Ketchup Again
We didn’t go sailing on the Roseway because they changed their itinerary at the last minute to take them to Jacksonville, FL. We weren’t planning on going to America again so soon (we were just there last June/July), so we opted out of the trip, which would have taken longer than going to Bermuda. I can’t leave my doggies and kitties for that long.
Ceilings have been painted and now we need to paint entire exterior and interior and tile all large porch spaces and two sets of steps to porch areas. Lots of investment. Lots of time and money investment. I’ll try to enjoy every minute of it.
Reef Jam was a success I guess. We didn’t go because we had paying work. I guess Kurt Schindler was forced to show up because he and his wife were some of the main organizers of the event. Michael went last year. I had to work.
Went to the restaurant of the bitchy owner/hostess last night because Michael got a gift certificate from one of his co-workers. Otherwise we would have dined at home. That woman cracks me up. She so obviously despises us. For what? Who knows!
We walked in and waited for someone to come and seat us. She came out of the kitchen with some dishes, set them down, looked at us, and turned around and went back. How welcoming! During the evening she went to talk to people at other tables and totally ignored us! Too funny!
The seas were calm over the week-end, so we went to Buck Island on Origami Monday. We took the ugly putt putter, because it gets us there and back faster than the kayaks, and I had to work in the afternoon. Water was murky, I guess the green muck from the Orinoco River is still with us, but I hear it’s better than it was a few weeks ago. Wreggie’s favorite fish ( a big snapper) was there at the farthest mooring buoy, as usual.
The skies have been gray and yucky and it’s been humid as Ned’s ass.
Another guy we knew committed suicide over the week-end.
May 28th, 2009 at 9:38 am
What a heart warming story. I love my snapper. It is so cool that little rascal hangs out there. Tell him I said, “Duh huh” the next time your see him. He’ll know what I mean.
It has been humid as Ned’s ass in a steam room here. The temps are low 80’s but it is hot as possible in these conditions.
Don’t you hate going to a place where they so obviously treat you shitty? It just doesn’t seem like a good business model.
Is Kurt Schindler still acting like the anointed one and skipping his schedule? He’s dead to me after missing two events in a row last February.
Maybe Kurt should open a chain of island restaurants like Jimmy Buffet except make sure they don’t open every day.
May 28th, 2009 at 10:30 am
I have read about the green slime in the water, that is distressing! Is it all around the island or just certain areas? In all the years I lived on St. Croix, I cannot recall that ever happening. Sounds like a Stephen King novel… This is the best time of year in the Rockies, spring time, birds singing, snow melting in the mountains, and cool evenings and pleasant days with low humidity. I’m getting out my fly rod!
May 28th, 2009 at 11:50 am
We went to Coakley Bay on Monday morning and it was beautiful, clear water and sandy bottom and only one other person on the whole beach! and it was a holiday!
Algae Plume from the Source:
http://www.onepaper.com/stcroixvi/?v=d&i=&s=News:Local&p=1223618151
It’s still pretty humid and hazy, but that’s typical for this time of year. There were two huge weather systems at the end of last week that built up over the southern “arm” of Haiti and then headed our way but dissapated before getting here. Except for the thunder storm that formed just in time for the VI Cycling Memorial Ride on Sunday.
If the restaurant female is who I think it is, she has always had an attitude, from my first dealings with her over twenty years ago!
May 28th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
I wonder if she knows you’re my mother? She’ll REEEEELY love you then
May 28th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Who’s the guy you know who killed himself? The murder/ suicide?
May 28th, 2009 at 8:20 pm
Going to this restaurant is not my favorite, Wreg, but we had the GC, and rather than letting it bother us, we just let it amuse the heck out of us. I don’t know what Kurt’s been up to, I’ve been “Kurted Out” and too grouchy to deal with large numbers of sweaty drunk people.
It’s all around us, Trudi. Glad you’re enjoying your spring! Sounds wonderful!
Yeah, Lisa, she has a dour personality. But for her to specifically boycott our table every time we go in there cracks me up. As I said, she goes to other peoples’ tables.
Nik, I wonder if that’s one of the reasons we’re so despised by her?
And no, it was ANOTHER one! It’s like an epidemic here. Bizarre!
May 29th, 2009 at 8:36 am
I’m always amazed that many people in “customer service” positions don’t know what “customer service” is.
Many upper management people don’t know you’re supposed to put your BEST and MOST PERSONABLE people on the front line, where they can make a good impression on customers. At our local Wal-Mart, the primary greeter puts both Oscar the Grouch and the Grinch to shame. She growls at arriving customers. It’s a game with me, I’ll walk into the store, and if she’s there, I’ll say in my loud, booming voice..”WHY, GOOD MORNING!”..and if I’m REALLY frisky, I’ll launch into a verse of “Oh, what a beautiful mornin” (from “Oklahoma”). She gives me “death ray” looks and turns away. I chuckle.
May 29th, 2009 at 2:08 pm
Long time reader… first time poster… but I couldn’t stand not responding to this one…
Terry,
It’s funny how you have no problem calling out Kurt Schindler by name, yet you hide behind anonymity every time you talk about the restaurant owner. What are you scared of with her?
Wreggie,
I am a huge fan of Kurt Schindler and also a personal friend with him, his wife, kids, father, sister and brothers. I am there almost every time he plays. I didn’t remember him “missing two events in a row last February,” so I checked his calendar. I know for a fact that I was at the Full Moon for Mardi Croix (2/21) and at the Domino Club (2/22) for those gigs. I know he played at the Yacht Club (2/20), but I didn’t attend as I’m not a member. The only other Feb. gigs were at the Brew Pub (2/13 & 2/27). I know I was there for at least one of those. In short, I don’t know what 2 events you are talking about him missing.
I know he has missed gigs in the past, but believe me when I tell you… it’s not because he’s “the anointed one.” As I said, I know him personally and he’s always had a good reason when he doesn’t make a scheduled gig. Most people don’t know how shy he is about his music and the compiments he receives. He somtimes becomes reserved, and some people misinterpret that as being “stand-offish.”
May 29th, 2009 at 3:31 pm
Hey Joe, thanks for commenting. I love Kurt – he played at our wedding, but I too was very disappointed in February when he was scheduled to do two gigs in one week while our friends from NC were here, but did not show up at either. One was at Parrot’s cove and the other the Brew Pub jump up night.
Anyway, most people know what bitchy restaurant owner/hostess I’m talking about. Cheers!
May 29th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
Joe,
You know that we’re fans of Kurt too, and know his wife and kids and family also. We feel comfortable calling Kurt out by name ’cause we know he can take it. Otherwise, we have tended lately to not name names in the posts, unless we’re talking about ‘public’ personalities, like political figures, etc. Kurt may be somewhat shy about his music, but he is a bit a of local celebrity, and therefore a public personality. We’re not sure the restaurant lady has enough of a sense of humor to take it, so we leave her name up to your imagination.
As or the two shows, Terry has it right. I’m not sure what the calendar shows now, but back in February, his page said he’d be at Parrot’s Cove the Saturday before Jump-Up and Brew Pub the next weekend for Jump-Up. Our friends (wreggie and his wife) are also fans, they’ve never seen him, but we’ve bought them his CDs and T-shirts and they were really looking forward to seeing him. The year before, we expected to take them to see him at Jump-Up, but it coincided with the Yacht Club Regatta party and he played there instead. This year, we figured we were covered, he was playing TWICE during their one week trip. We took them to town their first night here, almost straight from the airport, but he didn’t show at Parrot’s Cove. No problem, there was always Jump-Up, but he didn’t show there either. I’m sure he had good reasons, but we found it pretty funny, so we still joke about it. They’re beginning to wonder if there really is a Kurt Schindler, or if he’s some kind of island myth
May 30th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
Yep Joe…he missed them both. I wrote Kurt the following:
Lets see…I was at Parrots Cove on the 7th and the Brew Pub on the 13th. You were no shows at both without a friggin warning.
I hope you life is okay personally and everything is alright with you.
Otherwise you suck. Most unprofessional of you not to show at an announced event. Don’t waste your time updating your web site.
Then he wrote me back:
From Kurt@kbschindler.com
Thanks I needed that!!!
I would still love to see him play but I’m not holding my breath.
June 2nd, 2009 at 4:45 pm
Look guys… I’m not trying to say that Kurt is perfect (he’s not and he’d admit it). I guess I’m trying to get the point across that he doesn’t “just not show up” for his gigs. He takes a lot of pride in his music and his performances. I’m a little defensive because I know him so well and I hear some of the crap that people say who have no clue as to what kind of a person he is.
For instance, 2 gigs I know of… 1) He was VERY sick all day one Sunday and had to miss playing at Norma’s (I know for a fact that he took that one hard!). 2) He missed a gig (either Brew Pub or Parrot’s Cove) because he had gone off-island to help Barbara bring a sailboat that someone had purchased to St. Croix. Because of the weather, they got stuck and he didn’t make it back in time. He performed a make-up date for that one.
I hope you get to see him on your next trip to the island Wreggie… especially if it’s on the last Sunday of the month at Norma’s! I’ve seen a lot of GREAT music in my day (yes, I’m old), but there’s nothing I’ve ever experienced like seeing Kurt play at Norma’s!
Peace,
Joe
June 4th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
I look forward to it myself.
The fact of the matter is I heard after the fact he was on another island as it turns out for one of those gigs but no announcement was made so it was a no show. The other was a no show as well. Two in a week.
I’m not mad at the guy…it’s become a private joke made public that I doubt Kurt even exists. The closest I come to see him is talking to Richard. I know Richard is real.
I’ll be back for early September and maybe he’ll be there. I know that is slow season.
Thanks for defending your friend. You must be a good guy.
See you in September barring any hurricanes.