Cayman dog "walking"

On the return trip from Cafe del Sol (our local "Starbucks") where I was working on my Capstone Proposal, I saw Cayman's version of dog "walking" just as I was pulling into the Butterfield roundabout near the industrial district. I wish there had been a camera in the car as it would have made the most hilarious picture.

Riding into one of the busiest intersections on the island was a man on a bike, not an odd occurrence at all. Sitting right behind him on a piece of plywood about 2 ft by 3 ft was large yellow lab (or mutt with strong lab tendencies)! I couldn't see how the wood was attached to the bike but the lab was balanced on all fours on the wood happily being carried along. It had to be fairly secure because the dog didn't once teeter and did not seem at all concerned at his method of transportation.

Only in the Caribbean....

The Big 4-0!

Yesterday was Scott's 40th birthday. We had planned an evening of sunset and sushi and were pleasantly surprised when we also received a hotel stay at Sunshine Suites right behind our favorite sushi place.

ICCI has a visiting consultant this week as they prepare for accreditation. There was some confusing with getting a place for her to stay and the college ended up with a prepaid night at Sunshine Suites that wasn't being used. Kira, the Business Manager, graciously let Scott and I use it for his birthday!

After an afternoon of giving Gypsy lots of lovins in the other room while one person packed so that she couldn't tell we were leaving (she has been very needy lately), we set off to pretend we were in a far away land!

We've been to the little grill here (see Sunshine Grill Dinner) at the hotel but have never stayed in any of the rooms. Each room has a kitchen area with a big fridge, stovetop, sink, and a little dining table. It is set up nicely to allow visitors to do a bit of cooking for themselves to keep their costs down. Scott really liked the flat screen TV and watched some football while I got ready since it always takes me much longer!

After getting all dolled up we walked over to Yoshi's.

We get sushi ("fake" sushi lately) about twice a month but it is Scott's favorite on the island so he wanted to do it for his birthday. To make it more special than the normal takeout we get, he decided to go for the Love Boat. When we first arrived on the island, we used to go to Yoshi's all the time and each visit we would get the Love Boat. It is a "boat" (they used to use this really cool wooden boat for the sushi but we haven't seen it in a while) filled with sushi that comes with multiple courses. You get to enjoy miso soup, tempura, rice, teriyaki chicken, and, afterwards, mango or green tea icecream (we both always get the mango). It is A LOT of food (hence the reason we stopped getting it) but since we were in "vacation" mode we scarfed it all down! We did some substitutions for the sushi rolls so that they were all "fake" sushi and I could eat them but Scott really enjoyed getting to have nigiri and sashimi sushi (one is just cuts of the raw fish and the other is raw fish over rice). After packing up some of the leftovers so that Scott could eat his customary "midnight sushi" (usually eaten around 8 p.m. because we aren't night owls...), we headed back to the hotel.

With me 8 months pregnant and Scott exhausted from many weeks of running like crazy with work, we ended up crashing! We'd planned to change back into shorts and go walk on the beach right at sunset but when we got back to the room we were just too tired to go back out. We'd brought "Harry Potter: Prisoner of Azkaban" to watch (I'm rereading the books and we are watching the movies as I finish each one). Only about an hour into the movie (which is the most inconsistent from the book of them all so far!) Scott just couldn't keep his eyes open. We had the "midnight sushi", tried to make it a bit further in the movie, and then decided to call it a night. Scott zonked out around 8:30! Aren't we just the happenin' couple!?! We are turning into my parents! :) It will just get worse when Baby C joins our family!

He needs to get a lot of sleep because this next week is going to be NUTS! He has visits from Ministers, meetings with the Education Council, a mock accreditation visit, and ICCI's 40th anniversary celebration on top of his regular responsibilities! After everything calms down, I'm sure that he will update everyone on all the events of this week.

The Right Place to Be

There are no less than three major hurricanes active today and fortunately not a one of them is in any way affecting us or appears as if it will.  Karl was nice enough to wait to form to the west of us while Igor and Julia didn't even knock on the door of the Caribbean the way Earl did before turning north.  The season is still barely over 1/2 way done but so far at least it has been another quiet one for us.  Knock on wood, lets hope that continues.  Fortieth Anniversary week is next week and we are finishing the first week of the fall term today.  With 225 students this is our biggest term since we got here.

Zachary Alexander's Baptism

Yesterday up in Naperville our nephew Zachary Alexander was baptised.  I am the Godfather and my cousin Chuck Hughes graciously stood in for me since I couldn't get up there for the ceremony.  It was good practice for Chuck as he will be Godfather to my daughter when she comes in a couple of months.  We really wish we could have been there.  Zach along with his parents Jo and Brent and his brother Nicholas were in our thoughts yesterday.  We send all our best wishes up north.  There was also a surprise 60th birthday party for my Mom who was there for the baptism.  Anyone who has pictures from either the baptism or the birthday party please email them down to us we would love to see them.  Thanks.

40th Anniversary of College

This month is the Fortieth Anniversary of the college.  We have a huge weekend of events the weekend of the 24th and the media blitz about it is on going.  This morning I was on TV talking about the anniversary and the upcoming events.

40th Anniversary TV Appearance

Football Season

As many of you already know, the first day of the college football season is celebrated as a holiday in the Cummings household a tradition begun by my beautiful wife some five years ago when she gave me a first day of football present the morning of the Texas-UNT opener in 2006.  This year I was presented with a small book that had the words to the Eyes of Texas and the sonogram photos of our little girl with various Longhorn and football related stickers strategically placed on the photos.  I got to watch the Texas game from the comfort of my own living room since it was on the main ESPN channel that we get.  The Horns were solid if unspectacular and it was good to see them win though they aren't nearly the team of the last two years that challenged for a national title.  With the youngster due in early November football this year really is taking a backseat to real life. 

We finished our summer term last week and have a week of administrative duties before we start the fall term on the 13th.  Late last week it looked like we might get our first storm of the season next week in Gaston but right now it is up in the air whether he will reform and if he does whether he will track our way.  If he had you know that Katie who is a huge Beauty and Beast fan would have been humming Gaston's song from the movie and play all the time.  Next week is our nephew Zachary Bernard's baptism and we want to send our love and thoughts up to Naperville to him and the whole Bernard family.

New Government Position

So I know I will get some grief from my brother and sister about the appellation before my name but here is the link to my appointment to the CINICO Board of Directors on the government web site.

CINICO Board

Earl well to east of us

A few folks have sent us emails about the latest hurricane which is battering the Eastern Caribbean, Earl.  Fortunately, he turned well to the north before entering the far northeast Caribbean and his track is up into the Atlantic.  The Cayman Islands being so far to the west, won't feel any of his fury which seems destined for the North Atlantic.  We are fortunate to be in the western Caribbean and hidden behind the huge mountains of Jamaica.  It doesn't mean we can't get hit (as we learn every couple of years), but it does mean we are better situated than the leeward and windward islands.  Earl waited a while to turn north and that has been bad news for the leeward islands who are getting battered by hurricane winds this morning.  Fiona is forming in Earl's wake but she also is projected to hit the eastern islands only before heading north.  September 15th is the height of hurricane season so we are just getting started with this year's storm season.

This past weekend Kathleen and I attended the graduation for the Tourism Apprenticeship program that ICCI works on in partnership with the other college in the Island UCCI and with the Department of Tourism. The Premier was the graduation speaker and it was held over at the Westin Casaurina Resort on Seven Mile. It gave Katie a chance to try out a dress for our own 40th Anniversary and gave us both a chance to see the Governor's Ballroom in action ahead of the ICCI 40th (as it will be in the same location). 

This is final exam week on campus so things will be intense enough for our students without any storms coming our way.  We continue to hit our projections for the fall each week and are on pace to have a huge class which is quite exciting.  To see the new building going up this fall and the large class will really give us a sense of accomplishment as we step away from the college for a few months and become new parents.  We feel like the college is in a good place and that we can leave for 6-8 weeks and know that everything will be fine.  It took a while to get to this place but with the staff now on hand and the strong foundation with the faculty and student body there is a real sense of stability in the college.  And of course, Saturday is the first day of college football season a national holiday in this household.  Texas takes on Rice to open the season and with the game on ESPN we don't have to go any further than our living room to catch the game.

Gypsy's Newest Friend

Just this afternoon Gypsy started to get very excited by something outside the window. She'd been playing with her lizard earlier so at first we thought that was all it was but when we realized that the lizard was sitting in the opposite direction of where she was looking, we started to look for a new friend.

Swerving in and out of the branches right in front of Gypsy was a snake! About two feet long he was happily exploring the branches for the lizards, snails, and other "friends" that keep Gypsy entertained. Gypsy found this new friend very fascinating!

It was hard to get a good picture through the window but this is the best that we got. The head and the tail are both off the side of the picture.

Fundraising for the College

With our 40th Anniversary this September, we are doing a lot of fund raising for the college.  Below is an article on some recent success we have had.  Of course the big goal is the new buildings for the campus.  We have now exceeded our available capacity in terms of classroom space and must expand.  We hope to break ground on our new third classroom building this fall and longer term the new Library/Conference Center is in the works if we can line up the donors.  We are also in need of more parking which is expensive down here to pave.  Lately I have spent a lot of time doing presentations to companies trying to line up funds for our library and various programs.  In these difficult economic times it is increasingly difficult to get companies to contribute monies to institutions such as ours.

Cayman Net News Article

Shooting Gallery

The storms seem to be coming off the coast of Africa in waves with both Danielle and now Earl swirling out in the Atlantic.  Current tracks have both staying out of the Caribbean and lets hope that stays the case.  The weather folks here tell us that several more storms are lining up in the Sahara so the shooting gallery that is hurricane alley is open for business.  It has been too hot down here to do much outside after 9:00 a.m. so besides morning walks and work, life is just one day after another as we count down to November.  It looks like our fall term may well have record enrollment at the pace we are on and that is keeping us busy with registrations and paper work.  We are also finishing up the institutional self study so we can file all our documents for the new grant of accreditation.  It seems just yesterday we were going through an accrediting visit and now we have another one next January or February since our current grant expires at the end of 2011 and is up for renewal.  This is also week ten of the term so we are both finishing up our summer term teaching assignments and will be taking off teaching for the fall so this is the last of our classroom work for several months.  And of course, football season is just two weeks away so that will help pass the time to November.

Sunshine Grill dinner

To celebrate Scott's appointment to the CINICO board and my completion of another quarter of DU classes, we went out to Sunshine Grill, one of the best burger places on the island.

New Responsibilities

On Tuesday I received an appointment letter from the Minister of Health indicating that the Governor in Cabinet had appointed me to a one year term as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Cayman Islands National Insurance Company (CINICO).  This is the position we had mentioned a while back that I was up for but wasn't sure I would ultimately receive.  My experience as a lawyer and in the paramedical industry as well as my work in academia all played a role in this new position.  It doesn't affect my job as the Dean of ICCI or impact us in any way other than the new responsibilities that I will have as Chairman and the additional work it will involve.  It is an honor to have been nominated and a real honor to have been appointed.  Before any of you ask, it is a volunteer position and doesn't carry any salary or other benefits beyond the prestige of holding the position.  I am excited about the prospect and it is an opportunity to give back to the community in a significant way as CINICO insures all public servants and the most at risk segments of the population (this is effectively the public option company down here).  It is a new venture and along with the challenge of being the Dean and the incredible challenge of fatherhood means my life will be quite interesting.  How will I ever find time for Longhorn football???????

Gypsy is Lonely

Gypsy has been looking for friends all over the place. First there was her outside lizard who came to visit and spend time with her (see post below). Then earlier this weekend a few birds started coming around to pull off the leaves from the plant right in front of the window. They were pretty interesting but didn't stick around long.

She's taken to sleeping on a blanket in the downstairs guest room. We thought it was because the sun makes its way into there and warms up the room but now we think it is because she has found a "friend", someone who never talks about this "Baby C"!

Uncle Hank

A quick word on our Uncle Hank who is in the hospital this week. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and the entire Spetter family. Uncle Hank is 91 and is our oldest living relative on my Grandma Rita's side of the family. I remember fondly going to Uncle Hank's house and swimming in the above ground pool as a kid when I would visit them in Lyons, Illinois. As I think back I can remember him taking me as a 10 year old to a flea market one Saturday morning and telling me about his work in the newspaper business. He was always happy to have us come visit and never begrudged us his time. That was so important to us as kids knowing we had an Uncle who cared about us so much. He is loved by us all and we are all with him in spirit if not in person this week.  Get well soon Uncle Hank we all love you very much.

Cape Verde Season

Today is the beginning of the worst part of hurricane season known as Cape Verde season. It is named after the Cape Verde islands off the coast of Africa. The sand storms come off the Sahara cross the Cape Verde Islands and then move across the Atlantic.  While crossing the Atlantic they build circulation and then when they hit the warm waters of the Caribbean they become monsters.  This means heightened awareness of what is going on weather wise for the next 6-8 weeks.  With Katie being 28 weeks this Thursday we already have a plan in place to send her off island if a big storm is coming.  So far the season has been quiet in the our neck of the woods with all the storms turning north and into the Atlantic before entering the Caribbean.  Lets hope it stays that way.

TV Appearance

Here is the link to the television interview yesterday.

TV Appearance



Meanwhile, whatever you may think of his politics at least his taste in colleges is beyond question.

Gypsy's Friend

Lately a lizard has been coming around to "visit" Gypsy. He will parade across the ledge by the window flashing his different colors and enticing other lizards with his "chin flap". Gypsy loves to watch him and he likes to have the audience.

If Gypsy isn't around, he will perch and stare into the window. He will walk across the screen to make himself as visible as possible to the inside; he will do whatever he can to invite Gypsy to play.

This morning we noticed a large gecko that had made its way into our bedroom. Although we pointed it out to Gypsy, she found it terribly boring! Where were the flashy antics? Where were the bright colors? That lizard was a NORMAL lizard...she isn't into normal lizards.

Peering into the window

The normal lizard

Media Blitz and Calendar Watching

Over the past several weeks I have been doing media appearances on behalf of the college.  I have done a couple of radio appearances and a television appearance and with an average of one a week am definitely spending a lot of time getting free advertising for the college.  With our 40th anniversary next month, the new business building about to start construction and the fall term starting in a month there has been a lot to talk about.  It certainly has kept the weeks moving which has been a good thing.  I recently answered some emails asking me what I was up to with some combination of the following: "My life now is a calendar watch.  The questions each day seem to begin with what week are we, then quickly move to when is the next Dr. visit, how long is it to viability, how long until the lungs are developed, how many more days to November, and on and on."  The radio and TV appearances have been a good distraction from the overwhelming nature of getting ready to be parents and contemplating the calendar as it inexorably moves forward is both exciting and scary.  Katie is doing a great job of keeping the baby blog up to date so keep checking that for updates on little Baby C. 27 weeks this Thursday.

Virtual Baby Shower

This afternoon my sister Johanna threw Kathleen a virtual baby shower from her house in Naperville, Illinois. We attended via skype video link and were able to see and talk to all our relatives and friends who attended.  It was a surreal experience to attend a party from thousands of miles away, but we really felt like we were there.  The one big thing missing was not being able to eat all the great food they were having.  We hadn't seen Johanna and her kids Nicholas and Zachary in a couple of weeks and it was amazing to see how much they grow even when its only been a few weeks since we last saw them.  We also got to see our Great Aunt Mary and Uncle Hank and it was great to talk to them along with our cousins Chuck (with Twila and the kids Cory and Christie), Mary Kay, Sue and Eileen; and friends like Maryann Walsh.  The baby shower was centered around creating onesies for the baby.  We saw a longhorn onesie, a kittycat onesie, an airplane onesie, a Ms. November, a rainbow onesie and even a dinosaur one from Nicholas.  Little Zach made his presence known throughout and it was really nice to see and interact with everyone as they made the onesies. 

We want to really thank Jo and Brent for doing this and setting up such a wonderful afternoon and thanks to everyone who attended or who will be sending onesies as part of the broader baby shower in other places across America.  We wish we could be with you.