the worst post ever…

I am trying to write this email with the positivity i had over the weekend; unfortunately things have happened to me at work over the last forty-eight hours that have left me feeling sick, stressed and angry – but i am not going to get into these things, i am a firm believer that proliferating negative energy gets us nowhere.

The weekend was fantastic, the kind of weekend that makes me incredibly thankful. Friday was a great relaxed night with family and close friends; laughing, talking, gossiping and generally having a good time. I traded a Saturday afternoon Kiteboarding session for the Sunday morning wake-up with Ollie and was rewarded with good wind and some nice rides. We then returned home to get ready for the Macky’s Halloween party (a perennial favorite). It was a booty shaking good time with unique and interesting costumes, great grooves all topped off with sancocho. Somehow i have never been able to get over that me and my two left feet get to go home with the best dancer at the party – forever. Dumbluck.

We have a wonderful babysitter who is the maid for the people who live below us; she, like so many people here in the Dominican absolutely LOVES Oliver. We have to fight her to pay her for her services and on Friday she wanted to make sure it was okay that she slept with Oliver. Karli made a comment about how in places of the world that would be a really weird request (i.e. the Neverland Ranch); here however there is a definite love and acceptance of children and babies unlike what is seen in the first world. I never walk the OPP anywhere without hearing “dios bendiga” (god bless him), if he is fussy at the bank or the insurance office i don’t get “that look” instead a teller on a break (or while working) will come and want to play with him, in fact they will do this even if he is not fussy (he’s rarely fussy)!

You should see him in his walker that is on loan from his friend Sofia, he loves it – listen to how he is imitating his mom’s voice in this clip.

Seriously, if you saw something this cute how could you help but say dios bendiga?

Mister October...

Although the leaves don't change colours and fall here in the D.R. autumn is definitely upon us. October on the islands (like at home) is really marked by baseball. Sure Dominicans go nuts for the World Series - especially when it features their countrymen - but October also marks the beginning of their national league - which is something every baseball fan should experience. I am not even what one would call a baseball fan but even i get into it. The games are electric and every game, no, every pitch is treated like it is the one that could win their team the championship. Team flags, hats and bracelets are for sale at every stop light and the majority of cars represent their team's colours proudly.

Working where we work, we teach the grandchildren of team owners and are often afforded free tickets to games (not to mention a new hat - thanks Cynthia!). Of course we can purchase bleacher tickets for $1.50 or the best seats in the house right behind the plate for $15. The price of admission is well worth the experience! This weekend a friend was given an executive box and six tickets right behind home plate. By the 5^th inning we were all occupying the seats about ten rows up from the field. This move was much to the delight to our students at home watching our "gringos on parade" antics with every pitch - on local television. Incredible seats like these however really make the game a lot more interesting as we could see every pitch well enough to make the umpire's call. We were also completely surrounded by major league scouts reminding us that we really could be watching some of the stars of tomorrow.

As for teams there are six teams in the league; but for our family there is only one Los Tigres del Licey. This team is one of the two teams representing the capital and one of the two traditionally dominant teams in the country.

Ollie and i had a great weekend while Karli/mom slaved away in academia – continuing to work towards her masters. She enjoyed her class and learned a lot. Our weekend however was filled with swims, wandering through the colonial zone and listening to international music that was in town as part of a cultural festival. We really love her and are proud of the work she is doing - but we wouldn't trade her though.

Change; they say it comes to all and whoever “they” are – they’re right. This weekend i returned to Cabarete, a small wind/kite-surfing mecca on the north coast of the DR. This place was my home for a debaucherous year before i headed to Ecuador and whenever i have returned there since it has really been a trip. This weekend perhaps a little more then previous – you see when there is no wind i have a tendency to think to much.

I think of the whirlwind of change that i see; Cabarete has gone from a somewhat hidden beach town to a booming vacation hot spot. i walked the beach that was the start of my daily commute for that year, this time carrying my son. Then, i passed palm groves, horses and nothing, now, it is littered by hotels and “luxury condos,” on literally every step of the walk. The town is definitely booming, why didn’t i invest? There are still remnants of a crew there; most of us now with kids – waking up to play parent long before we would have left the TikiBar a few short years ago. Change.
Of course life is all about balance and there are many things that stay the same: the pizza and scene at Lax, the music and hilarity of the SankyPankies at Onno’s, a sunrise to yourself on BozoBeach, bread from Dick’s and the great wave just before Nanny’s point – i would love to know the total number of hours i have logged on that wave (video of Ollies first session on this great wave!).

An overnight in Cabarete: a great reason to be thankful that we live in the DR.
Well i am likely writing this blog for myself and the people that do check it out don’t care about my random thoughts but want to check on the star of the show…yes he is doing fine and changing everyday. He is still all about standing but can break down into a commando crawl when he needs to storm the beaches.

Even though he doesn't get to see him too regularly Boppy is still his hero, and although he won't recieve any pressure from his parents he was already going through the Queens' Med class calendar and has been practicing regular check-ups on all of his stuffed animal friends. I have to say if you could put DKP in a diaper and a big white "c" pillow they would look identical. GreatGrandpa Raymond of course is also happy to hear that his first GreatGrandson is enamored with the medical profession.

Bath time is still one of his (and dad's) favorite time of the day. We have our little rubber squeaky octopus friends, our washcloth puppets and songs that we sing - goodtimes (what change?). Recently we have discovered the joy of splashing (see video) and the not-so-joyous act eating the suds.

OK, i think i have overdone the pictures already but i had to show you this one, this weekend was also the introduction of Mangoes to the OPP. You can clearly see he, like both his mother and father HATED them!

Introducing Eric Russell Kirk Picketts. The greatest anniversary present anyone could ever imagine. Now my research says that the fifth year is traditionally wood but just like Jeff and Debbie to redefine the status quo.

April gets the little brother she has been dreaming of for nine months. I know she will be a wonderful and loving big sister! Time magazine did a whole piece this summer about the influence that siblings have upon our lives and although i haven't had the chance to talk to her about this new development in her life it seems to be one of those instances where a picture truly does say a thousand words.

Are those two incredible or what?

Debbie was the rockstar we all know her to be and Eric was delivered without too much trouble, and in record time. Oliver, Karli and i will be living through the pictures that you send us until we get to meet Eric in person at Christmas so please send lots!

Speaking of pictures, i have been thinking a lot about the pictures that i take. Ever since i got my first SLR i have taken a tonne of photos. It has been therapeutic and something i have always really enjoyed. I still love taking pictures, but i noticed that my subject matter significantly narrowed on February 16th. It is almost funny the way that all of the pictures became him. As a perfect example consider last weekend's trip to the zoo (at left).

It is kinda funny the way that your world just seems to spin a little differently after having a child. Everything is just altered enough for you to know it. I have heard the difference between having one and two is equally world-altering - J&D we are waiting for your vote?

Well, i found out about Eric while getting in to a taxi to get my wisdom teeth pulled. So it was great to go into such a horrible experience with some incredibly good news. I don't think getting them pulled here in the DR was any better or worse than getting it done at home, i just don't think there are too many stories re-told about the wonder of getting your wisdom teeth removed. That said it has been a really slow weekend, filled with tomato soup, jello, yogurt and cream of wheat (thanks to my wonderfully loving and beautiful wife). As if missing two days of kitesurfing wasn't enough, in a couple of hours we are off to celebrate Canadian Thanksgivinig....oh the humanity, do you think i can make a turkey, gravy, mashed potato, squash, and cranberry smoothie? You never know unless you try. Oliver seriously has more variety in what he can eat then i do right now!

I can not imagine the guy who did the "work" on me (more like "went to work on me" - with similar tools to the ones used by street gangs in the north west - brass knuckles, hammers, screwdrivers, a pry bar...). He is an extraction specialist. That is what he does all day, every day. Different strokes, for different folks. However, considering the pain i was in at the beginning of last week i am certainly glad that someone is an extraction specialist!

Well our little guy continues to move forward at a pace that is wonderfully exciting and terrifyingly fast at the same time. I am always worried that i am committing every stage into permanent memory - hence the digital camera. This week's new stunt is officially pulling himself to standing whenever he wants. Now trying to put him down before he is ready is officially hopeless, if you aren’t right on top of getting to him when he wakes up it can also mean that he is stuck in the net, which he seems to think is hilarious (i have to agree with him on this one).

Look who is coming around the corner!!

2 in a day?
Yeah well, things can get moving pretty fast (not me though)

Las Terrenas was actually the weekend before this, i just didn't get around to posting anything until today. Besides family members need some photos so here they are.

Debbie are you there? Karli and I our wondering how our newest niece/nephew doing? When are they going to make their big entrance? Not that you can ever be prepared for something like that but...are you guys? Will it be before or after your anniversary on Friday? We are thinking about you everyday but just are not seeming to have any luck in getting you on Skype. It will happen soon though.

It is such an odd thing really, on one hand you want to see your son grow up, on the other you want him to stay small, then they start to crawl and your circumference of responsibility just went WAY up! Every day is still so amazing though.

Well it is the beginning of October and September was filled with its usually germs and illnesses that all teachers have to deal with. The dengue epidemic in Santo Domingo has been scary but (touch wood) we have been ok. With a new month the whole family is going to get back on our excercise kick. Mom and dad both had some good weeks of runs, yoga and kitesurfing but also some pretty significant dry spells. We are planning on running together as a family in the annual Verizon 10k that is sometime this month. Oliver has even purchased some new gear to ensure he is fashionable while he is "gettin' buff." Anyone who has seen his dad try to dress himself knows exactly what side of the family he got his fashion sense from (gracias a dios!). His most recent trip to the Doctor's confirmed that he was "off the charts" in terms of height which must come from Unkie da Schmee and RJB.

Our new apartment is fantastic, we love it. We have been patient while some growing pains were sorted out with the water situation but we are getting there. The huge kitchen and the pool have already proved to be well worth the expense and daily family swims have been highlights for all of us.

We miss everyone terribly and hope this blog works to better keep you up-to-date on what we are doing. At the same time, each day when we read the paper we are kinda happy to be away from the first world right now in a place that is at the same time more crazy and more sane.

hmmmmmm...

Well the wind didn't show up but there are worse places to be stuck for a weekend.

One of our fellow teachers described the beach at Las Terrenas to me by simply saying:
"Have you seen the movie Contact with Jodie Foster? You know the scene where she is in space and on that beach? They could have shot that scene here!"
It truly is a place like no other. Highlights of the weekend included some incredible meals at two of our all-time favorite restaurants. Spending time with Kristy, listening to the rain (just for a very short time), laughing with Ollie, great body surfing, me and the OPP averaging 4+ swims (and 2+ naps) a da, one of the funniest games of disc golf i have played in a long time, Ollie reassuring mom on his first Cessna flight, the filming of some Peruvian beer comercial - with spray on condensation and ice to kick of a funny night out dancing, concluded by a 4wd solo ride home.
I really wish i could go to Las Terrenas every weekend, but feel fortunate i get there as often as i do.

Here are some more pics:

If only mom could be this happy flying!








That big guy better be careful i think the OPP is after his job.









Just having Aba with us is so special but when she brings me a chair of my very own it is even better.