A rainy morning but I needed to play so off I went to join the pickup soccer game. Was nice to see the guys after a month of travel and winter weather. 20 minutes in I took the ball in my face, and played on with a fat lip. An hour in, I pounced on a rebound and smashed the ball into the open net.
Back home in Chapel Hill. Mild weather this afternoon, so after shopping for groceries, I took a walk through the woods near the high school. Tomorrow I’ll play pick-up soccer, first time in a month.
My island vacation on St. Croix let me dive into this big book about Tonga, The Wayfinder: A Novel by Adam Johnson. My earlier study of the Hawaiian language helps to read the Tongan and Maori phrases, and my two years in Vanuatu helps with references to kava. Still 500 pages to enjoy. 📚
Erin brought the inflatable kayak down with her last week and we finally got it on the water yesterday. Here’s a video message she recorded for our children. Was fun to see Frederiksted this way. Paddling back to Sprat Hall against the current was a workout.
Traditional final day on island, stop into Fsted for cinnamon roll at Nachos bakery and coffee at Polly’s at the Pier, sit on the bench in front of the building where I celebrated my 13th birthday, then over to Sprat Hall Beach to string my hammock beneath the sea grape tree. Am only person here.
Seeing news that U2 dropped new songs yesterday. Will listen on my way back to Fsted later. This morning I am in Christiansted, where I will walk the streets that Alexander Hamilton once roamed. I will pause for a meditation on democracy.
Footwear: This week, an old pair of Havianas rubber slippers as I wander the island. Next week, a new pair of cowboy boots waiting at home, and one of my many pairs of soccer boots as I get back on the pitch after a month away due to weather, family, travel.
Hermit crab stopping for a portrait.
Now I’m in my usual perch at Sprat Hall Beach, orange hammock under the seagrape trees, enjoying the yacht rock tunes from the Jolly Mon cat (have sailed her a couple of times) with cruise ship passengers the definition of relaxation.
Morning coffee on the porch, reading The New Yorker, listening to doves coo, the bananaquits and hummingbirds flit between yellow flowers of the ginger thomas bushes, watching cruise ships arrive to the Frederiksted pier. Another beautiful St. Croix day ahead.
We have circumnavigated St. Croix today. Finishing with a last swim off Buck Island. It’s been an epic day on the water.
A day on the boat. Started east of Christiansted and came all the way around to Sandy Point. Stunningly beautiful day.
Arrived on St. Croix to join Erin for the week. We went straight to Leatherback Brewing for beer and pizza (stepbrother Aaron is founder) and now we’re at our mountaintop rental enjoying the afternoon stillness (was a stormy week here I’m told).
Nice story here about Carol & John’s Comic Book Shop in Cleveland (Kamm’s Plaza in West Park). This is down the street from my in-laws and where I used to buy comics by Brian K. Vaughan (who grew up with my sister-in-law).
I was in southeast Durham for a medical test that prohibited me from my usual morning coffee, so as soon as it was done I doubled back to visit the new Qamaria Yemeni Coffeeshop. Alas, it is so new the grand opening is today at 2pm so I missed it by 2 hours.
Just sent my first direct message within Micro.blog to a Mastodon user. Had no idea that was possible, but I had an email saying I’d received a message. So many features of this great platform.
Testing fullscreen writing one more time. Previous post resulted with me stuck with the green “Posted! Now publishing to your blog.” and no way back. I refreshed the window. Opening the console to see if I get an error this time.
Trying the new fullscreen writing experience announced by @manton today. As expected, it’s nice. The improvements to Micro.blog just keep coming.
Woken from deep sleep at 2am with pack of coyotes howling outside. They must have been close because they were louder than I’ve heard before. (Why do they howl? and NC Wildlife flyer)