Old Enough to Drink

We know that Worcester is a college town, despite what City Hall and our City Councilors may say.  With a student population that grows by close to 20,000 every fall, there is no denying it and these under 21-year-olds are going to get their hands on alcohol "By Any Means Necessary".

There are two kinds of students: those that possess a fake ID that affords them the ability to buy alcohol or the underclassman that knows an upperclassmen that serves as their 'supplier', buying them everything under the sun from Boone's Farm, Mad Dog 20/20, Cisco, Pabst Blue Ribbon and Old Milwaukee's Best beer (hey, most college kids don't have alot of money to afford the 'good stuff').

Four Loko, which was referred to as "witch's brew" by Connecticut Senator-elect Richard Blumenthal, was a perfectly marketed beverage that college-aged drinkers consumed as a pregaming beverage.

Having experienced college at a Bryant University (when I attended, it was Bryant College) it was a prerequisite to 'pregame' before venturing to either a baseball, fraternity or a DAWGS party and I witnessed friends pounding Natural Ice beers like they were drinking Gatorade or slinging back shots of Jim Bean, Southern Comfort or Goldschlager (some folks I knew had a little more "paper" to buy the 'good stuff'.) 

I never understood the concept of 'getting nice' before heading out to a party.  Having grown up in the Virgin Islands where the legal drinking age is 21-years-old, but it was hardly enforced.  It used to be that if you could reach the bar, you could order a drink, and, if questioned, you could just say that it was for your father who was sitting in the car. (I miss those days.)

Also, I grew up in a household where alcohol was very plentiful, and I was able to have my first alcoholic drink at 8-years-old (Kahlua and milk).

So, my argument for lowering the drinking age to 18-years-old comes with a belief that if we do a better job educating young adults about drinking in moderation, and seeing older adults modeling the benefits of socializing with their fellow higher-learning road warriors, there would be less trips to the local emergency rooms for alcohol-related issues.

Having worked at two Catholic, Jesuit colleges in Massachusetts, I can tell you firsthand stories of students falling down stairs, falling out of windows, being struck by cars or committing a violent act while drunk.  Some of these incidents, to this day, leave me shaking my head and questioning.......everything.

 Two years ago a new program was launched by a number of college and university presidents--the Amethyst Initiative.  The purpose of the Amethyst Initiative was to serve as a way for colleges to discuss the drinking age and their hope to lower the drinking age to 18-years-old.  After the Amethyst Initiative was launched MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) looked to persuade parents to not send their children to those schools, of which, a number of them are in Massachusetts- Tufts, Mount Holyoke, Emerson, Smith, Holy Cross, and the University of Massachusetts. 

So, the conversation about lowering the legal drinking age has no legs to stand on, and we're stuck at an impasse with a pack of elephants that are blocking the road.

With the banned sale of Four Loko we can look upon the horizon, and I can foresee the next item that will be debated and banned by the FDA: Cream. (Really, that's it's name.)

Cream, a whipped cream with 30-proof alcohol, hit Boston and Worcester liquor store shelves in November.  It comes in six flavors and doesn't need to be refrigerated.(perfect for collegiate, right?)  The product's website states that each can contains 26 shots, and Cream is especially tasty on Jell-O shots or "straight up" from the can.  Does this stuff sound familiar?

Snow Whip

The children of Worcester County have a snow day, and I'm stuck inside feeling bad because of a cold that knocked me on my ass faster than the black ice on the front stairs. 

Well, since I had some time to do some housekeeping chores that I'd been putting off, and in between trying to make sure that I didn't loose what I ate or drank, I decided to check my email.

Now, this is where the funny part begins.

On Monday, I wrote on the  Worcester Bloggers website about my mother, and the fact that she stays up-to-date on the news and weather by keeping a television tuned to CNN in her GED classroom.  Well, don't you know that she sends me an email and states for my birthday, she's buying me a car.

Most folks would be excited to hear that their mom or dad want to buy them a car, no matter how old you are, but I, on the other hand, thought how is she going to buy me a car, when it's she that needs to retire the 1996 Jeep Cherokee that's seen it's last days?

Here is the vehicle she wrote and told me she's buying for me. via Autoblog.

A hybrid we can get excited about, the Vancat has a whole lot of everything going on. Starting with a full-size Dodge Ram van body mounted on a Thiokol chassis, the Vancat is propelled by a 391 Ford V8 engine and power is routed to a set of German-made Hans Hall aluminum tracks.

Another Snow Storm?

Now, I know that I live in the 'snow belt' that is known as Worcester County, but it's comical to get a telephone call from my mother, who lives in the Virgin Islands, who tells me to get ready for a MAJOR snow storm.

You see, my mother is a retired teacher, but has taken on the task of working with folks looking to obtain their GED! (Once a teacher, always a teacher.)

Grandpa Wells' 100th Birthday

In her classroom, they keep a television tuned into CNN to keep abreast of news, stories, and, of course, the weather.(She says they keep the television muted most of the time, and when they see something interesting they turn up the volume.)

Well, it appears that the weather that hit Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee is going to make it's way North and converge with the weather from the Midwest-Iowa and Illinois- to form the perfect storm that may be similar to the December 26, 2010, blizzard.

Fruit table at Birthday party.

At the moment, the snow is supposed to start late Tuesday night.

So, there you have it. A weather report from a Virgin Islander living in Worcester as reported from a Virgin Islander who is currently enjoy partly cloudy skies and 85-degree weather in the Caribbean. (Yeah, I'm jealous.)

Beautiful Virgin Islands sunset. View from St. John.

Fall Foliage vs. Caribbean Foliage

Hurricane Earl

I've been up and watching The Weather Channel to find out what's going on with Hurricane Earl as the category 2 hurricane is making its way through the Caribbean. 

Having experienced a number of hurricanes while living in the Virgin Islands, this time of the year always makes me a bit apprehensive, and Hurricane Earl, which hit the Leeward Islands yesterday, is now bearing down on St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John (aka Love City).

So far, the islands have lost electricity and the winds are howling around 105 mph. 

Praying.

Special Delivery

Yesterday, I received an email from a childhood friend that lives in Georgia who said that he received a letter from his mother dated May 22, 2008.  Yes, it was stamped, by the US Postal Service, May 22, 2008, and he received it on June 24, 2010.  I thought it was the joke of the day and quickly realized that he wasn't joking. 

For many years the people of the US Virgin Islands have complained about the poor service that the territory receives because all the mail has to travel to Puerto Ricoto be sorted and then transported from PR to Florida. (I recall two containers being lost in December 1991, that had Christmas cards and presents bound for the Virgin Islands, were lost for over a year.)

People in the Virgin Islands have complained to the Delegate to Congress, Donna Christian-Christensen, regarding the issue for years, but little has changed.

Maybe there is hope that the letter that my grandmother mailed in April 2003, might just arrive any day now?  I'm not holding my breath.

Weather: HEAT

As we say in the Virgin Islands, "Deh heat is ON!" and in honor of the warm weather, I'd like to share some classic Calypso music with you.

Weather: When family rubs it in!

I grew up in the Virgin Islands, so I didn't have to worry about shoveling snow or contending with weather any cooler than 74-degrees. Now, I don't write this to rub it in that I spent most of my life in the Caribbean, but I must say that Mother Nature has taken to making sure that I make up for lost time.

As if last winter wasn't bad enough, I am now in winter-shoveling shape-the muscles in my shoulders are tight, my back is sore and my fingers are frozen beyond recognition. And just believe that tomorrow, December 21st, is the official first day of winter.

The biggest kicker of the day is when I get a telephone call from my relatives in the Caribbean asking how we're dealing with the weather, because they were either watching CNN or the Weather Channel and heard that New England was getting walloped with snow. The conversation typically goes like this:

My Mother: "Hi sweetie! (Yes, Mom still calls me her sweetie! Don't be jealous.) I hear y'all are getting alot of snow?

Me: "Hi Ma! Yeah, we're getting some snow and I'm just getting ready to go outside and shovel."

My Mother: "Well, it's a beautiful day here in the Virgin Islands! It's probably 82-degrees and I think we're going to a beach party later on."

Me: "Thanks for not rubbing it in! [laughs]"

My Mother: "When I win the lottery, I'm going to send y'all some tickets so you can get out of the cold for a bit and relax at the beach and thaw out."

Me: "Just let me know! All I need is a pair of shorts, my bathing suit, some t-shirts and my sandals. I can fit everything in a carry-on."



The conversation continues, but I won't bore you with the details.

So, as I enjoy my third cup of coffee of the day and take two Alleve tablets, I hope your snow removal process went well, and you, too, aren't too sore.

Carnival: Virgin Islands Style

This is what you're missing in the month of April on St. Thomas (USVI). And don't forget about Love City, a/k/a/ St. John, in June leading up to the 4th of July!



First up in the video is the world famous Rising Stars steel band.

At the 2:15 mark, you'll see Governor deJongh dancing in the street behind the JDPP Jammerz, which is a band comprised of children and sponsored by the Virgin Islands Police Department. It's a CELEBRATION!!!

Puerto Rico: Security Is MAJOR!

Security in Puerto Rico has changed alot and it's become more systematic.

I always wondered why it took flying through PR to the US Virgin
Islands, and then it hit me, it's all about the dinero.

Well, it's all good and here we go!

Virgin Islands: Flying High

Making the climb! What a view!

Virgin Islands: Mass Bound

Heading home!

Boarding a plane from Cyril E. King Airport. Puerto Rico here we come!!

Virgin Islands: View from STJ

The weather in the US Virgin Islands calls for a high of 88 degrees,
with partly cloudy skies this afternoon.

This is my view from STJ (St. John a.k.a Love City) looking at STT
(St. Thomas a.k.a Rock City)!

I'm partying today as we celebrate my Grandfather's 100th Birthday!