Embracing life, and whatever experiences it offers. Building the Daydream Hog Compound. The plans are congealing. The confluence of our energies is coalescing. The corned beef of our consciousness is careening. Any friend and family that does not have their key (I realize there are many of you, sorry), please shoot Old Macaroni Baby (Jack's DJ name) an email at livingstonebuilding@yahoo.com. Grazie.
The most unfortunate thing about the Bahamas: this is their trash disposal. They burn everything, including plastic, car batteries, etc. According to Dan and Larry, who consulted the EPA in the states, it's actually better to burn plastic though, if the fire is hot before it goes in so it burns cleanly, rather than it rotting in the sun, and then going on it's way. Either way, I keep having daydreams of never using plastic again. Sigh.
Local beauty spot
Oversize spoon/bent knife in local restaurant. Just how I like 'em. Just like home.
Burgers on the beach, the fire, the immolation of Pinhead, crazy nutty minnows around the boat (not only flying in perfect formation, but following the shadow of the boat, down to the detail of the mast and the rigging. Now that's discipline! Why can't you be more like the minnows? Sheesh!), Little girl learning to sail in the harbor
TUESDAY, APRIL 1 2008 by Jack Okay, where do I begin? So much has happened in the last few days. Okay, Ruth’s in jail until tomorrow. I’ll try to explain how this happened- Well, let’s start with Ruth and I filling our water jugs at the library, where we were chastised for not asking first. That was yesterday. Ruth and the lady got in an argument, and there were some words exchanged. Then last night, we stopped by the fish fry, and we had a couple of beers, and got in line for the fish. When we got up there, who should be selling -or rather refusing to sell- fish at the stand? The same lady. Well, she won’t serve Ruth, and one thing leads to another, until this lady starts swearing at Ruth, and a minute later Ruth is covering her with tartar sauce. The next thing you know, the lady is screaming, and her kid tries to tackle Ruth, and the police showed up, and the band started fighting, and then… and then…
Oh yeah, april fool. Did I get ya?
There really was a fish fry the other night, though. There really was a lady there selling fish too, and the fish was great. There’s also a library, but we’re not sure if there’s a jail.
We’re still hanging out, waiting out the cold front, but we’re really here because we’re loving it, and it’s maybe the best of all possible worlds so far- cool people, great harbor (two really), nearby cays to explore and snorkel with coral heads and fish, a town with everything from propane to groceries, a movie theater and internet, and a library 150 years old, and a weekly fish fry party, and a lot more. Beautiful place. And we think we have a deal on a lot, we’re going to pursue. It’s only a handshake right now, but we’re supposed to meet at the lawyer’s at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow to sign a purchase agreement, contingent on the title getting cleared in a few months, and us paying for it within 9 months. That should be enough time to sell the house in New Orleans and buy it or else earn the money to pay for it. After that, we’d just take our time to get back here, hopefully within a few years to finish rebuilding what the former owner started and never finished 20 years ago. We’d build it up to 2 stories so it would have a nice view, and then invite you all to share it with us when you are free. So, we’ll see. As I’m writing, I’m listening to XM radio, they had an awesome show on sonnets on Public Radio, and I just heard a fish jump outside the boat. I have two lines out, but so far no love from the fish. We’ll see. We’ll be moving on pretty soon, so we can get home in time (in the states by May 1), but we’ll be hitting Hatchet Bay, maybe Gregory Town next, and then Spanish Wells, and the Devil’s Backbone, a set of coral reefs that’s been sinking ships for hundreds of years. Dave Sr. told us that there was a Civil War era train that fell off a barge there when it sunk. Sounds pretty sweet. I don’t have much else to report, other than we talked to the Murawski half of the clan, and everyone is well, and David, it was good to get email from you, after we’ve had so many problems getting in touch. I guess Michelle is doing well, and so is the rest of my half of the family, so that’s pretty exciting, and Becky has been hanging out with her bio family, and I’m pretty excited to hear the latest from the Wilsons on the baby front. And you all called off the Coast Guard, so we appreciate that. We should be calling them on you, you guys are the ones in the “dangerous” city driving around on the ice with all of these cars racing about, and the kids on their whirly-bikes and whatnot. You could drive a body to distraction what with the worrying we have to do about all the carryin’ on up there. Okay, I’ll jet for now. Hopefully, when I post this one, there will be photos attached. We seem to have some problems sending those, even though we pay top dollar over at the library here for internet.
As the Phyllis would say, “Lotta much love.”
Jack
Oh yeah: I posted a few things on YouTube, so here’s the addresses, I think, for a couple of them. You might want to see what else is there, though, because I posted at least one that I forgot to get the address for. One is the shark grabbing the fish off the side of the boat one night, which was pretty sweet. I included the whole “address” that they gave me for the clips, but I suspect that it’s about half of the second line that you need, so for the first one below, the address would be: http://www.youtube.com/v/ctKGM3YfVA0. At least I think. And the second would be: http://www.youtube.com/v/dRRpnljbQKA.
Lobster condo we made out of trash. It ended in tragedy, it was gone the day after it was deployed. Sigh.
Jack and "Taliban." Also goes by "Peace" and "Mack." Had the pleasure of buying this lad a whisky a week previous to this photo, while we talked of the democratic primaries. It's crazy how well informed people are here of U.S. politics, much more so than most people at home. Super cool though. Yet many are illiterate. Go figure. (see below)
Another clue in the ongoing mystery of why the stock prices for this local bakery are refusing to climb...
Blooming ponciana. I told you this was my new favorite flower, right?
These chickens are EVERYWHERE. The place is lousy with 'em, and they're cockadoodledooing STEADY. ALL DAY. And as far as to why it was crossing the road, it wouldn't say a "peep." HA AHA AHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA AHA AHA HA A HA HAAH AHA HA AHA AHA AHAHAHAHAHHA AHA HA HA AHA HAH AH AH AH HAHA AH AH AH AH HA HAHA HA HA HA HA HA HA H AHA HHA AHA AHA AHAHAHAHAHHA AHA HA HA AHA HAH AH AH AH HAHA AH AH AH AH HA HAHA HA HA HA HA HA HA H AHA H HA AHA AHA AHAHAHAHAHHA AHA HA HA AHA HAH AH AH AH HAHA AH AH AH AH HA HAHA HA HA HA HA HA HA H AHA H HA AHA AHA AHAHAHAHAHHA AHA HA HA AHA HAH AH AH AH HAHA AH AH AH AH HA HAHA HA HA HA HA HA HA H AHA H HA AHA AHA AHAHAHAHAHHA AHA HA HA AHA HAH AH AH AH HAHA AH AH AH AH HA HAHA HA HA HA HA HA HA H AHA H HA AHA AHA AHAHAHAHAHHA AHA HA HA AHA HAH AH AH AH HAHA AH AH AH AH HA HAHA HA HA HA HA HA HA H AHA H HA AHA AHA AHAHAHAHAHHA AHA HA HA AHA HAH AH AH AH HAHA AH AH AH AH HA HAHA HA HA HA HA HA HA H AHA H HA AHA AHA AHAHAHAHAHHA AHA HA HA AHA HAH AH AH AH HAHA AH AH AH AH HA HAHA HA HA HA HA HA HA H AHA H HA AHA AHA AHAHAHAHAHHA AHA HA HA AHA HAH AH AH AH HAHA AH AH AH AH HA HAHA HA HA HA HA HA HA H AHA H HA AHA AHA AHAHAHAHAHHA AHA HA HA AHA HAH AH AH AH HAHA AH AH AH AH HA HAHA HA HA HA HA HA HA H AHA H HA AHA AHA AHAHAHAHAHHA AHA HA HA AHA HAH AH AH AH HAHA AH AH AH AH HA HAHA HA HA HA HA HA HA H AHA H HA AHA AHA AHAHAHAHAHHA AHA HA HA AHA HAH AH AH AH HAHA AH AH AH AH HA HAHA HA HA HA HA HA HA H AHA H HA AHA AHA AHAHAHAHAHHA AHA HA HA AHA HAH AH AH AH HAHA AH AH AH AH HA HAHA HA HA HA HA HA HA H AHA H HA AHA AHA AHAHAHAHAHHA AHA HA HA AHA HAH AH AH AH HAHA AH AH AH AH HA HAHA HA HA HA HA HA HA H AHA H HA AHA AHA AHAHAHAHAHHA AHA HA HA AHA HAH AH AH AH HAHA AH AH AH AH HA HAHA HA HA HA HA HA HA H AHA H HA AHA AHA AHAHAHAHAHHA AHA HA HA AHA HAH AH AH AH HAHA AH AH AH AH HA HAHA HA HA HA HA HA HA H AHA H AH AH AHA HA HA HA HA HA HA H AH AHA HA HA HA HAHA HA A AHHA HA HA HAHA HA HA HA HA HA. Ahem.
This here's Governor's Harbor. I think it's the nicest place, all around, that we've been to in the Bahamas.
This is where some dead person went a-creepin' outta their crypt. It's cool though, they go back in the daytime.
GOVERNOR’S HARBOUR: march 26, 2008 Mr. Lucky here. Wow again. I mean, “hello.” This place is gorgeous. We were here talking to a lawyer about buying the vacant land in Rock Sound, when he mentioned one here that we might want to see. It has the unfinished ruins of a duplex, and not so close to the water, but we like this town much more, we think. And prettier scenery. We would love to be in Rock Sound too, but if we had the choice… So we’ll see. We met with the owner today and agreed on a price, which would be less than even a vacant lot in Ferndale or Kalamazoo. Seems like a real bargain, so we’re keeping our fingers crossed. It would be like 25k, contingent on selling the house in New Orleans first, so we’ll see.
We waited out the cold front here, and enjoyed it, mostly hanging around the library.
Bad news though, while here (I was dying to get online, it had been so long- two weeks since blogging, a week since phone contact home to Phyllis) we got word that you all have been worried and called the State Department and the Coast Guard, who, apparently, have been trying to reach us on VHF radio. We never have it on though, because we would rather save the power than hear the chatter. Well, I won’t say too much on this subject except a couple of things:
First, you all get 100 times more news of us than we get of you, and most people back home write rarely, if at all. So if you worry about us, think how we feel. We usually have no idea who’s alive or dead, and just have to assume the best. So, we miss you, and that’s our complaint. Second, we told everyone that we are not usually in places where we get email/internet, and are not going to risk going anywhere in bad (windy) weather to try to find it. We’ll write when we can, but DON’T expect it. We never promised to write, and have actually said with some certainty that there will be problems communicating for random lengths of time, at random intervals. Better that we sit somewhere safe and leave it at that when it’s windy/wavy out. Bahamians are very laid back, and most don’t know what the internet is, seriously. You might imagine us as out at sea somewhere, but we’re not. We’re always anchored in a harbor, or a few hours from the next one. Some towns have internet though, and some don’t. That’s really all there is to it. Third, if you had any idea how we’re living, you would only worry that we’re going to get a sunburn and get fat, and lose all ambition, but never for our safety.
Please don’t worry. It’s sweet, but pointless. If we died or something, calling the Coast Guard wouldn’t do any good. We should worry about you, piloting cars on icy roads full of drunk drivers. You are in much more danger than we are, every day.
And everyone here looks out for each other. When we buy groceries the store owner sends someone to drive us the couple blocks to the boat, people are so preoccupied with our well-being.
So, what’s news? We cooked steak on the beach last night, and are just enjoying the beauty here, which is really incredible. The town is really interesting too, with all kinds of oddball shops, the best cracked conch in the Bahamas, we think, a grocery with everything, and a library with wireless internet $20 for 10 hours- not the best deal, but better than some too. The best was $5 for all day, the worst was $5 for 15 minutes.
I’ll get going so I can spend the last few hours here before they close uploading photos and stuff, but please, please, please, don’t worry. We love you all and miss you a lot. We’ll be home mid-may, boat and all, is the latest plan.
Anyone interested in being part of a pig roast when we get back, shoot me an email. I’ll keep an eye out for responses.
This is what a $4 shot at the Homecoming looks like. Yikes!
Carrots cut up on the table
Three cheers for these here fish cakes.
Ruth's mad mad fish cakes!
The Government mail boat hit this yacht because it had it's anchor light off while in the harbor. Woops.
SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 2008 ROCK SOUND 3 by Jack Spratt Hiya peoples. Wish we could get online. I realize it’s been weeks since we were online, I suppose it was on Cat Island. Since then, we’ve been writing, but it’s just become more ones and zeroes to throw on the pile. So sorry, that this is so long to reach you. We also wish we could get some email, but that’s not really an option for the money they’re charging here. We’re looking forward to moving along, just so we can get some stuff taken care of. Like, we need gas, we’ll need water pretty soon, and we need to hit some stores. Rock Sound is super cool though, super laid back. The homecoming festival just happened to be going on the last several days while we’ve been here, and we’re anchored just off the beach where it all goes down, so we can hear the music really well. I got to hear my favorite Bahamian song, which is by someone named KB, and it’s called “Government Dam,” or something. The food was really awesome, only $8 for a massive plate of chicken, mac and cheese, potato salad, and whatever. They also had grilled conch, which was pretty wack when we had it, but when we tasted Albert’s it was really good. Go figure on that. After a few days of the same songs played at a deafening volume, we had enough yumpin’ and yivin,’ so when Gary hailed us from the beach and asked if we want to go for a ride, we were glad to take him up on it. We had a few beers and whatnot, and ate at both the festival again, and then a place that sold “chicken in a bag” for $3. It was a snack of chicken, fries, buttered roll, and macaroni and cheese. Great deal. And the beers were the cheapest in the Bahamas so far, at $2.40 each. Gary is really cool, and very smart, but very pessimistic. He seems really unhappy here, and confirmed it when asked. And further, he said he was lonely, and it confirmed something that Ruth and I had thought of- that this is paradise, as long as you have someone to share it with, but it might be really hard to be here alone. We’re lucky to have each other. It’s funny, Gary’s white, and even though he was born here, he speaks more like he’s from Flint or something than from here. I guess he spent a ton of time in the states, and now he’s a bit of a fish out of water. Anyway, so much for the social analysis. I don’t have much to report, except that we’re here, waiting for the holidays to be over so we can buy stuff, and now that there’s a cold front coming, we’re going to be waiting for that to end too. It’s supposed to be more intense, with winds in the 30’s. I guess that’s all. Just that we’re lazy is the only news, and that’s not even. Like today, I didn’t do a damned thing. I finished Treasure Island again last night, so I didn’t even read. I guess I played the ukelele a while, and the clarinet, and wrote a song that’s about 30 seconds long, but that’s about it. I am truly a lazy, lazy man. The idea of going to a job just seems insane to me right now. I think I’d rather stay home and eat rice and read books. Ruth worked hard though, and cooked a ton of food, and ran in the a.m., and whatever, just trying to make me look bad. She made fish cakes that would make you weep they were so good. Anyway, I’m just rambling. I don’t have much to write to you all, but really am just doing it because I feel like talking to you and I can’t. And this isn’t any substitute, and will just convince you that I have nothing to say, so I’ll go.
Love you all though. As I know Ruth does. You are all in our thoughts, all the time.
Notice the date, 1909, and the name Ruth. Strange, huh?
No graffiti. No spray paint, vandalism. Everything still as it was, books still on the podium, 98 years later. Weird, huh? After hurricanes, weather, bugs, and whatever else. And look at the shape of the roof...
Posts
