Hey everyone! Life on Saba continues to be, well, life! Let’s get started, shall we?
Wednesday saw Dave jetting off to St. Eustatius (or Statia, if you’re a local). Gotta love island hopping – a quick flight and he was there in no time! Meanwhile I discovered a *slight* change to my upcoming flight from Orlando to Hartford. And by slight, I mean a complete AM-to-PM flip! No way was I landing at 11 PM.
So, I dove headfirst into the chaotic world of rebooking. Rebooking my flight was easy, but Expedia couldn’t modify my rental car booking, so they handed me off to Hertz. And that’s where the real fun began.
Hertz, oh Hertz, where do I even begin? Getting a real human on the phone is actually impossible. I got stuck in an infinite loop of automated prompts. After countless attempts to “trick” the system, I was directed to the app every time. Seriously, Hertz? It gets worse. The website was equally unhelpful, and the online chat? You guessed it – another bot. Defeated and emotionally drained, I surrendered, canceled my reservation, and ate the $50 cancellation fee. Lesson learned: avoid Hertz like the plague. I’ll go with a different car rental company next time, but I’m holding off until this whole government shutdown situation is resolved, in case my flight gets rerouted to a different airport.
With Dave gone, it was time for a girls’ night! Anise, Jennifer, and I hit up Swinging Doors, later joined by Jill. Cyril was going to be my taxi home, but Jennifer’s husband offered a ride instead, I enjoyed a night out until a *very* reasonable 10 PM. A quick Albus walk (through a horrifying sea of hermit crabs!) and then time for some writing.
Speaking of writing, I try to jot down my thoughts daily. It helps me remember the fun little details that make life interesting. Plus, on a more serious note, I’m predisposed to Alzheimer’s. So, if I ever start forgetting myself, I hope this blog can serve as a reminder of who I am.
Thursday started strangely with only two emails in my inbox. Did I still work here? After confirming that I did, in fact, still have a job, my dad called with exciting news: Cirque de Soleil tickets while I’m in town!
Friday was productive, with a few crazy issues thrown in for good measure. My amazing neighbor, Anne, even took Albus for a walk while I worked. Who can resist an endless game of fetch with that fluffy guy? I stayed in that night, catching up with friends and realizing that the only time the living room TV had been on since Dave left was when I turned it on for Albus. He watches a show for dogs, and to my amazement he actually appears to watch it. LOL!
Saturday started with a lazy morning (and some dishwashing, this time with shoes on). I headed into town, planning to visit Big Rock 2, but got sidetracked by a new restaurant called Island Paradise. I devoured a delicious Belgian waffle and eyed a piece of carrot cake before continuing my browsing. After a stop at Hideaway, I met up with my neighbors, Anne and Andy, at Colibri for ladies’ night. A sudden downpour forced us under the tent, and after a brief break in the rain, we called it a night. Back home, I had a lovely chat with my cousin, Michelle. Phone conversations are rare for us, so we cherish those moments when we can connect.
Dave breezed back from Statia bright and early Sunday morning, much to Albus’ delight. Apparently, a little island getaway sparked some serious creativity because Dave cooked up a brilliant app idea and had Al bring it to life. After a successful test run, we chilled at home until it was time for the real party: wine and cheese with Anne, Andy, and a whole gaggle of neighbors. Picture this: laughter, fancy cheeses, tasty flatbread, and enough wine to make even a Monday morning seem appealing. (Spoiler alert: it wasn’t.)
That’s all for now, folks! Stay tuned for more Saba adventures!