Jen in Bermuda

London 2012?

I've thrown my hat in the ring for the second year in a row for the London Marathon.  I wasn't successful for the 2011, so we'll see for 2012.  Again, I think training for a spring marathon has to be a lot easier than training through July/August/September for a fall marathon.

Work Permit okay for a few more years

Work permit term limits are a point of contention in Bermuda.  I won't get into the politics because I try to steer clear of web comments regarding the foreign government of the country in which I work.  But, it was just announced that work permit limits have been expanded from 6 years to 10 years.  

Good news for me.  I've been here now since the Fall of 2006 therefore coming closer and closer to the former limit of only six years potentially facing the boot in 2012.  And frankly, I'd rather leave on my own terms than have someone tell me it is time to go.  So, I am getting nearer to getting the boot.  And, coming into a new job just in December also throws some complications into the mix.  

So, theoretically, I could be here until the Fall of 2016.

 Christ, that would make me 40.  

40.

Could Kate Middleton's Dress Be Anymore Beautiful??

Simply Smashing.  She looks gorgeous.

Bermuda makes international headlines... and not in a good way.

The USA Today article picked up on the BDA Transport Minister's comments about public buses recently.  The public transportation budget was cut this year and in response the bus and ferry schedules have been reduced.  Responding to locals who complained about not getting seats on buses coming from out east, the Transport Minister said they would start limiting the number of tourists allowed on each bus.  Tourists, cruiselines and locals are all in an uproar.  For a country who still is trying to make money from a dwindling tourism business, this is terrible news.  Oh boy.

Good Quote for the Day sent by a Good Friend

"Never allow someone to be your priority while allowing yourself to be their option." 
— Mark Twain 

Lawn Peeping... forget toilet paper

Someone got peeped for Easter out in Seattle.  It is pretty funny.  If peeps weren't so ridiculously expensive here, I think it would be pretty funny to replicate.

Peeps Smores

You know I love my Peeps at Easter.  How about these?  So clever.  Have a great Easter!!

Bermuda Onions are Expensive

Weird Canned Food found in Bermuda Grocery Store

After some research it turns out Ackees and Callaloo is found in some Jamaican dishes.  Sounds interesting.  But was a little weird when I walked by it in the aisle of the Modern Mart the other day.  Ackee and saltfish is Jamaica's national dish.  Callaloo is a leaf vegetable that is steamed.

Birds in my chimney

My chimney doesn't have a flue.  This can be a pain for several reasons but the biggest one being birds in my house.  Since I have lived at Penarth, I have had no less than 5 birds in my house.  They like to build nests in the top of the chimney and then sometimes fall down the chimney and into my house.  They go crazy.  The cat goes crazy.  It is a major pain.  But worse was the time the bird got in while I was at work.  There was "evidence" of this bird all over the TV, lampshades and curtain rods.  And I didn't find it until several months later.  Deceased.  Under a guest bed.  Gross.  

Well, Sunday was no exception.  A bird came into the house and another one trapped in the chimney.  I shooed the one out of the front door and then fortified the fireplace to keep the other one out of the living room.  Success.

May look a little make shift but did the job.

The problem is that the house got painted about a month ago and I think the guys took the screen off the top of the chimney.  The screen usually helps but has to be really secured.  Or the birds take the screen and use it for nesting.  And it isn't like these particular birds are attractive.  They are called starlings and they are invasive and bullies and I don't like them inside the house.