Forward and Back--An Early Valentine and Time Together

In case you hadn't noticed, I haven't blogged in awhile.  Well, I have had less internet access lately.  So, I am way behind!  But, I decided to post something fairly current and then go back and post the older posts later.  Here goes!

Wil was in Santo Domingo for most of last week attending a work conference.  We were able to spend the evenings together.  Since we weren't going to be together on Valentine's Day, I prepared an early Valentine's Day dinner for us on Thursday.

Wil was surprised and I was pleased with how it all turned out.

On Friday morning, Wil went to Miches.  I went on the later afternoon bus.  Friday night we just hung out.  There is not a lot of privacy in Miches, so we had Wil's housekeeper/cook and her four kids (one of whom is Brian, my little son when I am in Miches) with us most of the night.

Saturday, Wil worked all day taking water samples.  Saturday night he was tired, but Sandy came over for a little while and we played some Uno.  We also watched a movie, again with the housekeeper and her children.

Sunday, Wil worked in the morning but eventually I got him to leave his office.  Carnaval is coming up here on February 27, Dominican Independence Day, and things are happening all this month.  Each Sunday in Miches there is a festival type thing in the park.  As we walked there, we saw many little kids getting costumes on for the event.  I wasn't sure what was going to happen.  Then, I kept seeing street vendors who had appeared selling things that looked sort of like balloons, but opaque and stuffed with something.  I asked Wil what they were, he didn't know.  He asked someone and they said that they are used to hit people.

These party goers look meaner than they were.  You can see they are carrying their bags to hit people with.  People were being hit all around me.  I was laughing out loud.  The people would sort of stalk someone and then suddenly, "BAM!"  Wil was hit several times.  Apparently I looked crazy, scared, or just out of place as they didn't hit me until Wil finally told one of them to.  Funny!

The costumes are amazing!  We are thinking about going to a big party city for Carnaval, called La Vega--like Las Vegas!!!

After the park, we met up with Sandy to go to the beach.  And this time, I was determined to take pictures and not take the beach for granted.  

There were some lovely blooms along the road.

When we saw Sandy, he had Coral (the dog) with him.  At first I was not impressed cuz she is a bit over the top sometimes, but it ended up to be so much fun for Sandy and Wil.

I couldn't help but laugh watching her make them work for that stick!  And I didn't get a good picture of it, but watching her lead Wil on her leash was priceless.  Of course, she is almost as big as he is!!

The beach was absolutely perfect that day.  It was so tranquil.

Looking back toward where we walked from that day.

The other dog is Coral's friend, Benji.  She is much older and not quite as energetic.  But, she tried.  And, a couple of times, she actually made it into the water seconds before Coral had retrieved the stick from further out in the surf.

Looking toward the local mountain.  I can't remember the name...

We went through a fence to find some coconuts and sweet lemons.  Instead, I found this sweet landscape.

Sandy is almost always on the hunt for a good coconut.  That day, he came upon a pole that others had used for the same purpose.  I laughed at him for choosing the absolutely tallest tree in the area to molest; he was unsuccessful.

Really, whichever way I looked that day, there was beauty.

And then there were bees.  Wil and Sandy are quite afraid; I liked to look a little closer.

This is the best that we could do.  Sandy took four or five.  They were pretty funny, but I didn't want to fill the blog with them.  In one we are both talking, in one I'm pointing and bossing Sandy, and in the others I don't think we were looking at the camera--who knows?

This one is my homage to the classic Caribbean postcard.

There was also a rodeo on the beach that day.  Good times!

The winner of the race being congratulated as he came back to the main area.

As we walked back to town, it was like the skies opened up.  It was gorgeous!

I love the gloaming time...the light, the sounds, the peace.

One more shot of evening across the river to Miches.

We really had a good weekend.  It was nice to get to connect with Wil more.  Each day I'm here I'm trying to live in the moment.  That is not my strongest character trait, but I'm getting better at it.  I'm learning more about myself, so I guess that is growth.