Keep on trucking February

February has been one of those months where I have been too lazy to write many posts. Well, that and I haven't done a ton of awesome stuff like usual.

I have been dying to go snorkeling, but the water has been just a little too cold. Luckily, it's warming up fast, and Catherine and I plan on scoping out some new snorkel spots we've had our eyes on.  I have been going to the beach, but it's not as much fun when you can't get in the water!

My favorite part of Wednesdays? Pirate ship at Shipwreck Beach.

I have been spending loads of time with the other Ladies of Leisure: Wednesday Catherine and I went out to Club 1 for some dancing, Thursday was pool day at Calypso Bay, and Friday the ladies had dinner at Nirvana, and then finished the night at Bamboo Lounge. Rob had two tests, so he was totally fine with me staying out of his hair. Unfortunately, those tests fell on either side of Valentine's day. Fortunately, I had a great valentine anyway! While Rob was studying on campus with his friend Brayton, I went to the movies with Leann (B's wife).  We saw The Vow, a sappy chick flick that we made fun of the whole time. I didn't love the movie, but I do love Leann, so it was a successful Valentine's date in my book.

Me and Leann

The other great part about Valentine's day was my archaeology kids. I decided to teach them about stratigraphy. Now, all my archaeology friends are probably thinking, "Kids, stratigraphy? Why bother?" Uh, cause I taught they all about it with cake!!!  I made a cake with one layer each of chocolate, yellow, and strawberry. Then, I buried "artifacts" in each of the layers.  It was pretty awesome. After we excavated the site we discussed the different layers, and artifacts that they found. It was awesome. When was the last time you taught 10 year olds graduate school concepts so that they understand? Yeah, that's what I though, never. It's cool, maybe one day you can do it too.

Stratigraphy cake! You can even see of of the "artifacts" poking out of the top layer!

Thursday was kind of a big deal too, cause I had a job interview. There is a Hills Pet Food store on campus that caters to the students, faculty, and staff. There are two positions opening at the end of the semester, and I got an interview. I also got the job. Yep, they offered it to me later that day.  The craziest thing is that the next day I got another job offer. When it rains it pours right? It's a far cry from Egyptian Art History, but hey- money is money right?!

My cousin JP!

I'm crazy excited for next week. It's mid-semester break on Monday (and Rob's birthday, so don't forget to call/skype/email him!), and my cousin JP comes to visit on Wednesday for 5 days!!! I spend a lot of time trying to convince everyone I know to come down and visit, so I can't wait for JP to get here. My parents will be here a month after JP, then two weeks later Beth and Damian (our BFFs from England) visit for 10 days, and then a week later my aunt and uncle visit for a week at the beginning of May! I love having guests. So... start planning your trip... now.

Things that are Awesome!

I have started to volunteer at the prepschool in the after school program. I am teaching some of the 5th and 6th graders art history and archaeology! The kids are really smart and really excited about the class. At the museum I used to work at, we had stuffed animal-esque organs that we would use to teach kids about mummification. I thought that would be a great project to do with the kids in my program here. Unfortunately, it is not easy to find pretend stuffed lungs, liver, stomach, and intestines here in St. Kitts. Weird, right?

Luckily, I have a secret weapon (awesome thing #1)- my friend Catherine! She is super crafty, and most important, she can sew, which I cannot do. After a relaxing pool day at our friend Tiffany's house on Thursday, we went to our adorable tiny fabric store and got some pinky-beige fabric. We then headed to Catherine's house for some organ making. After some brainstorming and google image searching, we were able to produce some decent looking organs (awesome things #2). I literally would not have been able to do it without Catherine; I am super thankful we are friends!

Anatomically correct organs... filled with beans. Yay for Catherine!

Friday was FULL of awesome things! Trevor and I had to run some errands, and one of the items on our list was an electric bug killer. There has been quite a bit of rain lately, and the mosquitoes have been out of control at night (also, they have infiltrated both of our cars, so there is a total mosquito onslaught when we need to go anywhere!). Now, I know that when I said electric bug killer, you immediately pictured this:

If you thinking, yep, that is what I thought of, you would be wrong. Terribly wrong. While those are brightly lit and effective, we had something more fun and sinister in mind. The tennis racket-electric bug killer hybrid. Or as the Chinese packaging called it a "Electronic Mosquito Bat." Either way, it is maybe my favorite purchase on the island, and it is awesome thing #3. It doesn't even need batteries, cause it's rechargeable. AND, it has a light on it so you can sniper the stupid little skeeters! I love it.

My favorite thing EVER!!!

Our friend Dave has one, and he often brings it to Trivia. He told us that he bought it at TDC, so that is where Trevor and I began our search. We looked all over the store with no luck. We asked about it, and were told they are kept up by the front desk and we would have to ask for one. Cool. No, not cool. They were sold out! Luckily, our cashier lady was very nice and recommended we check out Courts or Rams in Basseterre. We journeyed into town and visited Courts first, since we were not interested in buying computers or appliances, they could not help us out. We tried Rams next, and after explaining what we wanted to an employee, she took us to the regular old fly swatters. I was distraught! I could not go another night dealing with a million mosquitoes keeping me awake! Crestfallen, Trevor and I left Rams unsure of what to do about the plague of mosquitoes waging war on the Dolphin House. Before leaving town, we decided to visit the new Chinese grocery store across from Rams.

This store immediately lifted our spirits. First, we found awesome thing #4- Chinese Dumplings (or pot stickers, if you prefer). We hadn't eaten lunch, and quickly decided we needed a bag of 40 pork and veg dumplings. Probably the best decision of the day, but we will get back to that later. So, we walked around the store bought some supplies for a new cocktail we wanted to try to make, but still couldn't find our Electronic Mosquito Bat (EMB). As he paid, Trevor asked our cashier if they had any EMBs. She said YES!!!! She pointed out the aisle, and I took off. After hastily searching the shelves, I didn't find them. I was about to leave when a shelf stocker happened by. I asked if he knew where they were, and he did. Right behind me. On the shelf I had just been looking at. Yeah, I'm not so smart sometimes. So, after deciding the boys would be mad if I bought the pink one, I picked up the red EMB and ran to the front, proudly waving my new prize whilst killing any bugs in my electronic path! The best part was that it was pretty cheap, only $20 EC- less than $10 US.

I tore open the bag back in the car. If you remember, I had mentioned the damn blood suckers had been getting in the cars. I fired up the EMB and it freaking exploded there were so many bugs! I think I zapped 30 in less than 4 seconds. It felt great. I love my EMB.

Our final stop before home was the liquor store/duty free beachy shop for amaretto and pool floats. Trev got the booze and I was able to find a floaty ring (awesome thing #5) to use in my pool (yes mom, I still want you to bring some bigger ones down when you come! love you!)

Delicious dumplings

Once back home Trevor went to town on dumpling and cocktail making while I began to make some brownies I promised Kate. All creations were complete successes. I stuffed four Chinese pouches of goodness into my mouth, as I said earlier- best decision of our day buying those things. I am gonna be eating them like crazy. The cocktails were a reverse engineering attempt at a drink the bartender at Carembola's made for us. Amaretto, dark rum, and cranberry, cherry, and lime juices. It was tasty at the restaurant and just as tasty at the Dolphin House! Kate had sent me a brownie recipe she found, so I threw it together yesterday afternoon. Even though it was a scratch recipe, it was really easy to make with just a few ingredients. I only had one piece, but when I woke up this morning, two thirds of the brownies were gone. I think she liked them. I also made one of my favorite sweet treats- chocolate covered gummi bears. If you have never had them you are probably thinking, chocolate covered gummi bears, eh I don't know. Again, you would be wrong. They are delicious. I guess you could say that the cocktails, brownies, and chocolate gummi bears are awesome things #6-8).

Yummy chocolate bears. mmmm....

After all our food and drink making, we headed out to celebrate Kate's birthday which had been earlier in the week. We dined at Copper Chimney and then headed to Bamboo, one of my local haunts. A good time was had by all. The drinks were flowing, the dancing was so fun that not only the girls danced (like I wouldn't dance!) even the boys danced! Zach, Brayton, Trevor, and Rob were all shaking what their momma's gave them! That would be awesome thing #9- hilariously awesome man dancing. We even had a new to Ross couple meet us out at Bamboo. Emily and Andrew just moved here so Andrew could attend school, and they needed to get out and have some fun. It was great to meet them and hang out with a new couple. I hope they had as much fun out as we did! New friends = awesome thing #10.

We invited everyone back to our house for some shisha smoking and drinks. Trevor and Venessa decided to box. It was mildly hilarious and Venessa got mad cause Trevor hit her in the face. It only got better when she shoved an unsuspecting Trevor in the pool (awesome thing #11). Of course, Venessa was the next thrown into the pool. Oy vey, there is always someone being thrown into the pool at the Dolphin House! As long as it's not me and no one is getting hurt, who cares!

Of course, I have to include the most adorably awesome thing, #12: AUTUMN!!! She is getting big fast and she is super cute! Today she got her new green necklace and name tag. She isn't quite sure what to make of them, going so far as to try and back out of her collar. Hilarious and cute!

In summary all these awesome things add up to my life being pretty awesome here in St. Kitts. Now you will have to excuse me, I think it's pool time :)