Subscribe RSS

Tag-Archive for "st. thomas"

A St. Thomas Wedding. Author: Feb 16

Last week, I performed a wedding for a couple in their mid-forties. The bride was divorced with two children and the groom was widowed with one child, a young lady of 14 years.

The groom’s daughter requested to do a reading during the ceremony to help blend the two families.  Both bride and groom agreed.  She told me they were not privy to what she chose and prepared her diction and tone for days before the ceremony.

The piece she chose to read was given to her by her mother before she died of cancer. It was her mother’s favorite quote.

This is what she read.

“So live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart.  Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their view, and demand that they respect yours.  Love your life, perfect your life, and beautify all things in your life.  Seek to make your life long and its purpose in the service of your people.

 Prepare a noble death song for the day when you go over the great divide.  Always give a word or a sign of salute when meeting or passing a friend, even a stranger, when in a lonely place.   Show respect to all people and grovel to none.  When you arise in the morning give thanks for the food and for the joy of living.  If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies only in yourself.   Abuse no one and nothing, for abuse turns the wise ones to fools and robs the spirit of its vision.  When it comes your time to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with the fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way.  Sing your death song and die like a hero going home.”       Tecumseh   Shawnee Chief.

I think it has just become my favorite quote.

Category: Virgin Island Weddings  | Tags: , , , , ,  | Comments off
People of the Virgin Islands and there about. Author: Feb 03

In my lifetime, I have met thousands of people. CEOs of major corporations, entertainment celebrities, politicians . . . you get the idea. A multitude of smart, funny and interesting people have enriched my life, and have, in turn, made my life that much more interesting. Since moving to the Virgin Islands, that list has expanded tremendously. The rich blend of numerous cultures and ethnic groups make visiting and living in the Virgin Islands an experience that I relish as much as the sun, sand and water.
People living, working and visiting the Virgin Islands have so many anecdotes to tell, and I would like to introduce them from time to time in this blog. Interesting ones, like the man who makes a living doing boat and people salvage, colorful characters, like the artist who makes a living showing the world our islands through paintings or photographs, salty dogs, like the owners who live onboard boats that are moored around the islands, soulful ones, like the guy who plays guitar and sings like a pro but isn’t; my list could go on and on. I would like you to meet the ones who contribute to island flavor and local color in their own, unique, and sometime off-beat ways, not just a select group of elite politicians or well-known island folks. Plenty has already been written about them.
Just be forewarned, I can plan a wedding without missing a detail, but when it comes to writing, take my stories for what they are. I’ll leave the polishing to my editor, when I can find one. I also welcome any comments and or contributions to my blog. So if you have something you would like to say or write about the Virgin Islands but don’t want a blog, send it to me. Just keep it positive, family friendly and interesting.

Category: Uncategorized  | Tags: , ,  | Comments off
I’m a newbie in the sailing world. Author: Jan 27

I have just entered the world of sailing. The sailor that has captured my heart has also introduced me to keels, masts, jib sails and knots. Lots and lots of knots. I never realized that sail boats were held together with so many different types of knots. There is the anchor hitch used to attach a line to an object, The rolling hitch for exerting force along another line, The sheet bend is used to attach two similar lines together just to name a few. But aside from learning how to tie a knot, there is the ride. It’s when the wind catches the sails and the boat takes on a life of its own. It becomes light and fast as it skims the surface of the water. I was born and raised in Minnesota land of 10,000 lakes and millions of power boats. And yes I was a power boat fanatic. (They always say opposites attract) Owned my first one at 18 and sold my last before moving down to St.Thomas. For a girl I could talk Mercury inboard/ outboard verses Chrysler out board with the best of them. Now horsepower has been replaced with weather reports of wind speed and direction. Relying on the wind or lack of it to dictate your destination takes a bit of getting use to. I am learning to sit back and let Mother Nature work her magic and its starting to be a wonderful experience. I have seen the best sunsets on the water without the drone of a motor or the smell of fuel. The plowing through waves racing along other sail boats has exhilaration. Even waiting for the wind to fill the sails lends to discussions, if not lessons on knot tying. We plan on trip to Jose Van Dyke, Tortola and Virgin Gorda in the near future I’ll let you know if my enthusiasm continues, but I wish we had a bigger motor on the Dinghy.

Deb and Kevin( from Ruth Avery) on board Shanti

Category: sailing  | Tags: , , , , ,  | Comments off
Open Mic Night with the Blues Author: Jan 19

I have  heard about  impromptu jam sessions in the Big Easy. Always wanted to attend one and listen to  musicians getting together for great music.

Last week I attended a wonderful Jam session and it wasn’t in New Orleans. It was Wednesday and open Mic night at Tickles in Crown Bay Marina.  We were there to lend moral support to a friend who played guitar and sing.

Never intended to stay past his performance but as luck would have it, we lingered. Between talking, eating their famous potato skins, drinking a cruzen rum and coke  the night turned from a middle of the week quick stop, to a great night to remember.

Musicians  from around the St. Thomas  gathered to play some wonderful blues music.  Magical was the ambiance, spell binding was the music as Singers , steel pan , guitar, harmonica and flute all performed  without knowing each other before hand.  Selections to perform were decided on via a group discussions on stage before each number.

When the flute arrived we were skeptical and I saw more than audience member  get a poke in the ribs from fellow patrons.   We were pleasantly surprised to hear the flute mix in and really play unlike any other flute I have heard before.  That flute blew the blues.

Not only was the instruments great but the singers were on track , on Que and in rhythm.

The musicians could have played all night in a veritable jam session of the blues.
 
Who would have thought it but it happened here in St.Thomas Virgin Islands at Tickles restaurant and bar in Crown Bay Marina.
I just might make Wednesday a Tickles night more often.

 

Category: People in the Virgin Islands, Uncategorized  | Tags: , , , ,  | Comments off
Where to eat in St.Thomas, U.S. V.I. Author: Jan 04

Hello Everyone,

If you like to eat out, living on St.Thomas can be a challenge.  Don’t get me wrong , there are several fine dining restaurants that are very good .  In the future I will blog on them, too.  But living here , it can get very expensive to hit the fine dining spots as often as I would like.  So, what I would like to do  is tell visitors and whomever ends up reading this,  about the restaurants that are not  advertised in the hotel concierge books.

The first would be Betsy’s Bar and Jahne’s restaurant in Frenchtown.  Betsy hails from Wisconsin and has been on St.Thomas over 25 years.

I would compare Betsy’s to the local bar on “Cheers” where everyone knows your name and is located at the West end of Charlot Amalie in French Town.

Landmarks would be the Post office on Waterfront , McDonald’s and the French Town  Baseball Park.  If you see any of those , your close to Betsy’s.

Daily Specials and soups.    Lots of local color and safe environment.

This past week Grilled Swordfish was a special that surpassed any fine dinning for flavor $20.00 includes two sides.

The H O soup on the menu every day is to die for, filled with seafood and served in a bread bowl for the hearty or large cup for the not so hearty eaters.

Lunch is served 11:30 am to 2:30 pm   Supper served 5 Pm to 10 pm

For those who like the late night crowds.  Betsy is the gathering  place for all of the other establishment employee’s that close around midnight.

Betsy’s offers a late night menu until closing , which sometimes could be in the early morning hours.  

Betsy’s has her own parking lot and an attendant most nights.

Check it out and let me know what you think of Betsy’s

More information on Betsy’s http://www.entreevi.com/index.pl/article?id=906808

Category: Restaurant Review.  | Tags: , ,  | Comments off
Deborah mcDonald Author: Dec 14

Hello,

My name is Deborah McDonald but my friends call me Deb.

I would like to take this time to introduce myself with the question I get asked most often.

Why have I made the Virgin Islands my home?

Prior to moving to the Virgin Islands, I had worked as a Customer Service Manger for 18 years in a major corporation, located in the states. Due to a merger my job was being eliminated. 

I moved to the Virgin Islands for a six month vacation. That was over 7 years ago. I’m still here and loving it.

I love the culture,  the many ethnic groups,  and the way of life.   Most of all I love the water, sun, sand and my job.

I started Planning Perfect Island Wedding Day with the idea to create a memorable and fun day, not only for the bride and groom, but their families and guests as well. I had been officiating wedding since 1972 in Minnesota.   In the Virgin Islands I wanted to create a company that could provide affordable wedding coordination services to people of all cultures and backgrounds.

I wanted to have a business built with quality and integrity.

Growing up in the family restaurant business, along with College and my career in the corporate world. I have developed management, business, and customer service skills along with the determination to work the details to achieve magnificent weddings from ordinary ones.

So with two dogs, a Parrot and my car. I made the drive from Minnesota to Florida.   My car went on the boat. The dogs, (Sarah and Rosy), parrot (Ludwig) and I got on the plane. It’s over 7 years later and and I can’t image moving back.

I knew what I wanted to do; I just needed to convince the rest.

Whew! What a concept. Transparent pricing and exceptional customer service.

It took a long time to gather just the right vendors and professionals together. It took just as long before they realized I was not doing some smoke and mirrors trick. Perfect Island Wedding Day was not only publishing their pricing on its web site but really, really not taking a kick-back or bonus for doing business with them.

I got puzzled and sometime hostile looks from competitors with questions of “But why, this is St. Thomas, people don’t expect it here, so why start it here?”   Guess I was setting higher standards than what they wanted to archive.   Needless to say they are not working for or with me.

What do I get out it?   My fee is an 18% charge to your balance.   My service is to consult with you for your perfect wedding agenda.   From the simple to the most elegant celebration, our expertise will allow you to fully experience the bliss, the joy and the excitement of your wedding day.

In other words we make sure all of the coordination is done and your wedding goes off without a hitch (pardon the pun).

So welcome again to my web site.   I look forward to any comments or questions you may have.

This blog  will contain island interest and folk lore, restaurant reviews, interesting people I have met in addition to weddings past and present.

Deb McDonald

Never hesitate to hold out your hand; never hesitate to accept the outstretched hand of another.

- Pope John XXlll

Category: General  | Tags: , , , , ,  | Comments off
Next Entries »