New York Times

I want to give a shout out to my best friend Katie! Congrats for getting your picture and club in the New York Times. That is quite the step up from the Andover Journal (though we were on the cover). Check out the link. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/30/business/30oath.html?_r=1&ref=business

Awesome. I'm so proud :)

Traveling and Travelers

This past weekend I spent in Wichita for the former Ms Amy Biggs/newly appointed Mrs. Daniel Warren's wedding. I am so glad I went back! It was so great seeing people from Andover, KU, TLC, and Real Life. It was like the weirdest combo ever, but what a great reunion of old and new friends!

Here is a picture of the Alpha Gamma Deltas

Rachel brought with her the newest member of the BSC, Finley "Finn" Scott. He was a good sport and is already practicing sitting quietly while his mom's friends dance, laugh, drink Diet Coke and tell old stories. I wish you could see his outfit. It looked like one of those t-shirt tuxedo's for a baby boy. So cute. Megan is also present in this picture looking fabulous as well!

I didn't spend much time in Wichita because I needed to fly back Sunday to receive my first island guests - Annie and Holli from KC! We had a great time taking a sunset pirate cruise, snorkeling, and just lying around the beach. The highlight (well, for me anyway) was introducing the girls to my friends, the sting rays. We went to stingray city on Wednesday and I think the girls had fun! This picture was taken when they first jumped in the water and were trying to adjust to having tons of stingrays swarming around them. We all agreed that eyes closed and mouths open was probably not the best way to greet sting rays :)

Bob's been working hard. I had the camera over the weekend so I don't have any pictures of the Beach BBQ/Braai he hosted with friends. This week he's been great hanging out with my friends and grilling us dinner. One of Bob's work friends is leaving to go home on Saturday, so tonight is the big farewell bash. Tomorrow Bob is participating in a beach volleyball tournament. Hopefully he won't get too sunburned! 

Discovery Day

Today is Discovery Day here in Cayman. It commemorates the found of the Cayman Islands by Christopher Columbus in 1503. At the time he named it "Tortuga" meaning turtle. Lots of places received that name due to the amount of sea turtles in the caribbean. The island wasn't inhabited at the time, it was used as a stopover spot for ships and pirates and stuff. Bob has the day off today, so he is happy to celebrate :)

This past weekend was a lot of fun. We went on jet skis out to sting ray city and then rum point. It was a long time to be on a jet ski and we are both really sore. Bob more than me because I was just trying to hold on for dear life on my jet ski, while bob was going nuts trying to fall off and do jumps with his. We also went snorkeling and grilled out on Sunday. 

Who knows what we will do today. Bob also has Wednesday off for Cayman's Election Day. Isn't that crazy people get the day off to vote? Apparently that is how it is in South Africa too. Maybe we should petition the US for the day off too!

Full Moon

Last weekend was the full moon and in Cayman that means beach party! Every full moon they have a beach party and this month it was on a Friday so the party was bigger and flashier. Bob and I went for an hour, but left before it got busy. They had a dj and a bunch of disco lights. Not really our scene, but it was nice to go. 

Saturday we went to Kaibo and Rum Point, two restaurants/beach spots that are up at Kai point. It takes about 45 min to drive up there. We went with Rob and Monica and had lunch at Kaibo and then hung out around Rum Point. The water there is very shallow and warm. Not so refreshing on a hot Cayman day. Right now it feels like 95 during the day, though the temp is only 85. We haven't been to the beach much during the day, we try to wait and go in the late afternoons and evenings to walk to dog or hang out. 

Bob and I at Rum Point
That evening we went to grill at Rob and Monica's place with their room mate Mike and his girlfriend Courtney. I got to introduce them all to Rotel/Velvetta dip. They are all from South Africa and I plan on spreading the joys of American food in the coming months. 

This weekend Bob and I are FINALLY going on jetskis to sting ray city. Monday and Wednesday are public holidays so Bob will be off and we are going to try to do some fun stuff around the island. I'll keep you posted!

Also, my first guests Annie and Holli are coming in a week! Start planning your trip down here!

Gross

Bob and I just ate the WORST Mexican food ever. I'm talking disgusting. Compared to this meal, Pace salsa and an Old El Paso taco kit are gourmet. I don't think I could have made a worse salsa or queso dip, even if I tried. The red enchilada sauce (that the meat was cooked in) tasted like a weird bbq sauce.  Well, I shouldn't be that hard on the meal. If you took the beef out of the enchiladas it may have been good on a bun with some ranch dip. But then again, almost every meat is good on a bun with ranch. 

We probably would have been better off going to Senior Frogs and doing the "touristy" thing. I don't really regret it, I would have ate at their regardless. It is like my personal mission to eat at every Mexican restaurant I see. 

Batabano - Cayman Carnival

This past weekend was the Cayman Carnival, "Batabano". It celebrates the nesting of the sea turtles. Specifically batabano stands for the imprints turtles leave when they are moving around on the sand. 

On Saturday they shut down the streets of George Town and had a parade, street vendors and concerts. Below are pictures of the parade. Bob and I decided it was pretty much the most worthless parade we've ever seen. It was basically groups of people wearing sequins and feathers walking/dancing to loud music. Also, it was like anyone who wanted to join the parade could at any time. 

This was one of the few "floats", it is a steel pan band.

That evening we went to one of the concerts that was outside the Hard Rock where they had an air guitar competition. It was pretty hilarious, the guy that won was wearing stilts, dressed like Slash and setting off fireworks and torches. Crazy. 

This week will be a little slower. There is only ONE Mexican restaurant on the island and we are going there tonight in honor of Cinco de Mayo. I'm interested to see what it will be like. Caribbean/Mexican fusion? This weekend I think we are renting jet ski's with some friends and going snorkeling. 

Conch

On our boat trip we stopped to pick up some conchs. I had never seen what the animal actually looked like. They are pretty gross and have these funny beady little eyes. The part you eat is the muscle and you have to remove all of the tentacles and face and stuff. 

Bob's being gross. He didn't really put it in his mouth. Bob and I did try a little of the conch raw once they were cleaned though. It was really pretty good. Also, I took two of the shells home. They are surprisingly heavy!