Day 503 - Bonaire

This morning I did my best to create some raw food. I made ice cream! Well, actually, the ice cream maker is hopefully making ice cream, but I made the milk to go into the ice cream! I misread the recipe & instead of getting 12 cups of milk, I only got 6.5 cups. Minor detail! It smells delicious, so here’s hoping it will taste as good as it smells!

I also made another liter of almond milk. I made a protein shake to go along with it. Unfortunately I found out yesterday that the Sunwarrior we ordered got missed & hasn’t been shipped yet. I think it should go out tomorrow, so hopefully it will meet us in Barbados, otherwise, I’m not sure we’ll ever see it! It’s $50/bag in the US & $95/bag in South Africa, so I’m REALLY hoping it shows up!

I went out with Leana & Becky to a little café near the ship. We enjoyed mango smoothies & did a little internet while we were there. After the girls left for the ship, I found a little health food shop & bought Jaco some snacks. He was half impressed. Better luck next time!

I returned the laptop to the ship & then went out again on my own. Jaco was napping, so I looked in the shops (didn’t buy anything!) & strolled down the waterfront. The water is so crystal clear. It’s absolutely beautiful! I picked a few pieces of water worn coral – one shaped like a heart & the other to use as a pumice stone for my cracked feet!

Back onboard, I visited the Medics for a bit & then I actually found my way to the ship! Believe it or not, I had a great workout! I have missed my friend, the treadmill! I only did 3.5 kms, but I wandered outside on deck & did a few stretches. It was really peaceful. Not a soul in sight, so I think next time I will take my yoga mat with me & do a session outside on deck. I used to do so when I was working on the Sun Princess, but that was back on 2006/07, so it’s been awhile! I’ll keep you posted!

On the way back to the cabin, I swung by the Photo Gallery & visited Larisa for a few minutes. She had a brilliant dive today, but the crew on the dive boat were horrible. Too bad!

Lastly, I made fettuccini alfredo! I made the fettuccini from zucchini & the alfredo from macadamia nuts! It was pretty good if I do say so myself! Although the garlic toast was missing!

Tomorrow we’re in Curaçao & Jaco & I will actually go ashore together! Here’s hoping we have a great time!

xxxxMaria

Day 259 - Survival of the Fittest!

Oh deary me. I had the worst dream of my life last night/this morning. Those of you who know me, will remember that I have, most likely, some of the most bizarre & far-fetched dreams out of anyone else you & I may know. However, this one was so REAL, I woke up frozen with fear. 


I dreamt I was in Wal-Mart with Heidi, the baby girl I was to care for today & tomorrow, and I was carrying her, along with something else. Somehow, Heidi slipped out of my grasp & I didn't even notice. By the time I did notice that I wasn't holding her any longer, I couldn't find her. She was gone. I panicked, frantically looking everywhere for her. The store called a 'CODE ADAM' & the doors were locked & the lights dimmed. (Not sure why you would dim the view when you're LOOKING for something, but hey, it was a strange dream.) The staff looked for about 30 seconds & then the lights came back on & the doors opened & it was business as usual. No sign of baby Heidi. I was running around the largest Wal-Mart I've even seen. I finally called my Mom to come & help me look. I couldn't bear the thought of having to tell Jenn that I had lost their beautiful, perfect, happy little girl! 


Mom came & helped me look. We asked people if they'd seen her - Nope. UGH! Someone must have kidnapped her! Oh where could she be!? Finally I had to call Jenn. Between sobs & hyperventilation, I told the story. Jenn rushed over from work to help look for her daughter. While she was checking in with the dry cleaners (What? Doesn't your Wal-Mart have dry cleaners?) I went along the way to look elsewhere. When I couldn't find Heidi, I turned around to go back & find Jenn when I realized I was lost. 


I thought I knew where I was headed when I hopped onto this strange escalator. It was brightly coloured & there were a lot of kids on it. It didn't have any hand railings & it was quite curvy. I suddenly realized it was fast too! By this point, I couldn't get off. I was fast approaching a sharp dip & turn. Yep, as I rounded the turn at the bottom, I went sailing off the escalator over the housewares when I abruptly woke up. 


Thank goodness the dream was over. But where was Heidi? I realized that Jenn was already gone to work & I was so relieved to see both Heidi & Harrison in their beds. We did NOT go outside at all today. The door was locked. Sorry. Maybe tomorrow if I have pleasant dreams tonight!!! Phew! What a way to start the day! 


The rest of the day went really well. I am so impressed with the routine Jenn & Mike have Heidi & Harrison on. It really makes life easy for both the parents & the children. In fact, I'm thinking I need a routine to keep my life simplified! Harrison & Tina played famously & I'm not sure which of the two enjoyed it more! 


When Jenn returned from work, she took Harrison downtown for some errands & I napped on the couch with Heidi snoozing close by. Jenn made a fantastic seafood pasta & caesar salad for supper & afterwards, we finished watching The Prince of Persia & She's Outta My League. Both were fantastic! The Prince of Persia is one of my new favourites & She's Outta My League was great for a laugh. A little crude in places, but still good for a gas!


I had ran into town for a few things & while I was unloading the truck, this fellow & his little boy walked by. Here's how our conversation went:
'Hi. How are you?', he said.
'Good thanks.'
'It's a beautiful night, eh?'
'Yes, definitely. Summer is finally here!'
'Yes, it's nice. You look like Demi Moore.'
'Wow! Thank you!'


Yeesh, I could pay him every day to walk by & say that! Thanks! Now, if only I had the figure to go along with it!!! :o)


And then there was the phone call to Shaw cable. Jenn's internet wasn't working & since the phone is through the internet, we were without communication. I said I'd ask the neighbour if we could borrow the phone & call Shaw to see what the problem was. As I popped out the door, the neighbour across the fence was just going inside. So I asked Sarah if I could use her phone to call Shaw. She was a little hesitant to lend us the phone - I think she thought I was going to call Ethiopia or something. I reassured her it was only Shaw & since the phone reception wouldn't reach into the house, I sat on the step & called from there. I was on hold for a whopping 57 minutes before someone finally answered my call! Crazy! They couldn't even do anything to fix the internet either! Anyhow, while I was on hold, listening to the 'Unbreak My Heart' chorus over & over & over, I asked Jenn if she would mind clipping the back of my hair for me. Of course, she didn't mind. 


It wasn't until we were mid-way through the process that we realized how silly we looked. I was wearing a ratty old tank top & some sweat pants. Mike had been away less than 24 hours & I had 'moved in'. Looking rather 'butch' in my sweat pants & tank top with a shaved head, I'm sure the neighbours were brewing up the rumours. 'My goodness, the husband's not even gone a day & the lesbian lover has already moved in!' 'Gasp! I know! Can you believe it? Those poor little children, growing up with two Mom's & an unsuspecting Dad!' Oh well, at least they'd know who the 'other man' is in the relationship! We had a pretty good laugh! 


So there you have it! Day 1 of SuperNanny survives without losing a child in Wal-Mart! Yay! Here's to an even more successful tomorrow! Sleep well! I know I will!
xxxx
Maria & Valentina

There's no mistaking it - Harrison looks so much like his Daddy!

My Not-So-Feminine Outfit & the kids. Harrison & I have the same haircut!