Birthday Surprise

The view from our accommodations.
Wednesday was wifeys birthday and it was one of those milestone dates that end in zero. The boys and I had planned and connived for almost a year to make this one, a birthday to remember. (and to build some equity for me).

All she knew was that we were going away for a week and to bring tropical clothes. Her guesses had quite a range. Portugal, St. John USVI, Cuba, Panama, Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands and on and on.


At the airport on Saturday the cat was let out of the bag as we boarded American Airlines direct flight to St. Thomas USVI. Shortly after landing we boarded the ferry to Cruz Bay in St. John. A short photo op filled taxi ride brought us to our accommodations at Maho Bay.

Maho Bay can best be described as summer camp for adults. The choice of accommodations is a tent, or a tree house. We chose the more ma and pa friendly, tree house. (they have hot water).




Lots of hiking, snorkeling and day trips filled the first part of the week.





The day before the "BIG" day. (the birthday), we decided to take a cruise over to the British Virgin Islands, and decided on Virgin Gorda. (the fat virgin), and a visit to "the Baths".

The Baths represent the stellar natural attraction of the British Virgin Islands, with exotic pools and grottos formed by giant boulders strewn across sand beaches. Explorers will revel in the hidden rooms with shafts of light, snorkelers in the coral ledges and caves, sunbathers/ swimmers in the white sand beaches adding to the sparkling clarity of the water

Also at the entrance to the Baths is the elegant but casual Top of the Baths restaurant, whose open air veranda has magnificent panoramic views. Relax with a painkiller or other frozen fruit drink in the fresh water pool designed right into the veranda. Favorites include lobster, conch and veggie burgers, lunch specials like grilled wahoo and baked chicken and such varied items as fillet mignon, pastas, char-broiled fresh fish such as mahi-mahi, jerk chicken, and broiled lobster.

Some of the "stellar Natural attractions"







Akeem our guide climbed up to get us coconuts. Only a couple had water but the ripe ones hit the spot for Sue.


Akeem harvesting coconuts.

opening the coconut.

Sue working a coconut.

working it

back on the boat, still working it.

Akeem did make on special presentation. Can't blame him, really.




It was time to leave Virgin Gorta for the Caves. A really neat snorkeling place with lots of fish and a really big barracuda named Barney.


The Caves

snorkeling the caves.

Barney the four foot barracuda.

Akeem feeding Barney.

On Sue's birthday, she and I went to lunch at Skinny Legs,, an eclectic place in Coral Bay. We were met there by Rick and Robin who run a private charter sail boat. Before we boarded however, the boys, Keith and Todd, hid below deck. Soon after we departed they came above deck to give Sue her final and best surprise. We shared a bottle of champagne and watched the sun set over Coral Bay.



Sue surprised by the boys.

The four of us.


Or neighbor the iguana.

Drunk Cove

Tapas at Miss Lucy's at Coral Bay.

Friendly goat at Miss Lucy's restaurant.

Our friend Martin from NJ via Switzerland.

Stephanie, Ginger, Pa and Ma.

Our new local friend Trevor

Homeward bound

Of Course I Remember You

I am taking a cardio kickboxing class at the Y. I have to appologize in advance that there is no way to get any photos without being "exposed", so you will have to take my word on the quality of the participants.


There are 6 or 7 guys in a class size that is usually in the 30's. Lots and lots of hard bodies, tight pants and tops. The woman are dressed the same.








Last night a young high school girl who had been missing for a while said hello. I greeted her and she said,

"You remember me? I haven't been here in a while because I've been too busy".

We had only talked twice, and it was brief and in passing.


The first conversation was about soccer. She mentioned that she played at New Bedford High School. I told her that I coached for many years at Bishop Stang. (Many of you can see the irony of me teaching and coaching at a religions school I'm sure).


Our second conversation was in the workout room. The music had not yet started and all the above hard bodied, spandex wearing Victoria Secret models, were in various stages of warmups and stretching when my little friend said,

"Are you coach Sullivan?"

"I am" I said with a smile.

"You used to date my grandmother".

....."Of course I remember you.

The Night Sky

The last few days the night sky has been phenominal. My neighbor and I have been walking the dogs on the MUP. While the moon is still low, it is easy to find the little dipper, orion, and especially the comet, 17P/Holmes.

Comet Holmes lies in Perseus the Hero and is visible all night from most of the Northern Hemisphere. It is about 35° high - one-third of the way up from the horizon - at 6 P.M. local time. By 11 P.M. the comet climbs directly overhead and to the naked eye it appears as a modestly bright, small round cloud of about 3rd magnitude.

No one knows how long the outburst will last. Comet Holmes could remain a naked eye object for several weeks, and may even undergo a second outburst. At any rate, the comet is worth watching!

I was very tempted to get the bike out last night, but my legs were very sore from kickboxing class. The class really pushes legs to their limits. I had to stop a few times because my legs were toasted.


The class has really improved my racquetball game. The leg strength, lateral movements and cardio work has given me quite an edge over my playing partners. Getting to the ball quicker also makes it much easier to choose shots as opposed to just returning the ball. My win percentage is creeping up.

On those cold crips nights, take a walk, or ride, and take the time to look at the sky. You may get hooked.

A fun beginners site to get acquainted with the constallations is >The Night Sky.

A video link of tonights sky is shown at Amazing Space.


Google Earth also has a pretty good video link for kids, but adults can also get lots from the video and it's links.

Full Moon

You riding tonight? The moon is full, the weather is crisp. Perfect.

MLS Cup Weekend

We managed to change to an earlier flight to Baltimore Friday evening. A 40 minute bus and 30 minute underground ride got us to the hotel around 9PM. We lolly gagged getting ready and found most of the restaurants' kitchens closed. One place did have a bar menu that pretty much consisted of fried food. Nachos and a steak sandwich were about the best we could get.

Saturday morning was a trip to RFK to pick up the tickets to the match. We decided to meet up at LenEfant station downtown and began the day long sight seeing trek. The monuments, capital, senate, archives, we walked and walked and walked.







We had earlier decided to lunch at Union Station because of the diversity of eateries. We settled on an Indian place which had some great curry and beer.

Duck at Neramitra, a really good Thai restaurant topped off the evening.







Game Day

The drums woke us at 0730. The hard core were on their way to the tailgate. We decided to leave at 0930 and that still left plenty of time to get warmed up for the match. Lots of old friends showed for this one. We all had the same feeling that this was our year.


The kids were walking around with a distinct bounce to their step and their heads held high. The parents on the other hand were a bit apprehensive.
L to R
Mrs and Mr Warren, Dr. Heapes, and Mr. Noonan.

A few hundred midnight riders turned up for the tailgate and lots of old friend this rider had not seen in years showed up.









The league commissioner Dan Garber, and team president Sunni Gulani, stopped by the tailgate.





The drums and singing signaled it was time for our entrance. We walk en mass to the stadium, flags flying, voices bellowing, singing proud to be from New England.



"We are part of Nicols arrrrr-me......."




The Stadium

We managed to get most of the tickets together in the stadium and made the best of it.





The Krafts


GOOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLL




mov00984.mpg

Losing was kind of depressing being the third time in three years, but hey we should always look for the bright side.