Category Archives: Just a Story

Invasion of the Jaiba

Posted by rdgringa on May 15, 2013 No comments

I go to the little beach behind the statue of Montecinos almost everyday now, Playita Montecinos. My dog Teli likes to take her morning run down there. Most of the times her friends are there to play and run with her. It is a joy just watching the “kids” romp and play and enjoy their little doggie lives.

The last week I have noticed more little crabs running around everywhere. I thought they were roaches at first until I got a closer look. They were all hanging out at the drain area where all the Colonial Zone waste water enters the sea.

Hundreds of tiny crabs dot the cement wall.

The crabs are always making little crab holes in the sand hear to the water line but a few days ago they were way up from the line. They were running around, not hiding in their little hidie holes like usual. For me this was a baffling mystery. The mystery was solved yesterday.

This little guy thought he was hiding from me

I was looking at the crabs running around and there was a man sleeping under a palm tree on a piece of cardboard. I was thinking about how he would have those crabs running all over him very soon when he jumped up grabbing his pant leg and shaking. I wanted to snicker as what I was thinking seemed to have happened but I kept my snicker to myself.

The man finally took off his pants, stripped down to his boxers, and laid back down. I went over to him and asked him if he had crabs. Then I did laugh because I heard my self ask a stranger if he had crabs…

Anyhow he started to explain to me about these little alien looking creatures and why they are all over the beach.

First he said they are not Cangrejo (crab in Spanish) they are called Jaiba. They come up onto the beach way above the water line to lay their eggs so they are not washed away and they have the warm sand to incubate. I kept telling him to repeat the name jaiba so I could remember it because my brain has a hard time remembering stuff.

Finally Fernando was finished jogging around the beach and he came over. Then we were talking about the turtles and this laying on the beach said he was on a beach somewhere on the island and a giant turtle came out of the water. He said it was so big that he sat on it and it walked with him on its back. It was a giant sea turtle and he said that the people protected it and its eggs. I was hoping he would say that so I didn’t have to go on about protected creatures.

So anyhow, I learned something new about the yummy crabs that I love to eat. They lay eggs in herds. They lay eggs far from the shore line. They are called Jaiba here. oh, and do not lay on the beach with baggy clothing when the crabs invade unless you want to get crabs (in your pants). LOL. I do need to remember this.

A Jaiba up close and personal

All the Stairs For My Teli

Posted by rdgringa on April 28, 2013 No comments

I have been a bad blogger. Ignoring my blog and not sharing my stories. I think almost everyday that I should write about something but then the creative juices just do not seem to low when I see the white page waiting for my words. So I will try today to write a little story.

We were told that we are not permitted to take the dogs to the Fortaleza Ozama any more in the mornings so our little morning dog group and the 3 Dogeteers (like the 3 Musketeers but doggie style) had to find a new place to play.

We now go to the Playita at Montecino. We have to cross the pedestrian bridge over the Malecon which wasn’t easy at first as Teli was afraid of it. Then one day when Teli saw her friends Blanco and Lula crossing she overcame her fear and now she crosses without me having to carry her.

This walk is a bit rough for me somedays. First I have to go down the three flights of stairs at my apartment.

Teli looking down from the stairs

Then we go down the stairs at Calle las Damas

Escalinatas Las Damas

Then we go to the pedestrian bridge crossing the Malecon

Bridge over the Malecon

Then we go down the stairs inside the Montecinos monument.

Stairs inside Montecino

It ends up being about 9 flights of stairs to get Teli to the beach. then we have to do it all again when we go home.

But all the stairs are worth it when I see Teli playing and running and enjoying herself.

Teli and some of her friends

Teli, Blaoco and Lula. The 3 Dogeteers

Now I have to get ready to take Teli out. It is 6:30AM and she keeps looking out the window and then looking at me. She is telling me to common mom, its time to go out and play.

Sand in my shoes. Sand in Teli ears. A little sweat but it is all worth it for my baby

Janette not Jamette

Posted by rdgringa on March 9, 2013 No comments

I was checking my web sites (http://www.colonialzone-dr.com) stats this morning like I do every morning. I saw people were visiting my web site while doing a search for “JAMETTE CARNIVAL”. Since I have many posts about Carnival here in Dominican Republic and my name is Janette seems that they came to my blog.

So I decided to check and see what this Jamette was being so close to my name.

Here is a quote from a web site www.2nails.gov.tt in Trinidad Tobago where they celebrate this Carnival.

“The “Jamettes” occupied the barrack yards of East Port of Spain. They were the stickfighters, prostitutes, chantuelles, matadors and dustmen. They lived in appalling conditions in areas which were rife with all the conditions for social instability: crime, vagrancy, disease, prostitution, unemployment, sexual permissiveness and dysfunctional families.”

All I can say is thank you sooo much mom and dad for not naming me Jamette! Wiping the sweat off my brow saying a big sscheewww. lol.

Run Down on the Beach

Posted by rdgringa on February 2, 2013 No comments

I woke up a little late this morning so I could not take Teli out to her normal run-around place. I decided to take the advice of the morning dog group and visit the beach behind Montecion near the port this morning for a change in the morning romp.

Teli really does not like change so it was a bit of a trauma for her to take a right instead of going straight, her normal morning routine. We hit the stairs at Calle las Damas all the while she is looking at me asking “Where are we going mommy?”.

I decided to cross the bridge at the port instead of trying to walk across the road with all the traffic. I made a mistake. I ended up having to carry Teli as she was afraid of the open sides on the stairs. I did not want to take the chance that she would slip out of her collar and run into the traffic so it was best to just carry her. I realized this was a mistake half way up the long…long stairway. I am not in good shape anymore. In my younger days I could have made it up all those stairs, no problem. I need to remember that I am not living in my younger days anymore which from time to time I seem forget.

Walk-way over Malecon to the Port.

I tried to put her down on the top but she was afraid of the open railing which I knew she would be. I just did not want to take a chance of her getting frightened and bolting so I carried her across the top and down the first flight of stairs. That was it for me. She had to walk the rest of the way.

We entered Montecions Plaza and she was doing fine. I was having the problem remembering the last time we were there when Teli jumped out the 2 1/2 floor window. (This is the story – Taking the Jump From Montecinos). Then Blanco and his dad came across the street and Teli was content. Her friend was there to play with her.

We made it to the beach and she and Blanco were romping having a good ole time. Chasing and dodging each other like they love to do.

Teli and Blanco romping on the Montecinos Beach

Then Telis other friend Lula came. The three dogs were having a great time running around in the sand. Playing like they love to do.

Finally, they were starting to were out a bit. Taking a lay-down break here and there.

The dogs were slowing down a bit

I was trying to get Teli to get a little wet in the sea. She wasn’t going for it. Teli was fast at getting out of the way of the wave, I was not. So I got wet. Just my feets and shoes.

I was done after the shoes got wet and went over to the group to share my wet foot story and WAM!! The dogs that I thought were tired were still romping and Blanco crashed right into me! Normally I am aware where the dogs are because Blanco is known for her haphazard crashes, but I was so into my wet feet I was not paying attention.

Stupid me. Down I went on my butt! I am so happy it was soft sand and not pavement. It would have been a big owwie if it was cement but it was just a tiny owwie instead. I even got a scrape where the dog hit me.

Dog crash booboo

I was sitting on the sand with wet shoes, sand all over me, a booboo shin and laughing as the friends pulled me to my feet. I was a bit sandy but all was fine. I will probably be a little sore tomorrow from the fall and more sore from carrying my chicken dog up all those stairs. My poor old back cannot handle alot these days.

Now the thought..Last time Teli and I were at that beach Teli jumped out the window and fell 2 1/2 stories to the, thank goodness, the soft dirt below and only had a few scratches and was sore. This time we went to the same area I fell down and got a little boobo on my leg. Maybe that place should not be blesses with our presence any more. The Booboo Beach does not seem to like us much.

Cost of Food 1-2-2013

Posted by rdgringa on January 3, 2013 2 comments

I bought a few imported food stuffs and just thought I would post the prices and see how they compare to the prices in USA.

Food price comparison Dominican Pesos to US Dollars

3pound can of Butter Flavored Crisco $RD 340 (exchange rate $39 pesos to $1us dollar) $US 8.72

12oz. non-name brand Peanut Butter $RD 150 (exchange rate $39 pesos to $1us dollar) $US 3.85

16oz. Tahini $RD 260 (exchange rate $39 pesos to $1us dollar) $US 6.67

How do these prices compare to those in United States?

Our Christmas Cards 2012

Posted by rdgringa on December 26, 2012 No comments

I made our picture card. This is my big Christmas tree in my apartment. If you squint hard and enlarge the picture you can see it. It took a long time getting all our decorations up. Then taking them down…tats another day for all that work. LOL!

Merry Christmas from Teli and Janette

I even made some Hard Tack Candy..known as HEART-A-TACK because when you make it you eat so much that all the sugar makes you feel like your having a heart attack.

I also made Peanut Butter Cookies. The first time I have made cookies in this country in 11 years. I was so proud of myself. Maybe I will make more for next year.

This is our Christmas video card.