Couldn't stop walking

I'm in love with the scenery and architecture on this tropical island. I struck out to explore about nine o'clock this morning and, except for a short breakfast break and a stop for late lunch when I found out it was mojito happy hour, I didn't stop until after six.

The mix of 18th century forts and more modern bright Carribean architecture is striking. And the scenery is still beautiful in the rain. Since the  city sat under overcast skies all day, what better way to spend my time than exploring.

I kept planning to head back to the hotel but I would turn a corner and see another beautiful street. Down each street were colorful houses or the go Warner's mansion or clusters of stray cats of some new view of the Atlantic. I can capture the sights in photos but I can only remember the frageant flowers and the waves crashing on the rocks. 

I got a work email from my least favorite client asking me to so something for her today. This is her last day there because of the layoff of one, and she knows O'm on vacation. I ignored her. What's she going to so, fire me?

After such an amazing day, it was siesta time. I think this single girl's face would've ended up in my dinner plate without it. That would've been very embarrassing since I tried the town's finest restaurant, and it was delish. I chatted with the waiter and chef but didn't meet anyone else there. I was surrounded by couples who didn't seem interested in meeting others. One was very young and looked like they were celebrating. When the girl got up to go to the bathroom, the guy snapped a pic of the check. He seemed very proud of his investment. Another couple seemed like travelers and the girl complained about her feet hurting through most of dinner. She was wearing super high heels that I can't imagine walking in on these cobblestone sidewalks. I felt sorry for the guy - he seemed very concerned about her. Then the other couple must've been locals. They were older and seemed very into themselves.

I have to say, it's more fun to sit at the bar in a restaurant rather than a table where it can feel isolated. The night before I met two men - one an American transplant and another here on on his last night of a long business trip. They were both regulars and knew the bartender well. The guy traveling on business stayed and talked for a while. We talked about dating and exes and work and traveling and our appreciation for a good single malt scotch. So we had one. I enjoyed the scotch and him. Then he suggested walking me back to my hotel.

"It would be safer," he said. It would have been at least a mile in the opposite direction of where he was staying so I'm not sure my safety was as much of a concern as pleasure.

I assured him that between the cops everywhere and my pepper spray, I would be fine. Of course, he just finished helping to convict corrupt cops. It was tempting. 

I wrote this two days ago and have had such an amazing time I didm't get to finish it until now while sipping coffee. I'm in the coffee house the nice native gentleman who walked me to the castle this morning. He was from a family of coffee growers and was very proud of his home island - and especially proud of the island's coffee, so I couldn't leave without enjoying some

Love to the single girls,

Addison

Rain and rats; cats and beauty

These are just a few observations from my first four hours in this tropical paradise.

When I stepped out of the cab at my hotel I got drenched. Head to toe in spite of the tall porter's big umbrella. But that's okay. The hotel is gorgeous - an historic convent with a beautiful courtyard. A hair dryer and a quick change of clothes was all I needed. And the sweet calico cat with a chunk of ear missing that met me on my floor helped too. 

Yes, the tropics. There's a can of Raid in my room. The cats here must be very satisfied. As I walked down the narrow street where many of the restaurants are located two rats scurried across the cobblestone sidewalk into a building.

The porter left me with a long list of restaurants, bars and clubs that will keep me busy the four nights I'm here. They all sound great and I can't wait to try them all. The bars don't close until about 4 in the morning. This should be fun.

I'm sitting here at a restaurant NOT on my list though. The one I had my taste buds primed for decided to close just after nine. What? In a place where people don't start thinking about dinner until at least eight. They weren't busy enough, but their sister restaurant next door is open. They sold me hard to eat here.

"Table for one," I said. 

Then they tried to seat me in a dark corner at the end of a long table set for three. A couple was sitting on the other end already. The lit end. They didn't want me to take a table for four, so I opted for the bar. 

No single girl should have to sit in the corner just because they're alone. 

I look forward to exploring this beautiful place in the light of day. Alone.

Love to the single girls,

Addison

Spreading my wings

Today I'm making good on a promise to myself. I'm taking a little vacation. Alone. Spreading my wings.

I have no expectations for this trip except to relax, have a little fun and create new memories in a place I've never been before. 

I also don't plan to look for or find love but I'd enjoy meeting some interesting people.

For the next five days I don't plan to make any major decisions besides which beach to lounge on and whether to drink a mojito or some other rum deliciousness.  My brain needs a break.

Some of my friends are envious of my trip alone and some think I'm strange. One doesn't believe me that I'm going alone - he thinks I'm meeting someone there. He should know me better than that by now. Then he suggested the trip is my liberation.  Maybe he does know me. 

It's my sunrise I guess you could say.

Love to the single girls,
Addison

Friend evolution

Memorial Day weekend marked the time in my new single life when I started meeting people. A year ago the first friend surfaced, and once I met him the others followed.

Over the last year I've met some interesting people who live or hang out in my neighborhood. They include a child actor, the vocal coach of an American idol top five, musicians, artists and entrepreneurs - all in addition to their full-time jobs. Others are just creative, smart and amazing people. Some have potential but just need a boost in the right direction while others don't give a shit.

A few are ignorant douchebags. 

I'm always a give-them-the-benefit-of--the-doubt kinda girl. And I've done a lot of that over the last year.

The first friend I made here was arrested - twice - a few nights ago. One arrest was for public intoxication when he tried to smash through a restaurant door then threatened the manager's family then the second time when he came back and tried to bail his girlfriend out. And last summer she was outgoing and fun. Now she's afraid of her shadow, and her shadow's so tiny now since she chooses drink over food so often. Another couple of girls I hung out with last summer started out fun, after a month or two of knowing them, they're not normal. Well, I'm no shrink, but they do seem to have psychotic tendencies. I hope they keep taking their meds.  

Douchebags are equally distributed between women and men, and money and education don't seem to have much to do with it. It all boils down to character. After the bad luck with relationships I've had in the past. I don't like myself when I'm around some people, so I choose only to be around people who make me a better person.

Last night three friends sipped delish mojitos with me as a vacation sendoff, and I enjoyed every moment. Time is way to precious to spend it with people you don't enjoy.

Love to the single girls,
Addison

Never know when you can save a life

Today's jog turned out to be a lifesaving one - not for me but for a little squirrel.

Have you ever seen a squirrel swim? I hadn't either until today. Seeing it paddle through the pond made me stop and watch. It's little feet were moving so fast. But the faster it paddled, the further away from the end of the pond opposite where it might have gotten out it got. I tried to scare the little guy into turning around so it could find safety, but it still kept swimming toward the end with no place to crawl out.

I jogged another lap and didn't see it that round. I was glad because the park's so well manicured I couldn't find a stick to make a little bridge for it without having to saw one off a tree myself. I hoped it had crawled its way to safety.

Next time around, I spotted it still paddling down the pond. The little critter looked exhausted and desperate. Pulling that wet fur coat and tail couldn't have been easy. It wouldn't have made it much longer, so I walked back up the path and found a broken construction barricade that might make the perfect little ladder.

When I slid it into the pond, the furry critter grabbed the metal frame and crawled up before I got it completely in place. The little guy was so drained it didn't mind me being so close. Or maybe, like that feeling we all have sometimes around certain people, he knew it was a safe place.

Love to the single girls,
Addison

P.S. It may be too late to save lives in Moore, Oklahoma where the tornado left such devastation, but I did make a donation this morning to the American Red Cross equal to a day's income. Maybe the little bit of money can help give someone hope.