Something Funny Happened On the Way to Pago Pago

So, Friends, this is the Scorpion in my Sink.  Scorpion in my Sink, my friends.  HOW F'ING CRAZY IS THIS.  THERE IS A SCORPION IN MY SINK.

Those were exactly my thoughts, capitol letters and all.  I asked a couple of friends down here, concerned that I might have been trapped in an Agatha Christie novel.  Turns out, after a couple of years here, THERE ARE SCORPIONS ALL AROUND!  My friends' responses were basically, "Yeah, why do you think that you shake out your clothes and shoes every time you put them on?"  Joe: "Shake your what?"  Fortunately, the fact that St. Thomas is home to these frightening creatures escaped me for a long time.  Until I walked into my bathroom and saw this little fella staring up at me.  Me being a total pansy as such things are concerned, the unlucky little fellow was soon doused in Lysol Drain Cleaner.  Die, blue twitchy bug, die.

When I last left you, I think I was opining about a move to the South Pacific.  That was the deal for a while.  I had rid myself of my possessions - again - and researched the new land of milk and honey.  I'm still very into it.  Won't say that it won't happen.  Unfortunately (not the right word), I was bought off by "The Man."  For an insane pay raise, I decided to stay here in the nearly insufferable Virgin Islands, scorpions and all.  I am still working in the same office, doing insurance defense law, and gazing out onto the quiet blue waters of the Caribbean through my office window every day.

So with my new-found (and relative) prosperity, I decided that I had to get out of town - such as it is.  I got a great new place out on the periphery of the island.  This is the view off one of the three decks on my apartment.  That's the completely undeveloped Thatch Cay in the foreground and Jost Van Dyke of the British Virgin Islands in the background.  On a clear day, I can see the masts of the boats over in White Bay, bobbing in front of Foxy's and the Soggy Dollar Bar.  It is a wonderful sanctuary after the day at work.

So, things are as things are.  I don't know if I can tell you where I'll be in a year, but here I am now.  This, by and by, is a picture of one of my very favorite small happenings on the island.  On Saturday mornings, fishermen line up along the waterfront to sell their catch.  Here a school of tarpon gather around the ship waiting for scraps from the cutting board.  It ain't Chicago, but it is not always bad.  Go Cubs.

Comments

[Jeff Paulson]

That is a beautiful view. I get up in the morning and look at a blue raised ranch with a old Econoline van and a Murano in the driveway. Don't bitch.

Doing NANO this year? I have an idea, and have started storyboarding it.

Be safe. I hear scorpion is a delicacy. Eat the little bastard next time.

Jeff