Almost Live Sunset

The weather here today has been a real mixed bag. A little rain, a little sun, a little cloud, and a wind gust or two. I really thought the sunset was going to be great this evening. At the last few minutes a cloud bank dropped down near Puerto Rico and it just wasn't all that. Still nice but just not the real bright reds and oranges we were expecting. By the way this is from the balcony at the apartment. We decided to stay in and have a quiet evening. We cooked pesto crusted chicken breasts, green beans and roasted red potatoes. Life is truly tuff.
Jay

One Week Anniversary

Well this is about the time normal people pack up their stuff and head home after a week of vacation. It does seem a little weird but we are home so there is nothing to pack up and no plane to catch. Things are starting to settle down as the sequel to the list is winding down. We have a few more days of goofing off and running errands then Deb will be starting work on Monday. It is very likely I will be as well. There will be more on that later. Today we have to go pick up the laundry, as the temporary apartment doesn't have a washer. Go to the bank to activate our new ATM cards as the PIN number has to be set in person, just one of those little island tings. I also have to go finalize the details of my likely employment. On the fun side we are trying to rent a boat for the day with some friends for Saturday so we can play a little more before the realities of cash flow in the Caribbean sink in next week.
Jay

Beach break

Beach break, originally uploaded by captainjay.

Since the list part 2 is being checked off at lightening speed we decided to take today off. We are at Magens Bay beach and it is absolutely beautiful.
Deb

More on The DMV

Well we went in yesterday to the DMV and got our drivers licenses changed over. We were a little apprehensive and expected this to be a really funny story. Fully expected attitude and abuse and we were willing to take it if necessary. Well to say we were pleasantly surprised would be an understatement. We showed up, the first time around 10:30, got the forms for the license and filled them out. We thought we had all the bases covered based on our research. We had our old licenses, social security cards and passports. Well the sign on the wall said we also needed our birth certificates. So rather than ask we just went back to the apartment and got them. We returned about 45 minutes later, around 11:15 or so, got in what even by stateside standards was a normal length line for a DMV and about ten minute later we were handing paperwork to the cashier and doing our best good mornings and smiles. She never really warmed up but she was by no means rude and she was fairly efficient. Of course she had to come out of her locked booth, collect our id's lock up her booth then cross the hall into another locked office to make copies. I assume if the copier had chosen that moment to break then this would be a totally different story since there appeared to be only one in the building. After a few minute she returned to her booth, re locking herself in, returned the originals and charged us the $45 apiece for the licenses. Then she hands the properly attached forms to us and sends us across the hall to the camera person. The camera lady was very pleasant and proper, we even got her to smile and acknowledged our greeting. She took both sets of paper work gave them a quick once over then sent us back out into the waiting area. In few minutes she asked Debra to come back in, apparently she needed to enter the data privately, then she snapped her picture and took her thumbprint via scanner, thanked her and asked her to wait in the lobby again. A few minutes later it was my turn, by that point Deb's license had printed and she handed it to me. I went back to the lobby and within five minutes mine had printed as well. So all the horror stories about doctors exams and eye exams seem to be incorrect. I do know from previous research that the rules changed sometime last year. As long as you surrender you stateside license approval is automatic, no tests or exams. So the whole process including the time it took to go back and get the birth certificates, which it turns out the lady didn't even look at, took a little less than two hours. Not bad at all by island time standards.
Jay

The View From Home

The View From Home, originally uploaded by captainjay.

Home

Home, originally uploaded by captainjay.

Well we made a deal today to rent/housesit a friends house. So we have a very nice place to live. We also got our drivers licenses. The list part two took major hits today so we are going to plan some fun stuff through the weekend since work starts next week.

Jay

More about the Island Car

Here is a shot of the lizard that likes to hang out on our patio.

Well we really didn't give much detail on this process. We have been searching the paper for weeks prior to the move trying to decide what to do about buying a car down here. We also have read a number of horror story posts on line about different experiences with purchasing down here. So after making a few calls and looking at a few cars we decided to take the advice given more than once by several people. Toyota's make good island cars. The Toyota dealer here has a pretty good service department and they can get parts when it breaks down. Notice I said when not if. So we paid a little more than we would have at home, it is the islands, found a car Deb can drive and just bought it. One less ting on The Sequel to the list. We are now actively looking at apartments. We have up to six weeks here but if we find something we like we are renting on the spot. It wouldn't pay to milk it here and come up homeless in a few weeks.

Jay

Dancing Crab

This one is just for fun. Not the greatest quality but it is still funny.

Jay

Island Car

Island Car, originally uploaded by captainjay.

Picked up the new car today. Its a 94 Toyota Celica. I was really nervous driving it off the lot, but all went well. Having a little lunch and calling about apartments. Tomorrow is the DMV driver license day. WooHoo!

Trunk Bay Yesterday

Well this picture turned out really cool showing the high surf at Trunk yesterday. The beach was still beautiful but it would not have been a good day to snorkel.

Now it's back to the List Part II

Jay

More Almost Live

More Almost Live, originally uploaded by captainjay.

Another Clue

Another Clue, originally uploaded by captainjay.

Just in case you still don't know where we are here is some "food
porn" for another clue.

Where are we now?

Where are we now?, originally uploaded by captainjay.

Painkiller anyone?

When In Doubt Don't Go Out

When In Doubt Don't Go Out, originally uploaded by captainjay.

Yeah right. High surf at trunk today. Don't you feel sorry for us.
Jay

Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Well since we are moving through the sequel to the to do list at a blistering island pace, we have decided that tomorrow is a day off. The plan at this point is to get up in the morning, when we feel like it. Then we will make a little breakfast here at the apartment. Take a shower pack a small bag and drive to Red hook. Then we are going to take the Ferry over to St John. Spend a little quality time on a beach, probably Trunk. Then its off to the Beach Bar for Sunday Jazz, The Forum Gathering and some tuna down. Keep checking back tomorrow as we will be posting live via the iPhone.
Jay

Rewards

Rewards, originally uploaded by captainjay.

We actually checked a few things off the list (grocery store and car purchase ) so we thought we would reward ourselves with a little beach time. We're sitting on Brewer Bay beach enjoying a few cold one's.

Ground Hog Day

Well we have Internet access at the apartment today. Actually we had it yesterday and just didn't know it. It's actually DSL and it's hard wired. Silly us we just assumed it would be WiFi. So we have checked an item or two off of the list and will start again today. A trip, postponed from yesterday to Cost U Less to stock up on the essentials. We have the island trader and will be making a few more phone calls about cars, and I have to go see a woman about a horse, I mean a job. Yep that's the reality of paradise. Without a trust fund I will have to find work. I had made a few contacts prior to getting here and will be going to one of the more promising ones today.

We both still get a silly grin when we walk downstairs in the morning at see the view from the apartment deck. It's just hard to beat.

Jay

Wastin' Away Again ..... It's all Angela's Fault

Well the to do list is fading from memory quickly as Angela, the Bartender here has insisted on another round, for purely medicinal purposes. Now where is that lost shaker of salt.

Blog'in In De Islands

We are sitting at Captain Mayhem's in Havensight having lunch. We took care of the bank this morning in record time. It only took a little over an hour to open an account. Thanks to lots of research we had ID's and social security cards and were very polite, didn't rush anything and were treated well in our new home. Since this took about a third as long as we thought it would we decided to have a couple of Presidentes and a little lunch. The WiFi is an added blessing as it is much easier to type on the laptop than the Iphone.

We got an email this morning from Carol. It was something like 8 degrees in West Virginia this morning it hasn't dipped a degree below seventy here and is rapidly approaching 80. So if I had to say so at these point we may well be the smartest people on the planet. Of course this is a huge exaggeration, as I can see the 400 foot plus yacht of Larry Ellison (oracle), The Rising Sun, from where we are having lunch, and if we really were that smart we would own it. :)

More Later

Jay

The List Part Two

The List Part Two, originally uploaded by captainjay.

We could lie and say it is all rum drinks and beaches today but I am
afraid we have a whole new list. We have to go to the bank, store, and
start shopping for an island car. I think we will save the DMV for
next week.
Keep checking back as the posting from the phone will likely continue.
Jay

Here

Here, originally uploaded by captainjay.

Well the flights were uneventful. We are at the temporary apartment.
It is very nice. We are heading out to get some dinner and a few
provisions.
Jay

DC Airport on the way

DC Airport on the way, originally uploaded by captainjay.

Well we are in DC waiting on our connecting flight. :)
Jay

Boat Bar

Boat Bar, originally uploaded by captainjay.

Chris's boat bar

I swear it's the last going away party

I swear it's the last going away party, originally uploaded by captainjay.

Same friends at the basement boat bar.
Jay

The very last going away party

The very last going away party, originally uploaded by captainjay.

Well we are having a last little get together with some friends and
family at a Mexican restaurant fajitas and especial margaritas.
Jay

Holy 24 Hours Batman The End of the List

Well if you have been keeping up with us you have seen frequent posts about the "list". The list started on the way back from St Thomas in November after we made the commitment to move. It basically has been a rambling, and in some cases ever expanding, list of things that we needed to get done prior to departure. Well since this time tomorrow we will be in transit I thought I would post the actual list. It might give you some idea of the complexity of escaping from the gravitational pull of life as we know it.

Jay’s to do list
1. Start blog and post to everyday
2. Front door trim
3. winterize water line to dock – show John and Steve
4. Clean out office, store files; shred, shred, shred
5. Clean up and get rid of PC
6. fix dock situation
7. fix railing
8. remove nails from walls and fill with putty
9. Clean out storage building
10. Clean out cabinet in tiki hut
11. Organize attic and put newly packed boxes up
12. Fix vinyl siding
13. Get John Boy to redo vapor barrier
14. Get with Bruce about zone control situation
15. Get PBC license straightened out
16. Move contractor license to Pennington Construction;
17. Remove name from PBC and change over bank accounts
18. Mortgage papers
19. bank account papers
20. Sell Truck
21. Pay off truck loan and get title
22. Sell Deb’s car
23. Pay off car and get title
24. Rodney work on apartment to make up back rent
25. Get new SS card
26. Book flight and car
27. Get PO box in STT
28. Get with John and Dean about water bill and possible dock rent
29. Call Frankie – address on retirement mailings to mom’s
30. Pay personal property tax – change address to mom and give mom copy of receipt
31. Call Paul and verify still playing for party - NO
32. Call Schauba; see if staying with us or hotel
33. Call Chris about coming by to copy iTunes library
34. Devona come over to copy our iTunes library
35. Call Merry Maids – clean right before we leave (Tuesday)
36. mom’s car registration – change address to mom
37. Take party flyer to Café and talk to Chuck
38. Import cd’s into iTunes
39. Set up House payment bill pay automatically from checking account
40. shampoo rug living room
41. Change home owners policy to landlord policy
42. Cingular/AT&T – keep Jay’s number, change mine to STT number -?
43. Cancel Car insurance
44. Give Jay’s mom extra bed – deliver to their house (tenant to handle)
45. Move our bed to spare bedroom (plan changed new tenants to move bed)
46. Change address on rental utilities
47. Cut off utilities on house (transfer to new tenants 2/1/08)
a. Electric
b. Water
c. Sewer – city
d. Cable
e. Phone – Verizon and ATT
48. Go through odds and end tools in the house – pack, store, get rid of
49. Pack tools to ship
50. Pay 4th quarter taxes
51. Replace smoke detectors
52. caulk master shower
53. Change mailing address at WV post office
54. Set up wire transfer with our bank in WV so once we open account in STT, money can be wired
55. Order checks for money market account with STT address

56. Research island cars - read Island Trader

57. Research apartments - read Island Trader and communicate with friends on island

58. Find a job



Deb’s to do list
1. Thank you letter to UVI
2. questions for UVI
3. Make Dr. appointments for Jay and Deb
4. decorate Christmas; then take down decorations and store
5. pack winter clothes in totes; pack summer clothes in suitcases; pack one winter suitcase for next year visit to put in attic
6. pack and store nick nacks
7. Figure remaining vacation days to determine last day of work
8. Make sure work is still offering 6 months leave of absence – NO, only 1 month
9. take work laptop with me for login purposes – NO, turn back in to ABC
10. Close credit union account; move money to checking; take credit union off payroll deduction
11. Withdraw money from savings and deposit in checking; close saving
12. Get hotmail/yahoo email account; send email to contacts about job and new email
13. Research CBT for Banner application – Not available
14. Make utilities spreadsheet for tenants
15. Send dad Christmas card with VI news
16. get date of Zach’s bday party and set date of our party
17. Pay medical bills and turn in receipts to Mt. Flex
18. Goodwill trips, lots of goodwill trips
19. Make list of emergency numbers (mom and tenants) and "how to" list for house
20. Get 2007 taxes ready
21. Record mom’s Power of Att.
22. Give mailing address to everyone
23. Visit family
24. Take important papers to safe deposit box
25. Scan last two year’s tax returns and burn to cd
26. Clean out work office; bring personal stuff home
27. Make list of box contents and make mailing labels
28. Cancel XM subscription – transfer to Sherri

29. Go to store for last minute health and beauty aids

30. Clean house and pack remaining clothes

31. Take change to bank and deposit

32. Make dentist appt.

33. Clean out refrigerator/cabinets and give away food/liquor

34. Get hair cut

35. Work out temporary housing

36. Make Budget - rework budget several times


General to do
Open safe deposit box for important papers; put mom as signature authority
Close both extra savings accounts
Make sure birth certificates are in good shape
Get fire proof box for important papers that we need to take with us – get in STT
mail printer in original box
mail out boxes
Get with new tenants to go over everything, give keys, give list of emergency numbers


Rental Income / Utilities
1. Deposit house rental income to bank account; have house payment taken out of that acount
2. Deposit Forrestal rental income in Jay’s account; house payment out of that account
3. Have Forrestal utilities mailed to VI; pay out of Jay’s account

Jumbie Dental Work and Maid to Perfection

Well we were having dinner with Deb's mom and a friend last night and Deb's front cap fell off. She had one of her front teeth broken off as a teenager and it was replaced with a post and cap. Every five to ten years it breaks or falls off. She just mentioned the day before that it didn't feel right. So this morning at 8:00 she will be calling the Dentist to beg him to put it back on as she won't open her mouth around anyone with it out. She won't let me take a picture and post it so you will have to use your imagination. So today's schedule will be adapted to fit around the availability of the dentist.

The last minute list items for today include, a trip to Goodwill, the court house to record a power of attorney, the bank safety deposit box (important papers), last minute health and beauty aid shopping, finishing the taxes, finish putting items in attic, move the bed from the master to the guest bedroom (tenants are bringing their king size bed), mail the twenty or so boxes of "stuff" that we have decided we can't live without. We also have Maid To Perfection coming this morning to clean the house for the new tenants. Busy Busy. Island Time soon come.

Jay

Three Days and a Wake Up

Well we are down to the little stuff now. The list is down to things like ship the boxes, change of address, call the utilities and have them transferred to the tenants, call bank and set up wire transfer, put up new ten year smoke detectors, fix minor water leak on ice maker, basically a last minute scramble. It doesn't help that today is a holiday, so banking and post office will have to wait until first thing tomorrow. We both woke up today at 5:00 AM as neither of us could sleep. It seems the never ending list and the dwindling time to finish it just won't allow us to sleep in. We are trying our best based on research, planning and a little luck not to forget any last minute details. Well let you know how that works out.

Jay

Going To the Islands Party

Well I put together a little video slide show from the Party Friday night. Deb sat down last night with a few friends and went through the pictures and wrote down the names of our friends that were there. She has 120 names on the list and I am sure there had to be a few they missed. Definitely a bitter sweet memory.
Jay

The Replacement Band

Well five o'clock yesterday my buddy Paul called and said his sinus infection had taken a turn for the worse and he couldn't play the party. Well we thought the island Jumbies had done us in this time for sure. Fortunately the bar where we had the party already had a band booked to play downstairs in the smaller room prior to our booking. I made a quick cell phone call to the owner, who happens to be a friend of almost twenty years, and agreed to give him the money Paul was supposed to get if he moved the new band upstairs and we agreed to open the party to the public. Well our best guess is we had over a hundred people at the party. The "Replacement Band" was the Bar Stool Bandits. We have seen them before and they are always entertaining. From looking at the pictures this morning it looks like a good time was had by all. Our friends are the hardest thing for us leave here and it was great to see everyone. Two of our good friends that have sailed with us a couple times on charter in the Virgins flew in from New Mexico for the weekend just to come to the party. They didn't tell us they were coming, they just drove from the airport and walked in around 9:00. It was a big surprise.

Jay

Guitars, Tiki Bars and a Whole Lota Rum Tonight

Well the big going away party is upon us.

GUITARS, TIKI BARS
And a Whole Lota Rum
on January 18, 2008
Paul “Team Drink” James Deffinger
Drinks starting at 6:00 PM
Paul Will Play From 8:00 PM Till ?

Upstairs at the Rivers Edge Cafe

This is a beach themed 'going to the islands" Party

For Deb and Jay

Proper beach were is requested

Flowered Shirts, shorts, bathing suits

or anything else you consider appropriate

The Car is Sold

Well after two weeks on eBay and a week in the paper, the car is sold. Turn out a simple for sale sign in the window would have done the trick. One of my neighbors called us from the newspaper add and is buying it for his grand daughter. Some much for the Internet and high technology. I do have to say that eBay worked well for the boat and the truck though so 2 out of 3 is not bad. One more real big item off of the "list".

Jay

Seven Days and an Early WakeUp

Well it hard to believe it is that close. Basically we have seven full days plus a real early wake up on the twenty fourth and we will be on the plane. The list continues to wind down, although we have managed to add a few last minute small items that pop up from time to time. I get to work on some paperwork for taxes today. Wo Hoo! There is nothing I love more than digging through six month old receipts and try to figure out what we did and when we did it. You have got to love the IRS. This is definitely the last major item on the list so if I can knock it out then its all downhill from here.

Jay

The Two Camps

Well since we have had the opportunity lately, thanks to the Holidays and the going away party tour, to visit with a lot of friends and family. It seems there are two diametrically opposed groups among our friends and family. First we have the ones say how could you do it? Why would otherwise sane people leave good jobs and successful businesses, a beautiful home and great friends to move to some island in the Caribbean. The other group are the ones that say how could you not? It is amusing at times to hear the different views. Our friends primarily consist of fellow boaters, but they are as diverse a group of people as you would ever want to meet from almost every walk of life. Because of that diversity and the fact that some are highly educated and well traveled and some are salt of the earth everyday people the views of the situation are all over the place. One of the almost universal views comes from some of our older friends. Most of them agree if you are going to do it then do it while you are young enough to enjoy it and take advantage of all it has to offer. It seems the friends that are in the how could you do it camp are the ones that for the most part are in a "comfort zone" in their lives. Some with kids, all with jobs and houses and long term plans.

Well my compass has always had a little more deviation in it than would normally be acceptable. This has served me well in life as I have never really colored between the lines like you are supposed to anyway. I guess this is a double edged sword as it makes you light on your feet but you always run the risk of being a little to far off course. Thankfully Deb's compass doesn't suffer from this so between the two of us we manage to make headway some where in the neighborhood of our heading despite ourselves.

As we have told most of our friends in the how could you do it camp, we have dreamed about it talked about and then planned for it. So now we are going to do it. I suspect if we had decided not to do it, and there have been plenty of opportunities to let this slide by, then when we are old a grey it would have been one of those huge regrets in life. If we do it and it works and we stay long term then our lives will be richer for the experience. If we do it and it doesn't stick long term then our lives will still be richer for the experience and I guess that's the best explanation that I can come up for the how could you do it camp. The other camp really doesn't need an explanation. For the ones that I can't convince with this explanation I simply show them a picture or two like the one above.

Jay

Tic Toc Tic Toc

Well the clock is moving faster now. We are down to ten days and a real early wake up now. I am done "working" here although I have a ton of paperwork to handle before we leave. Taxes, transfer of my corporation to my partner etc. .....

The to do list is down to about fifteen items. Most are minor. We are still trying to get the car sold that's the last biggie. It has been on EBay for a week. The original listing ended yesterday. There were thirteen people watching it at auction end and I really thought it was going to sell. It didn't. So it goes in the local paper tomorrow and I re listed it on eBay at a slightly lower price. We know enough people in the car business that we can dispose of it upon departure but we will have to take a little more of a hit than we would like.

Well the going away party tour is in full swing. Friday was a friends 50th birthday party, it seemed more like a reunion party for the marina were allot of our friends keep there boats. Saturday we had my nephews 7th birthday party at the bowling alley followed up by the "family" going away party here at the house. Then yesterday Deb's dad, that lives in South Carolina, met us for lunch at Friday's then came over to the house for the better part of the day to watch football.

Well that's all for now as I have to take Deb to work and keep her car to run errands today since I no longer own a vehicle.

Jay

DMV

DMV, originally uploaded by captainjay.

I had to go to the DMV today. To get a new copy of the title for the
truck. Well I had to snap this photo. By the way the truck is on its
way to Indy its new home.

Going Away Party Tour

Well the obligatory going away parties start this weekend. We are going to a friends 50th birthday party tonight, with a lot of our boater friends. Then tomorrow is the family party here at our house. Next Wednesday night is Deb's work going away party followed up by the Thursday afternoon work going away lunch. Then next Friday is the Guitars, Tiki Bars and a Whole Lotta Rum party at The Cafe on Old Main St in St Albans. You know how boaters are in the winter, any excuse for a party.

Jay

Boxes Oh My

Well despite our best efforts to down size we will still be giving the post office a little money. It looks like we will be shipping ten or twelve boxes down via the mail of ting's we just don't think we can live without. We have a mailing address in St Thomas now and will try to ship this stuff out a few days before we leave so that it will arrive a few days after we do. We will let you know how that works out. :)

I posted this via iPhone to test my skills prior to live posts from the islands. Turns out practice is a good idea with technology as I put the original text in front of the picture on the iPhone and it all got erased. So note to self when posting via iPhone picture first then text.

Jay

Boxes Oh My, originally uploaded by captainjay.

Keep Left

I just finished my autographed copy of Keep Left The Open Air Asylum Called St. John by Mike Mullen.

I highly recommend this book. It was great, a really fast read and I enjoyed it a lot. Mike did a good job of making you laugh at all the craziness he went through while building his villa on St. John. I think if I had gone through what he did, I would have ran home screaming and probably would have been locked up. And he wants to do it again....Mike you are crazy! Jay is going to read it next and I know he'll love it. Being a contractor, he will really get a kick out of some of Mike's exploits. If you have ever thought about building in the Virgin Islands, then you need to read this book. Even if you are not thinking about building in the Virgin Islands, it's a fun read and will keep you entertained to the end. We plan on meeting up with Mike once we got on island. I'm sure he has more stories to tell and I can't wait to hear them!

http://www.keepleftbook.com/

Enjoy! Deb

Deb's New BCD aka More Stuff to Ship

Well we are supposed to be getting rid of stuff but I couldn't help myself. Deb has always rented BCD's for diving but since we should be diving more frequently I found a really good deal on one on eBay and bought if for her. So we have one more thing to drag to the islands with us but its good stuff.

Take the shed off of the to do list. I got it cleaned out today. I threw two full black lawn and leaf bags full of plain old crap away plus put a bunch of scrap wood on the fire pit at the Tiki Bar. It still amazes me the amount of junk that we have accumulated over the years.

High sixties and partly sunny in West Virginia Today. That sounds nice until you compare it the 80 and scattered clouds in Charlotte Amalie today.

Work Winding Down

Well it seems kind of strange as we go back to work this morning. This will likely be my last week working here. Deb finishes up next Friday at her job. So we will use the little bit of time off that we have to finish all the last minute things on the now dreaded list. It still amazes me the number of little things that have to be taken care of before we head out. My share of the list is down to fun little projects like cleaning out the storage building here. Finishing the organization of the storage in the attic. Fixing a piece of lose siding, and tightening up a piece of railing going down to the dock. You get the idea, its the kind of stuff that you normally find all kinds of reasons to put off but with the clock ticking it's time to knock them out.

Jay

The Car has to go

Well I have a deposit on the truck and It's to be picked up next Saturday. So today I finished cleaning it up and out. I also took advantage of the warm spell and washed Deb's car and took some new photos of it. It is now listed on eBay and hopefully it will sell as well.

It's priced aggressively and ready to go if anyone is looking.

Click Here to View the eBay listing

Posting from my iPhone

Posting from my iphone, originally uploaded by captainjay.

Another great photo by mbw (I have several saved on my phone just so that I can look at them regularly......thanks Mary Beth!).

Jay just figured out how to post pictures to the blog directly from my iPhone. This should make it interesting once we get to STT. We'll be able to share all kinds of crazy things. The hardest part is typing. I'm sure it will get easier as I get used to it. This is so cool!!!

Deb

Temporary Housing

We got the word yesterday that we will have an apartment at UVI for a month when we get to St Thomas in three short weeks, actually three short weeks from yesterday. Now we have to find an island car as soon as we get there. We actually have a car rented for the first week but we will need to buy something quickly, line up car insurance on the island and spend the better part of a day at the DMV. The DMV trip should make for a good post if nothing else.

Jay

Winter Wonderland?

More like wondering why are we still in this cold wet mess. It is something like 12 degrees here today with a couple of inches of snow.

"Goin' where the sun keeps a-shinin'through the pouring raingoin' where the weather suits my clothes" Jimmy Buffett.

As for details, I sold the truck on Ebay Yesterday and have to finish up the paperwork on that. Now we have to deal with Deb's car. The Griswald's are all gone so now we have to finish packing up the house and any household items that we are going to ship to the islands. It looks like the weather is going to warm up over the weekend and into next week, way back up into the 50's which is a good thing as I have a few last minute things to do to the house outside to get it ready for the tenants.

And last but not least it is three weeks from today that we will be wheels down in St Thomas. The islands soon come.

Jay

Next New Years

As we sat around a table of ten good friends last night. Having a few adult beverages and dinner at a large hotel New Years Eve party the talk came around to what next New Years might be like. Well saw this picture on one of the message boards that I frequent, and since we love Jost VanDyke and Foxy's we decided that next year we are going to Jost for New Years. This is about as close to a New Yeas resolution as you will get out us. Several of our friends that have been there with us on charter agreed that this sounded like a grand idea. So stay tuned to see how this plan holds up to a years time and a little less rum.

Happy New Years

Jay