Where did the posts go?
I’ve been busy–you see, cooking vegan meals for an A List celebrity at La Samanna (the hotel where Scott works). I’ve also been hired as a consulting chef there–where I have been designing vegan and vegetarian menus for all four of their restaurants!
womp womp.
Someone recently asked why it was I stopped writing fiction (I completed my first novel in college, and my second (which is not totally finished) in law school)…
and I’d love to say, “I’m too busy!” but the truth is to write a novel, you have to create characters–characters you come to know intimately. They become friends and when the book is over you let them go, or worse, in the course of the book, they die (and you actually mourn their loss).
Sometimes I’ll find myself thinking about my characters, as though they are people I once knew. and I’ll miss them, ever so slightly.
“I dreamed you into life” carries meaning…
Though now that I’m on this island and my friend count is: 0.
Perhaps it’s time I get back to writing.
Find me a brochure—any brochure— for St. Maarten and it will spell out in bold letters ST. MAARTEN IS DUTY-FREE!
It’s such a “selling” point– Hey Tourists! Come to St. Maarten to avoid paying tax on designer sunglasses, cigarettes and booze!
Except this island isn’t really tax free. I mean, yes–when you go to the register there are no surprises: no percentage of tax is added at check out. If you only have $2 and something is listed on the shelf for $2, it really does ring up as just $2…
However, everyone (and I do mean everyone) wants—expects a tip. a $1 or more tip.
If you go to a store–any store, there is a “bag boy” and he wants a tip. Even if you only buy a $2 bottle of soda. and nothing else. he wants a tip.
Just try to go to one of these advertised duty-free liquor stores–those bag boys make bank!
and then there are the bartender that take out their own tip. That’s right. He tells you its $13, you hand him a $20 and you get $2 back. Well, gee, can I tip myself that much?
So while you may not pay the Caribbean Uncle Sam, you certainly pay his worker bees.
