Christmas Winds and Wild Weather

1. Squall - 1. 

   a sudden violent gust of wind or a localized storm, especially one bringing rain, snow, or sleet. Oxford Dictionary

   
   

   Squalls have been a major feature of our weather lately. Coming out of bright blue, sunshiny and windy skies, suddenly dark clouds cover the world, a rush of even more heightened wind and the smashing of cold, fat raindrops takes over. For a few minutes. Then it's back to the winter norm here at Christmas time; warm and windy, brilliant blue skies, etc. etc. 

   
   

   

   One minute it is like this! A perfect tropical moment.

   
   

   

   The next, it is like this. Move it or get soaked.
   It's a great drama, but repeated often enough is like watching
   a pretty great re-run one too many times.

   
   

   

   Yes, like this again!

    Yesterday, getting ready to start another fun housesitting gig, I got caught in one, only after I'd locked up the houseboat, put my backpack and bag in large plastic bags (thus, not even worth trying to get to the key) when the sun went to pounding, cold rain. Hiding in the lee of the houseboat helped a little bit. Then, figuring the hell with it, I started to take off when I realized I'd blithely walked out the back door without closing the front door. Scrambling for purchase on the wet deck, that major faux pas was remedied before too much got soaked inside (I hope, I just closed it fast and took off). I'd literally only gone a few hundred yards before the rain was gone, the sky was blue and the wind dropped. A lot. If you heard somewhat maniacal laughter coming from the bay yesterday? That was me.
   
   

   

   Just another glorious good morning.

   
   

   

   Transformer looking ugly? Here's what you do!

   And because I like to give the occasional gift (no, I'm not giving away a Kitchen Aid mixer or a tiny home, sorry!), gifts that you can't find anywhere else, here is my current offering. Long time readers will recognize this cute butt! Thanks, Jacinto, for keeping important traditions constant in my world!

   
   

   

   
   

   Have a mean it Monday. Do something mighty.

Culebra Odds and Ends

First, thank you to those who have written with offers of help, including donations, along with positive feedback and encouragement concerning Marsha's cats and Animal Welfare of Culebra. Each caring person means a lot and on behalf of AWC, here is one expression of thanks! The job isn't even close to done, but having hope is huge. Again, time is running very short; if you come up with one home for one cat, you've saved a life and enriched a home.

Some announcements here on a couple of local businesses! D's Garden, our wonderful nursery, now located down the street opposite from Genesis (take that street and go around to the end, and there she is) ready to make your holidays brighter! She is open Wednesdays to Saturday, 9-3. The phone # 787-435-9844. 

"I also have poinsettias baskets $13.00 red, basket of three color red/white/pink $14.00,  6" pot red $4.00.  Every month I will have a different type of sale."


Diane will let me know about the sale plants and I'll pass them along here. Check it out!

Smoke Tender Wow is going to be serving breakfast on the ferry dock! Breakfast burritos, anyone? Eggs and smoked meat sound good to me, or maybe a sandwich on homemade bread. There will also be sticky buns. Don't know what a sticky bun is? Go down to the dock and find out for yourself. French press coffee  and Old Fashioned sodas will also be available.


The 7 day a week hours are: Sunday - Wednesday 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m,
                                            Thursday - Saturday 6 a.m. to 12:00

Full Moon parties included! Oops, missed that one! Pictures to come, just as soon as I get down to the ferry at 6:00 a.m. in need of a burrito... You can find Smoke Tender Wow on Facebook, if you like.

Susie's opens Wednesday! New and old mix on the menu, come see what she's doing in the kitchen this year! For a sample of what's on the menu (with more to be added), here is her website.

And, by the way...I've heard a number of people have canceled their holidays here because of the news about the ferry's and planes. It's not perfect yet (it never WAS perfect, we live on a freakin' island, for goodness sake), but the ferry's are running, planes are flying and people are getting here and out on a pretty good schedule, so pass the word. CNN spread the bad news, now it's time to spread the present reality!

I'm not JUST about announcing things for cats, plants and food, but that's it for now; something to chew on while you have your morning eye-opener of choice on this windy (here) morning. I think the rain might be done for the day...we'll see what happens next.

A lazy working Saturday

Yes, I know it's Sunday but I'm often a day later in blog land! Well, except for the following:

This is another 3 day holiday weekend, celebrating Jose de Diego. Are you starting to get these people straight? Because I rarely do. Here's the gist of why PR gets a holiday Monday in April.

Dr. José de Diego y Martínez a.k.a. as "Father of the Puerto Rican Independence Movement" (April 16, 1866 – July 16, 1918), was a statesman, journalist, poet, and advocate for Puerto Rico's independence from Spain and from the USA.


There seem to be lots of poet/politicians in Puerto Rican history and he's one of them. I don't get involved in the politics around here, more than the daily round that affects Culebra, mainly because I know better. Having friends in pretty much every party, and a few opinions of my own, it is best to remain an adopted Culebrense for Culebra, in my realm of thinking. Works for me! And happy to have the holiday and visitors it brings, because life has gone pretty quiet around here.

Life will be getting quieter still, very quickly. Susie's will be closing near the end of the month until around the end of May - part of that time will be used for some renovations, so look for some changes if you don't get back until after summer.

Ramon and one of the lobsters you can enjoy at Susie's - we really do cook 'em and clean 'em and I have the spiny holes in my hands to prove it. Ramon can out clean me at about 2 to 1...so I'm giving him the hardest parts now. That's what you get for being young and fast, mi amigo!

I have been informed I have to move the cart when the bridge repairs start, also near the end of the month. After my first blustery attempts of protest, they let me know the main concern is that there will be welding going on within a foot of the cart and there is a concern about fire. I think the mental wheels were screeching in a 180 degree turn as I agreed, yep, I'll move the cart! Fire is not my friend (or anyone else's, unless they are around a fireplace or campfire, or melting metals or....ok, uncontrolled fire is not my friend).

Because there really isn't a viable place to keep the cart open - despite the many options I've been told - and because I am leaving June 8 anyway, I'm going to park the cart in a safe keeping place, storm readied, until I return in early October. This is a whole new adventure for me, so I'm just taking it a step at a time, mostly dictated by me, and partially by the events around me. Such is life, and I'm rolling with...literally! I'll be back on the corner in October, ready to play.


As of yesterday afternoon, there was this very cool boat in the harbour. It's pretty far out there but the lines were so unusual I had to get a photo (it's been very rough out, so the dinghy has been tied up or I'd have a better photo). I know there is a name for this sort of boat, but I don't remember what that name is. Anyone have some ideas? You can click on the photo for a larger view. Whatever it is, I really like it!


Sitting on Kim's On Island porch yesterday afternoon, the frigates were doing their 'stay in one place' thing and as ever, it's amazing to watch them in high gusts, shifting, adjusting, hovering. This one turned a complete 360 a couple of times...which of course I didn't video because it was a) unexpected and b) happened too fast for me. But very cool to watch...


Have a salubrious Sunday. Do something saltant!

This just in (seeing as how I'm not political and all...). Scroll down for English.


Enviale un escrito, email o llama a la oficina del Senador Roberto Arango y la Senadora Luz M. Santiago y expresale tu oposición y descontento sobre la medida:

El senador Roberto Arango ha sometido el P del S 1342 para enmendar el Artículo 4 de la Ley Núm. 92 del 16 de junio de 2008 - ley de la Reserva Natural Humedal Punta Viento de Patillas a los fines de eliminar la Zona de Amortiguamiento ( la mitad de la Reserva) de este valioso recurso costero y dar paso a desarrollos de vivienda en esta Zona Protegida.

Este proyecto está bajo la consideración de la Comisión de Recursos Naturales del Senado que preside la Senadora Luz M. Santiago.


Comisión de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales

Hon. Luz. M. Santiago González - Presidenta

Hon. Angel R. Martínez Santiago - Vicepresidente

Hon. José E. González Velázquez - Secretario

Hon. José R. Díaz Hernández

Hon. Jorge Suárez Cáceres – Portavoz PPD


Utiliza la carta modelo adjunta o crea tu propio escrito, añadiendo el nombre del Senador correspondiente a la Comisión y al Sr. Arango.

Comparte este email con tus contactos.

787-724-2030 EXT. 2710, 2711 arangopr@yahoo.com

rarango@senadopr.us

Hon. Roberto A. Arango Vinent

Senador de Distrito I

Senado-EL Capitolio
P.O. Box 9023431
San Juan, PR. 00902-3431

http://www.facebook.com/Roberto.Arango.Senador?ref=ts

---

Contacto:

Luis Francisco Baerga Colón

P.O. Box 503

Patillas, Puerto Rico

00723-0503

(787) 469-5813

Frente Ambiental Amigos de la Naturaleza Patillas, PR Inc.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Frente-Ambiental-Amigos-de-la-Naturaleza-Patillas-Puerto-Rico-Inc/60441977384?ref=ts

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/frenteambientalpatillas

Gmail: frenteambientalpatillas@gmail.com

Yahoo: frenteambiental@yahoo.com

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

ENGLISH

Send a letter, email or call the office of Senator and Sen. Roberto Arango Luz M. Santiago and express your opposition and discontent about the measure:

Sen. Roberto Arango has submitted the P of S 1342 to amend Article 4 of Act No. 92 of June 16, 2008 - Law of Wetland Natural Reserve Punta Viento de Patillas for the purpose of eliminating the Buffer Zone (the Reserve half) of this valuable resource and make way for coastal housing developments in this protected area.

This project is under consideration by the Committee on Natural Resources chaired by Senator Senate Luz M. Santiago.

Committee on Environmental and Natural Resources

Light Hon. M. Santiago Gonzalez - President

Angel R. Hon Santiago Martinez - Vice President

Hon Joseph E. González Velázquez - Secretary

Hon Joseph R. Hernández Díaz

Hon Jorge Suárez Cáceres - Spokesman PPD

Use the attached form letter or create your own letter, adding the name of Senator relating to the Commission and Mr. Arango. Write in English…but just write.

Folks writing from Culebra please remember to mention that we share migratory bird populations that depend on these wetlands and Culebra’s birds are a major part of Culebra’s nature tourism product. Shame on a Government and its representative that would rescind environmental protections so many have struggled so long and so hard to obtain!

Share this email with your contacts.

Mary Ann Lucking
Director

CORALations
P.O. Box 750
Culebra, PR 00775
www.coralations.org
1-877-77CORAL / 1-877-77(2-6725) (gratis / toll free)

(o) 787-556-6234 email: maryann@coralations.org

(to the tune of) What's going on?

As others have said, as all of us knew already...we had a sort of victory the other day, a moment in time. But, don't push me! I like to sort of roll around in them like a mud bath. Lovely silky moment and then, well, enough is enough.

Here is a brief and very bad synopsis of the moment. Victor Gonzalas is up to bad tricks at the mullecito. Go there and see what I mean. Want the flamingo to stay? Do something. At the very least GO there if you are on island. Get mad. Get active.

The victory has its black side, of course. Write, call, go make an appointment with the mayor if you can and ask what exactly the victory meant, in regard to the Zoni project (new road bulldozed out there behind the dunes...real nice), the Terruno project, Victor Gonzalas, the mayor's true position on development. I'm not insinuating anyting, but I am saying...all is not la la loverly.

And it's 1, 2, 3, what are we fighting for?

Here's what...and you know I can easily post a few hundred more.


But I'm not going to. Instead I'm going to post something way cool that Al brought by the cart for me to look at (ok, I waylaid him off the bridge and he came over, carrying a box that was pretty battered). Inside his flat rate box was an awesome fossil that he & Mary found while they were back in Texas. We set it up so I could get a shot of it. I think it would look very cool on the cart and Al agreed...and then he took it home. Boy, some people are SO selfish!!!

It's hard (for me) to get the nuances of ripples,
plus there are oyster shells and much more in there...very wonder full

The sea almonds are going...well, nuts!

as are the papayas - finally they are growing too fast for the critters to eat them in the bloom

Sometimes my yard is just heartbreakingly beautiful...okay, a lot of times

This is for anyone who can identify this tree and blossom...and for my brother, to let him know that that flower wasn't red...it was DEAD! Oopsy, I hate it when that happens!

So, onward we go, in the joy and the beauty and the fight to keep them from clear and present danger. But in the MEANTIME...Susie's opens tomorrow night for a new season. The air is cool and the sky is blue and the breeze is up enough that I got fairly soaked on one side coming home this afternoon in the dinghy. But it was warm and beautiful and that is why god made showers.

Happy Tuesday!