Koa Rocker

I am going to put finish on a koa rocker today. Yes, that's the truth. And afterwards, I will probably do nothing. Maybe a nap.

Red Sox Win By 50 Runs!

Maybe tomorrow I will re-publish this post, since it just erred out. I was mentioning the Red Sox winning by 54-4 and then doing research about st john usvi on the st john travel forum www.stjohntravelforum.com, but I think I will not mention it anymore.

St John's Frank Bay Villas

Frank Bay Villas is the source for weddings and honeymoons on st john, and also cottage rentals, since it has the listings that everyone needs. www.frankbayvillas.com. Also villa rentals on st john.

Celtics and Red Sox Will Both Win Tonight

The Boston Red Sox and the Boston Celtics will both win tonight or my name isn't Captain G. Piecost, the Beloved.

Yacht Club Party at Larry's

The next yacht club party will be at Larry Boxerman's house in Chocolate Hole. The first saturday in June. A pot luck without pot.

Wagapalooza

This was in the Source today.

Wagapalooza Just Gets Curioser and Curioser -- and Bigger
by Barbara Birt

Best costume runner-up Madison, his human, Kacey Gaumer -- and the Colonel.
May 18, 2008 -- There were miniature dogs, huge dogs, cross-dressing dogs, Kentucky Fried Chicken dogs, scarecrow dogs, tutu-wearing dogs, and just for good measure, fire eaters. Just another Wagapalooza to benefit the St. John Animal Care Center.
One of three annual fundraisers held by the ACC, Wagapalooza draws dogs and their owners primarily from St. John and St. Thomas to compete in a series of contests such as best costume, best trick, best tail wagger and one incredibly specialized contest designed to honor a predetermined entrant. Saturday's benefit, at the Winston Wells Ball Field in Cruz Bay, marked the eighth year for Wagapalooza, whose popularity is growing, according to organizer Jennifer Dale, an ACC board member.
( Click for rest of article )

A D V E R T I S I N G :



"It was a great success," said Dale. "It was definitely the best Waga we've had. We get better every year!"
As of Sunday, Dale was not sure how much money the benefit raised, but the 2007 Waga brought in close to $35,000, according to the event's website. As for crowd size, guesstimates put it in the range of 150 to 200 people. Some 50 canines competed at a cost of $10-$20 per registrant.
Radio personality Roger W. Morgan from St. Croix was master of ceremonies for the dog show, whose sponsors included, well, way too many to name.
"We had 60 raffle prizes, four dozen individual sponsors of T-shirts, and people who volunteer their time and equipment," Dale said. "The list of volunteers and sponsors just goes on and on. I struggle as to how I can thank these people, because there are so many. It's a real grassroots effort."
The contests kicked off with "Best Looking Brother and Sister Miniature English Bulldog in Formal Attire."
"Amazingly, we have only one couple!" quipped Morgan, as jowly, pug-nosed Lulu in a pink tutu and blonde wig plodded around the ring alongside her brother Satchel, who was bedecked in a top hat and tux. Owners Fran Attard and Roger Harland paid $500 for the special category so their daughters could escort their pets to victory as well as help raise more money for the center.
"I wanted to encourage other people to create specialty categories," said Harland, whose idea already has Dale planning her promotional campaign for next year.
When it was time for the best costume, Morgan called attention to one particularly interesting contestant.
"Murphy is a cross-dressing beauty contestant who is showing off both evening and swim wear," he announced, as a wiry little brown dog with red velvet panties and top, trimmed with white lace, tootled his way around the ring. Several minutes later, he reappeared in a see-through pink bikini. The vice squad was nowhere in evidence.
Murphy, however, was trounced by Roxy, a larger and more wiry version of the cross-dressing Murphy, whose enthusiasm for being in the spotlight, combined with a harlequin-type scarecrow costume, left the applause-measuring Wag-O-Meter topping out at 10. A chicken-costumed Chihuahua named Madison, whose bulging eyes popped from atop the over-sized Kentucky Fried Chicken box, almost edged out Murphy, driving the Wag-O-Meter to nine.
The evening concluded with a fire-eating/fire-throwing contest courtesy of Pyros of the Caribbean as well as music provided by Michael Beason, Gregg Jones and Rich Greengold of St. John. Kids enjoyed face painting, and the culinary fare was notably elevated beyond that of a typical outdoor festival, featuring grilled mahi mahi and beef, with an assortment of homemade sauces.
In addition to the canine contests, Wagapalooza honored two individuals for their animal rescue efforts: Joy Carpenter whose dog Jack, a Dalmatian, won the Waga King title, and Anne Marie Porter.
Here's a recap of the canine contests:

Waga King
Joy Carpeter & Jack

Waga Queen
Sandi Stein & Bojo

Best Looking Brother and Sister Miniature English Bulldogs in Formal Attire
Winner: Marina and Mariah Harland with Lulu and Satchel

Best Tail Wagger
Winner: Sandi Stein & Bojo
2nd: Joy Carpenter & Jack

Best Costume
Winner: Sharin Moran & Roxy
2nd: Kacey Gaumer & Madison

Best Puppy Love
Winner: Catherine Stull/Derek Duplisea & Jack
2nd: Nina Hahler & Lucy

Best Old Timer
Winner: Sandi Stein & Bojo
2nd: Jason/Jana Allen & Tyson

Best Jumper
Winner: Jodie Tanino & Lucille
2nd: Daniel/Deana Somerville & Sweetie Pie

Best Spots
Winner: Joy Carpenter & Jack
2nd: Sean Dillon & Powder

Best Dancer
Winner: Daniel/Deanna Somerville & Sweetie Pie
2nd: Nina Hahler & Lucy

Best Lap Dog
Winner: Austin/Gregory & Rocket
2nd: Bobi Lise & Hoss

Best Trick
Winner: Hanna O'Brien & Shiner
2nd: Sandi Stein & Bojo

This should even everything

Something is happening. Blog number 1 just got a post today. How did it get a post. Not from me. How could someone else post in it.

I need these blogs to be equal in posts. Especially since they are supposed to be aboout st john us virgin islands and villa rentals. www.stjohnvillarental.com and www.frankbayvillas are the places to find villas these days in the usvi. So use them or else.

St. John Power Outage

There was a power outage in Upper Carolina, St. John, USVI yesterday, and one last night. WAPA essentially is pathetic.

Never do this

Don't do a headstand on top of a precipice, or you might have a tumble.

Not a single piecost today

Nope, no piecosts in this blog today. A henway joke maybe.

Ed: I was walking around downtown and saw a henway.
Al: What's a henway?
Ed: About 2-3 pounds.

Red Sox were cheated yesterday

The umpires were obviously cheating, as they deprived the Boston Red Sox of a victory in Minnesota. No umpire who cheats will be allowed to view www.frankbayvillas.com to rent a vacation villa on st john usvi. So there. No exceptions. And no boat rides either.

Total Potrzebie

This will be about potrzebie today. Nothing at all about www.stjohntravelforum.com or villa rentals on st john or vacation villa rentals. Just potrzebie, poigt, arthur, axolotl, piecost, and henway.

Wow, only 58 posts -- #1 has 60

I guess I will have to make a couple of posts here. Maybe even mention www.frankbayvillas.com for vacation villas on st john.

Anything at all?

Nope. Nothing today.

Honolulu Advertiser Story today

WAC to trim BCS paydays
Print this page
E-mail this article
By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Staff Writer


This was in the Honolulu Advertiser. No mention whatsoever of www.stjohntravelforum.com. And not a peep about the St. John Yacht Club, www.stjohnyachtclub.org. Why not, you might ask. Probably because the article was about sports in Hawaii, not about sailing in st john or villa rentals.

It turns out the University of Hawai'i's timing last football season was even better than the Warriors knew.


Not only did they win two overtime games en route to a 12-0 regular season and a Sugar Bowl appearance, the Warriors did it in what might hold up as the most lucrative season to be a Western Athletic Conference Bowl Championship Series representative.

The WAC Council, at its annual spring meetings yesterday in Phoenix, voted to significantly slice the amount future WAC representatives might keep from BCS appearances, commissioner Karl Benson said. The Council's action requires approval of the WAC Board of Directors next month to become effective in 2009.

UH realizes $4,385,555 from its 41-10 loss to Georgia, 70 percent of the WAC's share of the Sugar Bowl payout, when checks go out in July. Other WAC members will receive $410,555 each from UH's BCS appearance. Benson declined to say what the future figure would be but said it would be "significantly" less than what UH received.

Among the six BCS conferences and five affiliated conferences, the WAC pays one of the highest returns to its participating teams. Georgia, for example, said it will get $1.74 million off the top of its Sugar Bowl victory and "about $800,000" in travel expenses. The rest will go into the Southeastern Conference pool from which all members draw.

In the Pac-10, where bowl receipts are also pooled, Southern California earned just $1.846 million from its Rose Bowl victory over Illinois, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Boise State was paid $4,294,000 for its 2007 Fiesta Bowl victory over Oklahoma.

* * *
The WAC Volleyball Tournament that will be held at the Stan Sheriff Center in November apparently will not be the last in a series.

The WAC Council did not back a proposal to do away with the tournament. Several schools believe dropping the tournament and using the dates (Nov. 20 to 23) to play additional non-conference games would boost their Ratings Percentage Index and enhance their at-large NCAA Tournament chances.

Benson said he favored retaining the tournament. "Championships are the heart of the conference and one of the prime reasons conferences were created."

UH is the eight-time defending WAC champion.

* * *
Southern Methodist, which earlier declined UH inquiries about football games in 2009 and beyond, has announced games in 2009 and 2012 with Stephen F. Austin, a Division I-AA member.

* * *
UH announced it has received pledges for 20 new men's basketball season tickets as of yesterday.

Fans can reserve season tickets with a $50 (per order, not ticket) deposit by calling 944-2697

Nothing

Today this blog gets the big zero. Nada. Nothing today except this post, since it is third in line. Maybe tomorrow it will be time to mention www.stjohntravelforum.com, but not today.

May 4 Again

This was in the Source on Friday. It is not about www.stjohnvillarental.com or www.frankbayvillas.com. Instead, it is about something else.

Fun from the Sun: Solar Car Race Showcases Energy Alternatives
by Carol Buchanan

The race took place in the Wendy's parking lot at Sunny Isles Shopping Center on St. Croix.
May 2, 2008 -- All day Friday, Junior Solar Sprint race organizers and participants kept an eye on big gray clouds that kept trying to obscure the sun, rushing to run another heat when the sun came out.
"Despite the clouds, the best-designed cars will run," said Bevin Smith, director of the V.I. Energy Office. "They don't need full sun. Our main worry is rain and getting the track wet."
This year's big winner was again Sts. Peter and Paul on St. Thomas. One of the school's teams took first place in the speed category, while another took third place.
This was the 13th Junior Solar Sprint Competition run by the Energy Office. It is designed as a hands-on educational experience for junior high school students to improve their knowledge of science, engineering and renewable energy. The students designed and constructed the cars using basic materials contributed by the Energy Office. Each school received three car kits. The cars are made of balsa wood with a little solar panel attached at an angle on top.
"This is a great experience to learn about solar energy and how to help our environment," said Jennifer Vante, an eighth grader at Sts. Peter and Paul and a member of the first-place team.
More than 130 students attended the race held in the Wendy's parking lot at Sunny Isles shopping center. Students from 22 private, public and parochial schools in the territory participated.
"Over the years, with this race, students have gained knowledge, and are now miles ahead on solar energy," said Smith, who originally brought the race to the Virgin Islands. "This is a thoughtful, fun activity to get kids involved."
Sandra Lashley, a teacher at the Manor School, brought board games to keep her students occupied.
"It was exciting to see the kids having fun while learning about solar energy," Lashley said. "The camaraderie and cooperation among all of the students today was great."
The competition had an added attraction this year. In previous years, students have learned how solar energy can power their model race cars. This year they saw how solar energy can be used to power real cars. On display was a totally electric car, along with a hybrid car. The Energy Office had solar panels hooked up to charge the electric cars.
"If we as consumers have the same awareness of the abundance of solar as kids do, we wouldn't be in the energy situation we are in," said Arlen Wheeler, owner and sales representative of the Global Electric Motorcar (GEM). He called the GEM "a golf cart on steroids."
His model has a governor that keeps it from going above 25 miles per hour. With the governor removed the car can go 35 mph, he said. The only highway in the Virgin Islands the car can't travel on is the Melvin Evans Highway, Wheeler said.
The race winners:
First (Sts. Peter and Paul): Jennifer Vante and Sarah Ann Charles
Second (Arthur A. Richards): Clemrick Bryan and Kaheam Stanley
Third (Sts. Peter and Paul): Aubrey Warner and Cadim Sabin
Fourth (St. Patrick's): Brandon Lawrence and DeAndre Asson
Fifth (Sts. Peter and Paul): Danlia Daniel and Ashlee Forney
Design winners:
First (Sts. Peter and Paul): Jennifer Vante and Sarah Ann Charles
Second (Sts. Peter and Paul): Ashlee Forney and Danlia Daniel
Third (Kingshill): Aaron Schaffer and Ian Heath
Fourth (Sts. Peter and Paul): Aubrey Warner and Cadim Sabim
Fifth (Kingshill): Martin Burgos and Clayton Bradford
Second-place winner Clemrick Bryan said he had a feeling his team would place after they won four out of five races.
"This is a fun way to learn about solar energy," Bryan said.
Participating St. Croix schools included St. Patrick's, Arthur A. Richards Jr. High, Good Hope Church of God Academy, Country Day, Elena Christian Jr. High, Free Will Baptist, John H. Woodson Jr. High, The Manor School, St. Mary's, Positive Connections, IQRA Educational Center and the Kingshill School.
Participating St. Thomas schools included Antilles, Bertha C. Boschulte Junior High, Sts. Peter and Paul, All Saints, Addelita Cancryn Junior High, Montessori, Moravian and Church of God Academy.
"Overall the race was very well-organized," said Dave Watterson, coach of the Country Day School team. "The students are enthusiastic about this great learning experience."
Also helping out at the race were volunteers from the governor's office, Department of Natural Resources, Water and Power Authority and Sen. Louis Patrick Hill's staff.

Snorkle at Maho

You can snorkle at Maho. But don't do what we saw a few weeks ago -- some tourists snorkleing over the sandy bottom in the middle (no fish or coral) instead of going to a really good spot way over at the right where there is lots of everything.

Tax Rebates

This was in The Source this morning. Nothing at all about www.stjohnvillarental.com or www.frankbayvillas.com. Nothing at all about renting villas on st john usvi. When will something be published in The Source about vacation villas?

$41.5 Million in Rebates to Be Sent in Coming Weeks
by Source staff
May 1, 2008 -- Virgin Islands residents could begin to see economic stimulus rebates as early as May 12, according to a Thursday statement from Government House.
The $41.5 million in rebates from the U.S. Treasury Department, part of the Bush Administration's economic stimulus plan, has arrived at the Finance Department, according to Gov. John deJongh Jr.
"The monies were received on Wednesday and both the Bureau of Internal Revenue and Finance Department are working aggressively to establish a schedule for payment of the rebates to V.I. taxpayers," deJongh said.
Both deJongh and Delegate Donna Christensen made sure that the rebates were funded by Treasury so V.I. residents would not be left out of the package because the territories had no economically feasible way to finance the rebates.
"The government will issue 3,000 checks at a time based on the date the 2007 tax return was filed," Bureau of Internal Revenue Director Gizette Thomas said Thursday. "We are hoping to have the majority of the rebate checks in the mail by the end of June."
She also said V.I. residents have until Oct. 15 to file their income tax returns and receive a rebate check in this calendar year. Any eligible taxpayer filing after that date won’t get the rebate check until a 2008 income tax return is filed..
Eligible Virgin Islanders, like their neighbors on the mainland, will receive up to $600 per individual and up to $1,200 for couples filing jointly. Taxpayers will also receive $300 per child.
Those who had at least $3,000 of earned income, but who earned too little to be subject to income taxes, will get $300 per individual and $600 per couple. Such taxpayers would also be eligible for the $300 child credits.
Recipients of Social Security or disability benefits, veterans and disability benefits are also eligible for a rebate under guidelines of the economic stimulus plan if their benefits exceed $3,000 per year, Thomas said.
Meanwhile, more than $28.5 million has been paid out in 2007 income tax refunds to Virgin Islands taxpayers. "The Bureau of Internal Revenue has paid refunds to more than 11,000 taxpayers since March 11," deJongh said Thursday in a statement, adding that approximately $5 million in refunds are being authorized each week.
Thomas said that prior to the April 15 tax filing deadline, about $5 million in refunds were authorized each week but significantly more refunds will be sent this week in order to meet the June 1 deadline of issuing the bulk of the income tax refunds and help the government to avoid accruing interest.

Big John

I performed Big John last night at Open Mike Night. Not a standing ovation, but some applause and a lot of grins from everybody.

Every morning at the mine you could see him arrive.
He stood six foot six and weighed two-forty-five.
Kind of broad at the shoulders and narrow at the hip.
And everybody knew you didn't give no lip to Big John.

Etc.

Read all about it at the st john yacht club website www.stjohnyachtclub.org.