Old Year's night

Old Year's night, originally uploaded by captainjay.

Happy Friday, New Years Eve or Old Years Night, or whatever you call it. We're going low key for this year's celebration. Jay has to work today and tomorrow so no Foxeys for us. Going to have dinner and drinks with friends and hope that Jay can stay up to midnight lol We were hoping to catch the fireworks but Yacht Haven Grande cancelled them so that's a bummer.

It's also our anniversary, 12 years. But we've been together 17 years. Wow! It's been an eventful 17 years to say the least. We've done a lot, seen a lot, met a lot of great people and have no plans for stopping. ;-)

So I hope everyone has a great new years celebration, whatever you're doing.... Have fun and be safe!

Happy New Year!

Christmas Winds

Christmas Winds, originally uploaded by captainjay.

Well this morning the winds were calm as can be. Not so much now, the winds have built to twenty knots and the north swells are building. Looks like it's going to be a windy New Year.
Jay

Happy day after Christmas

Happy day after Christmas, originally uploaded by captainjay.

Another lazy day at the house for me today. Jay had to work and I had him to just take the car since I have no plans on going anywhere. It's a little hazy out today but the sun is out, the warm breeze is blowing, James Taylor is playing on the new iPod dock, which sounds unbelievable by the way. It's a good day.

Hope everyone had a nice Christmas. :-)

Merry Christmas

 

Merry Christmas from the Islands. Deb and I didn't do a whole lot of shopping this year since we are already spoiled rotten. I bought her a bracelet last week when we were on St John, although she picked it out and she snuck off yesterday and bought us a Bose Portable Docking station for the iPod. Today is a lazy day we are hanging out at the house, cooking a little food and watching Christmas Movies. It's nice to have a little down time as the week coming up will be very busy for me at work. Lots of boats going out this week. I hope everyone enjoys their day.

Jay

Merry Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas Eve, originally uploaded by captainjay.

It's an absolutely beautiful day in the VI today. I've spent the last two days chillin' at the house recuperating from our visitors lol. So today I decided to get out of the house and enjoy the day.

I got my Charlie Brown Christmas tree out and decided to decorate to see if it would look a little bit more like Christmas. It helped a little but once you look out and see the beautiful blue sky and water you forget that everyone back home is looking out and seeing snow and freezing their booty off. I miss family but definitely don't miss the snow :-)

Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!

Last Night of Stay-cation

So we have had a great visit with the Schaub's and some much needed relaxation and a little rest. We went to St John today to take a look at the Villa's that T and Neville rented for their February trip. Both look to be real nice places and they are only about a quarter mile apart. We spent a little more time looking for them than planned so after a little lunch at the tap room and the discovery of a new cocktail we decided shopping and visiting a few watering holes in Cruz Bay would be a good use of our afternoon. The rational being it was to late to make any meaningful beach time. So the girls bought some jewelery and Rob and I held down stools at Woody's, and Joe's Rum Hut. Then it was back on the car barge for St Thomas.

About half way across Pillsbury Sound I came up with the idea of stopping in Marina Market, picking up some steaks as well as some veggies for salad and staying in the last night. Turned out to be a good decision. The food and company were great as usual and the view is as good as any restaurant on St Thomas or St John. Plus and easy evening may make re-entry into work for me and flying on Us Scareways a little easier on our guests tomorrow, but no worries for Deb she is on Christmas break and has off until some time in January.

Jay

PS the new cocktail we tried was appropriately enough named the R&R. It is basically almost equal parts St John Brewers homemade Root Beer and Cruzan Vanilla Rum on the rocks. Very smooth and a little sweet.

Not Quite Jost

Not Quite Jost, originally uploaded by captainjay.

Well we tried to go to Jost today but apparently the lady at customs the didn't like Rob put a voodoo curse on the boat. I won't bother with the details but it included spending two hours at Great St James cleaning out oil lines then limping back to Frenchtown.
The girls were supposed to meet us in Red Hook, so since they were stranded at Molly Mallone's they did some brunch and drinks then went to Sapphire Beach for a while.
Now we are hanging by the pool at some friends house watching the sun crossing the horizon.
Jay

Beach Day

Beach Day, originally uploaded by captainjay.

Had a beach day today with the girls. It was supposed to be a boat day to Jost but it didn't quite work out. The plan was for the guys to take the boat from Frenchtown to Red Hook and pick up the girls. That way we bypassed the rough south side of St. Thomas. We went to Molly Malones to partake of the bottomless bloody marys and mimosa. Well about half way to Red Hook the boat had some issues (Jay will have to give details). So the girls went to Sapphire to wait it out. Not a bad plan B ;-)

Lighted Boat Parade

Lighted Boat Parade, originally uploaded by captainjay.

We had a great time in the Lighted Boat parade last night. There were 13 boats and some really went all out. We threw some lights together last minute and went for the fun of it. Everyone that participated got a free slip at Crown Bay Marina and a $25 gift cert at Budget Marine. The top four got really nice prizes, cash, free gas, etc. So next year we're going to really get into it and try to win. I'll go after Christmas and try to find some deals on decorations for next year. If anyone wants to donate lights and mail them, we'll take 'em lol The boat is small so it won't take much :-)

Friday Beach Pucture

Friday Beach Pucture, originally uploaded by captainjay.

This was yesterday afternoon at Magen's Bay. Having fun with the Schaub's in town.

Friday Beach Pic

Friday Beach Pic, originally uploaded by captainjay.

It's Friday! Last day of work before my two week break. UVI closes for two weeks between Christmas and New Years. It's soooo nice.

Tonight is the Miracle on Main street and Lighted Boat Parade. We decided to enter the boat this year so Jay and our WV friends will be running around today gathering lights and decorating the boat. I hope to get out of work early so that I can help. Miracle on Main Street is a really nice event. If you're on island you should definitely come downtown and check it out. The stores stay open late for Christmas shopping, there will be steel pan bands playing Christmas tunes, bars and restaurants offering specials on food and drinks. And boats out in the harbor decorated with Christmas lights circling around. Its just a really nice event to get you in the Christmas spirit.

Merry Christmas :-)

Stay-cation with the Schaub's

Stay-cation with the Schaub's, originally uploaded by captainjay.

Hanging at Magen's with the Schaub's having a little BBC. My first day of the mini vacation.
Jay

Mini Rednecks Staycation

So Deb's birthday week continues. The organizer, Theresa,  of the original Rednecks in the Caribbean trips and her hubby Rob are coming to visit. They are actually on dePlane leaving CRW as I post this. So Deb and I are taking some time off, Deb more than me, to have a mini Stay-cation. This is were you take off and don't travel. We are hosting our first guests at the condo, gonna do a little boating and very likely a little limin. Stay tuned for updates. And for those of you that are friends with T on Facebook count on her doing her normal bottle of wine and mac and cheese updates.

Jay

Pre-birthday day

Pre-birthday day, originally uploaded by captainjay.

We were able to get out on the boat yesterday for a little pre-birthday day for me. We took out some friends and coworkers and headed over to Water Island to hear Eric Stone play. To my surprise, Melissa, owner of Joes Beach Bar (along with her husband Joe of course), made me a home made birthday cake! I felt so touched that she would think enough of me to do that. She even sang happy birthday to me as I blew out the single candle. It was perfect, and it was an awesome cake. Topped with Hershey kisses.

Then we had a beautiful sunset. It was a perfect way to spend a pre-birthday day :-)

Friday Beach Pic

Friday Beach Pic, originally uploaded by captainjay.

TGIF! Finally! Been a very busy week so I am soooo happy it's Friday. We've had a consultant on campus working with us on a very large project so there's been lots of meetings and after work dinners. We've also been working on getting the new place ready for our first visitors that arrive this Tuesday. So you can why I'm ready for the weekend.

Yacht Haven Grande is going to start having FREE Zumba classes on Saturday mornings at 10 am in the area next to Fat Turtle. All the on island Zumba instructors are going to take turns leading the class so you'll get to experience the different styles of the different instructors. They are also going to provide FREE drinking water. So if you're on island on a Saturday come on over and enjoy a fun workout! I'll be there for sure because I love Zumba :-)

Have a great weekend!

Boating

 

So we had a great time this weekend. Spent two days on the boat. I haven't had much time off with the start of season and the new boat to commission so it was nice to get to spend the time. The conditions were nearly perfect for this time of year. Low seas, moderate winds and the boat ran well. Still have a few issues, it's a boat after all. We spent Sunday night in the Bight at Norman Island. Did a snorkel at the Indians then we got cleaned up and went into the Willy T's for a little while with our friends. Then it was over to Pirate's for dinner.

Monday we got up did a little breakfast and headed of to Jost, had lunch at Gertrude's and came back to St Thomas late afternoon. We were more than a little surprised to see three cruise ships anchored off of Cruz Bay in St John. That place must of been a freak show with that many people in town.

Time on the Water

Time on the Water, originally uploaded by captainjay.

Took a couple days off and got a little Time on the Water. We ran over to Norman Island and met up with some friends who chartered with CYOA. Willie T on a Sunday night is pretty wild :-).

Today we ran over to Jost Van Dyke for lunch before heading back to St. Thomas. It's a beautiful day out and it feels great to be back on the boat :-)

Key Lime Kind of Day

Key Lime Kind of Day, originally uploaded by captainjay.

So Deb and I took today and tomorrow off. We have the boat running and met up with some friends in the BVI so after a "small" lobster we just had a little Key Lime Pie. Life is good.

Since the band forgot to bring their instruments over from Tortola, just can't make this stuff up, we are heading back to the boat.
Jay

Friday Beach Pic

Friday Beach Pic, originally uploaded by captainjay.

It's Friday! Yea! Hope everyone had a great week. We went over to St. John last night for dinner with forum friends and had a great time. It always feels like a mini vacay when we hop over there. Tonight having dinner at Hook Line with a different group of forum friends that are chartering a boat with CYOA. What would we do without our forum family lol

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Pic above is Smith Bay (Lindquist) taken last weekend :-)

Finally a boat day

Finally a boat day, originally uploaded by captainjay.

Jay finally got a couple days off so he was able to repair the boat. He'll have to tell you what exactly, shift cable something linkage something blah blah blah. It finally was running so we went out for an evening run and saw a wonderful sunset. So glad to have the boat running again. More boat pics soon come :-)