Big Time BONUS Stupid Question...

If you were kidnapped, what would you consider to be a reasonable ransom? Do you think your loved ones would "pay up" or try to ambush the kidnapper, putting your life in danger?

Valid question I think with the the recent rash of kidnappings... what was that.... ok maybe I made that rash up.

Stupid Question for the Week of 10/24

Sorry I am a bit late this week... I've been busy... Had to get a haircut.

Do you consider your self more of a head-butter or a groin kicker?

Valid question, lets hear the responses.

Turkey Time

Only 30 days till turkey time!! 30 days till I am F.F.A.! I loves me some turkey, stuffing, taters, noodles, corn, broccoli, and pumpkin pie. And then the best part, left over cold turkey sandwiches, almost better than Thanksgiving dinner, but not quite. Great now I am hungry...

Stupid Question for the Week of 10/17

Not sure anybody gave me an answer on the last one. Come on guys lets make this blog worth my time. Here is this week's question...

If you could be invisible for an hour every day, what would you do during that hour?

There, this one should solicite some responses...

Honeymoon Travel Day (I'm Famous!!)

Up early to finish packing. Shorter ride to the airport this time because we are flying a prop plane out of the smaller airport in Castries. Stopping in Barbados and Charlotte, then on to Detroit. Hope to be home by 3 am Monday the 10th. In Barbados, the flight attendants had a bet going that I was an actor. I said no, but I am kicking myself for not asking who they thought I was... Do I look like someone famous? This is what I looked like at the time. Post your thoughts.

Honeymoon Day 8 (Last Day)

I lay here again full and sleepy. Unfortuneatly today is our last day. But as they say, all good things must come to an end. Woke up around 8. Had french toast, Krista her usual. Rushed down to the beach for the good chairs. Got them just in time... for another overcast day on the beach. It's rainy season, what can you do. Got Krista in the water finally, and then she didn't want to get out. Had lunch again at the beach bar, we split the bbq chicken sandwich. We are both beginning to dream of what foods we are going to eat when we get home like we have been stranded on a deserted island or something. Krista wants Double Stuffed Oreos, and I want Taco Bell. Krista said if David ate her Oreos while we are gone, she is going to go over there and lay a whoopin' on him. Went back to the room @ 2:30 cause Krista was sick of being wet, downfall of swimming I guess. We showered and vegged until dinner. A T-storm came through and cooled it down enough outside that we could both just swing in the hammock for awhile . Krista put on the LBD and we went off to Kai Manje for dinner. We both decided we were sick of gourmet food, but this was our last dinner. Krista had the Jerk Chicken, I started with the spinach ravioli in a nutmeg cream sauce and the West Indies Curry Pork Tenderloin with sweet fried plantains. The carmel dessert was forgettable. We topped it off with our new favorite wine the Orvieto. On the way out we stopped and talked to the friends we had made over the week and said our good-byes. Its kinda weird since we almost all had something in common, getting married on 10/1. We went back to the room and did some packing, we are leaving Ti Kaye tomorrow at 10:30 am. :(

Honeymoon Day 7 (Friday the 7th)

Up late today. Slept through breakfast. Had some fruit, yogurt, and granola left over from the wine and fruit basket. Hit the beach around 11:30 and it was nice the whole day for once. We had lunch at the beach bar at 12:30ish, I had the strip steak and Krista the chicken sandwich. Once back at our chairs I took out the kayak to work off some of lunch. While I was out in the bay I heard some commotion behind me and I turn around and its an old pirate ship. I felt like I was in Pirates of the Caribbean, which is actually being filmed up in the Bahamas as we speak. I also snorkeled in front of the dive shop, lots of fish and coral. Fun to see. Some people said jellyfish had started to come into the bay while they were out there, all about the size of tennis balls, but I didn't see any of those. We packed up around 3, and as we were walking back to Awa it started to rain, perfect timing on Krista's part. We then showered in the rain storm and read and napped unitl about 6. We then walked to the wine deck and took some pics of us, and the sunset. After that we went back and changed for dinner. Dinner was nice tonight because all but 3 guests at the resort when to the fish fry in the town of Anse La Raye so we basically had the whole restaurant to ourselves. I started with a garden salad with feta cheese and a basalmic dressing. The main course was NY Strip, Cajun fries, and veggies in a pinot noir reduction. It was very good. Krista and I both enjoyed it. We (I mean I) finished our bottle of Rose d' Anjou along with the carrot cake. Now I lay here a little tipsy, and a little sunburned. Tommorow is the last day... :(

Honeymoon Day 6

Another rainy day. Up early again. Off to breakfast by 8:30. I had the English breakfast again, Krista shocked the world and tried the French Toast. Water taxi left for Castries at 9:30 with Manu driving again. Castries is the capital of St. Lucia. After a spin through Marigot bay we got dropped off right by the market in Castries. We did some shopping, Krista bought a shirt, a purse, and we bought some coasters. At the Duty Free we bought some rum, postcards, and Krista got some sandals. We then went to the supermarket and picked up some Cherry Coke to go with the rum. M&M's too, yum. We then took a rainy ferry ride with the other couples we were with to Froggie Jack's resturant. I had the Lasagna and Krista had the Spagetti Carbonara we split the tater skins which were really kinda weird compared to the American version, but good none the less. We topped it off with some delicious baked lemon cheesecake. Once back at Ti Kaye we had a drink at the bar with Charla, Harlan, Cindy, Victor, Eric, & Ronnie, all the couples that we have been hanging out with over the course of the week. We then headed back up to the room for a nap. Dinner was at 8 pm tonight. Deep fried brie, Tempura Lime Chicken & 151 proof Bananas Flambe. Very potent, but very good. Went with the Orvieto Campogrande wine again tonight still very tasty. Now its 10pm, bed time again. Hopefully the sun makes an extended appearance tomorrow because we are running out of beach days.

Honeymoon Day 5 (10/5)

Up early for breakfast. Pancakes this time. Krista had the same as every other day eggs, taters, bacon, and toast. We left on the water taxi @ 10 and headed south to Soufriere. Manu dropped us off on the docks and then Earl the taxi driver took us to the Botanical Gardens. Shakka told us a lot about the native plants. We then toured the Diamond Waterfall which was cool. When then went to the Sulfer Springs/drive-in volcano. It stunk, literally. Ba doom! We then went to a nice restaurant while Mother Nature did her daily soaking of the island. I am sure Earl was getting a nice kickback for bring us all there (10 couples on the trip), but the Chicken Roti that I has was delicious. I really need to eat more Indian food. We then went on to New Jerusalem to the hot and cold springs. They were hot and stinky. On the walk back through the rainforest we had crossed a stream that was no more than a trickle on the way there. As we were crossing it to leave Krista and I could step on the rocks to cross, but because it had been raining all day and we were near the bottom of the volcano/mountain the stream flow picked up almost instantly. The last people to cross had to wade through foot deep water in their shoes just to cross safely. By the time we got back to the boat for Manu to take us back to Ti Kaye the sun was out again. Used a lot of money to tip today, but it was a fun day. At 5:30 Cleus brought our Wine and Fruit basket just in time for the sunset. It had lots of fruit, cookies, cashews from the island, etc. We also got lots of great pics of the sunset over the Caribbean Sea. Shakka today, taught us why cashews are so expensive compared to other nuts. They actually are the "seed" that grows inside a fruit. And a one tree only produces about 20 lb of cashews a year. The fruit is very acidic and if you were to break it open and rub it on your skin it would burn your skin off, or if you would eat it, it would burn your throat. So they have to let them dry so the acid goes away before they can get the cashew nut out. So now you learned something. And you will think twice about how much work went into that handful of nuts in your hand. Went to dinner at 8. It was a BBQ buffet. I started with a red bean and coconut milk soup which was good. I then had steak, jerk chicken, and even a little Mahi Mahi, which of course tasted like chicken. They also had pasta salad, curry potato salad, breadfruit salad, and fried plantains as accompaniments. Guava, Banana, and Chocolate ice cream with cinnamon coconut bread for dessert. The band was also really good, partly because I had had 3/4 of a bottle of champange and 3/4 of another bottle of Rose D' Anjou. They actually used my name in song that can't be repeated, but in the end they did say that my wife confirmed that I had an Intercontinental Ballistic Missle. Their words not mine. 10:30 and I am still buzzing strong!

Honeymoon Day 4

Woke up a bit early today. Gary the gecko was back in the room this morning, he seems to stop by for a visit on the wall by the air conditioner every morning, just long enough to freak Krista out. I had the English breakfast this morning. Burned my mouth on the baked beans, made me feel like Gregg. Went right to the beach around 10:30 today to maximize our sun worship. As usual it clouded up once we got there. Looking back on it though we did burn a bit today. Started to sprinkle around 1 pm, instead of risking it we came back to the room. Our cottage is called Awa, which in french patois means "Hell No!", well at least according to our server at dinner, Cleus. We had lunch in the restaurant which is called Kai Manje which means "House of Food". I have the cheese and cracker plate and the creole chicken for lunch. Krista had garlic bread which she loved and a ham and cheese baguette which she also claimed was good. Went back to the room @ 3 pm because we could see the rain coming in the bay. Right after we got back to Awa it poured for over an hour. I went inside to the A/C and read while Krista slept. The wine and fruit basket we ordered never came, which was fine because of the rain. Had dinner reservations at 8:30. I started off with the Pineapple Chicken Satay and the Jerk Pork Tenderloin with an apple clove demi glaze. It was good. For the wine package we tried a Chilean Sauv Blanc called Sunset. Krista said it was dry and only had a 1/2 glass, I continued my recurring theme for the week and had 3/4 of the bottle, so the buzz is finally wearing off. Soufriere tomorrow! (pronounced Sue-free)

Honeymoon Day 3 (10/3)

We finally got some rest. Sleep is good. Got up for breakfast around 9. I had french toast & sausage, Krista had eggs, toast, taters, and bacon. Breakfast is free and filling. We hit the beach around 11. Very hot, got seats in the shade. It was the St. Lucian Thanksgiving holiday so the beach was packed with locals. I had a Banana Cow cocktail and we shared a burger at lunch. The burger had a lot of garlic in it but the fries were real good. At 2 we went back up the the room because we were having our complimentary massages at 3. It was my first and it was very relaxing. Dinner was at 7:30 and it was another fantastic meal. I even picked another good wine to go with my beef tenderloin and Krista's Chicken Fettucini Alfredo. It was Italian, Campgrande Orvieto. It was white and not too dry, will have to find it when we get back to the states. We had veggie spring rolls with an orange dipping sauce as an appetizer and we had various sorbets for dessert. One was Passion Fruit, and I can't remember the other 2, but one tasted like cotton candy with a cinnamon aftertaste, it was quite good. After dinner we went back to the room and read until we fell asleep.

Nick's Honeymoon Journal Day 1 & 2

The "big day" has come and gone, yet its still here. Its 9pm on Sunday the 2nd, and I think I have offically been up for 36 hours straight. But what an amazing 36 hours it has been. We started the day out a little behind, but we got to the church on time. Pictures went ok. But of course first I got to see my beautiful wife. Then Michigan won just like the day we were engaged. Hail to the Victors. Then we wedded and partied. Are those words? I don't care because this is where the day gets long. At 2 am we leave the Oldebekking compound with Gord and Donna taking us to Detroit . I took the first shift driving and some how got us to Brighton with out falling asleep. Gordo took it from there and the wife and I were on the way to St. Lucia. After a layover in Philly we touched down in SL and it felt like it was 104 degrees out. One and a half hour car ride later on a island that is only 28 miles wide and we were at Ti Kaye. But boy what a ride. Only got told once by the driver that I had no proper etiquette because I opened the door myself. Stupid American. Had a welcome rum punch or two at the bar and then went to check out the cottage. Amazing view, awesome bed, comfy hammock and cool outdoor shower. Who picked this place you might ask, why me of course after months of reasearch, at this point its looking like it paid off. Dinner continued the awesomeness that is Ti Kaye. We started with a bottle of wine, the first of many. A French blush wine called Rose D'Anjou. I started with the Spicy Pepper Pot Stew and the West Indies Jerk Pork, yum! I topped it off with the banana fritters. We now lay under the mosquito netting ready to pass out. Have I really been up for 36 hours?

Stupid Question for Week of 10/10

I'm back and stupider than ever. Is that a word? No that's not the question. Got some comments from the last question, but no answers or new stupid questions for me to ask/ponder. So keep posting. Make this blog worth my while. Brian I will explain to you what a blog is later... Here's this weeks question...

Why is it called a navel? Do you thing people with "innies" are more introverted than people with "outies"? Does the shape of your navel have anything to do with your sea worthiness?

Well I guess that was 3 stupid questions, but do you have an answer?

We are back!!

We are back. Tanner and better than ever. Well we are kind of tired now because we got back at 3 am today. But off to work tomorrow. Yippee! Haven't opened the gifts yet, so that should be fun. Doing that on Wednesday. Stay tuned for "Nick's Daily Journal" from the honeymoon. It is a hard hitting expose' pretty much giving you a first hand account of what we ate over the course of the week while in St. Lucia. I will also post some pics for all to see.

The Wedding

Here are some pics from the big day!!