{Conversations}

Tiffany is my exercise motivator. She's a tough cookie...and she doesn't let me get away with a damn thang!

Tiffany: Okay, we need to increase our mileage this week.
Me: Alright...I guess I forgot that we were keeping track.
Tiffany: We ran 11 miles last week, so we need to up it to 12 miles this week; definitely doable.
Me: Oh, speaking of running...I was going to talk to you about that. I don't want to workout on Sundays because I have flag football and soccer. It's just too much. I'll need a break...and besides, all that running during my soccer game should count towards some mileage...right?
Tiffany: Personally, I think you should consider your Sunday activities as a bonus.

{Conversation Over.}

I'm Informative and Friendly...I Swear!

I am being told that my blog is becoming increasingly available on Google when web surfers are searching for anything related to Saint Kitts/St. Kitts, RUSVM, etc. My response? Sweeeeeeeet.

However, I've also been told by a reliable source, (Ahem, Stephanie!), that my blog might not be very welcoming to newcomers. Pish posh, I say! (And this is coming from Steph who is now a very good friend of mine, and a fellow Lady of Leisure. So if this is coming from her, then who knows about the rest of my readers...assuming there is anyone else who reads my blog besides my mother, {bless her heart}, other VIP bloggers, and student friends who are so completely bored out of their minds from studying that they log onto Facebook and see my link---which upon reading my latest blog post---become even more bored or resentful that I'm blogging about random fun island shenanigans.)

So, if you're a future Ross student, future VIP, and/or curious future vacationer stumbling upon my blog---please do not hesitate to contact me. While my blog covers 99% of the ridiculous things I get to do with my free time, and only 1% of what my husband-student goes through at school, I am actually pretty informative in real life. If nothing else, I can at least put you in contact with someone who may have better answers to any/all questions (Stephanie).

I believe my email is listed under my Blogger profile, but here it is again: cajdincau@hotmail.com

Happy Sunday, and cheers to a new week. :) <----- Smiley faces prove that I'm friendly. Just putting that out there...

Valentine's Day

Matthew and I don't put a lot of effort into Valentine's Day. Mostly, we think it's a bit of a 'Hallmark Holiday,' so we don't get too revved up about it. I'd like to say that we're mindful of each other every day, or at least a majority of the time.

However, I loooooove all kinds of holidays, and I can't help but pay at least a little bit of attention to each one. If we were back in the states, I most likely would have decorated for Valentine's Day and handcrafted a card...and I probably would've gotten my dogs a few toys from the $1 Spot at Target.

So anyway, my point is that I don't ever expect us to do anything 'special' for said holiday.

But this year, Matty made dinner reservations at Serendipity Restaurant in Basseterre, unbeknownst to me. What a lovely surprise! I had never eaten there before, and I thought it was pretty thoughtful that he take me somewhere new. Matthew also gave me a gold necklace with a very sparkly sea star charm. As obsessed as I am with star-like sea creatures, I LOVE(D) it!!

We had a really nice time that evening, and the view of Basseterre Bay was really pretty. There was also a cruise ship docked at Port Zante, and its lights were lighting up the sky.

In addition, we met a woman who went to RUSVM 20 + years ago! Every year, she and her husband come to visit for a week. We chatted with her for a little bit, and she wished Matthew well in his last few semesters.

Best part of the night? The restaurant's female employees' reaction when Matthew walked in with a pink-and-white striped tie. He received a lot of attention and was voted, "Best Valentine of the Night." I may or may not have been jealous of all the attention he was getting. I'm cute too!

Weirdest part of the night? Having to cover my face and mouth with a LIME hanky while riding around in the Green Destiny, (our car). The muffler system was...not working, and the exhaust was quite potent. At least we were able to get a funny photo out of the deal. :)

I wasn't kidding.

{Conversations}

Me: Omg. I am totally obsessing over fanny packs right now. I think I might add it to my list of personal quirks.
Stephanie: No, Catherine. Don't do it.
Me: I have always thought fanny packs were genius. I just don't approve of them being abused by gyrating undesirables.
Stephanie: Agreed.
Me: And I might just add that to the {Conversations} segment on my blog.
Stephanie: Oooh, good idea. I haven't written in over a week. I need to do something that everyone at home will think is cool.
Me: Forget cool. I'm about to blog about fanny packs.

{Conversations}

Every Wednesday, I head to RUSVM's Prepatory School as a volunteer---to participate in their after school program. At 3:10 p.m., I teach "arts and crafts," to students 4th grade and up. It's been...an interesting experience for me. Definitely entertaining, definitely funny, and definitely a bit chaotic. The following {Conversation} happened this afternoon. At 2:15 p.m., I collected my supplies, removed my pajamas that I had been wearing all day, and threw on proper I-need-to-look-professional-but-it's-hot-and-I-live-in-the-Caribbean-so-I-have-very-few-options-so-I'm-wearing-appropriate-length-shorts-and-a-plain-shirt clothes. I threw my 'beachy', aka not-brushed hair into a ponytail, ran my fingers through the top for a little volume, and left the house.

Me: Alright, I have already provided strips of fabric for each of you, so please pick one.

Charlotte: Miss Catherine?

Me: Yes?
Charlotte: Your hair is really messy.

Anonymous Teacher: Charlotte! What goes on in that head of yours? You can't just say things like that out loud! Jeez!

Me: Oh, Charlotte. You must be looking out for me. Making sure I look good, right?

Charlotte: [Blank Stare]

Me: Well, some of us like to look a little disheveled...it's a style thing.

Charlotte: [Blank Stare]

So I sat there, trying to distract them with the project at hand, all while using my magical mental powers to try and smooth out my hair a bit, so as not to further offend anyone. 

I'm Famous!

Just kidding.

But a St. Kitts and Nevis web site did happen to 'borrow' a photo from an old blog post of mine. Leann was googling Bombay Blues when she stumbled upon it. See the screen shot below.

To see this photo in action, click here.

{My Two Cents}

I was going to include the following comment in my {Conversations} segment, but it doesn't quite fit because it's...just a comment. Thus, {My Two Cents} was born.

While watching a group of girls gyrating on the dance floor Friday night with Stephanie and Leann...

Me: Who's the girl in the pajamas?

{Conversations}

It's your lucky day. Why? Because I have two {Conversations} for you.


Kittitian server at Nirvana (KSAN): What name can I put on this order?
Me: Catherine
KSAN: You're Catherine?
Me: Yep.
KSAN: You don't look like a Catherine.
Me: Oh...what were you imagining my name to be? Lulu?
KSAN: I'm not gonna tell (friendly laugh). You'll be thinkin', "Who is this girl talkin' to me?"
Me: Oh I get it. Catherine is a 'white' name. Haaaaaaa.

************

Random non-Spanish Windsor student who has just stupidly approached me and my friends: Hi, I'm Omar.
Me: *sigh* Hi, Omar.
Omar: Are you Spanish?
Me: *sigh* No. Are you Spanish, Omar?
Omar: Derrr...no.
Me: Alright then.

Ladies' Night at Nirvana

In a recent post, I made news that a group of us were headed to Nirvana Restaurant for Ladies' Night. And let me tell you---we had such a fun time. Abby, Emily, Leann, Stephanie, and I wined and dined the evening away. The restaurant and its surroundings were quite nice. I'm definitely looking forward to going again sometime soon!

After dinner, we headed to Bamboo Lounge to do a little dancing...and dancing we did, until 2:30 a.m. I always think that dancing is such great cardio...and then I remember that beer counteracts that. Oops---fail.

Group photo...tallest to shortest. (Elf to hobbit range.) 

Inside the restaurant...pool in the distance.

Dancing at Bamboo Lounge

BBQ for Elvis

About a week ago, Matthew and I---along with many other RUSVM students---attended one last event for Elvis. You could purchase tickets for the bbq, buy drinks at the bar until the stock was depleted, Love Shack t-shirts were for sale, and there was a raffle for prizes donated by local businesses. Stephanie and her husband Rob were two separate raffle winners. Lucky ducks! Anyway, all proceeds went directly to Elvis' family for memorial expenses.

It was a very successful event, and it was great to see so many of our friends coming out to support Elvis' family.

Looks like a beautiful day for a bbq in honor of our friend, Elvis. 

People in line for the bbq.

Ladies' Night at Nirvana

Stephanie came up with a great idea to host a Ladies' Night at Nirvana Restaurant at Fairview Great House this Friday. We started making these plans about a week ago, and I am very much looking forward to it. While I have never been to Nirvana, I've heard that it's beautiful, and of course I did a little online research.

A little history about the Fairview Great House (from their web site):

Fairview Great House & Botanical Garden is an attraction like no other here in beautiful St. Kitts. Nestled at the foot of Artist’s Level Hill it is St. Kitts’ newest and most unique attraction. This 18th century Great House has been authentically restored to its former glory with careful attention to historical detail.

History shows that Fairview was once the former residence for a French military commander in the days of the French / English partition. It then became home to significant families such as the Mannings; personalities like the well known humanitarian and New England lawyer John Gardiner, abolitionist lawyer James Stephen, and the great grandfather of the reknown English Novelist Virginia Woolf.

In recent times the Lam family ran one of the island’s first full service hotels, “Fairview Inn”, which was known for its parties especially the New Years Ball. Purchased in 2008 Mr. Kishu Chandiramani had the vision to restore Fairview to its former glory.

Reopened October 28, 2010 as Fairview Great House and Botanical Garden guests can go back in time and experience the old world charm.

I love exploring what Saint Kitts has to offer, and I have a feeling that I will want to go again during the daytime to walk the grounds. Great excuse to go back, right?

Abby's Pool Day

My fellow desperate housewife and lady of leisure, Abby, is pregnant! Well, this isn't really 'new' news anymore, especially since she's due this month. However, we decided to have a pool day to celebrate both Abby and her baby girl. Bruce, from the Prep School, kindly hosted the soiree at the St. Christopher's Club's pool. You may recognize the pool from this previous post.

We are all so excited to meet Abby and Jacob's baby. I've been working on a few projects for her, and hope to complete a few more before she arrives. Oh! Forgot to mention that her due date is Feb 29th, but I have a feeling that she will be a March baby. Just a hunch. :)

Here are the photos from the pool day. I also included a onesie dress I refashioned and a ribbon blanket that I sewed especially for Abby and baby.

Momma Abby!

Here's the blanket. Pretty cute, huh? Abby and Jacob picked out the fabric back in the US, and I had the ribbon on hand.

Minky fabric on the backside. 

Abby gave me a few onesies that she felt were going to be too small for baby girl. So I cut off the bottom, sewed a tube of fabric together, and then sewed said tube to the onesie. End result: DRESS! 

I just love this print!

And This is Why We Didn't Have Water Pressure

Last week sometime, or maybe it was over the weekend...yeah, I'm not sure. All of my days seem to blend together. Anyway---I recently got up to use our kitchen faucet, and there was very little water pressure. I didn't think too much of it...sometimes the water pipes are being worked on, blah blah blah. I figured it would go back to normal at some point. And hey---at least we had water. There have been instances where the water is completely out!

Soooo...what was I saying? Oh yes! Okay, so there was very little water pressure. And when Matthew came home from his morning jog, he provided an explanation with the following photos of our neighbor's house, (which is pink, btw). The water lines in front of their house were being cleared. Mystery solved.

Gathering for Elvis

Last Friday we heard the unfortunate news that we lost a much-loved man of Saint Kitts. Elvis, former owner of Elvis' Loveshack on The Strip at Timothy's Beach, was a victim of a senseless violent act conducted by a local Kittitian.

Because of the terrible news, our weekly volleyball matches were rightfully cancelled, as we all held very heavy hearts. In an effort to comfort each other and pay our respects, a lot of us went down to Elvis' bar for a few hours anyway. We gathered around a bonfire, watched the sunset, and shared memories of our dear friend.

In the background, you can see students/spouses writing their goodbyes to Elvis.

Words for Elvis. (This photo was not taken by me; it was circulating on Facebook, but I did edit it with Instagram.)