The Consequence of an Island Error

Everyone makes mistakes, oh yes they do.  We certainly make our share while traveling.  Sometimes, those mistakes end up having happy consequences - stumbling upon a beautiful view when you get lost hiking, for example.  Sure, you're lost; but you found a place you'd never have seen if you'd stayed on the main trail.  Sometimes, your mistakes have negative consequences - like when you leave the screen doors open and kitchen lights on for an hour after dusk.  That is the mistake we made on Tuesday night.  It was a beautiful evening.  The wind had died down and we were making dinner - you could hardly blame us.  Now the consequences are mine to deal with.  I say mine because Andrew (the lucky bastard) doesn't have a problem with the sand fleas.  

I told you that I'd pass on more tidbits we learn about the island as we came upon them.  Here's another one.  Open doors + lights + dusk in Utila = sand flea infestation.  By the time we noticed it was an issue, the light pendants hanging over the kitchen counter were covered with them.  We grimly closed the doors, put away the food, and sprayed the area with poison (I realize many of you will see that as the larger mistake, and I'm ok with that.  We'll talk again after your all-nighter itch-a-thon).  It wasn't long before I was covered in bites.  Ugh.   Because of the wind, the bugs have not been terribly noticeable.  We'd let our guard down and the sand fleas smiled.  

By Wednesday morning the bites were what I'm used to seeing - quarter sized, red welts that itch like hell.  You may recall that, the last few times we've been to Central America, I've taken a steroid prescription to help reduce my histamine response to the bites.  This time is no exception.  Warning - medical professions, please skip the next sentence.  When I take the prednisone, I play around with the dosing trying to take as little as possible, while still getting the benefits of it.  I had been taking a pretty low dose since we arrived.  That has changed.  

Here's the weird thing about itching.  When you're up and about during the day, the itching is barely noticeable.   The minute you lay your head down on the pillow to sleep, however, things take a sharp turn south.  Nighttime itching will drive you mad.  Really, people - bat shit crazy.  Last night was one of the worst nights I can remember for itching.  What else is there to do but lay there and think about how itchy you are?  I have a small arsenal of PRN (as needed) medications for this - Benadryl, a prescription antihistamine, and some topical creams (hydrocortisone & calamine).  Ice seems to help, so I also tote a couple of ice bags with me when we travel south.  I am not ashamed to tell you that I tried every single one of those tools.  Some of them more than once.  Here's another tip I've learned - one Benadryl will make you sleepy.  Two (ok, maybe three) will make you wired.  Wired + itchy is not a pretty place, people.  Ask poor Andrew.  He tries his best to be helpful in these situations but, really, what is he going to do?   He finally resorted to his own coping mechanism of ear plugs and a sleeping pill.  As I look at him snoring away, I'm envious.  And a little rageful.  I wonder what bat shit crazy + rageful equals?  We may just find out...

...but, on to the real reason you're here:  pictures!  I promised yesterday I'd post more pictures, so here they are.  

The good news is, we have a herd (pack? gaggle? anyone?) of iguanas living in the wood stacked along a stone wall on the west side of our yard.  Guess who's feeding them?  We diced up a big container full of fruit & veggies and Andrew is working on becoming their BFF.  

The wall & the zookeeper

Iguana feeding station #1

Iguana feeding station #2

We have learned from LJ that there is no shortage of things to feed.  She saves all her produce scraps for the crabs that live under her house.  She saved meat scraps to feed the both the eels that live on the jetty and a dog that doesn't have a home.  She has a hummingbird/bat feeder.  Not to be outdone, we laid in a supply of giant Milkbones in preparation for the dog's arrival.  We also purchased a hummingbird/bat feeder and a supply of sugar.   We spent $24 and some change at Bush's this afternoon, and arrived home about an hour later to find our box of goodies waiting on the front stoop.  I love this place! 

Big spider.  You'll have to look closely - he's right in the center.  He was probably about 2-3 inches across (including legs).

The tuk tuks here in Utila.  Very convenient way to get around the narrow streets.  As I said before, a one-way ride to or from town costs 40 lemps ($2/person).  It's mostly young men (I'd estimate them to be aged 14-20) who drive them.

The main street

Andrew's lunch date at a restaurant in town.  Yes, the cat got his share of our lunch.

Guacamole fixings!  This makes me very, very happy.  Keep your fingers crossed that it lasts until the next produce boat comes on Friday!  

Today will be a low-key day for us.  I'm tired, and my liver hurts from my futile attempts to play pharmacist.  It might be too windy again to get out in the water.  Luckily, Andrew is always pretty happy to lounge around.  We do have to make a trip in to town this afternoon as Andrew has his last float at 1:45.  No plans for tomorrow - any suggestions?