with me is my camera and a kitchen knife. It's pretty normal seeing a local walk around with a machete, but seeing a boy with female features with a kitchen knife sticking out of the pockets of their shorts, not such the norm around here. Luckily it was early and nobody was up yet.

I took my camera, put it in video mode, and video recorded myself leaving my front door and I made it to the jungle. Then it told me my memory card was full about 10 minutes later, so I had to stick with taking pictures. Btw, Zach, can you show me how to play back the video I made?

Right before the creek (the snakes are on the other side of the creek, only reason I know that is because the water is cold and they like the hot water) something jumps out at me and I squeaked a little. Yes, I squeaked. Then I looked over and realized it was a little gecko...so I talked to him for a little while because he was just adorable and lot more friendly then Bessie and her crew. I realize Bessie looks pretty cute there with her baby...but unless the vicious family cycle stops, Bessie's baby is going to have just the attitude that Bessie has...not a friendly girl.

So after our talk with Gecks (I named him), I went and looked around. Randy told me that everyday, the jungle changes its look. Even with my awesome navigational skill *ahem*, I admit I was a bit turned around. Since I saw the creek the day before, I knew I had to pass it and walk up the hill. Really turned around at this point and I was getting teamed up on by all these dumb mosquitoes...but now I'm determined.

Since I watched a lot of Macgyver TV shows as a kid, I pulled some of his moves. I kept feeling the water, to see if it was warming up. The warmer the water, the closer I'm getting to the snake pit. I then found the cooked crabs from the day before. At that point though, I was totally turned around, because I saw one snake pit (empty, disappointing) but I knew there was at least two other ones near by. I was nervous there because even though I knew they were near by, I couldn't remember which tree their pit was in.

Here, it's illegal to kill a boa constrictor, but people do it because it supposed to be so wonderful to eat (yuck!). I stayed there for awhile to let the mosquitoes feast for a bit on me, because, well, let's be honest, the way they were going at me, I must be pretty delicious...eat your heart out BOAS!

So somehow in the heat of it all, I burnt my arm. I would get it if I burnt my legs or feet by stepping in the boiling water, but what the hell did I hit IN THE FREAKING JUNGLE to get a burn mark like that??

Of course now I'm crabby because I didn't see what I wanted. I went back to bed and met Kim at noon to play in the water for when she took a school break. When she went back to school, I walked the beach and my crabbiness left. I mean hell, look at where I am?

Things are good.

A finding...with the little help from Randy

So this weekend is a big Independence Weekend here in Dominica, which means everything will be closed until Monday. Being all productive (and I use that term loosely because I forgot everything I was supposed to get), I went to the store to stock up for this weekend. On the way back home, I make a comment that my mission before I leave this island is to see the a boa constrictor. Well this wonderful guy, Randy, was also a passenger in the taxi I was in and said he knew where I can see a pit of them.

We live really close together and he said he'll show me where they're at. I can officially say that I have walked through the jungle! It was around 5pm when we got to the wooded area (it gets dark here around 6pm-6:30pm) and he told me to find him. I see these HUGE holes in the ground, and he said those are actually crab holes, snake holes are actually pits...when we get there, I'll be able to see the difference.

We pass through a creek which was lukewarm, which is normal around here, and we climb through the jungle. Randy told me I need to get there tomorrow morning at 7 to 7:30am, that's when they come out, but I have to be really quiet walking past his family's house (they own all the property up there) because his mom gets upset when he shows people the snake pit. I told him I'll be extra quiet so I don't wake her.

So we finally get to the spot where the pits are....HUGE. They are in the base of the trees. He said they'll leave me alone as long as I leave them alone. I'm going to bring a knife with me, just in case, but all I'm taking is my camera and knife. I'm so excited. I'm posting pictures of Randy, he's such a cool kid. He goes to college in Roseau.

Oh, but get this! The water from the creek, lukewarm, the water by the snake pit, boiling. He let me feel the water and I don't know how it works, but that water is hot. He said with all the crab holes, the crabs go into the water, but by the time they figure it out it's not the lukewarm creek water, it's too late and they pretty much crawl in the boiling water and cook themselves. I'm of course posting pictures that I have now. I can't wait for tomorrow!

The first picture is Randy, that's my guy. He's an awesome kid. The second is the trail (if you were to call it that....soft ground. My feet sunk in a lot), I will be climbing in A REAL JUNGLE (I love that!) to get to the snake pit. The third picture is of the boiling water and right above it is the snake pit, which is the fourth picture, it's in the base of a tree. The last picture is of the crabs that crawl into the boiling water (different boiling water area) and just cook themselves.

I asked Randy if the snakes eat them afterward, when the crabs fall into the water. He told me no, he explained it to me in perfect words, but I can't remember how he put it. But I guess once they cooked themselves, the snakes don't want them. I'm so freaking excited for tomorrow!

How my grandma writes...I love it.

So my grandma wrote me an email and I think I almost peed myself when I read this. I realize this has nothing to do with Dominica...but it's funny. My grandmother is almost 80 who is a spit-fire type of gal. It's about a tree in the back of their yard that came down and needing someone to remove it...the story is more about the movers. Funny.

Remember me telling you that we had to get some of the branches out of the cottonwood tree out in back by the fence. That's the one where one hurking branch dropped on our neighbors fence. Well anyway I had been looking for someone to do it. Had several different ones lined up to do it and each one at the last minute said they couldn't do it because, oh they might have a dental appointment, they probably would have to go to either their child's kindergarden or college graduation, aaaand etc and more etc. Finally called a gal friend who several months had some tree work done by a neightbor and asked if she would give me his phone number. Anyway called him and he was "BOOKED" until after the first of the year. Asked him if he could recommend anyone and he said yes and called them and they said yes would be out to look at it the following day =- Oh sure I have heard that story before. Anyway next day this guy shows up. After about 3 seconds he asked to use the bathroom - Well I suppose everyone has to go now and then. He went in to your grandfathers bathroom, was there quite awhile, but guess that took cAre of the problem and then came out back and looked at the tree and said sure he could do it on Friday (2 days off). Now Friday is my playing Bridge day, but hey those branches got to come down, so we arranged a time. Come Friday he called and said they were running behind schedule on a current job but would be out in a couple of hours (does this story have a familiar ring). What can I say. Anyway more than a couple of hours later he arrived, and apologized for the delay and Öh can I use your bathroom? I was goiing to suggest a good doctor to see, but Sara those branches have got to come down. I said sure and of course he knew the way. Now this is a long drawn out story, but there is more. He is in the bathroom for a good 15-20 minutes. Probably knew everything that was in there. I kept hearing the toilet flushing and flushing and flushing. Finally the door opens and he asks öh do you by any chance have a plunger. Gad Zooks what is going on - Now your darling grandfather is not home and hey I'M not going in there. Told him to wait a bit and I went out to the garage and got the plunger and handed it to him without looking in the bathroom. (Sometimes it's just better not to know - right). Anyway another 10-15 minutes go by and I am about to go and rap on the door to see just what is happening. He again steps out and says "Do you have any paper towels or regular towels. Sara I am beginning to think that this isn't EVEN FUNNY, but the branches really need to come down. I gave him several old towels that I keep around to do floors etc. and the door once more closes. In about 5-6 minutes he comes out with some very wet towels which I told him to just put on the washing machine and out he goes to work on the tree with his partner. He smilingly told me he had just washed my bathroom floor. I think he wanted a pat on the head. As soon as he went outside with his partner I went into "THE ROOM" to see what was in store for me. Hey men never clean up bathrooms - No exception this time. The sink was sort of a pukey grey color with grit in it and the floormat when you picked it was QUITE HEAVY with ????? Scary right. Went in and got some more towels and took everything that wasn't nailed down and put them in the washing machine (with extra soap, bleach, disinfectant, etc and more etc.) Don't ever have a tree man say he will do your bathroom floors - just trust me on this one. Anyway got it all cleaned up - hey it was so pretty that I thought I should invite some people over to openly admire it. (I was not going to let him use the bathroom again, no matter what he said) (He didn't ask to either). Was interesting to see how he shimmied up the little tree next to the cottonwood and then sort of swung over to the cottonwood. You couldn't pay me enough money to do that type of work. All in all didn't do a bad job. His clean up was pretty much like the bathroom clean up, but at least the branches were on the ground (our side). Asked him if he could possibly take 8 or 9 bags of leaves etc that we had on the side of the house. He told me probably not as his truck was pretty full. Now this is when he got "THE LOOK". The jerk, I even told him I would pay him extra. Well the bottom line is that I guess he decided it might be smarter to take them, which they managed to squeeze them in the truck. So except for the bathroom having flushing problems on and off since that time the branches are now down and your grandfather and I went and replaced the several boards that got broken when the original branch came crashing down.

Putting pencils in my eye sounds wonderful

I woke up pretty early this morning to go to Roseau so I can start on my work permit. I had to go get a physical, and by the picture I posted of the room...it was high class. I got there before 8am, when the place opened. Doctor didn't show up until around 9am because he was getting subway. Great, I'm going to have a physical with my, well, snatch smelling like whatever is on his fingers from his sandwich. Lovely. Hours passed and he said he can't do the physical until I get my blood work done for HIV...across fucking town. A nice man drove me there, a nice woman jabbed my arm...I was about to ask if I could borrow some needles but chose not to, but it was a struggle not to ask. Then I was told the results will be back by tomorrow.

"I'm sorry, what? The doctor said in two hours...I'm kind of on a time crunch...." Oh, well, we'll fax it to him in a few hours.

Okay, keep in mind, it's now 11am, I'm hungry and grumpy, still have to go to the Immigration office, which I will also post those pictures to show how "organized" they are, to have my passport fixed. Because the guy at the customs said I will only be in Dominica for 6 days, of course my passport expired, which means that's an extra $100 I have to shell out. Not including the $150 I had to pay at the doctor's office (that I still wasn't being seen at), and the $80 to get my blood work done.

A few hours past, "official" people are telling me I need to do, and when this one man looked at me like I was going to cry because I was so frustrated and I didn't understand what the hell the big hold up was and what I could do to solve my problem, he helped me. I almost kissed him. That one big building is the "Official" building of Roseau. You need something done, you go there, unless you're me, then you go everywhere else in Roseau.

I had to get two more (on top of my driver's licence and passport photo) passport size photos taken to give to the police department to show them that I haven't done anything wrong in Dominica. They don't know how to even do fingerprints so photos is all they go by. I'm having my dad fax me over my Seattle police records to show that I haven't done anything there either. If that all works out, I can cut a deal with the police here. Plus, with a work permit that's 75% complete, I can get a job on top of that.

Okay, got everything, had to go back to the doctor's office for that physical that I've been just dying to have. He told me he finally got the test results back, everything looks good, now it's time for the exam. He told me to take my shirt off. I took it off but kept my wifebeater on because in the States, they check my heart, lungs, and everything else through the shirt. Well, he wanted that off. Whatever, I'm not modest. I take the shirt off and the only thing he did was take my fucking blood pressure. Did I really need to take my shirt off for that??? See the picture of the doctor's office that I had to be shirtless in looking at that picture in the background?

When people ask me if I'm a student at Ross (the med school here), I tell them my other half is. The doctor had the paperwork I needed and started asking inappropriate questions that all doctors have asked me (even the doctors when I was at Betty Ford Rehab). It's nothing new for me, but sometimes, like when I'm tired, hot, and hungry, I get rather annoyed.

Here are the questions he asked me before giving me my paperwork that I NEEDED to get any sort of job here:

"You're other half is a woman, isn't it?"

"How do you have sex with her?"

"Do you use fingers?"

"Are you considered gay or lesbian?"

"Do you use toys?"

"What's a dildo?"

"What's the difference between using the 'real penis' and using a dildo?"

"Can lesbian get HIV?"

"Ever been with a man?"

"Ever want to be with a man?"

Then he started to hit on me.

I don't know, Bud, how much do you make? You want to know how I fuck guys? I fist them in the ass. How does that sound to you? Fuck.

I wasn't offended that he was asking these questions, just annoyed because I haven't had food all day and it was so hot out and there is no organization on anything and people just shove their way and damnit, I learned in 1st grade about "single filing" and single filing really really helps!

By the way, can anyone identify that bug? It flew into me, I hit it so hard it fell into the ground, got up and looked pissed off.

On the plus side, on the way home, that was the sunset. Beautiful.