Clearing off my desktop...

Going to get serious, reflective, even mildly profound about 2012 some time soon, but first I have to clear my desktop of the assorted collection of sayings, posters, touchy feelies and funnies I've collected these past couple of months just to share with you.

Mindfulness





Grand Carnival Parade Day, St. Kitts, January 2012

Forgive the lack of narrative; I promise I will write something profound by the end of next week.  In the meantime, Caitlin and Jorel left a couple of hours ago and I am feeling the immediate quiet empty of their departure.
So here are some pics from the day of the Grand Carnival Parade; on our way to catch the bus to Cayon after a day at the beach.  I'm a lousy photographer, but I'm going to share a dozen or so of the photos anyway.
Happy New Year my friends.  2012 is wide open and the trains a coming. 
And so it goes this fifth day of the new year, and for me, the first day of saying goodbye.

My baby girl Caitlin and her love, Jorel.

Jorel and the Mommy

Jouvert 2011

My second year celebrating Christmas in St. Kitts with Carnival as part of the two weeks of grand festivities.  Today was Jouvert and one of my favorite people watching events of all time. Since Caitlin and Jorel are here visiting, I decided it was worth dragging them out of bed at 5:00 a.m. to catch the first troupes as they entered the Circus.  Some of the Peace Corps volunteers joined the Red Devil troupe again this year, which means they started their day closer to 2:00 a.m., but from the looks of all those dancing in the streets, it wasn't anywhere near quitting time.  We watched mostly from the balcony at Ballyhoo, but caught the energy mid-way and joined the crowds in the street for awhile before heading back home so Caitlin could get the rest she needs to take care of the nasty cold and ear infection she brought with her from SoCal.


A few photos to share:

Red Devil Troupe in the Circus

Baby, it's cold outside.

Gale force trade winds kicking up my allergies and making the already treacherous bus rides feel even more like an E ticket at Magic Mountain, not to mention: baby it's cold outside - relatively speaking.  And as the wind howls through the trees and the rain pelts on my tin roof, I am reminded of  scary stuff like what happens if the electricity goes out before the XFactor comes on?  How will I survive?  It's the final week, and I must hear Josh Krajcik; his raspy voice is so soulful, reminds me of Joe Cocker and who can forget him singing "With a Little Help From My Friends" at Woodstock in 1969?


Went to my office today hoping to share some holiday cheer with my co-workers, it being Christmas week and all, but met an empty hallway with locked doors all around.  No one was there except for me, so I sang a few reindeer and Santa songs waiting for them to arrive, then finally ate the candy my friend Jill sent to me in a very festive gift box - candy I'd planned to share with everybody - played around on the Internet for a bit, and then finally moseyed on back to Cayon.  Guess I didn't get the memo explaining that Christmas/Carnival in St. Kitts is celebrated in Caribbean time from December 21 - January 5.


Walking down Fort Street in Basseterre on my way to the bus, it was clear that party time had arrived.  It was only noon but scores of people were already liming. drinking Caribe and Skol - it's always 5:00 somewhere in the world - and dancing in the streets.  Can't miss the Carnival spirit, half of the 37,000 people who live on the island will be coming into town to celebrate at some point during the week.  Soca Monarch finals on Friday, Jouvert on Monday, the Grand Carnival Parade on New Years, Masquerades, Queens and Teens shows throughout, and the Last Lap on January 4th, I think.  St. Kitts and Nevis is the only place in the Caribbean that combines Christmas and Carnival; a unique opportunity to experience the festive and vibrant culture and get in some incredible people watching.


Time for a funny before I close:
A couple was shopping at a packed mall on Christmas Eve.  Walking through the mall, the wife looked up and was surprised to see that her husband had disappeared.  She was very upset because they had much Christmas shopping to do.
Using her cell phone, she called her husband and asked him where he was.  The husband, in a calm voice said, "Honey, remember the jewelry store we went into five years ago - where you fell in love with that diamond necklace that we couldn't afford, and I told you that I would get if for you one day?  His wife, crying said "Yes, I remember that jewelry store."
"Well," he said, "I'm in the bar next to it."


And finally, a picture of the Christmas tree I put up just for Santa,  I had to have somewhere to put his milk and cookies for when he delivers Caitlin and Jorel on Christmas Eve.  
A fake tree, my first, and somewhat woebegone compared to Christmases past, but you still gotta love it.  It is Christmas after all.

And so it goes, here in the West Indies, on the island of St. Kitts, in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, four days before Christmas 2011.