Daily good karma

your good deed for the day is to click on this link and help my favoritest animal shelter win $10,000. I spent 7 months of my life walking in the woods to raise that much moola and all you've got to do is click, whoa!

http://www.care2.com/animalsheltercontest/70787/?refer=15053.03.1222449388.6282

good karma!
~pooch

Studying: (stud-ee-ing) n. student and dying put together

No rest for the weary here. My nose has been to the grindstone for so long I think it has fully calloused over and now looks a bit like the big toe of a gorilla. I am glad to report that I have successfully navigated the learning requirements of my first semester here on Paradise Island. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for one of my closer friends. I drove her to the airport last Wednesday and it was more of a reality check than I would have asked for. Now at the end of week 3 things are settling down into the normal swing and it is good to see. Second semester is well known as the most difficult semester of the entire Ross University program. It looks like I have my work cut out for me. My surf board has not been in the water since break back in august.

Speaking of august... My dad was lucky enough to have a small break to visit during my time off between semesters!!! From Alaska to the Carribean was quite a change for him. I stayed on island the entire break and took care of some dogs for others going state side. The house I (we) got to stay in was absolutely wonderful. It was way up in the mountains at 900 feet at the very end of a dirt road that twisted through farms and cane fields. The cool mountain air was a pleasant change from the hottest part of the year down below. Our view of the sunrise (and moonrise) over the Atlantic was peaceful from our quite veranda. The dogs had a grand time of it racing through the bush and barking at monkeys. I also had a chance to play tourist for a few days as we explored the rain forest trails, reefs, fortress, plantations, and museums. We completed the most difficult trail on the island up the the summit of Mt. Liamuiga @ 3,800ft. The dogs came too and they positively rocked. A GSH named Hokie and island pup named Piper might be some of the first canines to scale the ropes to the top. (fyi, I believe Piper is still looking for a forever home ;-) Another excellent hike is the Crater Trail that we were lucky enough to get a fantastic view of the crater rim and actually go down into the caldera of the (dormant) volcano. Woohoo!

This weekend marks St. Kitts & Nevis' 25 years of independence. This is the smallest country in the western hemisphere. Really when it gets down to the serious stuff, the relationship with the mother country is much like Canada's relationship with England. Technically there is still a bit of influence and support but they are on their own for the fun bits... the British Royal Navy still gets to visit and brew up at the bars!

I think a little natural history is in order for this entry. St. Kitts used to have agoutis and iguanas much like most other islands in the West Indies. St. John for example is practically over run with iguanas. Here, however, both have been hunted to their demise for food. The mongoose had been introduced to put a damper on the snake population. They did their job a bit too well as there is not a single snake on the entire island. That may sound rather pleasant to the average hiking visitor but now there are lots of mongoose and no snakes so they prey upon many other things such as amphibians, insects, and birds. The West African Green Vervet Monkey was introduced and also tends to do a number on the avian populations. The end result is a rain forest that is quiet, too quiet. The hummingbirds, cattle egrets, and frigate birds have managed to do OK but that is just about it. When you stop on the trail and sit to listen to the sounds of the forest there is generally a rustling above of the monkeys but no squawking birds or buzzing insects. It is a bit bizarre for a rain forest that is supposedly one of the few that are expanding on earth. I suppose it doesn't necessarily have anything to do with biodiversity. The colorful birds I find in my West Indies Birds book are sadly no-where to be found.

Oddly, the wild populations of Green Vervet Monkeys in West Africa are doing poorly if not near extinct (according to local sources). So, the population here is actually being studied and protected to prevent the species from going extinct. They exist on a small number of other islands but cannot be eradicated/managed to protect indigenous species because of dwindling populations elsewhere.

The tropical mischief going on down here is actually quite nice. 84 and sunny every day was getting a little boring. A rainy day is quite refreshing and a windy day with thunderstorms is just plain fun to watch from inside with a cup of coffee and popcorn.

On a different note, I am now part of a band =-) Not that studying doesn't take up enough of our time but it has been an amazing opportunity to bring music back into my life. So far we just play at open mic night at Ziggy's every Wednesday but tonight we actually have a our first gig @ a BBQ held by Windsor Med School. They could just be desperate... but we are excited to have a change of scenery. There is still some debate as to what our name might be. Our first thought is the "Naked Quartet" but upon further contemplation I am leaning toward "Plan B".

According to John.....
there are now two american bands on island.
1. all girls ( bi - les - horny - straight )
2. all guys ( hilliebillie beer belly )
interesting to see which one will top the "ross chart" by end of the semester.
let battle commence!

Between the four of us we have 2 singers, 2 guitars (electric and acoustic), drums, and a violin. When the guys play with us we have more guitars, a base, and even an electric mandolin! Soon we will also have a bowdron (Irish drum), bongos, our own base guitar, I'm pushing for a harmonica, and maybe one day even a tambourine! we are working on posting some of our musical stylings.

As always, more pictures are posted @ www.fuzzpault.com for your viewing and daydreaming pleasure.

Happy Trails
~Pooch