Shakedown?
A Beaconite completed a medical procedure at a Road Town clinic last Thursday that involved an ample level of medically induced sedation. Right before he was injected with good-night drugs, however, one of the nurses figured it would be an appropriate time to request a donation for a breast-cancer research charity. Under normal circumstances, the Beaconite has no problem with people asking for charitable donations, and he often would be happy to donate to them, but he found this particular situation to be a bit like a shakedown. Of course, he did end up pledging some cash, because he didn’t want to refuse the person who would shortly be responsible for putting him under and examining his insides. And don’t get the Beaconite wrong: He’s happy to have contributed a small offering to breast cancer research. But he strongly prefers when his charitable donations are spurred by feelings of philanthropy and not fear.
Little monsters
The feline species has finally returned to a Beaconite’s house after the untimely loss of her first cat, a hurricane refugee known as Little Irma. Now, she has two 4-month-old kittens, Clio and Rocco, who were born around the same time Little Irma passed, are now firmly ensconced after a long saga involving being dropped off at the animal shelter and brought back. They are a product of her neighbour’s cat, Pepper, who has since been spayed with the help of the group Promoting Animal Welfare. Like any meddling mother, Pepper still pays daily visits to make sure they are licked thoroughly, and even (though they’re almost as big as she is) let them nurse for a few minutes if she’s in a good mood — or hiss at them menacingly if she’s not. These two little monsters, as the Beaconite affectionately calls them, have been chasing each other through her house, making messes on the floor, knocking things off shelves, and dragging in dead lizards. Tonight, for no apparent reason, they will probably wake her up at 2:30 a.m. by sinking their razor-sharp claws into her leg. She doesn’t know how she ever lived without them.
Roundabout parking
A Beaconite appreciates the importance of traffic police handing out tickets in order to help ensure that drivers follow the rules of the road. He does not, however, appreciate it when they park in the middle of the Road Town roundabout while doing it. To his thinking, the above jeep, which was left unattended in the roundabout last week as an officer stood nearby ticketing drivers, was creating a hazard and slowing the flow of vehicles during a busy time in the capital. Surely a parked vehicle makes the roundabout, which is already dangerous, even more so. In the future, the Beaconite hopes that police will find a proper parking space and walk to wherever they need to go to hand out tickets.
Gene’s
Last week, a Beaconite finally ventured over to Gene’s Bar & Grill in Manuel Reef Marina after hearing many glowing reviews about the restaurant. She can now safely say: Gene did not disappoint. First things first: When eating the conch fritters it’s easy to feel like you could be at any restaurant on Anegada, which makes sense, considering Gene and her husband Robin apparently bring over many pounds of the stuff fresh from the sister island every week. But food aside, a main highlight from the restaurant is Gene and Robin themselves. The couple seems to be a perfect fit both for each other and the restaurant business. When this reporter asked how they met, Robin said, laughing: “It’s magical, let’s not even go there.” A Beaconite wishes Gene’s Bar & Grill the best of luck in the future — even though she knows they won’t need it.