What's going on

Yestday and last night held a lot of fun moments. The afternoon celebration of Kai's 1st birthday was held at Melones beach under perfect conditions. The water sparkled diamonds under a blue sky. Kai copped a feel of Olivia's (also 1) thigh, then looked around...yes, he was busted. Olivia, being the older woman, is high on our list of life partners for Kai. We only have to wait around another 18 years or so to see if either of them agree.

Unfortunately, I forgot to bring my camera along yesterday. I was kind of hoping to find pics of the day & evening's events, but nothing found yet. Soon come. I can only offer what I found on my table, which would be the Cat Who Isn't Mine. She & other cats I've known were going to be the subject of today's post, but somehow yesterday just took over. Another day, she's not going anywhere fast and I'm not either.

The auction for "Send Perri and Hector to America" was a smash hit. Perri and Hector auctioned off quite a few pieces of their personal collection of Puerto Rican art. Out of 20 or 25 pieces, there was only one I wouldn't have bid on. Neil (owner & part time chef at Dinghy Dock) played auctioneer and by unanimous agreement of friends and strangers alike, he is poised to grab a new career by the microphone. He was amazing, funny, tenacious and focused. While the start of the auction was a bit slow, with low bids (some might call them steals of a deal), the bidding picked up as Neil started telling the history of the artists. Some of the works had local PR street folk who are still rambling around, buildings anyone who has ever been in old San Juan knows. But Neil told stories, true stories, about the art and the artists that made the each piece more personal, more understandable, more....valuable. And the crowd responded. Bottom Line, a huge good time was had by all. Perri and Hector will get to the states to greet their son as he returns from Iraq. And Hector will come home beardless. He'd vowed to grow his beard until Ian came home safe...now let's hope Hector doesn't stab himself cutting and shaving!

The weather has been postcard, while the Cayman's got slammed by Hurricane Paloma. Cayman Brac, a 12 mile by 1 1/2 mile wide island, unfortunately got devastated, with the huge eye of Paloma, at that time a cat 4 hurricane, passing exactly over it. If you want to help out, google Paloma, Cayman Brac or go to stormcarib.com for more information, looking under the Cayman Islands thread. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

It seems the season is slowly beginning, with trickles of people coming in to enjoy our still quiet time. That will be changing as the holidays approach, so it is a great time to be here, if you're inclined to be some place with little going on except the sounds & sights of the water, warm days and cool nights, with bird song - not that I consider roosters crowing at 3 in the morning bird song, but they have a place as well. It's Culebra.

Tomorrow is Veteran's Day. Hug a vet and let him or her know you're thankful for them and their service, whether or not you agreed with the war during which he or she fought. It's still a hard, brave thing and worthy of thanks and respect.