Movin' on up!

Well we're Movin' on Up!
(Movin' on Up!)
To the east side!
(Movin' on Up!)
To a dee-luxe apartment in the sky, We're movin' on up!
(Movin' on Up!)
To the east side!
(Movin' on Up!)
We've finally got a piece of the pie!

You heard it, after getting a call from my landlady on Wednesday saying that she was moving back into her house, I have found a new place. It's on the "east side" (well, east of where I lived!), and it's up the hill . . . So the Jefferson's song applies [except for the "dee-luxe" part, this place is a small step down, but it's cheaper] I'll post pics once I get them. It's unfortunate to be leaving. I have now moved as many times in Barbados (in only one month) as I moved while living in Norman. Will let you know when the internet is activated in the new place.

My new address (for cards, letters, and the like):

Brad Barrett
Lot C
Bagatelle Park
St. James
Barbados

Phone: 1-246-421-9460 (just like you would dial from the US, except it's international)

Things that would brighten my day

If you are in a giving mood, here are some things that would brighten my day:

*Paper wall maps - any destination, country, continent, etc.
*Photos - of you, me, and friends
*Sweets - m&m's and skittles are just great
*Listerine mouthwash - any flavor but orange!
*Spices - basil, oregano, thyme, black pepper, dried minced onion, garlic powder
*Shaving gel - surprise me with your choice
*Soap - the bar kind
*Sleeveless "ringer" t-shirt - size XL
*DVDs of American movies, tv shows, etc (ok, family, stop laughing!)

You can send such things to me via "Airmail Parcel Post" (from the US Post Office) at:

Brad Barrett
c/o Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology
Husbands, St. James
Barbados

You can also send any letters, cards, etc. to:

*** REMOVED ***
Wed 28 Sept 4:04 AST (=EDT)
I no longer have a local mailing address
I've been "evicted" by Gail, her 3 kids, and her husband, who are moving back in!
Stay tuned as the saga unfolds. . .
*** REMOVED ***

My phone number here *** HAS ALSO BEEN REMOVED ***, dialed just like a long-distance call from the US but with a much higher per-minute rate. *** SEE THE POST ABOVE FOR MY NEW NUMBER ***

Thanks, in advance, for anything you might send!

Mister Barrett's neighborhood

It's a beautiful day in this neighborhood,
Beautiful day for a neighbor.
Would you be mine?
Could you be mine?

Here are a few more pictures of my neighborhood, namely my street and my house. The picture below labeled "my street" is really 2nd Ave, which leads from the main road into my neighborhood of Oakwood Park.

iMesh, DSL, and ... reggae?

What do you get when you mix iMesh, a high-speed DSL connection, 2 Caribbeaners and 1 American? Reggae! Courtesy of Mr. Bob Marley! We were "Jammin'" (I hope you like jammin', too), preaching "no woman, no cry", singing the "redemption song", chasing the "crazy baldheads" out of town, and the rest! Quite good fun! Wish you could'a made it!

Birthday walk to remember

Today was special for several reasons. First, it was my 26th birthday (wow! 26!) Second, the high-speed internet *finally* got setup at the house. Still waiting on the wireless router (for full mobility in the house) and the microphone/headset (to use skype), but I checked email from the comfort of my sofa in the living room! Third, Carolina beat N.C. State in football, even though they were a 10-point underdog and the game was in Raleigh. Go Tar Heels!

Fourth, I went to the supermarket. Yes, that is special. According to the supermarket staff and signage, they have a free shuttle that takes its customers back to their homes. Last week, and the week before last, I took the Supercentre shuttle home with no problem. For some reason, though, today it decided to cease running one hour early. So Kevin and I arrived at 6:15, shopped until 7:05, and then rolled the "trolley" ("buggey", or simply shopping cart) outside to await the shuttle's return. At 7:50, after it had rained twice, we decided we would give up and walk home. Not too bad, except (1) it is a 35-min, uphill walk home, and (2) I bought a 5kg / 11lb bag of sugar that we had to carry in addition to everything else!

Needless to say, my arms and hands were pretty tired when we made it back home! Lesson learned: get to the store EARLY and do not count on the shuttle running its full schedule!

Who says weather in the tropics isn't interesting?

Today I was treated to a most exciting sight. I finished my typical Friday routine at the Met. Institute and walked back down the hill to the apartment (didn't see any monkeys though). I had decided to bake a chicken and cream-of-mushroom-soup dish, so when I got home, I went in the kitchen and put it in the oven. Proud of myself for cooking, I walked back into the bedroom and happened to glance outside the back window, only to be greeted with this:



"Holy Cow!"

I shouted something at my roommates akin to "Y'ever see a waterspout?", dashed outside, and gazed upward at the spectacle that had spun up about 5 to 7 miles away, down just offshore the west coast of Barbados. I ran back inside to get the camera (remind me to always have the battery charged ... I lucked out this time!) I took a few more photos and soaked up the wonderful display of nature unfolding before me. Backlit and rain-free, the only downside to this treat was that the base was obscured by trees and buildings.

After viewing the waterspout for about ten minutes, it dissipated. I turned around to head home and was greeted by this rainbow. I couldn't get the crepuscular rays to show up on-camera, but they were equally impressive!

Who says weather in the tropics isn't interesting?!!

Monkeys

This post was taken from an email I sent out to several friends. Enjoy! -brad

-----
So, okay, this is funny! This morning, I was walking to the Met Institute with my Jamaican roommate (he is here for a 6-month course on Hydrology, being taught at the Institute). We had just crested the hill where I always break a sweat ( it's dreadfully humid .... 82/78 or something like that in the a.m), and he says in his great Jamaican accent: "eh mon, yusee de monkey?"

I was like, WHAT? First off, I didnt even understand his first words, all I heard was "monkey" and I thought he was meaning the plant, or flower, or something. So he pointed, but I kept walking, thinking it was a joke or something. Then I turned back, and he was serious! There, in the cluster of trees at the driveway of the Met. Institute, live a "herd" (what is the word??!) of wild monkeys! They are brown, about the size of a dog, and jump around in the tree tops!! I'd walked past those trees at least 10 times, but failed to notice them ... probably b/c I'm hurrying to get inside, where we do have air conditioning ... unlike in my house, where it is hot most of the time .... my travel alarm has a thermometer, and it routinely registeres 30.0 C [sometimes 30.5 C!!] as I fall asleep ... 30.0 is 86 degrees F!!

Anyway, Kevin (the Jamaican) tells me that "dem monkeys are fierce mon" (imagine his accent!! Hahaha!) and advises me to stay away from them! So, if you get the chance to come visit me, we'll have to be sure to stay clear of the "fierce monkeys"!

Just a little humor I thought I'd pass along!

All moved in, but nowhere to go

Hey, just a brief post. Today I moved into my house in Thorpes (2nd Ave, #35 Oakwood Park). The secretary at the Met. Institute found this place for me and my two roommates, Kevin and Ken. Kevin is from Jamaica and Ken is from Monserrat. You are probably familiar with Jamaica, so here's a little bit about Monserrat: it is about 1/3 of the way south in the chain of the Windward Islands, was struck by Hurricane Hugo in 1989, and in 1995, had a catastrophic volcanic eruption that destroyed 1/2 of the island (and it remains uninhabitable to this day, so most of the former residents of Monserrat have moved away). Kevin and Ken are studying hydrology at the Met. Institute, and will be here through February (I will stay through May).

Enjoy these few pictures of our house. As Marcia (the OU meteorology secretary) commented, "why did you send that picture with all that junk on your bed?" My only answer is to grin and say "well, you wanted me to be authentic, right? That's how my room looks most of the time!!"

Cheers!

My bedroom


My kitchen


My living room

My street