Year of the Magpie

I am off my soapbox, and reflective in a Non 'it is the new year and must set goals and reflect on the mess made of the year past' theme. Theme, theme park, it would make a wonderful theme park where one could absolve ones self of all the goo stuck to you from the past year, past relationship, past job...what would you call it? Goo Be Gone? A place where you could have someone beat you with knotted ropes and scrub you with sandpaper...kind of a reverse spa, with the same smooth skin, envigorated outcome...Sorry I digress, no theme park available at this time, although if you take off on this idea, I want free admission and commission! I have downloaded Magpie as wallpaper to my electronic leash of a telephone, so I happily reminded of Magpie in her glory, at the dock, clean and spanky, ready for her next voyage. As I prepare to slog into 2014 without her, I am on the verge of a new voyage, solo into the Dominican Republic and all its glories and woes. I am excited to align myself to the sweet people, the diverse flora and fauna, the wonderful weather, and my long list of projects..and food, do not forget that I live to eat, not the other way around! Not to bore with the gore, I am living in Las Galeras, Samana, Dominican Republic, living on a parcel of land overlooking the SouthEast waters that separate the DR from Puerto Rico, the Mona Passage, and view the south east entrance of Samana Bay. It is as far East as land will allow in the DR, with a strong refreshing, and often rain-laden breeze. Read no mosquitos in that, and high off the water, to watch the cruise ships and winter whales slide by. And so begins the new year, with Three Kings Day soon to pass, all that will be left is Carnival, and then the sleepy slow routine returns and there are no excuses not to be on track , ready for passion or beer, crime or rum, drugs or putas, or whatever else has lured the beast to its lair. I think I fall out of the above mentioned categories of the Top Reasons to be in the DR, although I have recently been informed that even if one does not partake, eventually a Top Reason becomes part of life here. I need to add wine to the list and then I am free to continue on the same road as the others! Bon Voyage.