The Cost of Living

More monkies. A mango pie w/ almond crust.



Pomegranates only turn red with enough sun.
Mangos Casey stole for the pie.

Sour oranges. Wax apples.

Oil had reached $145 a barrel late last week. I'm not sure what it's at now, but a lot of people have continued to take issue with the cost of living.

That doesn't bother me so much, but hopefully people in the States will keep in mind that the market there has a major ripple effect on the rest of the world. Here's a very brief break down of some figures related to our life here in St. Kitts (all figures in East Caribbean Dollars).

My salary as a journalist, a decent paying job for the country: $30,000

Rent: $1215

Gallon of gas (as of this week): $18.25

Box of corn flakes: $15.99

Gallon of milk: $20.99

12oz package of shredded cheese: $10.99

Pint of ice cream: $16.99

Carton of eggs: $10.99

Add to all of this the cost of car repairs, electricity, cooking gas, various taxations and the occaisional top-up on your phone and you're talking about more money than I'm certainly making. I don't know how people get by here or in places in the world that are worse off. Obviously, your lifestyle becomes a very big factor when you're calculating your cost of living.

An exile into anonimity and the dead

So, it's been an interesting week thus far in the world of journalism.

I was told this week that since my work permit is still being processed (it's been what, two months now) I'm going to have to start writing my articles under the illustrious moniker of "Staff Reporter." Why you might ask? Well apparently one of my articles pissed off an avid supporter of the government here and my bosses don't want me to risk being deported because of this fruit loop. Now, keep in mind that this person actually has nothing to do with the government officially, he's just upset that this article didn't praise the government (though it was an accurate depiction of the event). People are quite serious about their politics here, in case you didn't know.

Also of note, took photos of my first dead body today. You can read the article and then go to the photos section if you want to see more. It was a surreal moment to be on the scene taking photographs of a dead person, who's legs happend sticking out from under ten tons of concrete and rebar, as the police were pushing us back with police tape.

The other day I was speaking to this local DJ I know who was handing out fliers downtown for pocket money.

" I like SKNVibes," he said to me, "but you guys only seem to report the bad news."

I told him that was the truth.

I can guarantee that we will have 6000+ hits tomorrow to see the photos of the bridge collapse and around 300 for the article I wrote on the upcoming agricultural fair. If that.

"That's the truth," I said.

You can see in the before and after pictures the lack of support of the bridge. How the hell did they think that those wooden supports and rebar were going to hold up that much concrete?

As I left the scene one of the construction workers, who happened to be on top of the bridge when it collapsed and had jumped to safety, was standing atop the rubble. "Hey WINN FM, ZIZ (a radio and TV station here, respectively), take my picture! Hurry up, I want to be on TV! Please, please, take my picture," he shouted at the reporters as they packed up their gear, the dead body long since hauled off in a Hearst.

Maybe he was blowing off some steam at nearly dying, or trying to say something completely different. Who knows, but I took his picture. Big grin and all.

St. Kitts, the return

One gun encampment at Brimstone hill Fortress

There were about 30 of these holding up our car at the time


On my way to work!

That's the engine block in the foreground...poor bastard.

Man and Giant Turtle colluding. I believe they were French.



'Mocko Jumbies' preparing to hijack a plane until they realize how little leg room there is



My first pitiful attempt to 'stitch' photos (notice how small it is)


It really is gorgeous up here. Canoneering must have been a blast. Ha ha. Ho-ho...ugh.

So, after a long (but hectic) week I am back here on the island. Right now Casey is stuck in some Chicago hotel room and waiting for her early morning flight tomorrow.

There was a substantial amount of mold in the coffee maker this morning when I really needed some brew. Let that be a lesson to everyone living in the tropics or interested in home mycology, empty your coffee filter (or don't).

It was nice to go back to the States and be able to afford food again. Tonight I went to the grocery store and spent EC $180 on some bare essentials. And my bosses didn't pay me for the week I was out of the office. I wouldn't have turned any articles in if I knew I was going to be robbed on a SALARY position. I enjoy writing for a living, but this is by far the most unprofessional work environment I have ever been in.

This post has certainly turned into a great deal of whining. And there was a pun up there...I feel like I'm in the movie Juno.

Take it for what it is.

Congrats to Travis & Jami by the way on getting Rock Band...oh and getting married too.

OUT