Her hair was standing up on her back. The growl got bigger as Teli jumped to her feet. She was in full attack mode it seemed. I sat up as well.

There is a divider blocking the door from my view. First thought is that someone was hiding behind the divider. I was starting to grab my stick I keep by the bed. Teli jumped off the bed and ran into the living room, my viscous attack dog was a chicken.

I was alone with whatever it was behind the divider.

Just at that second the light in my brain lit and I realized what was happening. I laid a black scarf on top of the divider earlier today. It did not belong there.

Teli came running back in and jumped onto the bed still growling, a deep frightening growl. I bet that scarf was scared to death of Teli ready to attack it.

I grabbed the scarf and threw it down on the bed next to where she was standing. She jumped up in the air, all for feet off the bed. Frightened. Then she gave me a look like what the heck looking from the scarf then to me a few times. Then the brave dog sat down while sticking her nose into the offending piece of black cloth. All was safe and she was happily throwing the scarf into the air and playing with it.

Teli with her scarf

My guard dog saved me from the big bad scarf, that is, after she ran away in fright. She had her bad scarf and laid down again and I returned to my Kindle. All was safe and sound.

Have I mentioned lately that I love my dog Teli? (Teli wrote her own version of this story on her blog The Dominican Dog Blog)

I went into a store, I will not mention the name, to get hair dye and soap. I figured I would see if they had any bras in my size that were inexpensive. They will not let you try on the bras any more in this particular store (which I understand why now) so you have to stand there and try it over your clothes.

The girl came to help me. I found one I liked than saw that the price was way more than I wanted to spend so I told the girl thanks but I did not want to buy it. She went on to ask me how much money I did want to spend. I told her and she told me to wait. She came back and the little security thingy on the item was gone. She told me to go into the dressing room and put it on and I could just pay her the money that I wanted to spend. I could not believe it.

She was telling me to put the bra on, give her the money and for me to walk out of the store with me wearing it! She wanted me to steal the bra and give her money to do it.

I kept telling her no. She held my arm and told me it was OK. So I figured I would ask her if I could pay her with a debit card, which I knew I couldn’t. She told me I had to give her cash. I told her I did not have any cash, which I did. She said told me to go to the cash machine in the store and get the cash. I told her my card was from USA and it would not work in that machine, which it does work in that machine.

I just wanted to get out of there. I was not going to steel a bra. I was not going to pay her for the bra when it did not belong to her. I was not going to go to jail for steeling a $20USD bra. Then I thought that I should tell the managers what she was doing. But I didn’t. I just went on to the next store to buy my food all the while thinking about girl almost forcing me to take that bra.

“El MOTOCONCHO”

History – About 5 days before this on the morning walk on Calle las Damas the big black metal balls they have buried in the cement at the end of the street was ripped out of its mooring and bent. These balls are placed around the Colonial Zone blocking vehicle access to different areas, especially where roads were changed into pedestrian walkways. This large heavy ball was lying in a bunch of broken bricks and cement on its side looking a bit sad. There were bricks strewn all the way to the stairs of Las Damas/ Escaleras de las Damas. I thought someone hit the barricade, maybe the breaks gave out on the car, or maybe the city tore it out for some strange reason. It seems that I was very wrong.

Calle Las Damas. Traffic block missing

The neighbor, Cesar, told me this story about what he says happened.

Discussing the event at the top of the stairs

Late one night someone, well really, some vehicle, smashed into the guardian sphere. They tore it out of the ground, and proceed to drive across the park to the stairs. Then the vehicle proceeded to descend the stairs to Avenida George Washington far below.

Tire marks

Cesar pointed out the tire marks that were almost washed away after a few hard rains we had. They could still be seen. He also pointed out a few places on the stairs where the end pieces were broken or cracked. At the last turn on the last landing before hitting flat land again the cement railing is broken. He said that the car smash into it and broke the cement. Then it continued on down to the Malecon and drove away, he supposes.

And on down the stairs went the vehicle

It had to be some big well-built vehicle to take out the metal ball and keep going. Then there had to be some mighty good steering going on to make the twists and turns needed to make it to the bottom of the stairs alive. Then to continue on, accessing the highway. Traveling on their merry way down the Malecon without detection or problems. I did not see any oil spill or glass broken. Maybe it was a semi-ghost vehicle carrying one very talented driver (it is Halloween month you know). That, or the driver was drunk and incredibly lucky.

I wish I could have seen this happen. Weird wild stuff for sure…

I went to look out the window and there in the street was a young police man just laying there face down with all the money changer guys, the taxi guy, the parking guy, anther police man and a few people I did not recognize who ended up being the owners of the car the motorbike-riding helmet-less policeman crashed into.

The policeman was laying face down in the street. He was trying to get up it seemed. The guys there held his elbows and lifted him to his feet. He could not stand so they laid him back down face first. He didn’t seem to have any strength in his legs.

Police laying in the street

I was yelling in my head for noone to move the guy. It looked like he could have a back or neck injury. But here when there is a crash and someone is hurt they usually always just pick the person up and place them in the back of whatever vehicle is around and transport to the hospital.

This is what they did here. Four men, each holding an appendage, carried the guy, still face down to the waiting car. It was the car the motorbike riding policeman hit. The policeman was holding his head up but nothing else seemed to be moving.

Carrying the injured man to the waiting car

They put him in head first down on the back seat. Then they pushed and pulled to get him into the car. This entire time I was winching thinking about protecting his neck and back but they were only thinking about getting him into the car.

Pushing the injured man into the car

Then the drivers got into the car with people yelling out where the nearest hospital was. Someone should have gone with them to show them where the hospital was but noone did. The other police just stood there like he might have been a bit dazed holding his gun.
Where the red circle is is where I think the policeman on the bike hit the window head on. It is cracked.

Policeman loaded into the car with cracked side window and on way to hospital.

Then they picked up the bike with the other policeman looking on still a bit dazed and took it off the road. They were picking up pieces of it off the road. The policeman pushed it off to the station on the next street over.

Checking the bike

Then all the guys had to stand and discuss what happened. From what I picked up the policeman, again I saw NOT wearing a helmet, braked fast as he did not stop going through the intersection which is the normal thing here. He flew off the bike and went head first into the window of the car. The car was not going fast. The policeman riding in the back just went down with the bike and did not get hurt bad. The driving policeman ended up face first in the middle of the street. Things like this happen here often because noone stopps at street corners and people do not wear helmets.

I hope the man is OK. I feel so bad. There was no police taking a report. There was no ambulance. There was no back or neck board. I felt sick watching it all happen and still do not feel that great. I will try and find out how the young policeman is later today.

I was going to have this posted right after the accident but nooo… As I was uploading the pictures the electricity went out for the second time today so I ad to wait to post this breaking news for an hour after the fact when the electric came back on. I think they are working on fixing the stuff after the Hurricane Isaac past us by.

Listin Diario posted this picture of the bridge in San Jose de Ocoa showing it has been destroyed by the floods after the storm passed.

I have a picture of the same bridge when I visit there last year October 2011. There was very little water in the river. There was even a cw taking a stroll in the almost dry river bed.

Check this picture out. You can click on the image to get the full picture to open. Its incredible. So sad for the people in the area. It is the only bridge connecting San Jose de Ocoa, Sabana Larga and Rancho Arriba. I hope they get all repaired soon.

Bridge at San Jose de Ocoa before and after Hurricane Isaac

Read the entire story at Listin Diario – Ocoa también incomunicada por desbordamiento ríos – in Spanish

For more information about the beautiful tranquil towns of San Jose de Ocoa and Rancho Arriba.

Well, Teli, The Dominican Dog, and I went out for her walk. I really did not want to go out. I just wanted today to be one of those all-day-in-the-house-days. But, the baby doggie needs to go out so I obliged and did my motherly duty.

She gets nervous about all sorts of things. Tonight she was nervous because the leaves in the trees were rustling a bit too much and there was a wind. She took care of her business and we headed to the Colmado where she always feels safe.

The neighbors were there hanging out, mostly outside. Then the rain started. It came down hard and fast. They all came inside carrying their drinks and chairs.

Manuela, a friend that is not Dominican, was sticking her toes out the door getting them wet. I always wanted to run in the rain, just like we did when I was a kid. Dominicans, the adult type, usually do not like to get wet, so there is not much rain running gong on other than the kids. Well, I asked Manuela if she wanted to run in the rain. She said YES!

We emptied our pockets of all electronic equipment to stash behind the counter and we were off! We were soaked. The best part was getting under the heavy streaming water coming out of the houses roof pipes. They gave a great back massage. I thought that maybe others would see that it was fun and join in but nooo..they all watched the two crazy non-Dominican crazy ladies playing in the rain.

Manuela and I after playing in the rain

Teli would not go in the rain either. She just watched like everyone else in the place.

Manuela and Janette, The Dominican Gringa, all wet after playing in the rain.

The rain stopped and it was time to go home. Teli and I were walking down the street back home and POWWW! Something electric exploded! About 8 paces behind us! I do not know exactly what either of us did the exact moment. I remember ducking. Teli pulled on the leash and then came up next to me. For a second I thought it was a gun. The second it happened a car alarm went off adding to the noise.

All the neighbors came out to the street to see what happened. I just pointed. I did not have the Spanish words to explain. Teli was so interesting. She never pulled on the leash like she usually does. She walked home so nice. Right by my side. She was so good. I thought maybe she was in shock. I checked her a few times but she seems to be fine.

Anyhow, now all is calm. I am home, where I never wanted to leave today. Got a free shower. Got more Dominicans to think the Gringa is crazy. Almost got electrocuted by a blown out electric something or other. And all I wanted to do was stay in the house.

One never knows what might happen when one leaves the confines of their own home to venture out inwalk, to the Dominican streets. I love it!

The next morning there was water all over the living room floor. Stinky nasty water. Black water or here auga negro. Water was gurgling up from the drain on the floor.

Called the office of the apartment and they said they would have someone come and see. The guy came ans said it was a problem in the street. So in the next few days I had to mop up the water. I had to take a bucket shower on the enclosed balcony. I had to dump all the water I used out the balcony drain and into the street. I had no choice. There was no place to put the water.

Finally on Thursday a bunch of men showed up ready to work.

First they tried plunging and using a snake. Nothing. they were talking fast Spanish and I did not understand much plus I do not know plumbing terms so I was lost.

Then they decided they needed to tear up the floor. Of course they did not have their own tools. They had to use mine. Tank goodness I had what was needed to destroy my floors. They were hammering and hacking away at the tiles. Pieces of the tiles and cement was flying. All this mixed with stinky nasty poop infested waters.

They broke the floor under the kitchen sink. They broke the floor behind the kitchen counter. They broke the floor in front of the sink. They broke the floor in the bathroom. It was looking like they were going to tear up the entire apartments floors. All I kept thinking is how long would this take and if it would ever be back to normal.

They broke the sewage pipes under the floor and it took a long time for them to finally get the snake to go through the blockage. The other 2 apartments did not have to get their floors broken but they did have to clean up alot after this fiasco.

Teli was making sure they were doing good. She was observing and watching who was coming and going. She barked any time someone went out or came in the front door. She did a good job supervising.

There were at the most 7 guys in this little apartment at one time. Teli and I just sat on the bed and I read the Kindle to stay out of the way. I did not want Teli tracking poop infested water onto the bed so she stayed right beside me.

When they were finishing up for the day and putting my toilet and sink back together I called the Colmado and got them a bottle of Rum. The 5 working guys were so happy. They seemed to get louder and to laugh more once they had that bottle in their hands. They deserved it working in this crap all day. I wish I could have got more for them.

This is what they left me with for the night with their promise to return and finish up.

Today, Friday, the one guy returned at 9:30 in the morning. I was really happy. I was not sure when they would come. He fixed the holes. Took away all the debris. Fixed a drippy facet.

Teli, the thief, kept taking the pieces of the broken floor and putting them on the sofa and the bed.

The cement is semi-dry now so they painted it to try and match the tile as best they could. It is not the most beautiful thing but it is good enough for me. They still need to return tomorrow to check it again and change one more facet. The owner of the building, whom I had never met, came to check on the work.

All in all this repair job was positive. The stench is gone. The problem is fixed. They cleaned up the mess. they returned all my tools after they washed them off. The one guy even refilled the water jug in the fridge that he emptied (I told them they could help themselves to the water).

Before they left today I showed them the pictures and then told them my big observation. I saw no plumbers cracks! I was shocked, very happy not to see a crack, but still shocked. I asked them if Dominicans do not have plumbers cracks. They knew exactly what I was saying even though I did not have the correct words. They started laughing. One guy said yes..they have that too. He said that 2 of the men that work for him have that. The other man with him was nodding and agreeing while laughing.

I can use the bathroom and let the water go down the drain without worrying about it coming back up. I can wash dishes. I can do my laundry. I can read on my throne.

Tomorrow after all dries I can put stuff back to normal. I am content. Life is good.

Update: The guys came back to replace 2 dripping connections in the bathroom. Teli greeted them like they were old friends. They did their work. I checked it. Then 3 of them were resting in the street waiting for the boss to check their work.

After filling up on liquids it came my turn to head to the bathroom to make room for more liquids.

Now, let me tell a little history about me. Every time I have left a group of friends to visit the facilities I get lots of thoughts in my brain. What else is there to do whilst releaving ones self in a bathroom but think, am I right? Well, my friends in USA who knew me well got used to my coming out of the bathroom with a story. All would shut up when I came back to the group waiting with bated breathe for some astounding revelation to change life as all knew it. Ok, it was never that profound but you get the idea. So on with the story.

I got the key bearer with the key to the main door to the hallway to get to the bathrooms. The mens room is first and the door was open to see 2 stalls and a sink. No one was inside. Then was the ladies room straight ahead. The door was open as well.

There was a large type body bent over the sink with the paper can blocking the complete view of the face. Well, the face connected to the bending body looked up. To my surprise there was a mans face. A black mans face covered in white. First thing I thought was why is this guy doing white-face comedy as he was really funny looking.

His entire face was covered in shaving cream. The only thing that was the original color was the lips, surrounded completely in white, and of course his eye area. His eyebrows were even covered. He must have been one hairy beast to need to shave his entire face. Well, I just started laughing as he looked so funny standing there in the ladies room, the direction I was heading.

He started saying that he would get out and was apologizing for being in there. I then pretended I was afraid. I yelled Ghost (in Spanish) and jumped and grabbed onto the key bearing waiter guy still holding the main door open. He looked like he thought I was going to be angry cause of the guy in the ladies room so I scared him when I yelled.

The white faced black man was shaking his finger apologetically saying no, no that he wasn’t a ghost (as if I really thought he was) and coming toward me. The key bearer got the little dumb joke and was laughing. I put my hands up for him to stop and said it was ok and headed for the mens room. I drew an invisible line across the doorway and told them that this is MY bathroom now and DO NOT cross the line with a little half smile.

They had a dumbfounded chuckle look on their faces as I went to the mens room to take care of business and get the story right in my head for sharing later, giggling the entire time.

When I came out I realized that there was no water in the mens room so this is why he was shaving in the ladies room. So I headed to the ladies room to wash up. The ghost was gone replaced by a young lady washing her hands looking at me with a puzzled look as I walked out of the mens room with a big smile on my face (I was still laughing about the episode). I didn’t have the words to explain the story so I just kept laughing, washed my hands and got outta there with the girl smiling quizzically behind me.

I was so excited to tell the story when I got back to the table but they were into some serious discussion so I waited then the moment passed and I never got to share my bathroom experience.

Note to self – I have to train my new friends to wait for me to come out of the bathroom with a story and to stop all conversations when I exit the facility. They never know what could happen in a bathroom or what story can come into my head whilst sitting upon my throne.