Hey everyone, welcome back! This installment includes a little bit of everything, from official duties to bizarre tea experiments.
First up, Thursday was a big day for Dave! He had his official swearing-in ceremony with Public Entity Saba. It’s a cool tradition where all government officials pledge to act in the best interest of the island. I would have loved to be there to cheer him on, but logistically it was a bit tricky. So, I sent my good vibes and skipped it.
Speaking of work, one of my coworkers was having back surgery. We sent a care package, and I suggested including a bell – you know, the kind you ring for assistance. Dave hated the bell when I had one, but I thought it was genius. Jamie made sure it got added to the order. All in all, a smooth day at the office!
That evening, we caught up with Aunt Dori and shared the potential house news. She was super excited for us, which is always a good sign. Fingers crossed!
Now, for the not-so-fun part: that night, I was plagued by some seriously awful nightmares. So bad, in fact, that I don’t even want to repeat the details for fear of manifesting them into reality. Let’s just say sleep wasn’t exactly my friend that night.
Friday brought a much-needed distraction: a masquerade ball for Saba government employees! The decorations were top notch, and included a variety of accessories for the taking such as masks, fans, glasses, and beads. It started off classy with a fantastic saxophone player setting the mood. Then, the DJ cranked up the 80s tunes, and we were transported back in time. The food was great, and Dave was especially excited to discover deviled eggs on the buffet, a hard to find favorite of his. But when the DJ switched to island music, we decided to make our exit. Loud music where conversation is impossible isn’t really our jam.
But wait, the night wasn’t over yet! We got to the car only to find ourselves completely blocked in! Seriously? We tracked down the culprit by asking at the nightclub upstairs. Of course, in true Saba fashion, it turned out to be one of Dave’s colleagues. She forgot the car had been sold to us by her cousin, and had figured her cousin would recognize her car if it needed to be moved. Crisis averted, and we finally made it home.
Once home, Dave walked Albus, and the neighborhood kitty even stopped by for a visit. Such a sweetie!
To combat the nightmare situation, Dave brewed some soursop tea. It tasted okay, but the smell… oh, the smell! It was oddly reminiscent of rank body odor. I tried, I really did, but I only managed about an inch before tapping out. Surprisingly, I slept like a baby!
Saturday brought a Saban miracle: a whole section of coffee creamers at the market! I snagged a bottle of Italian Sweet Cream. I was so close to ordering those individual creamers off Amazon. Crisis averted!
That afternoon, I chatted with Jason and Samantha, and then decided to indulge in a nap. Yes, a nap! It felt like the perfect lazy Saturday afternoon activity. Dave eventually came to check on me, by which time I was awake and just enjoying the comfy bed. We had pork chops for dinner, and Dave experimented with adding Fritos to the panko crust. It was surprisingly tasty, although at the price of Fritos, probably not a necessary addition.
That night, I was relaxing on the patio when I was suddenly attacked by mosquitos. A first since arriving on Saba! Usually, the constant breeze keeps them at bay, but the air was still, creating a mosquito haven. In a desperate attempt to quell the attack, we did something we *never* do: we closed up the house and turned on the air conditioner. Disappointing, but necessary.
A short while later, Albus went berserk, attacking something on the back of the couch. Turns out, a swarm of insects had made it into our house before we shut the doors and had converged on the back of the couch and the enormously oversized lamp. After the mass murder of the colony was complete, we went to bed, only to be awakened in the early morning by the sound of a monsoon taking place outside. It was some seriously intense rain!
So, there you have it: another week of island life, filled with swearing-ins, masquerades, mosquito mayhem, and the occasional coffee creamer miracle. Stay tuned for more adventures!