zoom zoom People here drive crazy. roads are narrow and usually two lane, with little or no shoulder, but that doesn't stop some people from driving like crazy mon. I'm 23 and I shudder at the way some of these people drive. My question is: why are they in such a hurry? no one here ever does anything on time anyways! ex: my boss had a meeting at 9:30 this morning, he left at 9:50! that's the standard. everything here "soon come". that could mean tomorrow or next year. maybe it's island life, i don't know. some call it just the "caymanian way." that's fine with me, who am i to be in a hurry? but when someones driving on your ass like their house is on fire...i just don't get it. live easy, drive hard. it's fun to drive fast, I'll be the first to admit that. but chill out man; drive like you live. or just do as I do: one hand on the wheel, one out the window; one eye on the road--have to keep one on the scenery--and just hum along with the song in your (heart) head. For me it's usually the theme to Magnum, PI. Of course then I want to start driving fast, but not b/c I'm in a hurry. Because I'm lame.  ¶ 7/29/2005 05:10:00 PM 7 comments

  In other news today... Apparently God hates the Boy Scouts of America. Just scanning the headlines, this has nothing to do with what's on my mind right now.

Do you ever feel as though you are already living in the past? I guess by the time you read this it will...well, I won't go into the semantics of the time-space continuum. We all saw what happened when Doc and Marty messed with it. But I digress. I just finished reading this book The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight where the author Thom Hartmann discussed oil and coal and our reliance on both to fuel our lives (in more ways than necessary), and how we are running out of not only oil for consumption but also the reserve energy stored up inside the Earth that it represents. Just go with me until you read the book. And you will read the book. Anyways I've been going back this morning and taking notes looked out a window and saw cars driving past, shadowed by a dirty white van that has remained parked across the street from my window for several days now. As I looked out I felt as if I were looking at a black and white photograph; as if I were living in the present and remembering it as the past.
I'm not educated yet as to the United States' plans they announced today to bypass Kyoto, but something tells me it won't be doing enough. I'm also not sure where I stand yet, although I'm getting closer to figuring it out. The reason I find myself conflicted is, because as I finish writing htis, I'm going to drive back home for lunch, and the back up to the office, and then back again at the end of the day. I'm as much of a hypocrite when it comes to talking about oil reliance, etc. But I'm learning, and slowly implementing it all into my life. I guess it all comes back to the words of Alanis, and isn't it ironic?
Don't beat me up for quoting her just now. I hear that song at least once a day on the radio here and I CAN'T GET IT OUT OF MY HEAD! Same with, well, every other adult-pop standard. When money becomes king, so says Mr. Petty. Corporate radio, there's another hot news topic this week. But I'm going to go to lunch.  ¶ 7/28/2005 12:38:00 PM 8 comments

  Have it your way; just call me Mister Independent As you may or may not have known from some of my previous posts or the news (probably not the news if you live in America), Grand Cayman was devistated by Hurricane Ivan last September. But I'm not going ot talk about the brutal storm, or the slow and painful recovery process. I'm not going to write a dissertation on the insurrance industry and it's role in post-disaster climates. I'm not going to talk about economic theory and lower-income bracket economic tendancies. I'm not even going to discuss the impact (see=plaugue) of the fast-food industry in the Western world. I'm just going to let these pictures do all the talking for me.

In other important world events, if you've ever spent time in the Midwest you're no doubt familiar with the Meijer brand of grocery/department stores. In doing a Yahoo! news search of Kelly Clarkson to see if anything new was happening in her world this week, I came upon a link that told of her participation in a contest with the Meijer stores where one lucky contestant can win a week with Kelly on tour. I've never wanted to be living in Ohio more than right now. Here's a link. I'm thinking of signing up anyways.
http://www.meijer.com/backtoschool/KellyContest.asp  ¶ 7/26/2005 03:05:00 PM 2 comments

  one can only re-fresh his Inbox so many times. There comes a time in the life of the intern where they will find themselves asking the same question millions of interns have asked before them: "Why do I suck so bad at Minesweeper?"

The days go by fast here, but they're pretty brutal when you have nothing to do. Normally I wouldn't mind sitting around trying to look busy; but when I'm supposed to be gaining work experience...eh, who am I kidding? But seriously, these guys are paying me pretty good for ultimately doing nothing. I legitimately worked maybe ten hours (I'm being liberal) of the 37 1/2 I clocked in for last week. I've just been lucky that for my first two weeks we were distracted by hurricanes. I still have about four more weeks to go. I know they hired me for a reason; now if only they would tell me why! I relish the opportunity for anything; I just want to make the best out of my internship experience here, and not appear to be worthless of my time and talents. So I sure hope they can find something for me to do, or else August is going to be one long, hot month.  ¶ 7/25/2005 03:26:00 PM 3 comments

  Al Bundy and me. I just gotta tell you as I find myself in an "office work" phase of life right now how much I severely dislike wearing slacks on a daily basis. Of course overall I simply don't like them. Not their name, not the way they look or feel. I don't mind collared shirts, or even ties. I just want to wear shorts with them. Slacks I've never liked, and I've been wearing them to work or church nearly my whole life. Give me a suit, I'll be fine in a suit. But just slacks, not so much. I think it's because with slacks you have to wear socks and semi-casual dress shoes. See, I hate socks. I'm trying to cut down on using "hate" in my vocabulary, but it's justified here in my sincerity towards the subject. Socks are fine when you're wearing boots or exercising, but even that is stretching it for me. I just hate socks. I then dislike shoes because you almost always have to wear socks with them. When did we start covering up our feet, anyways? Jesus didn't feel the need to tie any shoelaces. Neither should we.

This was not meant to be negative, just humoursly informative. So laugh already.  ¶ 7/21/2005 01:34:00 PM 6 comments

  It's not worth it trying to be someone else I've been without internet at work for most of the day. Contrary to popular belief, however, the world did not cease to exist. I wouldn't really care except I've had absolutely nothing to do all day. So computer solitaire is was. And I hate wasting my life with solitaire.
Also you may noticed I changed the name of the blog. I'm a few months into Chapter 23 of my life, and it's turning out to be more interesting as myself than as someone else.
Of course being yourself isn't always easy. Sometimes you make mistakes and it usually becomes so much worse an incident when you find yourself looking back onto it. But it has been done and there's nothing that can undo the past. Not even a souped-up DeLoreon. So all we can do is focus on the present; something that all too often is impossible to accomplish. I'm reading a book right now in which the author Thomm Hartmann points out that so few of us ever really live in the moment. We focus on the past or the future: what we're having for dinner, how we will pay for our bills, what happens next (hour, day, week, year); or we are dwelling on past mistakes or regrets, instead of soaking up the glory that is what he calls being in the "presence" of the present. I guess my point is that we too often make life out to be so hard and it greatly affects how we live them and how we interact with the ones around us. So you use judgement and wisdom and find the best way to handle the situations as they come your way. And when that doesn't work, you turn on that Kelly Clarkson song Breakaway and cry yourself to sleep like a little girl.

My sister just bought me the first season of Scrubs on DVD, so you'll have to forgive me if I try and end every dramatic moment with a quasi-comedic upturn.  ¶ 7/19/2005 04:40:00 PM 4 comments

  The waiting is the hardest part. Unless that's all you have to do. Ralphie: Hey Curly, what all happens in a hurricane?
Curly: The wind blows so hard the ocean gets up on its hind legs and walks right across the land.

Outside my window right now the sun is making its descent beyond the horizon, although you'd be hard pressed to actually see it. Cloud cover is still pretty heavy despite the fact the Emily has come and gone. All that remains are wind and waves but even those are starting to slow their way down. I believe the closest point of approach from the eye came about 83 miles south sometime around 4am. I believe also I was still up at that point.

I went into work about 4:00 in the afternoon. After a meeting with the Cabinet members and various other politicians there was an NHC meeting. The night just continued moving rapidly from then on, although nothing much really happened. I helped set up some of the area and did general office duties so that the committee members would have places to stay and work should it be needed. Although we knew it would pass south of us though the feeling was still of nervousness as it would not be too far south and it wouldn't take that much for it to jog north and really cause an event to occur.
The EOC was crowded, with everyone from radio operator volunteers to a reporter from the AP. As the night would continue phone calls would come in from most major US news networks. I found myself busy making ID badges for everyone, a menial task that was only made enjoyable by the constant setbacks we had. Some stories were shared from previous storms and small talk was attempted, all this was just a part of the waiting. Sitting there around through the beautiful sunset, watching the wind slowly pick up through the night but stay overall calm, it was just a unique moment. Everyone poised for the anticipation of what might occur. At home we're used to thunderstorms or tornadoes sparking up and causing damage in the blink of an eye and then being over as soon as they appeared, but here we just sat and waited. We knew what hours the wind should start, we knew what hours it should be gone by, but you just never know anything really. It's just the nature of the game, pun intended. So the waiting ensued, and I was reminded of Bogarts' movie 'Key Largo' from which that above quote comes from, and how I could really more fully aspects of that film. Fortunately enough I wasn't trapped indoors with a blacklisted homicidal mobster, just government employees.

Still our storm was nowhere near the brunt of the one in that film, but it easily could have been. Updates came every couple of hours from the National Hurricane Center in Miami, and when the 1am report came in everyone let out a sigh of relief. Emily had took a jog to the south, and we were going to be spared even more so. So those who hadn't already began to stake a claim to a chair or some floor space and try and get a little shut eye. I turned on my mp3 player and pulled up a little Tom Petty and Jimmy Buffett and commenced to close my eyes. This pattern would continue until about 4, with interruptions to make more ID badges, take a look outside, and share some stories, although I mainly just listened. That's actually most of what I do in life, just watch and listen.
There was an island-wide curfew placed from 11p-11a, although with the storm sparing us it was lifted a little earlier this morning. The EOC shut down, the all clear was given at 9, and everyone who hadn't already made their way home. The fire chief gave me a ride back and on our way we really didn't see too much damage; some gathered rainwater here, a few downed branches there. The surf was nice, I estimate 9-12 foot. But the roads were still pretty empty as curfew had yet to be lifted, and so it was like just had to share the island with a few dozen others, which was awesome. All in all it was just tropical storm force winds, and while some places got more rain than others nowhere really flooded to badly. Water was cut off but power remained on for most everyone. When she passed us Emily was a Category 4, and we can just thank God it wasn't a direct hit.
When I got home the waves looked incredible. My grandparents said it was worse throughout the night, but I still thought they were impressive. I slept for a few hours, although you know how it goes when you miss a night’s sleep. Right before I started writing this, when it was still light out, I walked down to the wall and looked out at the ocean, at the brilliant waves and let the wind just blow salt spray all over me. It was one of the most beautiful experiences I had ever felt. The realization that nature can be so beautiful and so scary at the same time is something else. It makes one take pause and focus on who She is, and reminds us that we are not alone on this planet. It was not created just for humans to live on (and take over). We share it with every living thing out there, and we should never forget that.

  ¶ 7/17/2005 09:05:00 PM 5 comments

  bringing on the weather According to Dr. Jeff Masters' Blog on Weather Underground, not since they started recording weather in 1851 has their been 3 Category 3 or stronger hurricanes by July. So we broke that record. This Emily is a fickle one, also. From a Cat. 2 to a Cat 4 Thursday, and then from a Cat 4 to a Cat. 1 yesterday, and now back up to a Cat. 4. The good news is, that according to the latest forecast--as long as there's no "wobble" and it keeps up its current speed, which is about 18mph, then Grand Cayman will have little impact. Just some wind and rain, but hopefully not exceeding 60mph and a few inches, 6-10 at the most.

I'm planning anyways on going up to the EOC this afternoon, and more than likely spending the night up there where all the action will be (or, hopefully not). I told my mom in an e-mail that I hope it does not cause massive damage and destruction, but at the same time that it's big enough for me to experience a hurricane. Of course, my ultimate ideal is for it to continue moving as it is and pass us all together; but the budding weather nerd in me wants to experience a hurricane. Still, for the greater good, I hope I don't.
But the people here need a relatively easy Hurricane to hit them so that they can build some confidence that was lost last year after Ivan. Citizens here were/are scared; it seemed like planes were taking off every half hour yesterday carting not only tourists but many citizens to much dryer locales. I guess they didn't watch The Weather Channel, seems like the bulk of the US is drenched this morning, meanwhile we still have sunny skies and little or no wind. Hopefuly come tonight that won't change too much. I'll let you know how my first time is regardless of what pans out. After all, everyone always says your first time isn't all that it's made up to be.

I just realised this post if full on contridictions. Thus I suppose is weather and subsequently, life.  ¶ 7/16/2005 10:53:00 AM 4 comments

  "And with Darren's help, we'll get that chicken." I'm making myself busy by cleaning the EOC/office today. No reason to post. I actually just wanted an excuse to use that Seinfeld quote. I've been saving it for some time, seemed now was as good as ever. I'll change it though, should something happen in my intern adventures that's really worth writing about. 'Cause it's a funny quote.

UPDATE--3:51p. I just got back from being out in the field where we were inspecting a concrete pole we're purchasing to mount weather equipment on. I only mention this b/c where we went they required us to wear hard hats. I got to walk around looking important while wearing a hard hat. Spiffy, anyone? yyyyeah.

UPDATE--3:57p. It's raning outside and I left the windows to my jeep open.  ¶ 7/13/2005 12:39:00 PM 5 comments

  dreams of: smiles, Texans, and Emily. at the same time they could be considered nightmares, depending. Now that Dennis passed us, we get to the regular workweek and...there's nothing to do. Well, there's plenty to do, but beauracracy is in the way. Don't ask. Anyways it almost seems like I'm out of my league; I mean I can keep up with most of the conversations and the lingo, but the guys I work with still just look at me like "What the hell is that guy doing here, anyways?" So then I ask myself the same question. And I find things to keep busy until I get the assignments I have been promised. Of course it looks like now we have another storm heading our way. So maybe things will start picking up in the next few days. I hate that thought, but not for that reason. And even still, when things do get through in the future, I can't help but think that these guys who are here all the time will think back of me and say "What the hell was that guy doing here, anyways?" Still their boss hired me, so as long as he says so, I'm here to work (ok, intern). But I do say I typically look good, in my shirt and tie, tan skin, sleeves rolled up; yet with eyeglasses on to add a look of smarts and also seem important at the same time. So I got that going for me, which is nice.

My boss is in the same boat as far as having nothing to do, more or less. You know what, it's just a strange situation. I'm not even gonna write about it, there's just too much I could say. So let's transition to: my Gran flies back in tonight; she's been in the states and so for the past 2 1/2 weeks it's just been me and Grandaddy. Somehow, we survived. It was the longest time my grandparents have been apart from each other in 50 years of marriage. Crazy right. 50 years. Also I need to call my brother; I've been putting it off for over a week now, although I don't know why. I really want to talk to him, actually. He saw Dylan on the 4th, and he's become a Dylan fanatic over the past year or so. Plus, I just miss talking to him.  ¶ 7/12/2005 03:25:00 PM 2 comments

  Down island...

...this is how I roll.















As Nelson says, "Ha ha."

  ¶ 7/11/2005 08:50:00 PM 4 comments

  radio, radio It's hard to quell the excitement when I read this afternoon that FINALLY after a decade or so of waiting Willie will release his reggae album this year. Ha--check out the cover art (Wal-Mart is going to change it to a palm tree for their stores). We got a taste of Willie done reggae last year on the Toots and the Maytals tribute album True Love but it looks like Willie's long lost album will finally get its day in the sun this week.
Speaking of day in the sun, let's talk about the radio choices here as we drive around the island. We have Radio Cayman, which broadcasts news and local issue call-in programs as well as general reggae and country music, which is usually a good bet. I usually stick to that or the one w/popular "rock" (Coldplay, Gavin, etc), or even the KISS-FM franchise (again...they play Kelly Clarkson). There's also a country station, and while I don't mind the old country guys (pre-80's) I think this station goes out of its way to play the worst songs...you know when an artist with little talent gets a hit they have to fill in their album with, well filler. It's pretty funny the stuff they play, actually. Listening to the radio is a new venture for me, since the past two years have been primarilly NPR and news programs, something not heard of down here. It's a nice change, I feel like I'm a normal person (typically not good) and my own age for once (except I still shy away from 50 cent and Mariah Carey's latest crap).

Of course I'm a simple man. I would be happy with all Tom Petty, all the time. Well, Tom and Willie. And maybe Dylan. And the Beach Boys. And Jimmy. My mp3 player comes in handy (not on the road...you should see some of these drivers), I have like 4500 songs in it. But I still tend to stay just listenin' to the same things, the occasional Counting Crow or U2; but mainly just ol' Tom. And that's alright with me.

/fluff for a weekend.  ¶ 7/10/2005 07:02:00 PM 4 comments

  i don't get it I woke last night to the flash of lightning outside my windows. The time on the clock read 1:03. I turned and faced the window to see the flash, which was keeping up a steady rate of about every 5 seconds. Some were so bright I could see the waves on the ocean; others danced across the sky creating a beautiful but erie chain. This went on for the next half hour, and I just sat there watching the sky and attempting to make out the wind and the land whenever I could. It was so real.

I fell back asleep and when I awoke the sky was overcast, a little cooler than the day before but also very humid. More rain would be expected throughout the day; because of school and various other closings my commute lasted 15 instead of 45 minutes. Later in the morning we had another much smaller meeting, projecting where it was going, what if any rain we would be expecting, etc. We used satellite imagery, which was nice. Of course it was Cuban satellite imagery, and everything was in spanish...
Afterwards a few of us shared some friendly banter about the need for various things when the next time comes around; something that may or may not happen (see previous posts). The chief meteorologist for the island told a quick story, went something like this: There were two fishermen out to sea in a boat. In the back of the boat something came up from below and caused there to be a hole, where water started to leak in. The older fisherman started to panic a little as water began filling the bottom of the boat. The younger fisherman just turned and calmly walked to the front of the boat and knocked another hole in the bottom.
"Why did you do that!" exclaimed the older man.
"So that the water will have a place to drain out!" the younger man replied.

And so this was my first week.  ¶ 7/08/2005 05:23:00 PM 1 comments

  51 30' N, 0 07' W I don't have a girl to write home to, so instead I get to update my blog. Consider yourselves lucky I'm not in love at this moment in time. So I spent most of this beautiful day inside hidden away, hurricane shuttres covering the windows to the outside world. The whole day revolved around the updates on Dennis as they came from NOAA. As we got them we would talk them over and plot the coordinates on our wall map, as well as in various other locations. NW, further away, towards Cuba, remaining NW...Okay, I'm boring myself now...so moving on.
As I mentioned the island was and still is focussed on Dennis, although it seems we have been spared this time (baring some unique act of nature...which could always happen). I was running late this morning, scanning the radio in my Jeep for their take on the latest update as well as for the latest Kelly Clarkson single (you know you dig it) but I found nothing and landed on a CNN update on the hour. Since it was not local the headline was not about Dennis, but rather London. I almost couldn't believe it, but sadly I could. I'm used to instant news at my fingertips and with no computer yet at work I felt lost all day. I did get a brief moment to scan through some Yahoo/AP Wire in the afternoon. My workday is over, I think we're safe here for now. Here tonight there won't be near as much tracking of Dennis' coordinates; just prayers for the one above.  ¶ 7/07/2005 08:53:00 PM 1 comments

  North by Northwest I'm not usually one for daily entries, but a lot is going on so I can't help it. It's a lot of nothing, but still. Day two of the internship and we were moving into full alert; 10 months ago they called it 'Ivan the Terrible', now it's time for 'Dennis the Menace'. We had two meetings today with all the representitive members of the National Hurricane Council to update everyone on what was going on out at sea. It's rather exciting to be at the center of the action, more so because a) I'm a disaster virgin and b) unlike everyone around me, I have no responsibilities. So I can move about and observe; working for a country is so much cooler than working for a city back in the states. Of course government is government, and pretty much it takes at least twenty people over the course of an hour to decide what was decided by the leader before he woke up that morning, but I still could not find it in me to leave the situation. I was fascinated by watching the people, listening to their questions (and complaints!). I don't know what (if any) my role will be over the next few 24-72 hrs, but as long as I can stay in the loop and out of the way it'll be worth it all. Plus these meetings are great...everyone comes together to find out what they could have figured out by themselves from five minutes on the internet. In many ways it is very much...no, it is like working or living in a small town. Everyone is so diverse, and many are very nervouse as we still have not recovered form last years storm. (This one will be much less harsh but it's the thought of it that does most of the damage--that is if it stays on course. Remember it's nature, despite the technology we have no idea what will happen). Plus I met the local weatherman today...I even talked to him about what was going on in one of the meetings (he came late). It was almost as exciting as when I talked to Rupert Jee in the Hello Deli about the Rhode Island nightclub fire. Anyways I'm tired, time for some rest; for tomorrow it starts raining.

Despite "North by Northwest" not actually being a direction, that is the direction they are using to report how and where Hurricane Dennis is moving. Also, Ernest Lehman passed away Sunday. He also knew it wasn't a "real" direction, but darned if it just sounded cool. So I'll watch for big waves, you watch for low flying planes and that creepy James Mason.  ¶ 7/06/2005 08:41:00 PM 3 comments

  good enough I guess, for government work Well I'm home early from my first day as an intern. I was fired. (two-beat pause) Just kidding. There just wasn't anything I could do, so my boss told me to go ahead. Of course, I had just come back in from lunch when he decided this, but whatever. But this thing is gonna be fine; they have no idea really what they are going to use me for but they still want me around; I basically spent the day sitting around the EOC talking shop with my boss McCleary, the Fire Chief, and a Brittish chap who seemed to be incharge of technology-ish things. It's funny working for a government, be it island or elsewhere, they are all the same. So I expect lots of meetings, with very little progress. There is a lot that needs done, but on the same hand they have an okay handle of things. It seems to me that just what needs to be done is not a necessity--yet--but it would but them ahead of where they are now as far as disaster preparedness goes. Plus the government is still very weary from Ivan, and the people are nervous and not ready to be serious yet. But it's Hurricane Season again, bad things happen but the world doesn't stop moving; we always have to be thinking. Anyways I won't bore you with any specifics just now; we have another potential hurricane heading our way! (That would be bad for the island, but subsequently would mean more work for me; crazy line of work I got myself into). Well I should go, take a look out the window.  ¶ 7/05/2005 04:49:00 PM 4 comments

  Getting all the news I need from the weather report/buckets of rain I just finished watching The Punisher with my Grandfather, and that was preceded by Paycheck. Both didn't completely suck (plus Uma Thurman is so hot, even is she is having to act with Afleck), and since both were movies I wanted to see but not if it meant extending any effort towards doing so, well than it was an okay way to spend the past 4 hours. That's what cable is for I guess, to waste our life away...it helped that it was still a rainy, windy day outside. Our local weatherman seems to always be about 12-24 hrs. off on his forecast, so whatever he predicts, plan for it to happen two days from then.

So if you read my blog sometime in the last 24 hours, you would have noticed I posted a entry yesterday and then deleted it this morning. Don't ask me why. Anyways I don't think anyone actually read it, there's only like four or five of you out there, counting family, right? Hey quick how cool is this shirt?

Tomorrow is of course Independence Day back home; here it's Constitution Day, so it's also a holiday. I miss my friends; July 4th is not a good time of year for me, starting back about three years ago. But my friends have been there to help me take away whatever self-pity I feel; we have a tradition that tends to involve driving out to the same county road in the middle of nowhere (how will they find it this year without me?!) and any number of the following: beer bottles (full and empty), fireworks, curse words, Korn, and plenty of near misses, with the occasional county sheriff. No harm no foul, although I've never really cared for the Korn.

But not this year. I haven't bought any fireworks, it'll just be me and my grandaddy and the roofers and landscapers. I start my internship on Tuesday, and I'm sure from there the summer will pass by much more quickly. Days here are interesting, slow but they pass by as quick as they do anywhere; nevertheless I'm adjusting to it and I fear my eventual return to the U.S.. So what do I know tonight that I didn't nesc. know this morning? Even with cable television, the world ain't slowing down. Eh, sometimes I miss normal life but not enough to desire it. On that note, I received an reply e-mail from Rob today, a month later, but like time matters. We don't talk that often, and even if I didn't hear from him for another year, he will still be the closest friend I have ever had. On Earth, anyways. About the time I head to the Third World next year Rob will be on his way also, only his destination will be Iraq. The interesting thing is, we both volunteered.
sometimes it's just...Walls, I guess.  ¶ 7/03/2005 10:21:00 PM 9 comments