Yup, we have 8 days left until we are back at our island paradise.
Time is both flying and creeping by. How is that possible?
There are things I need to do before we leave…for those things time is moving way too fast. Such as, writing a bio, publishing a website, getting my wife to decide on what she wants to bring to wear. Will I have an art show or not…if so which pictures will I bring if not can we pack all in a carry on suitcase? I have a computer that needs to be worked on, movies to download, camera memory cards to clear and batteries to charge up.
Not quite a Beetles song but, there are days we must get thru before loading up and heading out. Still another 5 days of work at my primary job before I can fully turn my focus to travel, photography, sales of items that I have on island and such… Doesn’t help much that two other couples we are looking forward to seeing while there leave this weekend…a week ahead of us…grumble, grumble. Good part of that is we will still be on island once they have left.
I am finding it increasingly more difficult to focus as the days get closer. Nice part is everything on island is taken care of…have reserved my rooms, car, phone and contacted all to make sure things will run as smoothly as ST Martin time allows. Look out island…our trip is on the immediate horizon.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Oh, Well!!
Guess great schemes don’t always work out. When we booked our airfare to the Caribbean several months ago I chose an aisle and window seat in the back of the plane hoping that the middle seat wouldn’t be sold.
I get on line every Tuesday morning to check our seats. Every week since that seat remained vacant. I noticed last week that there were two, yes two empty seats that do not have an added fee to sit in them that were available. Today’s check brought a little sigh of disappointment. My wife and I will be sharing our row with a third person.
I have done this every time we fly to the Caribbean and probably 75% of the time the seat is filled. This one however didn’t fill until we were three weeks from traveling.
I let out the sigh and then as quickly as it came…it passed. Whom ever is sitting with us will be offered the window or aisle seat…their choice and it is only 4 ½ hours until we tell them goodbye and most likely don’t see them again anyway.
Yes I whined a bit, I choose to think I vented but it was whining. I am now moving on to thinking about all the leisure activities and rest as well as visiting with friends that we will do while on island.
We were betting against the house that the seat between us would remain vacant…and you normally loose that bet and yes we lost the gamble. Again, we are still on the flight, still living the dream of a tropical escape we are just arriving in a full plane. Oh well!
I get on line every Tuesday morning to check our seats. Every week since that seat remained vacant. I noticed last week that there were two, yes two empty seats that do not have an added fee to sit in them that were available. Today’s check brought a little sigh of disappointment. My wife and I will be sharing our row with a third person.
I have done this every time we fly to the Caribbean and probably 75% of the time the seat is filled. This one however didn’t fill until we were three weeks from traveling.
I let out the sigh and then as quickly as it came…it passed. Whom ever is sitting with us will be offered the window or aisle seat…their choice and it is only 4 ½ hours until we tell them goodbye and most likely don’t see them again anyway.
Yes I whined a bit, I choose to think I vented but it was whining. I am now moving on to thinking about all the leisure activities and rest as well as visiting with friends that we will do while on island.
We were betting against the house that the seat between us would remain vacant…and you normally loose that bet and yes we lost the gamble. Again, we are still on the flight, still living the dream of a tropical escape we are just arriving in a full plane. Oh well!
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
30 Days Hath September!
30 Days hath September, April, June and November….oh and Rob!
Yes my countdown has gotten to a very manageable 30 days.
Today for the first time in a while I am in a really good mood. I am not sure if I can point to one specific thing or to the concoction I will now describe.
First is the obvious from above is the flour in this wonderful treat…30 days until our next Caribbean escape.
Add in a sprinkle of fake bake. Have laid in the nuclear powered glowing clam shell of a tanning bed now for about a week…must have my sun vitamins starting to kick in.
Then there is a touch of caffeine….am thinking my espresso may be the proverbial icing on the cake of happiness here.
I have a file folder full with a calendar, copies of my tickets, room rental, car rental, phone rental and many other helpful numbers. The calendar has some info like what days our friends will overlap with us, special activities we have planned and specific activities we want to do…things as simple as walking the near mile to the opposite eid of a beach we love.
Ok, yes I am a bit excited. It has only been 6 months since I was last there but I miss the islands…..
Yes my countdown has gotten to a very manageable 30 days.
Today for the first time in a while I am in a really good mood. I am not sure if I can point to one specific thing or to the concoction I will now describe.
First is the obvious from above is the flour in this wonderful treat…30 days until our next Caribbean escape.
Add in a sprinkle of fake bake. Have laid in the nuclear powered glowing clam shell of a tanning bed now for about a week…must have my sun vitamins starting to kick in.
Then there is a touch of caffeine….am thinking my espresso may be the proverbial icing on the cake of happiness here.
I have a file folder full with a calendar, copies of my tickets, room rental, car rental, phone rental and many other helpful numbers. The calendar has some info like what days our friends will overlap with us, special activities we have planned and specific activities we want to do…things as simple as walking the near mile to the opposite eid of a beach we love.
Ok, yes I am a bit excited. It has only been 6 months since I was last there but I miss the islands…..
Friday, September 24, 2010
Is that bacon I smell???
No not bacon at all rather,it is the beginning of the beginning of the count down to our next Caribbean trip.
What the hell am I talking about you may wonder.
My lovely wife and I signed up for and completed our first fake bake tan in preperations for climbing into a big metal tube to be propelled at 600+ miles an hour southeast to our final destination of ST Maarten Dutch West Indies!!! In short....VACATION!!!!!!
Last nights tanning adventure went like this. We stroll into the local tanning salon. Meet two young women at the reception counter that ask if we have been there before. Then the same young lady that was there last year recognized us.
Pay our fees and then stroll down the hall to our own private little rooms.
Next step is the obvious, strip down to what ever level of clothing you may feel comfortable in, be it swimsuit, underwear, gym shorts or au natural. Hop into what looks like an open MRI machine with lighting…and pull the clam shell down to a couple of inches above you. Push the button to ignite the afterburners and lie back and relax for my 7 minutes of microwave cooking.
These machines are nice, they even have fans that you can adjust for your face and lighting that controls tanning your face. I set the fans on supersonic and enjoy the cat 1 hurricane force winds blowing thru my hair. Turn up the music and vegetate for my previously agreed on time.
Ding, fries are done! The lighting shuts off and you quickly move from microwave to freezer as the fans are still blowing. Time to pry myself out of the nuclear powered clam that I was just resting in clean up a bit, put back on what ever I chose to remove and then head back to the waiting area to wait on my lovely wife. We all know that it usually takes the ladies a bit longer to get ready to go back out for public viewing than it does guys. I know, more items to remove and put back on…..
Today the dear wife is a quick one and meets me just a minute or so after I get to the waiting area.
Ok, why is this worthy of blogging about today? As I stated above, we start tanning about 30 days before we head to the tropics in order to be able to spend more than a half hour in the tropical sun each day. Besides, if we get off the plane on island and are lily white (maybe not that white but certainly not tan) it kind of puts you out there as a fresh off a plane from somewhere tourist.
We tan once a year before going on our trip…and use lots of sunscreen on the island daily to protect ourselves but we do enjoy having a bit of color before we get there.
So last evening may not have been a bacon fry but it way the beginning of our trip planning and we are now springing over the next hurdle that stands in our way of traveling to the Caribbean.
What the hell am I talking about you may wonder.
My lovely wife and I signed up for and completed our first fake bake tan in preperations for climbing into a big metal tube to be propelled at 600+ miles an hour southeast to our final destination of ST Maarten Dutch West Indies!!! In short....VACATION!!!!!!
Last nights tanning adventure went like this. We stroll into the local tanning salon. Meet two young women at the reception counter that ask if we have been there before. Then the same young lady that was there last year recognized us.
Pay our fees and then stroll down the hall to our own private little rooms.
Next step is the obvious, strip down to what ever level of clothing you may feel comfortable in, be it swimsuit, underwear, gym shorts or au natural. Hop into what looks like an open MRI machine with lighting…and pull the clam shell down to a couple of inches above you. Push the button to ignite the afterburners and lie back and relax for my 7 minutes of microwave cooking.
These machines are nice, they even have fans that you can adjust for your face and lighting that controls tanning your face. I set the fans on supersonic and enjoy the cat 1 hurricane force winds blowing thru my hair. Turn up the music and vegetate for my previously agreed on time.
Ding, fries are done! The lighting shuts off and you quickly move from microwave to freezer as the fans are still blowing. Time to pry myself out of the nuclear powered clam that I was just resting in clean up a bit, put back on what ever I chose to remove and then head back to the waiting area to wait on my lovely wife. We all know that it usually takes the ladies a bit longer to get ready to go back out for public viewing than it does guys. I know, more items to remove and put back on…..
Today the dear wife is a quick one and meets me just a minute or so after I get to the waiting area.
Ok, why is this worthy of blogging about today? As I stated above, we start tanning about 30 days before we head to the tropics in order to be able to spend more than a half hour in the tropical sun each day. Besides, if we get off the plane on island and are lily white (maybe not that white but certainly not tan) it kind of puts you out there as a fresh off a plane from somewhere tourist.
We tan once a year before going on our trip…and use lots of sunscreen on the island daily to protect ourselves but we do enjoy having a bit of color before we get there.
So last evening may not have been a bacon fry but it way the beginning of our trip planning and we are now springing over the next hurdle that stands in our way of traveling to the Caribbean.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Listening to the Travel Savvy WIfe
My wonderful wife and I were sitting together Sunday afternoon discussing….guess….yes it’s a tuff one. Give up? Yup, you got it first guess, our impending visit back to the island. We were discussing getting to the airport. Do we take an airport limo service, do we impose on a family member? We were looking up the pricing of an airport limo (big van) and she asked a great question. Does KC have a park, sleep, fly arrangement like many other large cities?
Surfed the net and low and behold, yes it does and the relative cost beats….limo service as well as the imposition of bothering a relative to get up that early.
Why is all of this necessary? Our flight from KC leaves at 5:30 in the AM. We live 45 minutes south of the airport and we are flying international meaning we would beat every chicken and rooster in the area out of our beds that morning and would be driving to the airport about the time all of the drunks are coming home from the bars.
My wife’s offered solution is awesome and frankly I am a bit embarrassed I didn’t think of it myself. Math works like this….14 days parking at airport (using the outer parking lot) would be $84. Then there is leaving home at probably 3AM to get there, get parked and to the gate early enough to check in go thru security and catch the Oh Dark:30 flight to Charlotte.
Another side journey here is if we stayed home the night before it would most likely be 11 PM or later before we headed off to bed with all of our pre trip activities like watering the plants and making sure everything is just perfect before we went to sleep.
So, we have agreed to leave shortly after my dear sweet wife gets home from work to drive to the hotel close to the airport. We will bring a bottle of wine, some chocolate and cheese and start our vacation that evening before the flight instead of in a rush the next morning. Cost $125 including the room, parking and shuttle to airport. So my math tells me for $41 I can rest close to the airport in a Sheraton hotel, car already parked. Enjoy the company of my wife without all the night before racing around and get at least 2 extra hours sleep.
After all that …the best I can say is GREAT IDEA HONEY, glad I listened this time..
Surfed the net and low and behold, yes it does and the relative cost beats….limo service as well as the imposition of bothering a relative to get up that early.
Why is all of this necessary? Our flight from KC leaves at 5:30 in the AM. We live 45 minutes south of the airport and we are flying international meaning we would beat every chicken and rooster in the area out of our beds that morning and would be driving to the airport about the time all of the drunks are coming home from the bars.
My wife’s offered solution is awesome and frankly I am a bit embarrassed I didn’t think of it myself. Math works like this….14 days parking at airport (using the outer parking lot) would be $84. Then there is leaving home at probably 3AM to get there, get parked and to the gate early enough to check in go thru security and catch the Oh Dark:30 flight to Charlotte.
Another side journey here is if we stayed home the night before it would most likely be 11 PM or later before we headed off to bed with all of our pre trip activities like watering the plants and making sure everything is just perfect before we went to sleep.
So, we have agreed to leave shortly after my dear sweet wife gets home from work to drive to the hotel close to the airport. We will bring a bottle of wine, some chocolate and cheese and start our vacation that evening before the flight instead of in a rush the next morning. Cost $125 including the room, parking and shuttle to airport. So my math tells me for $41 I can rest close to the airport in a Sheraton hotel, car already parked. Enjoy the company of my wife without all the night before racing around and get at least 2 extra hours sleep.
After all that …the best I can say is GREAT IDEA HONEY, glad I listened this time..
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Who Knew?
Who knew that taking out the trash can be hazardous to your health? I sure didn’t think much of it as I walked out into my garage a week ago and bent over to pick up the bag and take it to the curb. Guess what…I found out right away. No pop or anything like that. I simply felt a sharp sting go down the side of my right leg, then the back spasms set in. I was down for the count! Thursday laid on the floor with a heat pack all afternoon. Went to work on Friday walking like an 85 year old with a bum hip, the only thing I was missing at this point was a walker. Made it to the doctor Friday afternoon.
He filled my hip full of cordozone and another steroid and prescribed a muscle relaxer and sent me home. Repeat Thursday afternoon lying on floor in pain. Sat came and still more pain….took meds but they did very little good. Sunday morning I rolled out of bed and told my wife as soon as I was done with a shower it was time to head to the emergency room, I have never felt my back hurt like this before.
The ER really fixed me up…I left there feeling NO pain. More Steroid and a bit of morphine for the pain along with a new muscle relaxer and an awesome painkiller. First time in several days I had felt at all decent.
I’ll save you most of the rest of the minute by minute cause I did a lot of sleeping and my intent is not to bore you any more than I have. Today is Day 8 and the spasms are most of the way gone but the nerve still tingles down into my leg pretty heavily. I am supposed to continue stretching and cut back on the meds for the next couple of weeks along with some physical therapy.
My biggest concern is there may be a bulging disc or something else that will lead to surgery…..Here is the biggest worry for me. We have 71 days until we load ourselves into a big metal can and fly to the Caribbean. I cant have this still going on while I am trying to get there. I will be going to PT, doing y stretching, cutting out the pain meds and everything else I can and or need to do to get better to include…the obvious dropping of a few lbs along the line.
Learning for the day, if I don’t stay fit, I will end up in a lot of pain by doing something as simple as taking out the trash…by the way I did take it to the curb today with no impact to my back. At this point I have been 21 hours with no painkillers in my system though I am sore enough that they sure would be nice to take they just aren’t necessary at this point.
He filled my hip full of cordozone and another steroid and prescribed a muscle relaxer and sent me home. Repeat Thursday afternoon lying on floor in pain. Sat came and still more pain….took meds but they did very little good. Sunday morning I rolled out of bed and told my wife as soon as I was done with a shower it was time to head to the emergency room, I have never felt my back hurt like this before.
The ER really fixed me up…I left there feeling NO pain. More Steroid and a bit of morphine for the pain along with a new muscle relaxer and an awesome painkiller. First time in several days I had felt at all decent.
I’ll save you most of the rest of the minute by minute cause I did a lot of sleeping and my intent is not to bore you any more than I have. Today is Day 8 and the spasms are most of the way gone but the nerve still tingles down into my leg pretty heavily. I am supposed to continue stretching and cut back on the meds for the next couple of weeks along with some physical therapy.
My biggest concern is there may be a bulging disc or something else that will lead to surgery…..Here is the biggest worry for me. We have 71 days until we load ourselves into a big metal can and fly to the Caribbean. I cant have this still going on while I am trying to get there. I will be going to PT, doing y stretching, cutting out the pain meds and everything else I can and or need to do to get better to include…the obvious dropping of a few lbs along the line.
Learning for the day, if I don’t stay fit, I will end up in a lot of pain by doing something as simple as taking out the trash…by the way I did take it to the curb today with no impact to my back. At this point I have been 21 hours with no painkillers in my system though I am sore enough that they sure would be nice to take they just aren’t necessary at this point.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Quack, quack….boing! Are you kidding me?
Things I read on Facebook can be a bit troubling at times, today I read a hyperlink on facebook that took me to a letter posted on the ST Marten News Network ( http://www.smn-news.com/letters/4440-american-tourist-files-complaint-against-club-orient-and-gendarmes.html ) I don’t normally send you to another link but I found this story to be pertinent to me as a photographer, take a few moments and read his letter as well as the notes following and make your own decision for I certainly have an opinion on this one.
This is a story about a guy that sat down at the edge of a naturist beach resort with a powerful camera that was accosted by the security folks of said resort. They requested to view what was on his memory card….he refused. They jerked his equipment away from him and took it to the front desk of the resort. The clerk viewed the pictures and then reformatted his memory card deleting the pictures he captured. He sent a letter off to the French Govt to complain about how he was treated on the beach as well as by the gendarmes after they were called. The folks at the resort say that there were graphic images of children that were undressed on the memory card. It was deleted so there is no proof one way or another.
I am concerned on a couple of levels here;
First and foremost if this “gentleman” was shooting photos of naked children…he is a sick man and needs see a therapist after he serves time for invasion of privacy and child pornography.
Second, I too am a photographer and bring some reasonably expensive equipment to the island but to capture nature’s scenery not people with or without clothes on.
I hate to feel that because I bring a professional quality camera to a beach to capture the beauty of the island that I will be lumped in with those trying to capture secret pictures of the unaware people on the beach.
When we go to a beach in which there may be nudity, I will shoot pictures of the landscape in the early morning light and if we choose to stay and enjoy the day on that beach I will put my camera away, not to see the light of the rest of the day at that beach.
I simply find the explanation of what occurred tasteless and rude…just the image American’s need. Thanks dude! It says in your note you are 60 but that doesn’t sound like rational behavior of any 60 year old I know.
The Facebook page that I found this on had a lengthy list of responses and basically one could shoot a lot of holes in the story that he told. His complaint is one that leads me back to Woody Harrelson’s character in the movie “after the Sunset” says…..”hey ,look over here at my assistant with the big tits while I take that Rolex off your arm”..one of deception and diversion from what was really happening.
In the end I responded if one walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, I seriously doubt that they are a kangaroo….now you know why today’s title is ….Quack, quack, boing!
This is a story about a guy that sat down at the edge of a naturist beach resort with a powerful camera that was accosted by the security folks of said resort. They requested to view what was on his memory card….he refused. They jerked his equipment away from him and took it to the front desk of the resort. The clerk viewed the pictures and then reformatted his memory card deleting the pictures he captured. He sent a letter off to the French Govt to complain about how he was treated on the beach as well as by the gendarmes after they were called. The folks at the resort say that there were graphic images of children that were undressed on the memory card. It was deleted so there is no proof one way or another.
I am concerned on a couple of levels here;
First and foremost if this “gentleman” was shooting photos of naked children…he is a sick man and needs see a therapist after he serves time for invasion of privacy and child pornography.
Second, I too am a photographer and bring some reasonably expensive equipment to the island but to capture nature’s scenery not people with or without clothes on.
I hate to feel that because I bring a professional quality camera to a beach to capture the beauty of the island that I will be lumped in with those trying to capture secret pictures of the unaware people on the beach.
When we go to a beach in which there may be nudity, I will shoot pictures of the landscape in the early morning light and if we choose to stay and enjoy the day on that beach I will put my camera away, not to see the light of the rest of the day at that beach.
I simply find the explanation of what occurred tasteless and rude…just the image American’s need. Thanks dude! It says in your note you are 60 but that doesn’t sound like rational behavior of any 60 year old I know.
The Facebook page that I found this on had a lengthy list of responses and basically one could shoot a lot of holes in the story that he told. His complaint is one that leads me back to Woody Harrelson’s character in the movie “after the Sunset” says…..”hey ,look over here at my assistant with the big tits while I take that Rolex off your arm”..one of deception and diversion from what was really happening.
In the end I responded if one walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, I seriously doubt that they are a kangaroo….now you know why today’s title is ….Quack, quack, boing!
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Batteries…it must need new batteries.
What needs new batteries? My watch does, especially the date component. I think the damned thing is stuck .
I have most of my plans made for our fall adventure and now it seems as if Father Time is standing dead in his tracks and refusing to budge. Come on, I want to get to ST Somewhere….ok not so much somewhere , really just like to be boarding that giant cigar tube with wings on my way to ST Maarten!.
I still need to be in contact with some island friends to see when I can set up a party and possibly another art showing. I need to spend some time and increase my picture count from the dozen or so I have to a couple of dozen and then have some more prints made up. Get some more canvas works ready as well.
There is still some shooting I need to do to become even more comfortable with my camera and its settings. I may even try out a new product line. Then there is the website that is about half built. Cant sell anything if there is nothing on line to sell.
Hmmm guess I have plenty to do after all. Wait, in thinking this thru, I just saw the second hand move. The watch does work it is just real slow at this point.
I can already see the watch scenario work out and here is what will happen. Those proverbial batteries will get recharged with about 30 days left before our trip and then I will see Father Time move into a sprint to the finish line…leaving me grasping at last minute straws to make sure everything I am looking to get done is ready to go when I am. Guess it is time to stop whining and start winding the watch …..crap, just saw the minute hand move guess I best get a move on! Tick, tick, tick….
I have most of my plans made for our fall adventure and now it seems as if Father Time is standing dead in his tracks and refusing to budge. Come on, I want to get to ST Somewhere….ok not so much somewhere , really just like to be boarding that giant cigar tube with wings on my way to ST Maarten!.
I still need to be in contact with some island friends to see when I can set up a party and possibly another art showing. I need to spend some time and increase my picture count from the dozen or so I have to a couple of dozen and then have some more prints made up. Get some more canvas works ready as well.
There is still some shooting I need to do to become even more comfortable with my camera and its settings. I may even try out a new product line. Then there is the website that is about half built. Cant sell anything if there is nothing on line to sell.
Hmmm guess I have plenty to do after all. Wait, in thinking this thru, I just saw the second hand move. The watch does work it is just real slow at this point.
I can already see the watch scenario work out and here is what will happen. Those proverbial batteries will get recharged with about 30 days left before our trip and then I will see Father Time move into a sprint to the finish line…leaving me grasping at last minute straws to make sure everything I am looking to get done is ready to go when I am. Guess it is time to stop whining and start winding the watch …..crap, just saw the minute hand move guess I best get a move on! Tick, tick, tick….
Friday, July 23, 2010
99 bottles of beer on the wall…
Take one down and pass it around…..Yup, yesterday my return to the island countdown fell below 100 days until we return to the island! Woo hoo and yeah for us! Today is 98 bottles o beer….er, days till we are back on the terra firma of ST Maarten. Guess some of the terra won’t be so firma when the soothing waves wash over the tops of my feet at the beach but I think you get the idea
This trip is going so smooth in planning that I am concerned that it no longer is a challenge or that I am just getting too good at it and is second nature…
List;
Airfare…check
Timeshare…check
Rental car….check
Cell phone…check
Cash……is check the appropriate response appropriate here??? Anyway most of that already put away too so…check
New photo gear….check
Plans for a second art show…in the works
I even made a calendar for the time we are there and have added things like Corresponding times that some friends will be on island
Places I want to shoot
Prospective night for art showing
Evenings available for dinner with friends
This time I am really focusing on capturing more of the photos I desire as well as optimizing my time with the one I desire while juggling activities and friends.
We learn from each trip and the residual effect is that we cant wait to get back to the island and enhance our next trip with the sweet mixture of friends (local and travelers), sun, sand, relaxation and recharging.
See ya ST Maarten in 98 days!
This trip is going so smooth in planning that I am concerned that it no longer is a challenge or that I am just getting too good at it and is second nature…
List;
Airfare…check
Timeshare…check
Rental car….check
Cell phone…check
Cash……is check the appropriate response appropriate here??? Anyway most of that already put away too so…check
New photo gear….check
Plans for a second art show…in the works
I even made a calendar for the time we are there and have added things like Corresponding times that some friends will be on island
Places I want to shoot
Prospective night for art showing
Evenings available for dinner with friends
This time I am really focusing on capturing more of the photos I desire as well as optimizing my time with the one I desire while juggling activities and friends.
We learn from each trip and the residual effect is that we cant wait to get back to the island and enhance our next trip with the sweet mixture of friends (local and travelers), sun, sand, relaxation and recharging.
See ya ST Maarten in 98 days!
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Oh Happy Day!
I was up a bit late last night booking our airfare to the island. I then had an issue with going to sleep after I booked. Glad my home town baseball team was playing on the west coast last night, I got to watch the end of the game and all the post game interviews in order to put myself to sleep.
We got great flights again! Price not so great but the flights are perfect.
Rob’s Caribbean flight ideas….I live in Kansas City….I travel in spring and fall….I do not want to go north to go south..especially in those seasons!! I prefer to have one stop when at all possible, from KC flying American I have to make two stops but that is part of the price of flying American. I would like to spend no more than 12 hours in travel to my final destination. That can be done on all airlines when the sun and moon are in alignment.
Now we wonder why the friendly skies aren’t as friendly as they once were ….Airlines amaze me. I have been following prices for ticket since I returned from my last trip in April….American had the best prices however I was going to visit some of the most populated cities and busiest airports along my path to paradise. From KC I was scheduled to fly to Chicago, Atlanta and Miami before heading to the Caribbean. This would have been about 15 hours of travel….just too much time!
Delta has a great flight, KC to Atlanta.. (without going thru Chicago or Miami) and Atlanta direct to our Caribbean destination…but the price was almost double that of American’s flights.
US Scare…sorry folks US Air had reasonable prices and the best flights….up early for a 5:30 AM flight but the reward is touch down at 1:42 PM the very same day…so for an extra $50 each ticket….we chose to fly US Air. Have taken this flight before a couple of times and it is honestly perfect for us…up early and there before we get too tired!
Now time to save cash and work on some more of my art and maybe even a new product to introduce. This time I am thinking two photo art shows while on island.
We got great flights again! Price not so great but the flights are perfect.
Rob’s Caribbean flight ideas….I live in Kansas City….I travel in spring and fall….I do not want to go north to go south..especially in those seasons!! I prefer to have one stop when at all possible, from KC flying American I have to make two stops but that is part of the price of flying American. I would like to spend no more than 12 hours in travel to my final destination. That can be done on all airlines when the sun and moon are in alignment.
Now we wonder why the friendly skies aren’t as friendly as they once were ….Airlines amaze me. I have been following prices for ticket since I returned from my last trip in April….American had the best prices however I was going to visit some of the most populated cities and busiest airports along my path to paradise. From KC I was scheduled to fly to Chicago, Atlanta and Miami before heading to the Caribbean. This would have been about 15 hours of travel….just too much time!
Delta has a great flight, KC to Atlanta.. (without going thru Chicago or Miami) and Atlanta direct to our Caribbean destination…but the price was almost double that of American’s flights.
US Scare…sorry folks US Air had reasonable prices and the best flights….up early for a 5:30 AM flight but the reward is touch down at 1:42 PM the very same day…so for an extra $50 each ticket….we chose to fly US Air. Have taken this flight before a couple of times and it is honestly perfect for us…up early and there before we get too tired!
Now time to save cash and work on some more of my art and maybe even a new product to introduce. This time I am thinking two photo art shows while on island.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Prepare to say goodbye to the couch potato
We have 122 days until we board the big metal bird and head south east!
At day 120 Mary and I are going to start the P90X program. I already know I wont follow all parts of it …as in I wont follow the diet. I will work on a modified diet and be willing to do that. Our goal is to lose several lbs before we get on the plane to our paradise.
How successful will we be? I am guessing I will lose my goal of at least 25 lbs but not as successful as could be if followed the program to the letter.
So I have my tennis shoes ready, sorting out all of my old t-shirts and shorts and getting ready to get my sweat on….wish me luck!
At day 120 Mary and I are going to start the P90X program. I already know I wont follow all parts of it …as in I wont follow the diet. I will work on a modified diet and be willing to do that. Our goal is to lose several lbs before we get on the plane to our paradise.
How successful will we be? I am guessing I will lose my goal of at least 25 lbs but not as successful as could be if followed the program to the letter.
So I have my tennis shoes ready, sorting out all of my old t-shirts and shorts and getting ready to get my sweat on….wish me luck!
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
My wandering mind
Yup, the title says it all. I have only been back from a short island trip just over 6 weeks and I have a very bad case of “I don’t give a flip”. I need an escape and I need it fast. Problem being I have about 4 and a half months till we jet out of the American heartland and back to our island paradise. I have a lineage of songs running thru my head that are all about the same thing, escape, escape, escape! From the Beatles to Jimmy Buffett to Kenny Chesney. They make me smile and at the same time frustrated that I cant be where I want to be. Wow that is an incredibly spoiled comment!!
I have the bug to use my new camera and lenses to get out in the tropics and shoot pix so that I can sustain myself thru envisioning myself immersed in new dreamt adventures that are captured in snapshots of time via camera and lens.
I know I shouldn’t whine but …..My mind is not here and hasn’t been for some time. I am on island emotionally and simply going thru the motions here. Yes, I do my job but have no gusto left. I constantly think of how can I get back down island? How much time can I spend there this time? What can I shoot while there and am I going to get the sparse or heavy clouds?
As you can see my mind is in the clouds and my focus is already on our return to the island.
Yes, I checked airline ticket prices today. That is an every Tuesday and Wednesday effort even when I have tickets in hand already…Come on Delta or US Air….time for a sale. American is about the price I am used to but is an all day trip leaving at 6AM arriving 8PM and visiting a city in the Midwest like Chicago or Dallas and either Miami or San Juan before ending at SXM.
I have the bug to use my new camera and lenses to get out in the tropics and shoot pix so that I can sustain myself thru envisioning myself immersed in new dreamt adventures that are captured in snapshots of time via camera and lens.
I know I shouldn’t whine but …..My mind is not here and hasn’t been for some time. I am on island emotionally and simply going thru the motions here. Yes, I do my job but have no gusto left. I constantly think of how can I get back down island? How much time can I spend there this time? What can I shoot while there and am I going to get the sparse or heavy clouds?
As you can see my mind is in the clouds and my focus is already on our return to the island.
Yes, I checked airline ticket prices today. That is an every Tuesday and Wednesday effort even when I have tickets in hand already…Come on Delta or US Air….time for a sale. American is about the price I am used to but is an all day trip leaving at 6AM arriving 8PM and visiting a city in the Midwest like Chicago or Dallas and either Miami or San Juan before ending at SXM.
Monday, June 7, 2010
A weekend of digital upgrade…
This weekend I pulled the trigger on a new Digital SLR to replace the Canon xTi that I have been shooting with (which was borrowed from one of my sons) I stepped to the plate and with a 2 balls 1 strike count, I drove a sharp line drive into the gap plating all base runners in front of me with a stand up triple. Baseball aside, I purchased a shiny new Canon 50D with two new lenses, a 28 – 135mm base lens and a 75 – 300mm zoom for those hard to get shots. All are equip with a lens stabilizer which is a big plus in my book.
I took the camera for a bit of a test spin to our local arboretum to put it thru its paces…the camera way out performed me…guess it will be time to brush up on some skills. I was very impressed with the smoothness of operation and ease in which changing controls occur. Much easier to adjust than the Rebel I used before. Everything seemed pretty intuitive.
I think I am ready to take another trip to the tropics…like I wasn’t before I got the camera. I cant wait to see what new shots I can come up with because it sure has jumpstarted me to get back out and shoot some more!!
I took the camera for a bit of a test spin to our local arboretum to put it thru its paces…the camera way out performed me…guess it will be time to brush up on some skills. I was very impressed with the smoothness of operation and ease in which changing controls occur. Much easier to adjust than the Rebel I used before. Everything seemed pretty intuitive.
I think I am ready to take another trip to the tropics…like I wasn’t before I got the camera. I cant wait to see what new shots I can come up with because it sure has jumpstarted me to get back out and shoot some more!!
Monday, May 24, 2010
Back from the island....safe and sound!
I’ve been back for just short of a month now….Went to ST Maarten for a 3 day junket.
Had an art show in which probably 40 people attended and even sold a couple of pieces while there. Then hit and worked Front street in Philipsburg. That part didn’t go nearly as well as I would have hoped. Though I did learn a few things…..tourists are cheap and for the most part want to buy junk. I brought one item that fit into that category….cheap that is and two others that were still under $20 but very little interest in those. I did find out, one store owner was honest with me…..I picked a bad time to visit the island for sales of tourist trinkets. Was there the last week of April, should have been the last week of September. Seems that all of the buying is done in the fall for the next season.
Oh well I have a couple of friends on island that will help me out and thank you all!!!
I have placed items in 4 shops on front street, one piece of art in Grand Case and some of my products in Simpson Bay too.
I need to re evaluate the smaller items, do I want to go forward with them or just stick with my art?? Here is my dilemma, I don’t like the idea of some of my better photos ending up on something that gets tossed in a couple of days….should it matter to me? Maybe not but it does.
My art show was pretty successful, at least I got good reviews from those that saw the pictures. That made me feel better as I had already heard the proverbial “no thanks” at least 50 times before the art show.
On a happier note, my eldest flew to the island with me and fell in love with it, he loves the French side and did enjoy the Dutch side too. He liked the culture on the French side…though at 25 wasn’t too thrilled with Orient beach…there were no women under probably 45 there the day we visited so was less than enthused with what he saw….tried to tell him to each their own and it takes some nerve to be an American and take some or all of your clothes off ….a nerve usually reserved for those over 40 that frankly don’t care what others think or say. Example…We were bobbing up and down with the waves at Orient when a very large couple entered the water….she immediately started in on every woman that walked by…she shouldn’t be topless and other un pleasant jabs like that. Listening to them I later found out that this was a pair of cruisers from the Dakotas. They literally fussed about the price of the chairs to rent, expensiveness of the drinks, how ruff the surf was ( and it wasn’t) and then they became judges of the men and women that walked by. If this is how those of us from the US are no wonder we have such a bad rap as ugly tourists. They then made their way back to the beach bar and proceeded to order French fries and deep fried string cheese…what happened to when in Rome? Try something new..or better yet if you are going to sit and complain….go back to your cruise ship and stay there… OOPS there I go ranting again!!
We did cover most of the island to view some of the beaches and man that turned out to be exciting too….there was a bit of a surge on the south and west facing shores. We stopped at Plumb Baie to enjoy the water but after walking to the beach I quickly realized there was no place to get in that wasn’t rock covered that day and the waves were a bit too strong to try that so we decided to head to Baie Longue, was ruff there too but we found a little sandy entrance to the water so hung out there for a bit. (side note, I learned while living in Hawaii, never turn your back on the Ocean). We had been at the surf’s edge for probably 10-15 mins enjoying the break and just having a good time when the undertow suddenly picked up ….as in it pulled my 250+ lb body down and into the surf, and started pulling my son out. He is an excellent swimmer and diver and not one prone to panic…I pulled myself out and turned to him and said….relax and wait for the wave….sure enough a much larger than average wave followed behind and not so nicely deposited him on the shore. We decided that caution should at that point override our confidence and we headed for the dunes to relax a bit before heading back to the room.
He said when he took his shower….he brought 5lbs of sand back with him…the shower floor looked like the beach its self… Out of the multitude f times I have been on island, that was the first time anything wave related has ever shook me…but that was the only time that I didn’t respect the ocean like I should have.
Rest of the trip was simply awesome and we are looking to return in late Oct.
Had an art show in which probably 40 people attended and even sold a couple of pieces while there. Then hit and worked Front street in Philipsburg. That part didn’t go nearly as well as I would have hoped. Though I did learn a few things…..tourists are cheap and for the most part want to buy junk. I brought one item that fit into that category….cheap that is and two others that were still under $20 but very little interest in those. I did find out, one store owner was honest with me…..I picked a bad time to visit the island for sales of tourist trinkets. Was there the last week of April, should have been the last week of September. Seems that all of the buying is done in the fall for the next season.
Oh well I have a couple of friends on island that will help me out and thank you all!!!
I have placed items in 4 shops on front street, one piece of art in Grand Case and some of my products in Simpson Bay too.
I need to re evaluate the smaller items, do I want to go forward with them or just stick with my art?? Here is my dilemma, I don’t like the idea of some of my better photos ending up on something that gets tossed in a couple of days….should it matter to me? Maybe not but it does.
My art show was pretty successful, at least I got good reviews from those that saw the pictures. That made me feel better as I had already heard the proverbial “no thanks” at least 50 times before the art show.
On a happier note, my eldest flew to the island with me and fell in love with it, he loves the French side and did enjoy the Dutch side too. He liked the culture on the French side…though at 25 wasn’t too thrilled with Orient beach…there were no women under probably 45 there the day we visited so was less than enthused with what he saw….tried to tell him to each their own and it takes some nerve to be an American and take some or all of your clothes off ….a nerve usually reserved for those over 40 that frankly don’t care what others think or say. Example…We were bobbing up and down with the waves at Orient when a very large couple entered the water….she immediately started in on every woman that walked by…she shouldn’t be topless and other un pleasant jabs like that. Listening to them I later found out that this was a pair of cruisers from the Dakotas. They literally fussed about the price of the chairs to rent, expensiveness of the drinks, how ruff the surf was ( and it wasn’t) and then they became judges of the men and women that walked by. If this is how those of us from the US are no wonder we have such a bad rap as ugly tourists. They then made their way back to the beach bar and proceeded to order French fries and deep fried string cheese…what happened to when in Rome? Try something new..or better yet if you are going to sit and complain….go back to your cruise ship and stay there… OOPS there I go ranting again!!
We did cover most of the island to view some of the beaches and man that turned out to be exciting too….there was a bit of a surge on the south and west facing shores. We stopped at Plumb Baie to enjoy the water but after walking to the beach I quickly realized there was no place to get in that wasn’t rock covered that day and the waves were a bit too strong to try that so we decided to head to Baie Longue, was ruff there too but we found a little sandy entrance to the water so hung out there for a bit. (side note, I learned while living in Hawaii, never turn your back on the Ocean). We had been at the surf’s edge for probably 10-15 mins enjoying the break and just having a good time when the undertow suddenly picked up ….as in it pulled my 250+ lb body down and into the surf, and started pulling my son out. He is an excellent swimmer and diver and not one prone to panic…I pulled myself out and turned to him and said….relax and wait for the wave….sure enough a much larger than average wave followed behind and not so nicely deposited him on the shore. We decided that caution should at that point override our confidence and we headed for the dunes to relax a bit before heading back to the room.
He said when he took his shower….he brought 5lbs of sand back with him…the shower floor looked like the beach its self… Out of the multitude f times I have been on island, that was the first time anything wave related has ever shook me…but that was the only time that I didn’t respect the ocean like I should have.
Rest of the trip was simply awesome and we are looking to return in late Oct.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Island bound!!
I have 4 more days till I travel to the island. All products in place. Now busy weighing each bundle and figuring how to distribute to my suitcase. I wrote on my Facebook account earlier this week. Packing for a business trip to the Caribbean isn’t near as much fun as packing for a pleasure trip but is still better than the day in day out doldrums that you go thru in a normal job. This adventure is quite a bit costlier than I had intended with who knows what chance at being a success?? Yes it is easy to doubt myself. People here in the land locked American Midwest seem to love the products but what will a tourist think? Also have a small art show next Tuesday…am nervous about that but all will be fine!
I hope to earn back at least a third of what I have spent. I know some of my stuff has a long shelf life where some of the rest not as much. Will find out soon I guess.
If you are in the Grand Case area on Tuesday evening the 27th of April, stop by TiJon and say hi…if you say you read my blog….I will have a gift for you.
Rob
I hope to earn back at least a third of what I have spent. I know some of my stuff has a long shelf life where some of the rest not as much. Will find out soon I guess.
If you are in the Grand Case area on Tuesday evening the 27th of April, stop by TiJon and say hi…if you say you read my blog….I will have a gift for you.
Rob
Monday, April 5, 2010
Pre-show thoughts
The sun, moon and all of the stars aligned this weekend.
I got all of my products ordered and on a shipping time line which will give me a week to pack and weight…then redistribute the load before I board the flying tin can to the tropics.
I have decided to take many of my products down in my luggage. This required, of course getting the suitcase and measuring the inside width and length to see if I could pack it all in there. The next part may seem funny to some, I am a very visual person so I laid out a grid on the carpet with masking tape…laying out the complete size of the suitcase to be followed by the size of pictures that I have ordered. This helps me to realize just how much room I will have and how large the frames I want to order with it can be.
Yes it is a bit obsessive but I will have my first show and I don’t want it to go poorly because I didn’t plan well.
Only 20 days till I fly and another 2 till my show….ready or not SXM here I come.
I got all of my products ordered and on a shipping time line which will give me a week to pack and weight…then redistribute the load before I board the flying tin can to the tropics.
I have decided to take many of my products down in my luggage. This required, of course getting the suitcase and measuring the inside width and length to see if I could pack it all in there. The next part may seem funny to some, I am a very visual person so I laid out a grid on the carpet with masking tape…laying out the complete size of the suitcase to be followed by the size of pictures that I have ordered. This helps me to realize just how much room I will have and how large the frames I want to order with it can be.
Yes it is a bit obsessive but I will have my first show and I don’t want it to go poorly because I didn’t plan well.
Only 20 days till I fly and another 2 till my show….ready or not SXM here I come.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
My Island Return is Imminent!
Just crossed the 40 days till I board a plane for the islands threshold.
Things are coming along…a bit slowly but still they are getting there.
The two products that take the most time for me are in the production pipeline.
I still have to sleect some of my photos for artwork, figure how I want to present them and oh yeah, work some more on getting folks to attend the exhibit. I have contacted a few locals on island but still need to write up something for the paper and then see if one of the radio stations might be interested in putting me on the air for a couple of minute spot. Still need to get my website up and ready too…..
So nothing much to do and not much time to do it in. My eldest son has decided to hitch a ride to see the island so I will also be a bit of a tour guide. We look forward to hanging out a bit, some introspective conversation about his future and that of my business and of course consuming a few bottles of rum while on island.
I am looking so forward to getting away from Kansas for a while ….we have been set in a dreary weather pattern since December. Still haven’t hit 70 and seldom see the sun. I need a battery recharge badly.
I am working with a friend on island who is going to link me up with some of the business owners on front street in Philipsburg and I hope to see a few folks in Grand Case and even Marigot if I don’t run out of time.
If you have time on the evening of April 27th from 6-8PM locally and have nothing to do, stop in at Tijon in Grand Case and say hi, I will have a special gift for anyone that says they read about the debut in my blog….
Monday, March 8, 2010
Diving it is!!
As any of you that follow my page know, I have invited our 25 year old son to travel to ST Martin with me for a few days. I promised him one day of activity that is his choice…Threw out two fun ideas, first being a tour of Anguilla and second being a couple of dives off of ST Martin.
To my surprise he chose the diving. Yes we are both advanced open water certified with PADI so being qualified is no issue. I made the assumption that he would want to go to Anguilla and was wrong. I like to dive and has been a bit over a year since I have been so I am very good with refreshing my skills a bit and seeing a bit of King Neptune’s gardens that surround ST Martin.
Our next discussion is what part of our own equipment will we bring or no. Our fins are large enough to propel a pretty healthy Humpback whale thru the water. Problem being they are just that large. My guess is we will be taking our masks and snorkels but leaving the fins behind. My intent is to use Octopus dive in Grand Case. They look like the kind of shop I would like to use. Max on a dive is 6 people and they will rent equipment that is fairly new and very well kept. That makes things easy. Now just have to book a half day of diving to enjoy…
To my surprise he chose the diving. Yes we are both advanced open water certified with PADI so being qualified is no issue. I made the assumption that he would want to go to Anguilla and was wrong. I like to dive and has been a bit over a year since I have been so I am very good with refreshing my skills a bit and seeing a bit of King Neptune’s gardens that surround ST Martin.
Our next discussion is what part of our own equipment will we bring or no. Our fins are large enough to propel a pretty healthy Humpback whale thru the water. Problem being they are just that large. My guess is we will be taking our masks and snorkels but leaving the fins behind. My intent is to use Octopus dive in Grand Case. They look like the kind of shop I would like to use. Max on a dive is 6 people and they will rent equipment that is fairly new and very well kept. That makes things easy. Now just have to book a half day of diving to enjoy…
Thursday, February 25, 2010
A lesson learned in seeking out vendors
I am putting together ideas for different ways to market my photo art, from photo paper to canvas works and even printed on metal (awesome by the way) and Plexiglas. I have worked with local vendors, national and even one international.
The following are some of my learnings;
First and foremost, sample it. I have had to absorb a bit of expense with sampling some products but in the long run it has saved me some serious heartburn.
Visit with many vendors, you never know who you will just fit with and what will work out. I have one vendor that does exquisite work…with out a doubt the best quality bar none. Issue is they price me out as the middle man. If I were to go directly to retail their incredible art work, I would do ok but to wholesale, I lose my shorts. I know, I am selling on ST Maarten so who needs shorts? I do!!!! I will use this vendor for a few items where it makes sense.
Have a second vendor that is like me fairly small potatoes. Very good to work with but draw backs are things like, I have shipping expenses so what ever it costs there is a small mark up just to get it to me as is a few states away. I have at least one product in mind that this vendor makes well and is worth me using.
Third vendor is a local ad agency. They are fantastic for my lower end products and some specialty printing they do is out of this world. I think they will get the bulk of my business. They are close by so I save on shipping and get very good prices and turn around time.
Fourth vendor is the vendor from hell. This is my international vendor, I tried a number of products. They misspelled words…that they spelled correctly in other places. Put logos on products crooked and even lopped off heads on simple photos. I have to wait weeks for these orders to complete and ship. Last item took them four full weeks to get to me. By the time I add shipping and time….these guys are simply unacceptable for product.
I am currently working low quantity and that is part of my expense with an over seas vendor. If I were ordering 2500 or more of an item and knew the quality was decent, then I would be in good shape with using the over seas vendor.
Rob is building his business on shoestrings so doesn’t have an extra 10K at hand to be able to order quantities like that so I guess I will work with my “local” vendors.
The following are some of my learnings;
First and foremost, sample it. I have had to absorb a bit of expense with sampling some products but in the long run it has saved me some serious heartburn.
Visit with many vendors, you never know who you will just fit with and what will work out. I have one vendor that does exquisite work…with out a doubt the best quality bar none. Issue is they price me out as the middle man. If I were to go directly to retail their incredible art work, I would do ok but to wholesale, I lose my shorts. I know, I am selling on ST Maarten so who needs shorts? I do!!!! I will use this vendor for a few items where it makes sense.
Have a second vendor that is like me fairly small potatoes. Very good to work with but draw backs are things like, I have shipping expenses so what ever it costs there is a small mark up just to get it to me as is a few states away. I have at least one product in mind that this vendor makes well and is worth me using.
Third vendor is a local ad agency. They are fantastic for my lower end products and some specialty printing they do is out of this world. I think they will get the bulk of my business. They are close by so I save on shipping and get very good prices and turn around time.
Fourth vendor is the vendor from hell. This is my international vendor, I tried a number of products. They misspelled words…that they spelled correctly in other places. Put logos on products crooked and even lopped off heads on simple photos. I have to wait weeks for these orders to complete and ship. Last item took them four full weeks to get to me. By the time I add shipping and time….these guys are simply unacceptable for product.
I am currently working low quantity and that is part of my expense with an over seas vendor. If I were ordering 2500 or more of an item and knew the quality was decent, then I would be in good shape with using the over seas vendor.
Rob is building his business on shoestrings so doesn’t have an extra 10K at hand to be able to order quantities like that so I guess I will work with my “local” vendors.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Look for this flyer on island soon
I sent several copies of this flyer with one of my friends today as they headed for ST Martin/ST Maarten.
If you have some free time that evening I would love to meet you.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
I've commited to a show!
Moved forward with my business that is. I am now officially scheduled for a meet the photo artist evening at TiJon Parfumerie in Grand Case on the evening of April 27.
For anyone on island that wants to stop in and say hi, meet me or even just come and visit the shop, this would be a great opportunity. Flyers have been printed and will be en-rute to the island tomorrow..gulp. Rob has to prepare to meet folks. This is a bit unnerving as well as just plain fun.
Next on the agenda is to gather a few more interesting shots from around the island that are unique. I have a load of the normal beauty shots. I want to bring those and some unique ones as well.
This trip will be super short, only on island 3 full days but I will have so much to do.
Will be meeting with a friend that is going to introduce me to some folks on front street for some sales opportunities too. This will of course be using my pix but not necessarily as art prints. I still have a bunch of work to do but the advertisement component has at least started.
For anyone on island that wants to stop in and say hi, meet me or even just come and visit the shop, this would be a great opportunity. Flyers have been printed and will be en-rute to the island tomorrow..gulp. Rob has to prepare to meet folks. This is a bit unnerving as well as just plain fun.
Next on the agenda is to gather a few more interesting shots from around the island that are unique. I have a load of the normal beauty shots. I want to bring those and some unique ones as well.
This trip will be super short, only on island 3 full days but I will have so much to do.
Will be meeting with a friend that is going to introduce me to some folks on front street for some sales opportunities too. This will of course be using my pix but not necessarily as art prints. I still have a bunch of work to do but the advertisement component has at least started.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
The stage is set
Tickets purchased….Check
Room booked……....Check
Car reserved………..Check
Phone reserved……..Check
Now the rest is well, up to me. I have a date to roll out Antilles Treasures photo art.
That will be April 27, 2010 at TiJon Perfumery in Grand Case, Saint Martin in the French West Indies. That evening my friends John and Cyndi are willing to host a meet the artist night. Now I am working furiously on my art. Have several prints already in development but want to get them all set up and ready to go by mid March.
I then will spend a couple of days with the merchants in Philipsburg Sint Maarten (Dutch West Indies) same island. Working on creating some products for them such as smaller prints and trinkets that catch the eye of tourists that are not as much into the art component of what I have. I am real behind on this one but will be working thru the weekend to feverishly catch up. Still have to pick out the products, have samples made and purchase in a small quantity items to take with me.
It is exciting but a bit stressful though I realize nothing ventured nothing gained and my dear wife is willing to support me on this so here we go….
I am currently doing some more mundane things like creating a meet the artist poster in English and French to be distributed and hung on the island. Getting together ordering forms and making new business cards. Lots of fun things that will leave me needing a vacation when I return from my trip to the islands.
I hope to have my website up and running by April 24th, before I board the plane to ST Maarten.
Wish me luck all……
Room booked……....Check
Car reserved………..Check
Phone reserved……..Check
Now the rest is well, up to me. I have a date to roll out Antilles Treasures photo art.
That will be April 27, 2010 at TiJon Perfumery in Grand Case, Saint Martin in the French West Indies. That evening my friends John and Cyndi are willing to host a meet the artist night. Now I am working furiously on my art. Have several prints already in development but want to get them all set up and ready to go by mid March.
I then will spend a couple of days with the merchants in Philipsburg Sint Maarten (Dutch West Indies) same island. Working on creating some products for them such as smaller prints and trinkets that catch the eye of tourists that are not as much into the art component of what I have. I am real behind on this one but will be working thru the weekend to feverishly catch up. Still have to pick out the products, have samples made and purchase in a small quantity items to take with me.
It is exciting but a bit stressful though I realize nothing ventured nothing gained and my dear wife is willing to support me on this so here we go….
I am currently doing some more mundane things like creating a meet the artist poster in English and French to be distributed and hung on the island. Getting together ordering forms and making new business cards. Lots of fun things that will leave me needing a vacation when I return from my trip to the islands.
I hope to have my website up and running by April 24th, before I board the plane to ST Maarten.
Wish me luck all……
Monday, February 8, 2010
Who Dat?
No not talking about the New Orleans Saints....congrats on your championship however! I honestly think most of the football loving country was cheering for you last night...
My Who Dat is about a friend...
Today I had to cut loose one of my friends. He isn’t a close friend but was one none the less. It was time for me to call INS and have this guy sent home. Yes, I did that to one of my friends…. Wonder who he was?? I will tell you he was my friend Jose. We have had some fun together but every time he thinks I'm not paying attention to him this dude sneaks up on me and whacks me in the head, steals my money and then leaves laughing while I am left with no more than an empty wallet and a massive headache. He came to my super bowl party last night and was friends to all but once again when I least expected it, like a scene from the 1060’s batman tv show….Whack, Pow! Clocked again. This morning I deciced that I have had enough and made the call….Yes my friend Jose it is time for you to go, never again to be welcome in my house or hanging out with me. So as of today, Jose Cuervo is no longer a friend of mine. Back into the bottle you bastard…and be gone!!!
My Who Dat is about a friend...
Today I had to cut loose one of my friends. He isn’t a close friend but was one none the less. It was time for me to call INS and have this guy sent home. Yes, I did that to one of my friends…. Wonder who he was?? I will tell you he was my friend Jose. We have had some fun together but every time he thinks I'm not paying attention to him this dude sneaks up on me and whacks me in the head, steals my money and then leaves laughing while I am left with no more than an empty wallet and a massive headache. He came to my super bowl party last night and was friends to all but once again when I least expected it, like a scene from the 1060’s batman tv show….Whack, Pow! Clocked again. This morning I deciced that I have had enough and made the call….Yes my friend Jose it is time for you to go, never again to be welcome in my house or hanging out with me. So as of today, Jose Cuervo is no longer a friend of mine. Back into the bottle you bastard…and be gone!!!
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Buzz buzz buzz
Getting to be as busy as a bee hive with clover in bloom. Have selected a few new items for an upcoming business trip to ST Maarten.. Have a couple of meetings this Saturday with a possible vendor and my shipping guru. I did select the dates that I will be traveling to the island, Getting there on a Sunday afternoon and returning on the following Thursday, waaaaaaay too short but a guy has to do what he has to do.
Newest occurrence there is I am not completely sure where I will stay. I had a friend on island offer me a room and I truly appreciate it however our eldest son may be coming along with me and if that is the case I wouldn’t even think of imposing on our friends like that so we will stay at our usual stomping groundt the Flamingo Beach Resort. I have checked and they have space along with plenty of available seats on the flights.
Have to wait on my son to say weather or not he wants to go. He said he wants to just relax, sit at the beach and have a few….ok a bunch of drinks. He is 25 so if he wants to pack in some rum punch then so be it!! If he goes he can relax while I am calling on prospective customers and then we can hook back up for the evening and go hang out at a local establishment or two…
I am getting pretty excited but have so much to do and January is almost over….gulp!
Buzz buzz buzz, time to get back to it!!
Newest occurrence there is I am not completely sure where I will stay. I had a friend on island offer me a room and I truly appreciate it however our eldest son may be coming along with me and if that is the case I wouldn’t even think of imposing on our friends like that so we will stay at our usual stomping groundt the Flamingo Beach Resort. I have checked and they have space along with plenty of available seats on the flights.
Have to wait on my son to say weather or not he wants to go. He said he wants to just relax, sit at the beach and have a few….ok a bunch of drinks. He is 25 so if he wants to pack in some rum punch then so be it!! If he goes he can relax while I am calling on prospective customers and then we can hook back up for the evening and go hang out at a local establishment or two…
I am getting pretty excited but have so much to do and January is almost over….gulp!
Buzz buzz buzz, time to get back to it!!
Friday, January 22, 2010
Board meeting weekend
This weekend we are having a board meeting to discuss the path we are to take with our fledgling business before it overwhelms us. Need to discuss our website build, pricing of products, descriptions of products, budget, new business cards and flyers. Even simple things like returning to the island that we are trying to get our items into and making contacts for sales opportunities as well as international shipping. Doesn’t sound like much, or maybe it is a bunch but is next step things that are must do’s to grow the legs we need to have Antilles Treasures get up off the ground and move on it’s own.
We have ordered some samples from China and truly were more than a little disappointed. Will try that again but we are looking for manufacturing here in the USA as well. Have break points set as to pricing but the US wins with quicker turn around and cheaper movement of the product from completion to me.
I need to get a price sheet of products to one customer and prepare pricing and merchandise for several more.
There is a contact to be made on island before I can even think about a return trip that would be full with business and after that there is the annual trip to schedule that will be yet another bountiful harvest of photo art.
The weekend is already pretty full but this is a meeting that really needs to take place in order for us to grow this business. Oh, almost forgot I need to plant a couple of new money trees in our back yard too.
Wish us luck and think good thoughts for us!!!
We have ordered some samples from China and truly were more than a little disappointed. Will try that again but we are looking for manufacturing here in the USA as well. Have break points set as to pricing but the US wins with quicker turn around and cheaper movement of the product from completion to me.
I need to get a price sheet of products to one customer and prepare pricing and merchandise for several more.
There is a contact to be made on island before I can even think about a return trip that would be full with business and after that there is the annual trip to schedule that will be yet another bountiful harvest of photo art.
The weekend is already pretty full but this is a meeting that really needs to take place in order for us to grow this business. Oh, almost forgot I need to plant a couple of new money trees in our back yard too.
Wish us luck and think good thoughts for us!!!
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Hallucination and Anticipation
What? Where am I going with this??
Let me weave this story for you.
Hallucination….
Our weather has been exceptionally wet and cold this winter. There has This week we have actually been above freezing all week so the snow is melting rapidly…and there has been a lot that has had to melt for this part of the country. Now that the stage is set and you are wondering what is this guy on anyway I will proceed with the story.
I carpool with a co worker and was sitting in his drive this morning waiting on him to join me for our drive into work. I peered out the drivers side window and what did I see??? No, not a fat man dressed in red with 8 reindeer….come on now..stick with me.
There in the pile of snow that he or a family member had shoveled off his drive was the outline and topographical shape of the tropical island of ST Maartin/ST Martin. I just stared at it…picking out different bays that we frequent and reminiscing about being there. I did make a mistake as I always carry a camera with me to capture unique and unusual things I see. I didn’t even think about taking this picture until of course my friend had joined me and we were driving away. Unfortunately the mound of snow wont look like ST Maartin when we return this evening…I would imagine that…. for those of you that know the island…. Terres Basses or for us Engilsh speaking folks…the lowlands will be gone, guess reclaimed by the earth.
Anticipation….
I wear a small medallion strung on cord around my ankle that is about the size of a quarter, in the center is a cut out outline of the very same island. I wear it to remind me daily, choices I make and things I do are for a reason and that reason is to get us back to that very island. I am planning two island adventures in 2010. One as a business opportunity and the other as a photo working trip. The first trip if all goes well will be at the end of April without my dear wife as I will work some of the shops along front street and possibly have a meet the artist event in Grand Case. The second one will be around Halloween and will be for new photo ops as well as a bit of R&R for the two of us to renew and recharge.
Let me weave this story for you.
Hallucination….
Our weather has been exceptionally wet and cold this winter. There has This week we have actually been above freezing all week so the snow is melting rapidly…and there has been a lot that has had to melt for this part of the country. Now that the stage is set and you are wondering what is this guy on anyway I will proceed with the story.
I carpool with a co worker and was sitting in his drive this morning waiting on him to join me for our drive into work. I peered out the drivers side window and what did I see??? No, not a fat man dressed in red with 8 reindeer….come on now..stick with me.
There in the pile of snow that he or a family member had shoveled off his drive was the outline and topographical shape of the tropical island of ST Maartin/ST Martin. I just stared at it…picking out different bays that we frequent and reminiscing about being there. I did make a mistake as I always carry a camera with me to capture unique and unusual things I see. I didn’t even think about taking this picture until of course my friend had joined me and we were driving away. Unfortunately the mound of snow wont look like ST Maartin when we return this evening…I would imagine that…. for those of you that know the island…. Terres Basses or for us Engilsh speaking folks…the lowlands will be gone, guess reclaimed by the earth.
Anticipation….
I wear a small medallion strung on cord around my ankle that is about the size of a quarter, in the center is a cut out outline of the very same island. I wear it to remind me daily, choices I make and things I do are for a reason and that reason is to get us back to that very island. I am planning two island adventures in 2010. One as a business opportunity and the other as a photo working trip. The first trip if all goes well will be at the end of April without my dear wife as I will work some of the shops along front street and possibly have a meet the artist event in Grand Case. The second one will be around Halloween and will be for new photo ops as well as a bit of R&R for the two of us to renew and recharge.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Trial and Error
I am working on finding a low cost distributor for some of my photo products. I placed an order in late December for a couple of samples. They arrived yesterday. Rob was pretty excited as these are some small items that I am looking to produce to go along with my photo-art. Something a tourist would pick up while in gift shops as a memento of the island. I picked some simple and useful stuff then provided my pictures and waited….news came on Sunday that the package had been received at my son’s residence. He said he would bring it to me on Monday evening so I came home from work top change and then had a short business meeting with a vendor that I hired to tweak a few pictures. I left that meeting very happy with the end results. Went home and my son was soon there with my package from China. I tore into it like a three year old at Christmas…all you saw was flying paper and moving elbows…with the removal of each item I felt worse and worse. Fortunately these were one off items so I didn’t have to buy 2500 of each but if this is what they have to offer, I wont be doing business overseas for products. So this trial brought error but at least it was at a very small level so I don’t feel that I am out a bunch of cash or stuck with junk I cant move.
No one really hurt but just a bit let down. People tell me that I will need to work with manufacturers in China to make any money. From my first experience, I would rather work with those in the US and not make as much. I want the best quality I can get for merchandise or there is no point in me making an effort. I have a feeler out with a company I use to make one of my other products. We shall see how this goes.
No one really hurt but just a bit let down. People tell me that I will need to work with manufacturers in China to make any money. From my first experience, I would rather work with those in the US and not make as much. I want the best quality I can get for merchandise or there is no point in me making an effort. I have a feeler out with a company I use to make one of my other products. We shall see how this goes.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Could it be so???
It may be that I will be making a return to my island paradise soon, very soon as in 91 days from today. While there I will be shooting pix, hitting up some sales opportunities and with some luck having a meet the artist session at a wonderful store in Grand Case that has agreed to host some of my photo-art.
I have lots to do still, like purchase tickets. Make some contacts and plan the meet and greet. Still checking on products and new ideas. Trying to set reasonable price points and honestly having a difficult time with that subject. I see what going price is on items and just rub my eyes and swallow hard…I’m finding it puts me between a rock and hard place. I am finding that to wholesale I may make less than the stores that carry my products…OUCH!!! Hard to justify some products. Say it cost me $10 to have something made, I think it is worth $25 that would mean I would need to mark it at about $12.50 a unit to make the item appealing to a retail sales establishment.
Hmm, I fly to another country pay for my say and food, shoot the pictures. Buy the pictures from a photo lab and then make $2.50 a print while someone else makes $12.50..but I have no risk like they do so I see where they should make some reward. Now I am part way thru a website where I can offer the same thing at retail prices. Lets see what happens….done venting.
I am very excited to have the opportunity to once again visit the island and possibly put some of my products out there for sale. I am also soon to be the featured photographer on a website. Myislandart.com There are 10 pix out there already with pricing to follow soon.
Wish me luck folks.
I have lots to do still, like purchase tickets. Make some contacts and plan the meet and greet. Still checking on products and new ideas. Trying to set reasonable price points and honestly having a difficult time with that subject. I see what going price is on items and just rub my eyes and swallow hard…I’m finding it puts me between a rock and hard place. I am finding that to wholesale I may make less than the stores that carry my products…OUCH!!! Hard to justify some products. Say it cost me $10 to have something made, I think it is worth $25 that would mean I would need to mark it at about $12.50 a unit to make the item appealing to a retail sales establishment.
Hmm, I fly to another country pay for my say and food, shoot the pictures. Buy the pictures from a photo lab and then make $2.50 a print while someone else makes $12.50..but I have no risk like they do so I see where they should make some reward. Now I am part way thru a website where I can offer the same thing at retail prices. Lets see what happens….done venting.
I am very excited to have the opportunity to once again visit the island and possibly put some of my products out there for sale. I am also soon to be the featured photographer on a website. Myislandart.com There are 10 pix out there already with pricing to follow soon.
Wish me luck folks.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
What a difference a day makes.
Just realized it has been a month since I have posted. Man the winters get me down.
Yesterday was cold and blustery, today..you would think it is spring. Yes, the weather has changed for the day but not that much. Here is what has made me think it is spring.
We are planning our return trip to our little paradise. It will be late October or early November but guess what….we are going and I can plan again. Have talked with some friends that will be there at the same time…Look out Halloween here we come!!!!!!!!
Paid my resort fees for our timeshare and can book as soon as we nail down the days we want to be there.
Second, it looks as if I may have a bachelor trip to the island in April. This will be a very short trip as in 3 full days on island and two full days of travel but…..it will be a great launch opportunity for my business. My intent is to get on island, visit with some merchants and hopefully get into their shops with some of my photo merchandise.
Rob is big time jazzed. Even had a hard time sleeping last night. I was up till midnight working on pictures and merchandise. Today there is a bit more pep in my step and I am so much more excited about things than I was just yesterday…..
Now trips to plan...have the blood flowing with a bit of adreneline again. Guess that will give me reason to post more so if there is anyone out there reading these....there will be more to come.
Yesterday was cold and blustery, today..you would think it is spring. Yes, the weather has changed for the day but not that much. Here is what has made me think it is spring.
We are planning our return trip to our little paradise. It will be late October or early November but guess what….we are going and I can plan again. Have talked with some friends that will be there at the same time…Look out Halloween here we come!!!!!!!!
Paid my resort fees for our timeshare and can book as soon as we nail down the days we want to be there.
Second, it looks as if I may have a bachelor trip to the island in April. This will be a very short trip as in 3 full days on island and two full days of travel but…..it will be a great launch opportunity for my business. My intent is to get on island, visit with some merchants and hopefully get into their shops with some of my photo merchandise.
Rob is big time jazzed. Even had a hard time sleeping last night. I was up till midnight working on pictures and merchandise. Today there is a bit more pep in my step and I am so much more excited about things than I was just yesterday…..
Now trips to plan...have the blood flowing with a bit of adreneline again. Guess that will give me reason to post more so if there is anyone out there reading these....there will be more to come.
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