The Virgin Expedition Part 2: Sea Stories

Sea Stories: Snorkeling

The water is as clear and beautiful as they say. I could see straight down to the bottom even from the top floor of our villa. There are sea turtles, fish of all colors, sting rays, coral, sea urchins, and one type of coral plant life shimmers purple in the sun. St. John doesn't have much else to do besides go to the beach, but there is snorkeling at every beach. Just about every beach has other, smaller islands out a bit with good snorkeling around them. When we went to Cinammon Bay there was just such an island that we snorkled at. Well, THEY snorkled at. As some of you may know, I'm scared of water. I don't like all the possibilities of what might be in there and I especially don't like not being able to see at least 100 yards in every direction. The island was pretty far off, but about half way there was a big patch of coral. Until you get to that patch, there's nothing but blue water and white sand. I was terrified the whole way out there, constantly look for Eric beside me. When we got to the coral, we swam around and looked at everything. I really think the snorkleing is better in Hawaii, but it was still pretty. The rest of them swam out to the island, but I decided to head back. I was already tired and had my book waiting for me on the beach. The swim back was scarier than the swim there because I was by myself. Every few seconds I would look to my left and right for sharks then look up to make sure I was still heading in beach direction. I saw a stingray on the way back to the beach, but since I was alone, no one believes me.

Sea Stories: Kayaking

The last full day we were there Eric and I went sea kayaking around Cinammon Bay. The only time we tumped over was when we were first trying to get in it. We went out to the island mentioned in the first part of Seas Stories, kayaked around it, then went to a smaller beach. On the way to the smaller beach we saw what was either a tail fin of something big or the remnants of a plane rumored to have crashed there. We also discovered what I guess was a type of sea urchin. It has white spikes that wiggled and a grayish black body. Poor Eric would have had so much more fun if I wasn't with him. He married a water sissy.

The Virgin Expedition Part 1: Travel Tales

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I've decided to break my Virgin Island experience down into different categories: Travel Tales, Sea Stories, and Wildlife Wonders.

Travel Tales: Airplanes
Going to the Virgin Islands doesn't take as long as going to Oahu, but with a 10 month old it seems like it. Not really. Kaleb did better than I ever thought he would. We flew out of Memphis, went to Atlanta, then headed to St.Thomas. Kaleb was so interested in the airplane that he didn't fuss at all. We, on the other hand, had some quiet ugly words. We had only a 50 minute layover once we got to Atlanta, so we needed our plane to leave on time. Well, of course that didn't happen. We boarded the plane all right, but then another connecting Delta flight was late so they decided to wait on them. It took about 30 minutes for them to get all boarded and the flight attendants to cross check and us to take off. That left 20 minutes to get to our next flight. Once we got to Atlanta and got the gate, the accordian looking thing was broken and wouldn't come to our plane. Of course! When it finally did and we got off the plane, we had to book it across the entire Atlanta airport to get to our terminal. We took off at different paces, Eric and Kaleb up front, me and the stroller about 50 feet behind, the in-laws another 50 to 70 feet behind me. I get to T10 and the plane is going to Chicago. Of course everyone's cell phones are still off from the flight so I have no idea where to go. I finally get in touch with Eric and they're all at gate T02...on the other side of the T terminal. I'm running as fast as my tired little legs will carry me, thinking I should have stretched first, glistening, watermelon red to the other end. While they were all there the flight attendant lady told them that I had 23 seconds to get there or they were leaving without me. I made it! Kaleb slept on the plane to St. Thomas and when he got fussy we gave him puffs. The end of the plane story TO St. Thomas.

On the way back to the South we had to fly from St. Thomas to ATL to Memphis. The check in portion of the airport at St. Thomas is outside...and hot. Then there's the customs section. Then the luggage section. Then the security section. The airplane is parked outside and we have to walk up the steps to get to it. It was right out of an old timey movie. The flight to Atlanta was pretty uneventful. Kaleb slept half of it and ate puffs the rest of the time. We had a 3 hour layover in Atlanta, which was nice because we didn't have to rush, we got to eat supper, I bought a new book (because I finished Gone with the Wind - yahoo!), and we headed to the gate for our 9:55 flight. Kaleb met another baby and they crawled to each other just like in a movie. Our flight was delayed because of "late arriving crew" so we didn't leave until 10:50. My sweet baby was asleep as soon as the plane's lights went off and stayed asleep until we got to the car.

Travel Tales: Cars
Let me preface this section by saying that people on St. John drive on the left side of the road, it is all mountains, and drivers there are nutty. Brad got us an Explorer for the week. The air didn't work well and we had to take Dramamine everytime we got in. Eric had to ride in the trunk section, backwards the first night because we couldn't get the back seat up. It wasn't as odd as I would have thought being on the left side of the road. There were gorgeous views from the mountains and the roads were really steep. Thankfully I didn't have to drive at all. And there were SO many Jeeps. If you weren't in an SUV or Jeep you weren't getting up those mountains. Plain and simple. I don't think I'll be getting an Explorer.

Travel Tales: Boats
We had to take a boat from St. Thomas to St. John. The one we took at 11:00 pm was rocky, and it was dark so we were a little on the naseaus side. The boat ride back was significantly better. It was daytime and we could see the amazing water, the beautiful surrounding islands, and feel WONDERFUL air conditioner. It takes a lot of work getting to and from St. John.

Countdown

All last week we had VBS. Eric and I did the Floating Finale each day. I thought it was going to be awkward and a pain in the butt. It was only awkward the first day. It was fun doing something with Eric and the kids really seemed to like it. Our children's ministry is about to start doing Awana. I think it's going to be really great and it will help me get involved on Sunday nights. Of course, I won't be able to go to the church service Sunday night, but I'll be helping kids. I want to help the youngest group. I don't remember what they're called but they're the 2 and 3 year olds. That might mean I'll have to wipe bottoms.
I've got a lot to do before we leave for Jackson Thursday. I've got to get the house clean (i.e. wash clothes, wash dishes, sweep, and vacuum), pack, and try to get all my work that's due when we're gone done. I could do it while we're there, but I don't really want to. Then again, it might be an excuse to stay in if I'm tired or don't feel good.

Mary Mary Quite Contrary

So I am definitely NOT a gardener. Basically everything I touch dies within a week. I call myself a brown thumb. Recently my parents came down and did some landscaping for us. Some of it is actually growing.

The first canna is up and there's one bud on the way.

There are also some daylillies springing up.

However, how in the world do you get grass out of your flowerbeds?

Catch Up

It has been a long time. I'm about to start my third year teaching Kindergarten. I'm taking my second Masters class at William Carey. I know I'm a nerd, but I'm so excited that I'm taking classes again and have homework to do. One of my assignments has me reviewing 10 websites. I thought it was goin to be a pain in the butt, but I'm actually loving it. These websites are providing me with so many new and fun ideas to use. All this work gives me something to do with my day. Not that taking care of Kaleb is a cake-walk. Except that it is. Kaleb is the best baby in the world. I don't know what I did to get such a chillaxed baby. Eric and I are still in Waynesboro but it's getting better and better. Well, it was. The person I consider my best friend in Waynesboro taught Kindergarten with me last year. That was great because we got to see each other 6 days a week (she goes to church with us) but now she's staying at home to be a mom. I'm glad for her, but sad for me. She was kind of my only link to the world of Waynesboro and now she's gone. I know that everyone here has friends out the wazoo because they all grew up together but I feel all alone sometimes. I don't get invited to do things with them because I'm still considered an outsider, a new girl, an afterthought.
We're going to the Virgin Islands in a few weeks with Eric's parents and his brother. We're taking Kaleb with us, which should be quite an experience. He'll be flying an riding a boat in the same day. It'll be fun once we get there but the trip will be miserable. I'm seriously considering giving him some Benadryl in his bottle before we take off. I know. That sounds horrible and it probably is. Kaleb may do great since he's so go-with-the-flow. Hopefully I'll have some good stories after that trip.