Irene who.....??????

So while everyone along the eastern seaboard is eagerly awaiting the arrival of Irene, here in Bermuda we are expecting a beautiful weekend! It is very ironic (cue alanis morissette)  to me that  it was just about a year ago today that I was in Boston anxiously tracking hurricane Dawn who was making here way here to Bermuda with concerns for Philip.  Flash forward 1 year and here I am sitting in Bermuda worried about everyone I love from VA to NY to Boston (....and even now my new bestie in RI....that was for you Lorna!).  I hope that everyone is safe and is able to weather this storm with little or no damage.

In the meantime, I have once again made my way off the rock for a few days.  Last weekend I took a quick trip to Boston for a few days leaving Philip here living like a bachelor (basically that means he ate frozen pizza and fell asleep on the couch in front of the tv).

The weekend picked up right where it left off for me leaving Boston....



happy hour at Solas

  ....Happy Hour!!   These are the very yummy and way too easy to suck down Sangria's at Solas.  They were my friends while I waited for Lorna to finish her day so we could get to the real happy hour that was already in full swing across town....



happy hour at Whiskey Priest

 are you seeing the theme yet?  We made it there only about an hour later than expected (which for Lorna is almost early!) and I got to see some of my peeps who I miss a whole bunch including Bridgey, Christine and Tom (also known as 51%!) and to my surprise some of my friends from Morton's were there as well.  All in all it was a really fun night!

Lorna and I spent the day on Saturday doing all the things I miss about Boston.  We went to Joe's for lunch, which really was just their bread that I love to eat.  Then we went and got manis/pedis really cheap where Bridgey met up with us again and after that we headed to Stephanies for the yummy Grapefruit Drinks (gray hounds) that they are kind enough to serve to me in pint glasses!

Saturday night began with me meeting my new bestie....




my new bestie James

 we had every intention of going to Howl at the Moon, but when we got there there was already a line out the door and around the block and anyone who knows me that when going out there are 2 things I never do....wait in line and pay a cover.  Lord knows there are more than enough bars in Boston that it is just not necessary!  So we ended up at Ned Divine's and then the Harp which I had never been too.  We had a ton of fun and much to Lorna annoyance, James and I are now officially BFF!  
Sunday morning began as I think every morning should....

wouldn't life be so much better if this is how everyday was? And then continued into shopping, again the way every day should!  I was armed with a very long list of items that I needed/wanted to get while in town.  This would be a good time for me to mention Lorna hates to shop, so she was not pleased to see my list at all.  We headed to South Bay Ghetto and I was able to get my spending on, to all my fellow Americans I did a lot to stimulate your economy last weekend, you are welcome!
Once the shopping was over we decided we needed to rest a bit before heading back out to celebrate our friend Jen's birthday at the Beer Garden.  Then it was up early Monday morning to catch my flight back to the rock. 

It was an awesome weekend that my liver will not be recovering from anytime some!  I am very much looking forward to my next trip back there. 

So I hope that everyone is safe this weekend and get through this storm without any issues.  We will be thinking of all you!

events on the island

The summer has been full of events that I have never had the opportunity to attend while living her before.  Typically I would either be off island at OBX with the fam or working because as we all know people just love to get married on the weekends!  Thanks to having to be back on island to work a wedding, I left OBX early but was able to attend the Non-Mariners Race with Philip. 

Let me start with an explanation of that week.  Every year there is a 2 day (Thursday and Friday) holiday here in Bermuda called Cup Match.  It is basically a big cricket game between 2 different parishes on the island.  Everyone is off from work and either goes to watch the game or spends time with friends and family.  A lot of the locals will camp out for the weekend on the beaches so as you are driving down the road all you see are these big tent communities and people all over the place!  So that's Thursday and Friday.  Saturday is just a normal day.  Then on Sunday is Non-Mariners Race.  Everyone (and I do mean most of the island it seemed) gathers at Mangrove Bay to watch  this race.  Being that it is non-mariners the rules are it has to be a homemade "boat" with no engine.  We watched from the parking lot inside the ice cream truck.  But hundreds of people all tie their boats together and watch from the water.  The whole event is kicked off with a big pipe and drum parade....dressed in drag! (and other outfits)



that person in the pink hat is a man, man!



As you can see in the background there are a ton of boats in the water and the number just increased as the day went on.  All in all it was a fun day  Next year I would like to be on of the people on the boats as opposed to working!

The next event was yesterday and it was the round the island boat races.  It is exactly like it sounds...speed boats race around the perimeter of the island.  Philip and I went and parked the ice cream truck by the airport where the star/finish line is.  It was a hot day and very good for selling ice cream!  I did get to see the boats take off and come back from the truck so it was pretty cool.  I did not have as good of view as these guys though.....

...those would be the steps that are used for people to get on and off the planes at the airport.  I really hope they have more than one because about 5 plans landed while these guys were up there watching!

Today's event...Tropical Storm Gert!