Thoughts from the hammock ...

Well, I don't think this balcony is the ideal spot for my hammock, but it will work for now!

Quiet weekend here.  As I wrote that, I just realized that it might have been considered a busy weekend for the islands, but quiet compared to my pre-island life!  Friday night I decided to venture out by myself to the Caribbean Community Theatre in Christiansted.  Between a map, GPS, handwritten directions per the website, and some help from friends, I made it!  Only had to turn around once and still not sure how I came in from a different direction than I would have anticipated, but luckily I found it.  Great play called Fences - basically relating life to baseball, which was right up my alley.  James Earl Jones won a Tony award for Best Actor for his performance during the 80s.  Of course he was not starring in the show himself - a pretty small budget production, but it was good and I really enjoyed it.  Ironically one of the characters was a guy we met at trivia the night before (which was unfortunately not our first win of the season). 

I got home and decided to watch tv before calling it a night.  Granted, I've seen plenty of those little lizards (geckos) running around outside which thankfully don't bother me at all.  I hadn't yet seen one INSIDE ... and then I looked up ... above my tv was a little gecko scaling the wall!  So I decided to open up the screen door, go get the broom, and encourage him to run outside.  Meanwhile, I had a pair of jeans air-drying in front of the door ... and you guessed it.  Little lizard went right through my jeans on his way out the door.  All I could think was, "I HAVE A LIZARD IN MY PANTS!!!"  Not something you hear everyday!  I mean, guys sure, but nothing you'd normally hear from the ladies =)

Saturday was another one of those get up early and have nothing to show for it hours later type of days.  I must have jinxed myself by cleaning the windows of the Jeep - prepping it for a beautiful picture at the beach.  And by the time I got back outside, it started raining (again - enough already!) and when I drove to this new beach I hadn't been to yet, the road getting there was flooded!

Ended up having a fun girls' weekend.  Unfortunately, Andy's grandfather passed away so he flew home to Australia for the funeral, and Jeff hasn't been feeling well.  Saturday night went to dinner with Kirby and her friend Kate (also from Australia) at Rowdy Joes - delicious meal and some of the best ice cream I have ever had!  Key lime pie, apple cinnamon brown sugar, and chocolate with chocolate covered peanuts - to die for!!!  Now when I'm comparing to Ben and Jerry's - that's got merit!!  Then we met up with Lisa at the place next door for some live music - such a fun night!! 

Yesterday had a lazy day at the beach - FINALLY!  Sad that I've been here four weeks already (time is flying by!!), and that was the first time I've spent an extended amount of time at the beach!  And finished a book!  Met up with Kirby and Kate again for dinner at Rhythms - definitely one of my favorite places so far on the island.  Kirby gave me a job posting she found in the paper for an accountant.  As much as I appreciated her looking out for me and should be interested in checking out this job after my time with the Bank, I had to admit that it's not what I am passionate about.  If I could do anything at all, especially while I was here, I would work in a bakery - ideally my own.  So all of a sudden my repertoire of recipes came out, and Kirby suggested taking samples to local places and leaving a card just to see if it attracts any business or setting up a booth on cruise ship days.  The Cake Lady of St Croix may have just arrived =)

Given all the "free" time I had this weekend, I was able to reflect over the past few weeks to see what I have learned about myself on this journey.  I mentioned this before, but I really need to change my definition of "productive" (and thanks, Jeff, for reiterating that "I was told long ago to expect to accomplish one thing a day.  Anything more is a bonus.").  It's okay to spend a few hours on a Saturday and not have anything to show for it.  Then during the week, I need to learn to take a break from work (how sad is that?!?).  I forced myself to walk to the post office today over lunch, just to take a break from my computer.  Given the now hour time difference and especially if I do not have plans at night, it is way too easy to stay logged on ... or check emails a few hours later just because they are there.  Something to work on ...

Other things I've realized about myself, no matter where the location:  you can take the busy away from the girl, but you can't take the girl away from the busy!  I am still trying to make plans left and right ... on Friday, it killed me not to have plans this weekend ... but by Sunday I realized how nice it was to just go with the flow and have some quiet time.  Same thing with work - it is easy to still stress over a job regardless of the beautiful backdrop ... but then again, maybe that is me.  Maybe that is the Bank.  Or maybe a little of both.  Though seems kind of ironic writing about being stressed out while laying in a hammock ...