Sorry if I ramble but it's late and I've got a house full. My friends Antoinette and Jeff and their dog and cat have evacuated to our house.
The Gap Fire has displaced 1,000 homes - as I said our home is very far from harm. I just wish it was bigger with a lot more beds Rasta and I have taken the living room, my cats are hunkered down under the bed, their cat is in the den and Abigail (their dog) is faithfully by their side in our room.
We're all safe and that's all that matters.
I heard from Guy---he said they did 4 water drops in less than an hour.
This is what it looked like from the bluffs
looking towards the mountain

looking out over the ocean- the layer of smoke was so thick and stagnant

It looked like it was snowing from the ash.

Such a shame the situation has gone from bad to worse.
This is a link to our local news station Santa Barbara local station They have done a very good job of keeping us updated and a local am radio station has been non-stop with phone calls etc.
I'm so grateful to have a safe harbour for my friends
and ever always grateful to have a safe harbour to come to here at BT.

Have a safe and happy weekend everyone.

I am so glad to hear that you are safe. I wish it were the same for all your friends and for everyone. What wonderful work your hubby is doing, dangerous and helping others. I hope he and all others stay safe fighting the fires.

Happy 4th of July to all BTer's in the US!!!

Oh happy day!!!

Hey, if you folks haven't seen the wonderful stuff in the BT auction - ya better check it out.

OH MODS, didn't you get the photo of the fishnet thong I donated. I can resend it and the description if you need. Pam says she will pay the shipping costs.

We did get it Tom But it was so small that we decided not to show it....lol

No visuals this morning please! LOL!

Or we could have someone model it to this song...


I have a list of male models .

Morning all! Tara...so glad you are safe. Just think of all the fun you can have with a full house. Try to enjoy the time together even though it is stressful.

Wes left this morning, so I am alone again. I have 5 dives until I hit 300. That will keep me focused.

Good Morning, and Happy Fourth of July to everyone! Some of us are stuck at work, but to those who are off, have a great day! The weather is lousy here, raining, hot & humid. Tara, hope things start to get better out there, You're in my prayers.

I just looked at all of the auction items. Very nice!

Morning Everyone

Tara - glad you are safe. Been thinking of you & Guy. Hope you get some rain soon.
Thanks to Guy and all the firefighters!
Tom
Freddie
Tribs - sorry to hear Wes left already You'll never be alone! 300 - you go girl!
Eileen - how are all the munchkins doing?

Happy 4th of July

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!!!

The auction looks VERY cool!! I love all the "stuff"!!! Now, what do I want, need, can't live without??? Oh, all of it!!

Tara, you are a good friend! I'm glad yall are safe and now you can just have a party!!!

Tribs, I hope Wes has a good flight, and don't worry, you'll see him soon. When he comes back, not when you leave!! Remember, you're staying!!LOL

Does anybody know where the "new Richter Art Gallery, which we are officially opening on Bonaire on July 1st" is located on Bonaire .. and the hours?

Denise, I think it is at their house. I am sure Jake will chime in here with their hours since you asked. Can't wait to stop by myself in August.

Happy Birthday to my Bob,he is just the best sweetie a girl could have.: We are off to the races later so wish us luck.

From the city where it all began, I wish you and yours a very healthy and happy Fourth. Tara, hang in there girl. Thanks for helping a friend in need. Here is my favorite AMERICAN band to get your day going straight.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nX9G7xfMrt0

Hi Denise,

The Richter Art Gallery is indeed at our house here in Belnem, in our new extension. We'll be setting up our web site today or early next week as well (which will have a map on it) - we're a little behind getting ready because of our prep for Dia di Arte on Sunday.

In terms of directions, just follow the coastal road past the airport south. At the signs to Sorobon/Windsurfing turn left (this is also the first paved left after the airport. Our house is the only 2-story one on the left a couple of blocks in from the ocean - can't miss it. #17.

But please call first at 717-4112 to make sure that we are here (we don't have public hours yet, and won't until mid-December when high season starts and we have returned from our fall travel explorations).

You can also see us Sunday at Dia di Arte on the Wilhelmina Plein.

Will be good to see you and Teddy again!

Jake

Good morning everyone and Happy Fourth of July!

Keep us posted Jake. I'll be with a group of 15 from the 10th til the 19th. Sadly, we miss Dia de Arte. That was when I first met you 8 years ago!

Tara, I hope you're safely asleep right now. Give Guy a big hug from me when you next see him!

Happy B-day to Julia's Bob!

And a special thank you to all of our peeps that are working today in essential jobs that keep this big ole world turning!

We'll be here Gail, just call first. Would be nice to see you again too! Staying at BDrg again?

Jake

Yep. Same place!

Happy 4th of July!!


It's raining here...I wish I could send some of it to put out those fires...prayers for safety for all.

Good Morning all. HAPPY 4TH!!! Tara, it's good of you to help friends out.. I know it means a lot to them. Acquaintances come easy but true friends are hard to find and last a life time.. We are having a 4th of July get together today. The margarita machine is fired up and chicken/beef kabobs are waiting to go on the grill. Are friends just got back from Belize and Roatan so when we are not playing water volleyball, we will compare our trip to Bonaire with their trip. I'm sure they will show up with a power point presentation... Such over achievers... Any who, have a great 4th everyone!!

Sh!!.. Are is supposed to be our.. I hate when that happens.. and I haven't even started drinking yet..

Happy 4th everyone.
Patrick - can you say ONE DAY? How many hours till lift off?

Thanks Linda was just about to post that!!!!!!!!!!!

ONE FULL DAY LEFT........AND A FEW ODD HOURS BEFORE LIFT OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Where are you going again Patrick?

Patrick, where exactly is this place Bonaire that you are going to on vacation. Do they have water sports there? How nice is the beach? Do they have little guys in white jackets bring you cocktails with umbrellas?

Hey you all wouldn't like it. Hard to get there and nothing at all to do. So if I was you I cross it off your list as a happening place...... As the kids say "DO YOU FEEL ME".

Have a great time buddy. I'm not going to take your advice. I am going to come down on August 5th for the 16th time to see what this place is all about. LOL Jake, I would very much like to see the gallery when I come down. I am staying at Belmar this time. I'll call you.

Thanks Jim. I will try my hardest to have a good time for you all...........

Patrick is going where???
Bonaire, Wyoming
I hear it's loverly this time of year

OK ~ now if feels real! The boarding passes have been printed!

Patrick, can you say ONE?

What would the 4th be without a hot dog eating contest?!? Did any of you watch the Nathan's hot dog eat off? It was funny and gross at the same time.
I think I'll have a hot doggie at the ball game tonight.

Happy 4th everyone and Julia please wish Bob a very happy birthday from us!
Boom, stay safe and let us know how Guy is doing. Sorry to hear about your friends but I'm sure you will take excellent care of them.

Patrick, where are you going, I haven't heard anything about it.

Rog and Karen have a safe, wonderful trip!

Auction items are way cool, I see several I must have!! (Tom, about that thong, are you going to wash it prior to shipping????)

Here is this years winner. The picture was taken prior to this years contest - he's clean.

Happy 4th to all our family, friends and everyone else in the good-ol USA!!!

Joey Chestnut is from San Jose, Rianna had her picture taken with him, she thinks he is cool. It scares me if this is the kind of guys she's attracted to!!

RA, the pre-event interview of Joey didn't go well. He was so focused it seemed he didn't hear the interviewer. He probably is a cool guy, just doesn't have good table manners. :-)

Happy Fourth everyone!

Boom, I'm so sorry about Antoinette and Jeff, you are good friends. I swear, it is shades of last summer for me. Three of our coworkers were evacuated with the fires, just stressful.

Well, we are getting ready to go launch the sea poo and go to the store, and head down to the boat. I just showed my bff the Matt dance, we gonna do it today

happy 4th.
tara
that is really fine of u to help ur friends out. how nice it must be to have such a true friend. prayers for everyone and hugs to guy. it takes special people to do that kind of job.

es

Linda, LOL, I couldn't stand to be near Joey while he was eating, it would make me barf! He was very nice to the people, he wasn't competing though so I think he was in a different state of mind!

There's a Bonaire, GA.

No eating hotdog contests here (I don't think!), but the baby back ribs and chicken, and potato salad (southern style), OH and let's not forget those baked beans with unyuns.....all ready.

I want to watch Independence Day or something after the fireworks tonight, which we intend to see from the pool.

And our neighborhood is BIG on fireworks, plus we can see the Channelside fireworks (on Tampa Bay) from our house, so it should be nice.

Happy 4th all.

Boom, update us on those fires. Scary.
PS - YGM.
Kaarien, if you're out there, much love to ya, hon.
And to everyone who has anyone in ill health in their family, I hope my prayer for my BT family includes you and your loved ones, and that you all have a happy long weekend. xx

We're having Nathan's today!! I don't think I wanna see that dude eat, or I won't be able to!! Those contests just kill me, or them, shovin' 'em in and gagging....ah, sets the mood!

I have vacumed my house & mowed the yard! George keeps worrying about the yard, since he has no time off. Well, I broke out the Husquavarna (SP?) and did the front and half the back, for him! Tomorrow I'll do the back 40, it was just too hot out and I could hear the pool calling me!!! I get in the pool, big a@@ black clouds come up! Don't that just figure??!!!

Kathy, I was gonna say Bonaire, GA, you beat me to it! Patrick's taking the direct flight there, ya know?!

Now I shall check my mail and see what I have!!

Happy Independence Day!!!

Went riding in the Mtns. this morning. Road 12 miles and then got chased back to the car by rain! Got a tad wet but not soaked. I hauled tail as did Rob to get out before the deluge!!! We made it but I had my throttle wide open; not sure how fast my bike can go but I had it in the wind LOL!
Home now with the girls; watching the tube.

Boom, thanks for being a great friend! Your refuge will bring them great comfort I know!!!

To all my American friends

Happy 4th of July :-)))))


You can just pic your pic :-)))))))

This is a cool shot :-))))))

BT auction this evening at 6pm Bonaire time

ONE ONE ONE ONE ONE ONE.........

HOW'S THAT KAREN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, Kayla left to go to the Busch race at Daytona Intl. Speedway...my son and brother are there camping since Wed. I used to go to all of these races, back in the day. Livi is at Alexander Springs w/ her dad. I guess I'll sit here and wait for G to get off, and keep checking in on BT... I believe I may pick up a brush and watch some paint dry!! That will be fun!!! And I really need to be doing that!

Geez, I sound so pitiful...I don't mean to, it's just that I was having so much fun w/ Kayla and then a friend called her and had an extra ticket. I'm glad she gets to go, she has a ticket for the big race tomorrow, but has to work. She needs to have some fun!!!

Kobi, Molson Coors better not change the recipe for Miller Lite! I'll be like that old man, "THIS TASTES LIKE S*(%!!!"

TOMORROW YOU'LL BE ON YOUR WAY!!!!!

14 14 14 14.....LOL

PS, LOL That old Coors geezer I am sure gave a few laughs that day!

Sorry all your kiddo's are gone for the night but you still have Calypso
We're watching Busch on TV; they're turning LEFT TOM LOL!

Enjoy painting, PS, you have an awesome gift.

Oh Patrick!!! Pffffft

I'm over there on the Auction...that dang Freddie and Meryl are ROUGH!!!LOL

The bell rang right when HH's in full....might make for some fierce competition

patrick

safe trip. get a good nights sleep
es

Hey everyone, I was checking out the auction...very nice! I was also checking out Pegi's blog. Also very nice, love the angel fish!

We had a quiet day here...cookout in the rain with just the family, watching movies, but that's ok....hope everyone had a good day....

We had a quiet day too. Just the two of us, son and DIL, and the 2 yr old monster. The 8 yr old was with her Dad for the weekend. Watched Casino Royale while the guys gamed.... had some good food. Went out back after dark and set off our legal fireworks on our sea wall, (on the lake!) and ooood and ahhhhh over the illegal stuff the folks around the lake were setting off! Came back up to the house and our non-lake neighbors were setting off mega illegal fireworks in the cul-de-sac. So we joined their party too!

The doggies were traumatized.... My DIL found their dog in my bathroom cowering, and Chaos though his Daddy should hold his 95 lbs in his arms. Maybe we should check with the Vet about tranquilizing them in the future..... Poor babies.

We had a good day, and Alex (2 yr old) enjoyed her fireworks day! All afternoon she kept saying 'I don't want to watch the fireworks. Grandma is scared of them'. But once out there she did fine! I hope Kira had a good day as well with her Dad.

Peace and blessings my BT family!

The neighbors spent over $700 for their fireworks..... OUCH! We spent $50 at the grocery store for our legal (in the state of Florida) stuff! But we sure enjoyed their airiel show!

Hi Jake, We will see you at Dia di Arte on the Wilhelmina Plein. With out public hours at this time of year we wouldn't bother you at your home, since we are just 'lookers', aka 'window shoppers' :-) We are looking forward to seeing you and Linda. We are having a wonderful vacation.

Denise,

It would never be a bother!

Jake