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….

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!

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.