Saturday, January 31, 2009

weekend update

I have managed to wrestle the laptop away from Charlotte for a few moments....

I checked the electronic thermometer in the kitchen at about 6:30 this evening. A lovely 29C. Do we miss January in Vancouver? Did you really need to ask?


Julian had a soccer scrimage this morning then his sailing lesson. After sailing Max and Julian and I returned to the house for a swim in the pool before lunch. A busy morning. Julian is progressing well with his sailing and last week after his lesson took Max out for a sail in the Optimist for about 10 minutes.


My parents who were here for 10 days left a week ago. They enjoyed hiking in the National Park on St John - and took Julian for a hike there the day before they left. Tomorrow we plan to go to St John and have Julian guide us along the trails.



When Charlotte was away in Miami for her run last week I had a friend's daughter look after the boys ad I got out for a local long distance race on a Farr 40. The fleet, such as it was, consisted of 2 Farr 40s, a C&C 37R, 2 J27s a J24 and 3 IC24s. It really is lovely sailing here. I have yet to need foul weather gear, in fact the odd bit of spray is welcomed as it helps to cool you down. Just like Vancouver in January...

As for the business - we have been busy installing a number of generators sold late last year. Service work is up, but new sales seem little slower this month. Hard to tell if it just January - which is usually quite slow - or whether it is the greater global economic malaise. Expectatations are for business to pick up as we head into Hurricane season in June. Time will tell, but fingers crossed we should be fine. We have heard that some of the local tourist oriented businesses - jewelery stores etc are down as much as 20%. Apparently our little island in the middle of nowhere is linked to the global economy!


Mark

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

run in the sun




A few months ago, my sister suggested a "girl's trip" for the two of us. We decided that we'd make it a marathon destination and started researching the options. I had no idea there were so many popular events - and the whole marathon destination concept appears to have really blossomed. After considering dates, events and flights - we chose our city. Alex ended up with the slightly shorter stick with our choice of Miami - a mere 3 hour flight for me and a considerably longer one for her with a three hour time difference.

Being relatively new to running compared to many people I know - including my marathon running sister - I was very excited about this event. And working toward an event like this did require some discipline and training - which is slightly more challenging on the 13 mile long and very hilly island of St. Thomas. Most mornings found me running the Charlotte Amalie waterfront - a very "ground hog day" experience - passing many of the same police officers directing traffic, local tourist guides and people heading off to work. My longer runs over 10 miles provided me with route challenges looking for slightly flatter terrain and some semblance of a sidewalk or shoulder. As a result - I would also have to run a route a couple of times - adding to my already "spot the crazy running white girl" notoriety. Ah.. those nutty Canadians...




Alex and I arrived late Thursday January 22 - staying at a hotel close to the race start line. We had a couple of days to enjoy Miami before the race without too much walking and very early nights. The morning of the race - we got up at 4:15 and made our way to the Biscayne Boulevard where 15,000 other people were looking far too energetic. All I could think was - how long was the queue for the women's restroom?

After standing around for about 15 minutes waiting for the start, we were off...very slowly. The route immediately took us over our first bridge - the MacArthur Causeway which was immediately opposite where all the brightly lit cruise ships were tied up. It was pretty spectacular. At one point on this bridge, we ran by some music speakers playing the "Love Boat" theme music.

The route took us over to South Beach - up the coast - then back across a series of smaller bridges and through downtown. There were people cheering, a few school bands, crazy costumes and all kinds of hilarious signs - of which my favourite was "Run Like You Have Stolen Something" - which had me laughing so hard my stomach started to hurt. Note to self - no laughing when you run.

As I approached mile 12 - the course separated the slightly wimpier half marathon runners from the hard-core marathoners. I was feeling great but couldn't even begin to fathom this was the half way point for Alex.

I finished the race under two hours, smiling and excited. It's a funny thing - both watching a race and being involved. Over the years, I have been out to cheer Alex on as she endured long miles and certain physical pains. There is an emotional component to being involved - whether it's from the sideline or crossing it. And watching Alex finish her third marathon - well under 4 hours and her personal best - was not only exciting but had me screaming from the stands with tears running down my face.

So - needless to say, we are already planning our next running trip. So far it looks like I will be the one flying much further west - and in the meantime, I will be the token "running girl' in St. Thomas.


Sunday, January 11, 2009

winter in the caribbean


I just celebrated my one year anniversary of life in the US Virgin Islands. This time last year, I arrived with Julian to this house - almost completely empty - and started the process of setting up our new life. And for me, the first couple of months had some challenging moments: from trying to get bank acounts and telephone accounts set up - without a social security number - to simply making my way around an island that has neither addresses nor maps ("turn left at the Smith's house then right at the yellow building to the house with the white gate.").

Julian is a fabulous little companion who consistently reminds me there are different ways to look at things. No furniture in the house? What a cool place to play ball without Mum yelling at me. And if I think back to those first couple of months from his perspective - he is a pretty resilient boy. Poor kid - new school, new (empty) house, no Dad and brother for a couple of months, and a lot of mosquitoe bites.

Of course, the high point was being reunited as a family and despite the fact that Max just about disowned me for taking off for so long - there was nothing nicer than all of us finally moving here together. And then as a family, we started new schools, started in a new business, unpacked our boxes into a new house and bought a few mosquitoe "fryers" to save the few patches of skin that were still untouched.

One year later - we are starting to feel like locals. Remember - this is a small island with minimal number of main roads - so the chances are pretty good you will drive by most everyone you know at some point during the week. And I have to laugh when I walk into our local grocery store and am greeted by "Where are Max and Julian?". Sometimes I leave the same grocery store ready to scream when I discover there is no milk and next to no fresh produce. But with a few months of shopping in St. Thomas under my belt, I now know to avoid certain stores on certain days and stock up on a few frozen things just in case all else fails.

Living in a smaller community - there has been a warm welcoming as new residents to the island. We have got to know people through the schools, sailing and work - all of whom have kept us busy with dinners, playdates and time on the water.

Business wise - we have a mere nine months under our belt. We have learned a lot - but there is still much more to absorb and translate into our own business practices. It also takes so time getting to know people and letting them get to know you. With a team of 14 - we have made a few changes and also spent some time getting to know who can do what. It's a good group - but things do work differently here and I have to remind myself - it's not the same as Vancouver. And what this means is we have been learning to be more patient with some things. I'm not saying I have become more patient - but I am learning. Mark on the other hand has amazed me with his self restraint in the crazy St. Thomas traffic.

We have been getting back to school and work this week after a few days off and a LONG school vaction break. Mark's parents are now visiting with us for a couple of weeks. It's fun to play tourist when we have visitors - as there is still a lot we have not seen. Hard to believe on an island that is 13 miles long. St. Thomas may be small but it's diverse and has a lot going on.
So onward and upward to year two and see where that takes us in our adventure. And if it's anything like the first year, I can hardly wait.