2009, wow! 5 years in New York, wow! The economy, wow!

Thanks to everyone for joining our xmas slow walk and graze, coming to the new years party and the awesome hot wine at M and Y’s place.

Here hoping 2009 will be a year of opportunity, not a year of depression. (Get it??? Economic depression and sadness, I pun with the best of them!)

Hilton

I moved hiltmon.com back to me.com (was mac.com) after two years at dreamhost. Dreamhost was fine, but mac.com did not die as predicted, it got better and since I am already paying for it...here we are again.

The past three weeks have been a whirlwind of activity. We went to the DNA Art show and the opening or Yuko Yada’s exhibition, a Malasian food event, Nina’s wedding party, Alexis’ roof, 2 anniversary dinners, Yukari-san cooked for us twice and we went out every other night inbetween. Phew!

Popsie came, we did the tennis, the eating, the shopping, the walking. They saw a broadway show. We all survived.

Ats' parents came to Seattle. We did the photography, the coffee, the eating, the driving. They went on to Vegas. We all survived.

Its so quiet at home now....

Sitting on a deck, looking over a mahogany tree out over the Caribbean Sea, sun's setting, cold beer in hand and the sounds of frogs awaking. Welcome to Barbados.

Images. The people are too cool to smile, yet readily laugh and laugh. Mama's in the ocean at sunrise in her swimsuit and shower cap, Papa's with her, relegated to talk cricket and politics with the other men. The reggae busses for $1.50 to go anywhere, rasta at the door and rasta blaring through the sound system. A roti for lunch, fried fish at Oistins, flying fish in everything and a hot spice to cool you down. Rum punch in a plastic coke bottle, wanna smoke? Swim out 100 meters and play with a turtle, dive a reef and see large hand shaped corals, thin as a leaf, brain coral below, and a long yellow fish who's head is its tail, or the other-way around. "I am the pineapple man", with half his teeth missing and the poetry of Barrett Browning. And in the corner of the bar sits an englishman, collar and olives, gin and memories of 20 years at the same bar, ruminating on how 'they' have always been so nice to him, while he asks them for another beer and smile. Welcome to Barbados.

And the best welcome of all, the front desk of the hotel, sit, have a beer, big heart, big smile, yes you Trish, welcome to Barbados.