S-a-t-u-r-day

Does it have to be 5:30 am EVEN on Saturday?

We usually take our time on Saturday mornings because there is no race for school and the hubby's job is right around the corner from home.  Lily and Papa usually make some gauffres or corn pancakes together and everyone sits outside on the patio playing and having breakfast together.  Didier is still at work by 9 am, this all starts REALLY early over here, and I am left for the day with the girls.  In truth, I hate Saturdays.  I am exhausted and on the day that I imagine most families are together, I have both girls and all their craziness all by myself.  I like to take a nap with Virginie during the week if I can and that is DEFINITELY NOT happening with Lily at home.  Lily likes to swim and run and play...and she should, but I feel like I am not giving her all the time and attention she wants.  We do as much as we can.

Rainy days and Fridays

Oh sigh, Barbados.  Thank you, thank you for the rain today.  While the girls are watching Maggie and the Ferocious Beast on video and spaghetti is on the boil, thought I could steal a few minutes to give praise to the somewhat cooler rainy day on offer.  Don't get me wrong, it is so humid that even the Dominican hair straightening may not hold, but there is very little sun...and this means our house is not heated to sweat lodge temps. 

We are on the mend, but slowly.  The antihistamines given for this rash leaves us in a total fog.  The hubby said, "I'd better not take it until tonight or I might cut my fingers off in the kitchen."  It's REALLY funny with the French accent and the straight face.  It has been nice for the nap and bedtimes for Virginie.  No problem last night and today's nap was glorious.

Even though we cannot eat the mangoes, I still collected them this afternoon and there were some other beautiful sights in the garden sometimes lost in the blinding sunlight and heat.  Because of the torrential downpours last night and this morning, coconuts fell, just missing the car and we are thankful for the coco water and pieces of coconut we will eat this weekend.

Mango Mania

Well, you definitely can get too much of a good thing and apparently for us, it's mangos...and limes.  I was right to be a little scared last night about someone keeping me up and Virginie, true to form started crying at about 11:15 pm and didn't stop until 3:00 am!  She, along with my husband and me, is covered in a rash.  Hers is on her chest and back; his is primarily on his neck and chest and mine is all over the place, neck, chest, arms, even my eyes were a little swollen.  We were obviously reacting to something but had no idea what.  Usually the one with some sort of ailment is Lily and she has been spared this time. 

After a 5:30 am wake up call by Lily, I decided a visit to our pediatrician/family doctor was best.  Lily made her 8:30 drop off for school and we met with Dr. Steele-Duncan.  It seems that the mangos we are eating, all citrus food really, is exacerbating a heat rash that we have developed from being sensitive to the heat and humidity!  No more citrus fruits.  We have been given special soaps and creams to use, antihistamines to reduce the itching and swelling, and a command to stay cool and dry.  Uh...good luck with that one.

I suppose we will now have to leave the mangos to the monkeys who, due to our early morning wake ups, we get to see flipping and hopping and marching through the garden stopping to take bites of mangos and leaves as they go.  It's a paradise, Barbados.  I keep reminding myself.


 (c)copyright 2010. Citymominthejungle

Sleep tight

Taking a small glass of Rose D'Anjou to the head with my leftover roast chicken with garlic and cucumber salad, both out of the tupperware containers. Don't tell my husband. It's just easier tonight...and most nights anyway. Got the girls fed and bathed in their storage container tub, Lily's toenails painted I'M WITH BRAD, a new color by Opi for Sephora (don't ask and YES she is 3 1/2 yrs old), did a puzzle, read a story, had teeth brushing and "let me tell you a question" ALL before 7:30 pm this evening. Thank you.

It's quiet except for the little toads that turn into big gross toads singing and the bugs and night animals doing their thing. A little breeze is blowing in and I can smell the moisture from the little white flowers and the mango trees outside. It's peaceful. I miss spending the evening as a family. I miss the sounds of the city too sometimes. Going to close up shop. I never know what time someone, anyone is going to wake me in the middle of the night and for what reason. Time for shut eye.

(c)copyright 2010. Citymominthejungle

Driving me Crazy

Well, I tried it again and again, not so good. This driving in the right side of the car on the left side of the road is not going so well with me. My husband/driving instructor has been most helpful. I particularly loved his comment last night, "If the school kids had been released at this time, you would have killed one or two of them. You are just too close to the left side." Thank you. I will be sure to try THAT again soon.


I am determined and will certainly keep you posted but I think we may be back to bumming rides and the occasional bus. THAT will be a conversation for another time. Public transport here on the island is definitely something to write home about. Like if you were attacked by a shark in the Coral Reef or went four wheeling in the mountains except with 12-15 people on your ATV with you and no helmets or padding...or fully paved roads...or other safe drivers on the road. Ugh. Maybe we will walk...when they get some sidewalks.


Until tomorrow or tonight or whenever the spirit moves me.