Birds and Rum

Huh? Birds and RUM, you ask? Well, hey, eclecticism is my middle name (just so you know).

Yesterday I started out with bird hunting. No shooting involved except for some of the photographic sort. Turns out I've been blind most of my life as far as truly seeing what is around me. And I'm delighted to learn that because oh! the wonder! Amazing gazing, yes. Birds with black and white markings so soft looking it appears more fur than feathers. Birds with bright blue bills and deep rust wings. Birds with long stiletto like bills, stitching along the mud flats, finding who knows what (actually, somebody DOES know, but I can't say with accuracy exactly what). Birds that dive and dip and paddle like mad. Oh glory! Thanks, Bird guy1

Yes, I know. This isn't a bird.

These photos were the easy ones (note: this is sarcasm...hence the lack of good focus - photographing birds is something I love to do, but I have a LOT to learn about taking good photos in the field, so to speak). The hard ones? Didn't/couldn't get them except in my head, where they are sharp and bright and very much in focus. The more I look, the more I'll see and hopefully, the more I'll share. Schmazin'!

Later in the day, I went with Mary Ann of Coralations by her classroom at the new school. She's been mentioning this class to me for quite some time and there is some fascinating, exciting work/play going on there and in the field. These kids and scientists collaborating together will be what saves Culebra for the generations of locals and visitors to come, if political and personal financially motivated corruption can be kept farther at bay. No pun intended.

Finally, at the end of the day, I was reminded that I had made and laid plans to get together for dinner with two friends on island for a glorious three weeks while their friends shiveringly fight mounds of snow (they feel really bad about it too, I mean, really bad). So we did just that, up at Bahia Marina, where we sampled from fruits of the ocean and fields with seafood pasta and shrimp salad and a churrosco serving big enough for a small nation. Oh and fruits of the vine too. All delicious, and with wonderful company. Lucky me! Thanks, Aaron and Lynn...I'm so glad you are both in my world!

It wasn't really this dark but we were this happy!

photo credit: Anita

"Ahem...MJ...the rum?? What about the rum?" Well then! I got this in my email and while I am not a rum drinker (well unless it's that awesome sipping rum on the rare occasion), I seem to know a few folk who are and who might appreciate knowing about the Puerto Rico International Rum Festival - Taste of Rum 2011. Two full days of tastings, food and music (then you can get over to Culebra and mellow out on the beach...).

It happens March 19-20, so you've got plenty of time to figure out how to get there. Or you could just buy some good PR rum and wave a paper palm frond around your snowed in self, if need be. Yes, I know...there won't be snow in March, you say. I say...best make PR plans!

Today from 3-5 friends of Kim will be gathered at Dinghy Dock to celebrate her life among us.  If you knew Kim but can't be here, we know you are here in spirit. She most likely knows that even better.

Have a thankful Tuesday. Do something toughly tender.

Catching up

Mike Gaffney was kind enough to send me some photos from the Animal Welfare Auction. A great annual event that is an afternoon of fun and helps a great cause. Anyone who lives here or visits can see we have a LOT of 'extra' cats and dogs around here. We're lucky enough to have concerned and involved people who work hard to take care of these animals as best as possible; health issues, adoptions, spaying and neutering are only the visible side of what gets done. Until homes are found these dogs and cats (sorry, no chickens!) are fostered by individuals who feed them, take them to the vets, socialize them, house/litter train them and love them before they go to a permanant home. So if you couldn't make the auction but would still like to donate, let me know and I'll direct you to the right place.

Bob was the Master of Ceromonies (with his sidekick John). They did a great job!

No, John, Bliss is not for auction!

Marsha explaining what it's all about

Smile for the husband (and yes, the champage was for auction)

Not your average bank teller (good to see you out of the suit, girl!)

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Mary Ann from Coralations sent me this last week and I've been meaning to get it posted...today is the day. Freddy is Digna Feliciano's nephew whom VG took to court for intimidating his workers. Which is exactly what VG is trying to do to Culebra...funny how that works.

Today [Feb. 27], Victor Gonzalez showed up for a hearing in the case he launched against Freddy. The charges were dropped. Gonzalez tried to push a local policeman to testify, when Freddy's attorney argued that the judge ruled for mediation. The previous two court dates, no one showed from the plaintiff's (Gonzalez) side. Gonzalez said today that he had no problem with Freddy....his problem was with "the gringos and Digna Feliciano"....He also indicated that he was taking action for his workers because they are afraid of Freddy...Freddy indicated he has no problem with the workers and they are speak to each other.... By the 20th it looks like the road to the OP was again blocked, only this time upland of the intersection of the muellecito access road and next to the illegal house. It appears the workers living their have introduced some farm animals to the area....which should make the reforestation of the endangered plants even more challenging. As far as we know, the muellecito area is still open to date, but at last visit on the 21st, the historic access/picnic area was now connected to one of the illegal roads Gonzalez made along the shore...(on the shore) Cars were now passing through the old parking picnic area and then down the shore on a road that was built on top of the boulder forest. http://coralations.phanfare.com/4581168_5047287#imageID=94028551 People were parking directly behind the shark pen. Unsustainable.... By the 21st of Feb, "No Pase" was painted on road to the OP..... with backwards N http://coralations.phanfare.com/4581211

And just so you know, Mary Ann, who works tirelessly for Culebra to stay a healthy, strong and beautiful environment, on both land and sea, for now and future generations, does this often thankless job for no gain and a LOT of out of pocket money not covered by any grants she can get (and if you tried or want to ever take a stab at writing a grant proposal, you'll understand even more the side work that goes into her days and nights). So if you are inclined to give to yet another very worthy cause, Coralations would be one to take to the bank.

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And last, while this might not seem to have anything to do with Culebra, to me it has a lot to do with exactly Culebra, but also, any and everywhere else we put up roadblocks to our dreams. Last night I watched the video/documentary A Man Named Pearl (Netflix has it). It's a story about a man named Pearl Fryar who, back in 1984, had one goal. To have his yard win the Garden Club award for the best yard. Except that Pearl is a black guy in South Carolina. Not a rich black guy either. Not trained in horticulture. Not trained as an artist. But a man with a dream and the determination to make it come about, with little and at times no money. Okay, so far it sounds pretty la la, so what...but then we meet Pearl and it's about a whole lot more than overcoming seemingly 'can't be done' issues and making a dream happen. Check it out; Pearl rocks! For those of you on facebook, Winthrop University has got a page on him there as well.

Take a little Pearl along with you today. “There’s always gonna be obstacles. The thing is, you don’t let those obstacles determine where you go.”

Late update on the Dubon project (and a happy update too...keep reading)

This is an excerpt from an email Jim Galasso sent out...mark your calendars. The fight is not over yet (I know for some of us, July is as far away as Christmas, but it will be here soon, so tuck it away)

The Dubon Project - the 135 residences - 2 paradores -of 30 rooms each ( but may be bigger) and a 24 room "cabana" set up that will also be rented -- all on 105 acres -- on the Punta Aloe side of the island- is back up for a public hearing of the PR Planning Board on JULY 7th Culebra

This project had a preliminary one day hearing in April where it was discovered they fgialed to have the required public hearing by the Environmental Quality Board - That hearing was conducted about a month ago so now they have resceduled the Planning Board Hearing --

Just in case you wonder how long this has been going on...no matter what is said, here is something I found online concerning Villa Mi Terruno (what a revolting perversion of a name) from 2003, that's Two Zero Zero THREE. If you are not inclined to click, here's a charming little bit of the description for an ignorant public.

"The overall “green” approach to design and careful attention to the economic and social requirements of the island help make this project a model for truly sustainable development."

2003 architects & Dubon's wet dream of Villa Mi Terruno
(note the ever so clever 'green' color scheme - are these guys hip or what?)

Hello? Isla Culebra to you people with dollars jamming your brains?? Come in please! This is Culebra, the rapee, calling the writer and instigators of this proposal liars and dishonorable men of major proportions.

Can it be slander if it is true? I'd be delighted to discuss that idea with Brothers Dubon et al.

Here is an excerpt of a letter Mary Ann Lucking, of Coralations, wrote (in one of many presentations to the powers that be), that might help clearly and consisely translate what is being done, what is being fought against and what is being fought for. It is quite obvious (don't take it from Mary Ann if you don't want to, go walk the road yourselves...it's right there to be seen and you don't need a PhD to understand the damage).

Another case study on the US Caribbean island of Culebra involves the Villa Mi Terruño
project (compliance order CWA-02-2008-3141) which moved with no planning or public
oversight, created dirt roads that canalized water and runoff, installed storm sewers that
did not curb erosion, all without NPDES permit or planning oversight of any kind. A
sediment control pond system was created that itself caused chronic damage to coastal
waters. In this case experts have told us the geological sensitivity of the area makes a
sustainable project impossible. The resources destroyed are protected, publicly shared
and important both economically and ecologically for the function they provide. While
the project was penalized a mere $32,000, despite protected coastal resources, and now
has an NPDES permit, it is still discharging sediment into coastal waters with every
rainfall. Bacteria, virus and fungus associated with soils can infect coastal organisms in
the tropics. The combination of sediment and rising sea surface temperatures is making
these marine animals less resistant to infection, while proliferating the problem
pathogens. This is also a very serious public health concern. The agency must consider
criteria in these regions where rejection and not fictitious reductions are the goal given
the irreparable harm caused by this impact.

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

On a happier update note, I was reading a comment from someone on one of the posts that the photos didn't 'work' (hopefully fixed) and I thought, this name really sounds familiar! And so it is...Melissa Evangeline Keyes is a painter whose work I've always enjoyed, as well as a pretty spiffy photographer. Oh yeah and she's a diver, and no doubt more, while living on St. Croix. Check out her blog!