I'm Back

Sorry for the delay in updating the blog. Just didn't feel like it.

 One of the problems is that I'm having storm fatigue. It seems like they are just lining up off the coast of Africa and once one leaves, another is waiting to take its place. Fortunately, we have been spared any real damage. As always, those who live in the country take more of the brunt of the storms. We haven't gotten any direct hits, but enough already with the wind and rain. Tropical Storm Hanna just left and now we have to get ready for Ike and Josephine. August 15, until September 15, is the most active period in the Atlantic Hurricane season. Good riddance.

Last weekend there were many tourists in town because of the Labor Day holiday in the States. I hadn't been out in a while, and I thought I would make an appearance and sign some autographs. Went to Eukliptus, and the place was packed. Not a seat to be had. I had not been there in a while, and heard that they were letting Alejandro back in. As I drove up, the doorman almost fell running into the bar. I wondered what happened? They hid Alejandro until they could ferret him out without me seeing. I was given a free drink, my cigarettes were lit for me, space was cleared. They were being really, really nice to me.

I had then went to Jay-Dee's, where Friday night it was very crowded. Not so much on Saturday. CHA was having some kind of celebration and the line was out the door to the street. Now I don't have to go out (to a gay spot) for another month.

A while back I would talk about the Samana region constantly. Beautiful place to visit, but not really possible to do a daytrip, as it takes a minimum of 4 hours to get there. Now, there is a new highway that has been completed. It cuts the time to a little over 2 hours. The tolls add up to about RD$600 pesos (about $17 U.S.), but you more than make up for it in gas saved. Some friends recently traveled the highway and marveled about nice it was, and how it is now possible to go the Northeast of the country and still get back on the same day. (Photos above)

If you are in New York city tonight, Dominican author, Junot Diaz, will be at the Barnes & Noble at Union Square tonight at 7pm.

Politician Rents Out Dominican Villa

Dominican Republic Winter Baseball

Lastly, there is a video of some people stealing a dead body from the hospital because they didn't want to pay a RD$5,000 peso bribe. The dead man was a known delinquent. His family steals his body and puts it on a motorcycle and takes it home. Seeing is believing. Amazing!