Nibbler

Last night, HB and I decided to indulge in a sunset swim at Brewer's Bay. When we arrived, the pelicans were fishing as usual, and we noticed a fair number of yellowtail snapper jumping, eating the bugs that were skimming the surface of the lake-calm water.

So we waded in and floated around and chatted and didn't really actually swim much. The fish jumping started to become more frequent, and soon the snapper were daring to come much closer to our mostly inert bodies. I was startled a time or two as they broke the surface within inches of my head.  

It was a lovely, relaxing swim, until one of the lovely yellowtail snapper chomped down on HB's nipple.

Up and out of the water he went, bleeding nipple and all, and I couldn't stop laughing. Ultimately, I think HB's pride is more hurt than his nipple.

For my part, I'm just thankful I had a swimsuit top.

Orange

June is the time for Flamboyants to bloom in the BVI, and these near Ballast Bay are really giving their all.

Called Royal Poincianas in Florida, I much prefer the name "Flamboyant", which is the only one most of the residents here know.

And since they've moved back up into the mountains for the summer, from wherever it is they're kept in the winter, a gratuitous roadcow picture to take you in to your weekend.

Irony?

An article on the BVI News about the illegality of strip clubs in the BVI came to my attention recently.

http://bvinews.com/bvi/strip-clubs-brothels-operating-illegally-police/

The article points out that although strip clubs are illegal, there are quite a few of them open, and the police seem to be doing little to shut them down.

Ironically, the article is accompanied by an ad at the top of the page for Club Crystal, Tortola's premier strip club.

Naked Snail

The dogs must be used to snails, as they see them pretty much every day, or they don't put out much smell -- either way, the rash of shelled gastropods are of no interest to Flash and Roscoe. Not so this slug, one of the first I've seen in the BVI. Roscoe made a beeline to it on Sunday morning, sniffing and nosing and pestering. I shooed him away so I could get a picture, and then caught him harassing another slug further along the garden wall. The second one didn't fair so well, as it lost its grip and fell before I could interfere.

What a Pistarckle!

We are welcoming a special guest at work today, and the entire staff is in an uproar getting everything "just so" for the event. As the owners came in to the office to put on finishing touches before receiving the guest, one of them exclaimed, "What a pistarckle!"

I had heard the word "pistarckle" before, in connection with the community theater on St. Thomas, but had no idea it could be used in everyday conversation. A quick google later, and it turns out that "pistarckle" is a Virgin Islands Creole word meaning "boisterous commotion", likely a corruption of the english "spectacle."

I also found this great site with a selection of Virgin Islands Creole. Many of the words given there I haven't heard before, but at least now I have a resource should I ever encounter any other gems like "pistarckle".

Intentions

I had such plans for yesterday's post. I had it all written in my mind; the words, the pictures, everything. I just had to type it out and post it when I got to work. Well, the work schedule conspired against me, and I was home and hanging out before I remembered I had forgotten to write a blog entry. I really intended to post here, it's just ... you know what they say, the road to hell is paved with boulders covered in reflective tape.

I might have the road to hell confused with the road to Cane Garden Bay. After the landslides in May, rather than move this boulder out of the right of way, the Department of Public Works made the profound decision to simply cover it with reflective tape to help avoid accidents. Whatever's easiest, I suppose.

Happy Leap Day

As I drove home from dropping off HB at work on Monday morning, I was overtaken by a rainstorm. Not wanting to run through the downpour to get inside, I sat in the car and read until it cleared up. The rain lightened, and I looked up from my book.

May your Leap Day be serendipitous.

Downtown

This extremely large, flourishing bougainvillea in the open space between Bolo's and Vanterpool Pharmacy makes me happy, especially on days that start out as grey and rainy as today did.

They're Running Out of You

I've driven by this food stand almost every day for the past year, but it wasn't until recently, after watching the Seinfeld episode, "The Comeback", that I cottoned on to the double entendre inherent in its name.

Cuba Libre

I often complain about commodities that are common in the US that I am unable to find on Tortola -- simple things like blankets and rice noodles. But here's something that turns the tables.

According to HB, Cuban rum does not make the best Cuba Libre.

Sense of Place

This may not be Jamaica, but in case you had any doubt that when you're on Tortola, you're in the Caribbean ...

Rastafari

Eggplant

I've been driving past this strange plant for months now, wondering what on earth is going on. At first glimpse, I thought it had very strange flowers, and then I realized that instead, someone had decorated the tips with eggshells.

It wasn't until I read this post on the Key West Local yesterday that I realized my unusual eggplant was only an iteration on a theme.

Little Lamb

Sometimes driving and taking pictures doesn't mix. I was trying to get a photo of the tiny lamb, but the traffic behind me had other ideas. I thought about cropping and 'shopping, but in the end, I think this provides a pretty nice perspective on Tortola, and on my theoretical "creative process".

Prime Real Estate

Since moving to our new place, HB and I have often joked that our car has the best views on island.

From its nightly resting place, our overlooks the Atlantic, in the direction of Anegada.

Jost van Dyke keeps the left window happy.

And Cane Garden Bay is the vista from the rear.

With 270 degree views of the BVI, perhaps our car's real estate isn't such a joking matter.

Hitchhiker

Even anoles have to get around somehow.

Christmas Lights Again

Sunday, our landlords had a Christmas party. Feeling inspired, we put up our Christmas lights.



Not visible from Road Town like last year, but at least the few boats out north of Tortola might be able to see them.



Christmas lights and palm trees. Definitely in the spirit.

Invitation

At the ferry terminal in St. John, it was almost like looking through the back of the bizarro Wardrobe. Instead of snow-covered Narnia, there are Caribbean beaches awaiting

Cold Front

The temperatures at night have been dropping below 75, and we're starting to enter the few weeks of "cold" weather we get around Christmas. We've been closing the house up at night -- more to prevent the entrance of giant flying cockroaches than to protect against the cold -- but nonetheless, even with the closed doors, I've also been using a blanket on the bed.

At least when the mornings are so cool (relatively speaking), I don't feel so strange about porting hot coffee with me to work.

Enthusiasm

ENTHUSIASM: 

Grab life with both hands and squeeze every last drop out of it.

... a motivational poster from the BVI Bovine Buddies.

Penance

Grey rainy days like today

are penance for all the days we get like this:

I hate it when a tropical wave comes in and it's rain and grey skies for three days straight. But if that's the price for the other 250 or so days of the year, I'll gladly pay the piper.