Home sweet home.

St. John is a getaway destination. In that sense, it’s a wonderful place to go. We got off to a great start, exploring and adapting to the surrounding. We woke up early each morning at 10. We explored the beaches and snorkeled around the island, hanging out with lobsters, barracudas, sea turtles, and octopuses. The biggest worry was making sure our belly got as much sun as our backs got while snorkeling.

However, in the latter few days, the wonderfulness got rubbed off. One must understand that even paradise has rainy days. The clouds and wind can block the gorgeous views but we also had a wonderful place to hang out and wait for the sun to return. We had all the creature comforts one could want. We were managing just fine until a cold decided to plague us and from it there was no escape.

We had been looking for a “Matt & Jen update” photo moment and Jen suggested putting the master suite back in order. The photo would be us sitting in the middle of the room, looking as miserable as we felt with all our used Kleenex blanketing the surrounding area. The caption would read: “Wish you were here.” I thought it was a good idea but we couldn’t summon the energy to do anything about it.

Our colds are now reduced to minor congestion. Our flight from Chicago to Grand Rapids was cancelled last night so we got a cab ride from O’Hare to GRR. We arrived home 8 hours later than expected (8:00AM). Combine the travel fatigue with recovery from the colds and we’re wiped out. A couple of solid nights of sleep will fix us right up. Tomorrow will be a brighter day.

Off to St. John, Virgin Islands

It’s 7:54AM and we’re already in Chicago, having completed the first leg of our flights to St. Thomas. Flight info is as follows:

GRR -> ORD American Eagle #4152
ORD -> San Juan, PR – AA # 1367
San Juan -> St. Thomas, VI – AA #5136
Cab to Red Hook Ferry to St. Johns (Cruz Bay)

Returning Jan 18th:
St. Thomas -> San Juan – AA #5141
San Juan -> ORD – AA #658
ORD -> GRR – American Eagle #4171

Our phone number there is: 340-777-1053

Cell Phone Data Plans

I just have to take a minute to rave about how nice it is to have cell phone data service for my laptop. A couple weeks back on our departure flight from Grand Rapids, our flight was delayed a bit due to the inclement weather. We were already boarded on the jet and the attendants never provide you with enough information. I whipped out my laptop and cell phone, visited The Weather Channel and was able to inform the passengers that the storm was below us and unlike everyone in Detroit, Chicago, Cincinnatti, and Indianapolis, we would probably get to depart.

We’re now on our way home, sitting in Atlanta, waiting for our connecting flight. My emails are downloading in the background and I’m posting a blog entry. This is far better than paying for a subscription to WiFi service. With Sprint, I add a $15 Vision pack to my cell phone subscription. The WiFi subscriptions available in some airports cost that much, and only work in a few airports. I have access in any metro area in the country, and on most freeways. Nice.

Our flight back from Costa Rica to Atlanta was uneventful, exactly the way we like flights to be. The weather in Grand Rapids looks interesting, but not severe enough to impact our arrival. We should be home in about 6 more hours.

C.R. Update #2

Wow, so much has happened, and there’s so much to say but that story will wait to be told when I’m not being charged for internet use. For now, you’ll just have to be content to know that we’re alive and well, and suffering intensely from days of lazing around on the beaches. Love, Matt & Jen

Costa Rica Update

We’re in now in the rain forest in La Fortuna, Costa Rica. Today we took a tour down the San Jaun river and spotted all sorts of critters, various birds, a two toed sloth, monkeys (cappuchin, howlers), mini-gators, and various other indigenous species. Now I’m hammering away at a keyboard in an Internet cafe, after finding one where I could change the keyboard layout to English.

We are doing quite well, having a great time for very little money. We just paid our lodging cost for the last three nights. The grand total equates to $36. Ground transportation is also quite cheap. We’re headed for Monteverde next, the Northern beaches on the Pacific and finally considering a trip to Nicarauga to go shopping.

We’re in Costa Rica!

Hooray, we have arrived.

We awoke at 3:00AM, departed home at 4:00, arrived in Grand Rapids at 5:30, spent an extra hour getting out of G.R. (de-icing, ground delay), and arrived in Atlanta an hour late. We still had an hour and our Atlanta to San Juan flight was picture perfect. We’re now enjoying sunny warm 80 degree weather in Costa Rica. Life is good.

Gas meter covers

Today I learned why it’s a good idea to have the little plastic shields over my natural gas meter. We were down in Marshall at Mike Surls birthday party over the weekend. Around 7pm we arrived home to find the temperature in the house a tad bit chilly at 38°. I reset my furnace (high efficiency self-ignitor) and it still wouldn’t ignite. That can only mean that there’s no gas coming in.

I put my boots on and found my gas meter covered in ice, including the little “breather” port on top of it. I’m not fully certain what function it plays but I guessed an important one. I fetched a crow bar and liberated it from its ice cocoon. I could smell gas at the meter after that so I guessed that something good had happened. After rebooting the furnace, it auto-ignited and roared to life.

Apparently the sun melted snow from the roof, which dropped onto the gas meter where it instantly froze. It looks like I’ll be doing something about that soon. The house is now warming but it’s taking a while. I have to sign off, my fingers don’t cooperate with the keyboard when they’re this cold. I type even worse with my gloves on. I can’t understand why it’s taking the house so long to warm, it only -8° F outside.

Update (Jan 2011): Meter-mate wrote me a note informing me of their existence.

Giant mosquitos

Today I ran into a swarm of giant, red crossed mosquitos. They’re a fairly popular variety and appear in waves. I don’t see anything for a couple months and then boom, there’s an entire swarm. They call, they send me postcards, fridge magnets, and when I walk in the door, they swarm around me. They entice me with cookies and flavored beverages. They call me a silent hero. I swear, they’re out to get my blood.

So today I gave them another pint. Maybe it’s because I’m type O Positive (universal donor) that makes them so incessant. They just can’t get enough. Today they invited me to give a “double red” next time. Yeah, that’s right, they aren’t content with just a pint, they want twice as many of my red blood cells next time! I don’t even mind giving them a double tap. What I do mind is that it takes 45 minutes. I can fill a pint in under 6 minutes (average person is 8-12) and get out of there.

I can accept that my blood is the most needed type. A lukemia patient somewhere needs a lot more red blood cells. I understand that, and I’ll help, but where does it end? I give them a pint every couple months and I’ve already offered my organs when I die. What comes after two pints? Do I need to toss in an organ too? Do I get to choose which one I contribute? Have I watched to many Monty Pyton movies?