EVENING FROM HEAVEN; NIGHT FROM HELL(Long post warning)
The Hillbilly decided to take his bi-monthly bath and shaved a bit, got all smelly with "oh de MY GOD!" smelly stuff. Brushed his teeth, gassed up the mobile, the nice one, and got his butt to Sosua in timely fashion.
Early, as a matter of fact. Did not recognize the Mainers!..She is looking great, less worry around the eyes and he is nicely tanned and fit. Looks like the move is agreeing with them. Met Jazzcom, who is neither ugly, fat or obnoxious, as well as too many other people.
I feel like a squeezed sponge! I can't remember everone I met...
Some very intresting folks that i did not get to chat with, others that I probably talked to overly much.
shadley! man what a thing you got going for you!. Lloyd, good thinking, take it slow. Ricardo!. What a nice daughter and good taste in cigars.. Rob, always good to find out what is up in the big world. John, glad you like the dentist!!, Jan, thanks for letting me get---well, you know where!! JanH. Looking forward to your visit to Santiago. Chris, I'll get the number this week for you...
Graham, looking fine. Tell you what. We play and I'll pay?
Maine Girl: My goodness you are precious!....Very good to see you, and I will be here this week. Trina: Ohhhh for a cold night in Constanza with you around!!, Sorry Angel, but you have a prize there! Many thanks for the maple syrup and maple butter. Maybe we can plan a breakfast?
Tiberious: didn't get to chat, sorry...AZB...nice friend! Nuf said!!!!!!!! Ken, it was good to see you after all this time. Man you are looking good, under the very stern looks of your very nice wife! HEHEHE...
Drinks were good, but that place was not equipped for eating, sorry to say. Everything I heard was good about the food, but all I got was some salad, after four hours....Great meeting atmosphere, however. I'll go back and eat there sometime..
All in all a wonderful evening. But the trouble started when I took off at about 10 p.m. It was raining, HARD!
As I got to the turn-off for the Carretera Turistica Luperon, I noticed a ton of run-off coming down into the road, like a scene from REAL TV or a picture on the front page of the Phoenix Sun...
I edged around the torrent and went down about 100 yards towards a little bridge. Bridge? What bridge? The torrent was up to the second rail of the bridge and all I could hear were the rocks being carried by the water banging agains the underside of the car. S L O W L Y , I backed up to where I could turn around and take the alternate route, via the tunnel, back to Santiago. the uphill road to Star Hills was awash and the down hill into the Playa Grande Area was covered in rocks: Basketball, volleyball and softball sized rocks! Damn! I spent 45 minutes from Sosua to Tim Hall's Cafe Cito, where I got a soaking going from the car to the restaurant. Good to see Tim enjoying a good cigar. I borrowed his phone and called in. Told Mrs. HB that I would be later than expected. Took the highway out of POP and NOT ONE FREAKING DROP OF RAIN!! Dry as a bone....hustled back at 120 km/hr only to drive into the darkness of a Brownout?? WTF??
Mrs. HB sitting outside the house: "Honey? The lights dimmed out just after you called and look at the house."
Sure nuf! Obviously, a loose connection somewhere, but just in our little section ( like 100 houses?). The other side of the street had all the lights in the world. Went to EDE Norte to report it and they told me to call 1-200-1111 and report it. So I did and they asked me for my CONTRACT NUMBER? I asked them how I could find my contract in a darkend out house at 12 midnight. They said no number no report....Fortunately, enough of the other people called in...I guess someone did have their contract number handy.
Long story short, the lights were fixed at 11 this morning after 12 hours of frustration and a night without sleep.
HB
Edited to try and make some sense???