Good news for those that had stuff stolen from their cars or are on their way over here !
Check out this link http://www.extrabon.com/edishon/extra2003-01-07.pdf
It's the online edition of the "Extra", Bonaire largest newspaper. On the front page you'll see the arrest of a car-vandalizer/thief who was apprehended after a spectacular multi-vehicle chase that started by the salt-pier and ended only after being hit at a road-block. The thief had ample reason to avoid being caught,as he had stolen goods in his car.
As he was caught after the police was tipped ( by a local)over a suspicious vehicle near some diver's cars, it goes to show that with some help the police is more than willing to act against car-thieves ( to illustrate this even better, look at the picture on page 7 where he is nicely stuffed into the back of the police-jeep)
The police later searched his house where more goods were found.
If anyone recognizes this fellow, or remembers seeing him and what he was doing please say so ; it might help to determine their Modus Operandi.

bonaire doesn't have any good "hanging" trees...hmmm...maybe a yard-arm?

well, maybe he can find a good lawyer...

Hmmm, perhaps my backpack will show up among the evidence, if the guy's a packrat (stolen October 2001 from over at Sorobon.

Thanks 4 the info Marcel!
Good 2 see the police is taking this serious.
I wonder is he had a face like this be4 he met the police or not

Thanks Marcel, a friend sent me this today...it was good to see someone get caught...this is not to make light of the subject at all, but i did have a humorus thought...a "spectacular" car chase...just where did the guy think he was going? circles around the island? Wonder if it was like the car chases we have out here in Los Angeles...did it have chopper coverage? was it shown on every tv channel?

Just kidding. I am very glad they caught this guy. HOpefully it will be a lesson for the others that are breaking into the cars!

Thanks for the info, Marcel. I cannot get the link to open up the site with the article, tho...anyone else having difficulty doing so? Thanks. Carole

Hi Carole,

I had trouble at first. But I just waited for a while and then it poped up. Blank page at first.

Ida

Thanks, Marcel, for the information. Let's hope he was the only one doing these things....

Harrie

Hi Carole,

You need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed, and depending on the speed of your connection, it can take several minutes to download the Extra. But it is worth the waiting time.
Good that the police finally catches one!

Harrie

Good news! and a hopi bon chance to practice your Papiamentu.
Ayo!Te aworo!

(That's about it for my Papiamentu!)

yeah, i couldn't read it either...

There may be no trees, but I bet a cactus would be fine

Well that article doesn't help us non-Dutch speaking folks.

Then again, in this case a picture is worth a thousand words.

darryl, you are right...i also thought of how it has been said that the thieves are "kids" and this guy was NO kid!

Some caught earlier were kids. Apparently this guy had done a number of breakins from the amount of stuff in his car and house.

Paper is written in Papiamento, actually. The key word was 'detenté' as in 'detention'! A word most English-speaking school kids have been introduced to at one time or another. :–)

While you're at it, I have it on very good authority that a guy in that pink bus thing(bonaire solution to shore diver rip offs) was bashed over the head and the bus looted, I don't know the date this was supposed to have happened and most of the local folk kinda clam up when the subject is raised. Anybody in here know about this?

I think this guy is pretty typical of the "kids" on the island doing all the "petty" crime, about the same age of the two we entraped several years ago at nucove.

I did not however, have any problems with our car at shore dives recently. others had plenty of problems, now it seems the windows get smashed out if you don't leave anything in the car. Has anyone rented a car anywhere in the world where the "club" is standard equipment and you(not me) are pressured into an extra fee to cover vandalism?

I've only been to five continents and a few dozen countries, I've not come across it except in bonaire, but I guess my view is limited.

That guy at the pink bus wasn't Bas was it!!!

Who the hell is bas?

Bas is a guy from Bonaire who was working at the Dive Bus is September. He's friends with Jake, and a lot of other people on this board.

oh,I see. does he have a lump on his head?

That would be what I was asking . . . if I saw he had a bump on his head I wouldn't have asked . . .

Well perhaps we should just ask bas.

here I'll do it.

Bas, do you have a lump or bump on your head?

Gees, maybe Bas is knocked cold again in the pink bus.

Dave,

You're such a rabble rouser - and you didn't even stop by to say hi when you were here, you bum :-)

Anyhow, Bas started working for PhotoTours around September or so.

I recall something about an altercation at the Dive Bus, but that was at least 12-18 months ago. It didn't involve anyone getting knocked out cold with a lump on the head though. Don't recall who the guy was working at the bus, at the time.

As far as rental car warnings in other places, when Linda and I honeymooned in St. Croix in the late 80s, we were sternly warned not to leave anything in or near our rental car (including dirty towels, flip flops, etc. - nothing at all), leave the windows wide open, and keep a sharp lookout for unfriendlies should we want to go and enjoy a public beach anywhere on the island or go snorkeling from said beaches.

And in Curacao steering wheel clubs or engine kill switch overrides are the norm for every rental car agency I've ever used (which is about a half dozen). I've not had the same requirements with all rental cars on Bonaire (I've used about 4-5 agencies here over the last 7 years).

But we could rehash arguments you've started on this topic over and over again - it's simply easier to point back to the archives, isn't it? ;-)

Jake

Yes, indeed it is, Jake...much simpler all around. Been there, done that. Carole

all you have to do is see the broken chards of glass at every dive site to know you should not roll your windows up!

About windows closed, and cars locked:

Our car is Bonairian, and all-risks insured. We are obliged to lock the car, and close the windows.
Our insurance policy has a deductible as high as the costs for a new window.
This looks to us quite unfair, we would better leave the car open, to save the windows, but when no broken glass, or damaged doors, they won't pay at all, for damages exceeding the deductible part.
Another problem is that the windows of our car won't be available in Bonaire, or even north/south/middle America, so the rule of closing everything sounds very strange to us.

Harrie & Monique

Anybody find my watch (Casio G-Shock) amongst his loot?

Jake, believe it or not, I had intentions of dropping by your club, and introduce myself formally, I personally don’t like unannounced visitors, and try to not do it to others. I know your house is open to the world but I’ve often wondered if you, or your family, tire of it. In addition, of course, I’m a bum and a rabble rouser. Time did get short and the spouse protested the time that would have been involved going to a club meeting, for some reason she would rather have been diving.

As to the other points you raise, OK, maybe I should have been a bit more specific, I really see no difference between Curacao and Bonaire relative to the question(due to the fact it is the same inept corrupt government), I was based out of Aruba for about 8 years, they don't seem to have similar problems there. I’ve rented in places like Barrinquilla and Maracaibo, possibly the two most dangerous cities in South America. No club, but then pretty much everybody has automatic weapons.

Pointing to the archives, and I know this is a worn out rant however, if MY memory serves me correctly(which is a huge assumption), I've never initiated a crime topic in BT, simply patiently waited and added to existing threads as they flair up. I try to make my comments meet our four way test which is to say I try to keep them factual which is of course somewhat subjective relative to ones perception of the amplitude of a problem, and as you know, I just love to laugh. And yes I know who Bas is, but just couldn’t keep from the self induced yuk. I actually stopped by the bus one day to see if the guy had lumps on his head, low and behold it was Bas. It seems his head is just as lumpy and knotty as mine so I could make no independent verification of the alleged head bashing incident, besides he looked at me as I had TWO heads when I asked him the question.

So, we went back to Bonaire after a four year hiatus, I have a short 16 year baseline for comparison. I know that change is the only thing that is permanent. I see that real estate values have declined about 5 to 10% since 1998. I have to tell you that the island still holds a very special place in our hearts, and to think one can buy a new villa type house on the west shore for around 5, makes it very tempting. I also see that human waste is still transported and pumped to sea on the east side.

The diving was relaxing and enjoyable, still lots of beautiful deeper reef left; sans fish, starting to look like Jamaica relative to the grouper and yellowtail populations. Glad to see the resident Palometas at salt city tho. The parallels to the Florida Keys are spooky.

To the good captain: Windows; I failed to post these were not side windows, they were back and windshield glass, as one who is forced to deduce events from shards of rock, the vitreous layers at shore dives have never escaped my attention, in fact it could make an interesting study in "rounding, sorting and frosting" to establish a time line of the various crime induced strata.

Carole, Bonaire cheerleader numerio uno, according to Bonaire’s own numbers, tourism is down about 18% from a 1997 peak. Lots of blame..9/11..week economy. .bla bla bla. No one seems to realize that all of those factors just add to the tourist intolerance of the bull you have to tolerate if you are a shore diver. I guess if you check into one of the new(to me)gated & gilded resorts and boat dive, one would become quite the Pollyanna about Bonaire. Travel to me has always been to avoid such places and to hang out in places like Rincon to fully gain a taste (and aroma) of a local culture.

So, in closing, seems that those that truely love the island and are concerned about the well established trends are now seeing the MEDIA as the last great hope, Investigative reporting on entities such as the lethargic police force, and local rip off schemes with the rental car insurance policies being just one of a growing list.

BT is still a form of media, verdad?

Bon ano nobo.

Dave Scott

Tourism numbers down?
(quote:Carole, Bonaire cheerleader numerio uno, according to Bonaire’s own numbers, tourism is down
about 18% from a 1997 peak. Lots of blame..9/11..week economy. .bla bla bla.)
On a newsgroup I read (cant remember whether it was a diving one or a caribbean one) someone was claiming that they had just come back from Bonaire and the numbers of tourists was much higher - attributed to the daily KLM flights from Europe.

Dave,
Count me in as a Pollyanna!!!!!!! I would rather be a Pollyanna than a Rebel Rouser!!!!! In my humble opinion, the good far outweighs the bad on Bonaire.

Source: "Residing on Bonaire" #23
and I misquoted

"tourism has declined for the past five years"

"Inflation has increased >15%, taxation increased >4%"

economic contraction(a good time to buy?)

mia culpa

ok then lets see


Rabble Rouser 1
Pollyanna 2
Bum 1

gees another correction:

Rabble Rouser 1
Pollyanna 2
Bum 2

(forgot about sponge Bob)

yes, let's not forget sponge bob

and it's not my fault that bonaire has the best, least expensive, easiest diving in the caribbean...

i betcha some of that glass is from divers that locked themselves out

Harrie,

Re: Your car insurance for theft of the car requiring your windows to be up and doors to be locked. You have such a distinct car that it's unlikely to ever get stolen by anyone in the Antilles (since it's likely the only such vehicle in the entire Antilles, or Aruba), so leave the windows down when Monique is shore diving :-)

Dave - re: Tourism declines. Based on all I've read in the last couple of years, the Caribbean as a whole (with a few exceptions) has seen a significant decrease in tourism since 1997, however Bonaire's has been less severe than many, and in the last year, numbers of divers have actually increased quite a bit (at least a 3% increase for 2002 vs. 2001 - a reverse trend relative to other Caribbean dive destinations according to CTO information I perused). But of course, one can interpret statistics, and the cause for trends, any way one wants. And you still should have dropped by to say hi.

Jake

Wow - speaking as a new BT'r, this thread has been a real education and a true kick!
Michelle

I was able to open up the link at work....great photo! Tickles my heart. Carole

Where's Mimi??

If I am considered a Pollyana, then let it be so...but I know I have a lot of good company in that category on this board. Numbers....it's all in the numbers...of Pollyana's and statistics. We keep going back and that's a fact that will not change. Carole

Well, even if he doesn't do any or much time, how can he ever go out in public again on a small island like Bonaire?

To be a "Polly Randy" myself, it seems that there will always be folks for whom the glass is neither half empty nor half full, their concern is the water might be polluted. LOL

The same sort that will complain that Bonaire "crime" is out of control will then complain when the local authorities take action. I work with someone that has never seen the "positive" side of any issue, event or situation. If I knew that bitching was how I was going to spend every waking moment, I'd go drown myself and spare the planet the grief.

Just a Thursday thunk.

Carole, Mimi as you may recall, was hanged(hung? is that correct to say the Mimi was hung? perhaps she is) in a public forum. Then shot and stabbed and drug through hallowed halls of BT and finally left for lizards up at playa fungi, as I remember. But I suspect, like the phoenix, has risen again as loo hoo. and whilst we're at it:

Keely was run out of cybertown after a complete and total semiprivate thrashing, but may be posting as Mr. Wahliq.

Barry was tarred and feathered, then drawn and quartered, and is (still) currently being served as "fresh wahoo" at den lahman if my memory is to be trusted.


so, the tally seems to be then,

1 cheerleader
3 polyannas
1 randypolly
2 bums(with sponge bob maybe being a closet cheerleader too)
1 rabble rouser
2 corpses

What the devil did you guys do to Meryl, anyway?

do you miss the "good ole days"?

Carole,
I want to be a pollyana along with you. I think Bonaire is great.
Yana

hey no problema:

1 yanapollyanna
1 cheerleader
3 polyannas
1 randypolly
2 bums(with sponge bob maybe being a closet cheerleader too)
1 rabble rouser
2 corpses

Dave,

Mimi - only person banned outright from BT (by me, for obvious reasons (at least obvious to me))

Keely - sent me a note that he was going to go play elsewhere (after I asked him to be a little more polite and less insulting with his stereotyping of Americans). I think it's a shame that he moved on.

Barry - left in a public huff (my fault as well, no doubt, since I offered to provide a friend of mine some history I'd had with Barry when said friend visited Bonaire and Barry took umbrage with that)

And then don't forget Jason, Kerri, and countless others that participated a lot but who have moved on for a variety of reasons (most of which I don't know).

BT is a community like any other (on-line or real world) - some hang out indefinitely, some pop in for the occasional visit, some move in but decide it's not for them and move out after a while, some are shunned, some stop by to enjoy things for a while and when their interests change or wane they move on to something else that has gained their interest, and most of the community members hang out in the background always observing but never participating publicly. For every person who posts on BT, there are hundreds who simply read.

However, I'm not sure what all this has to do with the topic at hand, though...

Jake

Jake, nothing, it has nothing to do with the topic at hand. And IMO you left out one reason to come here: to laugh and have a small bit of fun.

You know, I have no answers. Heck, I don't have any questions either. I just had to add that I love Dave and have missed his amusing and sometimes dead-on accurate musings, and well, just welcome back and keep making me laugh. I'm just getting all verklempt.

Oh, and for the official count - count me in as a Pollyanna dressed in biker leather.

well that will shut me up fer a spell while I digest that vision there Kelly. In the mean time would you please mix up a a cheap vodka double with soda, no lime, and tell me where I can look up the word "verklempt". so then:

1 yanapollyanna
1 cheerleader
1 harleyanna
3 polyannas
1 randypolly
2 bums(with sponge bob maybe being a closet cheerleader too)
1 rabble rouser
2 corpses

Wow, this thread really took off on a tangent.

Back to the original post, I have to wonder if this guy was also responsible for the gear that was stolen from my wife and I back in August. We had done a night dive at Salt Pier around midnight and left all our gear hanging up on the pegs outside our bungalow. In the morning I took an inventory and found we lost 2 masks, 1 snorkle, 1 set of fins, 3 dive lights and my sandles. It's our own fault for leaving things outside at our bungalow, but that's where we were told to put them and there was a security guard patrolling the area. After the fact we found out the security guard was only there until 3:00 am.

I still consider Bonaire to be a relatively crime free island, and I don't doubt that with the downturn in the economy, theft is bound to rise. At least I've never been approached on a public street in the middle of the day and offered cocaine, marijuana or prostitutes like some of the other caribbean islands we've visited.

Michael

Verklempt comes from Sat. Night Live, "Coffee Talk with Linda Richman". Very funny. Not nearly as funny though as a Harleyanna. Been called a lot of things in my life, but never a Harleyanna. Love it.

So what do you suppose, that they steal this stuff and then do what? Resell it? Like no one would be suspicious of someone selling used dive equipment and prescription sunglasses with someone's initials on it from their garage around the back of their house? What's the point or am I totally missing it?

Kelly,

No one ever said sneak thieves were bright - and certainly the ones we've seen on Bonaire appear to be dimwitted at best based on what they take and don't take. Just take the guy that got caught this week - his house was apparently where he stashed a lot of the things he stole. That would imply he was a) waiting for a rainy day when such things would all be in demand; b) unable to fence them because he didn't have a clue what he was stealing and what the black market for such goods would be; c) stockpiling them for his own future use; d) planting them as evidence for the police when they finally caught up with him; e) dimwitted; or f) all of the above.

Verklempt is Yiddish (with German roots), incidentally. It means something like "all choked up inside".

Jake

Warren - was it green? only cost me $5

Jake, first thanks for the "verklempt" definition, I had no idea you spoke Yiddish. And re: the thieves - you're right, I keep forgetting I work with these idiots daily (in court, not at the bartending gig - although sometimes someone comes into the bar and says hey you look familiar, in which case I immediately say I work at WalMart. ha ha) and some of the things they do just amaze me. I guess to steal like that you aren't of the right mind anyway. Although the visual of a Yard Sale with used scuba equipment and wet towels fresh from a dive site just about sends me over the edge. Too funny.

And to qualify that "too funny" comment - probably only too funny for me because I never had anything stolen when I was there.

Hmmmm. I'm thinking some more (frightening I know) and maybe he was planning on giving the things to his family for Christmas and birthdays and little gifts "just because" but had to make sure they were all dried out before he wrapped them.

Harleyanna, now you are making me LOL...geez this board is fun, especially when a discussion goes way off on a tangent. We have never had anything stolen on Bonaire, but have had similar experience to what Michael described above, from a small patio right outside our bedroom door in Playa del Carmen...security guards walking the neighborhood thru the night...but someone took my husband's Rx mask, fins & snorkel...left my stuff sitting there. I bet the thief got a rude surprise trying to see thru someone else's Rx mask - hope so anyway!

Though I do not speak Yiddish, it contains some great words.(Yenta, Shvitz, Schmuck, Verklempt, etc...)
I feel educated: This thread caused me look up the word "pollyana". Count me in as one.

Ginny - One thing to add to my story... there was a trio of folks we met from Kentucky staying in an adjacent bungalow. They accompanied us on the night dive and when they got back two of them went to bed and the third stayed up and fell asleep while watching TV - with the front door unlocked. Someone went INTO their bungalow and took dive logs, wallets, and a whole bunch of gear. I think they went through it all, took the money and left all the rest of it on the side of the building.

I'll reiterate, I believe(hope) that this was an isolated incident in an area that in hindsight was very easy for someone to hit. I still don't think of Bonaire as being a crime-ridden island.

Michael

Yup, count me in as a Pollyanna too.

Arriving in 20 days (but who's counting!) for my sixth trip. I'm staying for six weeks, my husband for only three, but I never feel uncomfortable as an unaccompanied older (in years, not in spirit) woman. Although I recognize the frustrations of the petty crime, I've never worried about it too much, and don't even have to consider worrying about crime against my person.

Except for two trips to Costa Rica (before it became fashionable), we've never visited a vacation destination, so that says a lot about how we feel about Bonaire.

josie, how long are you staying this time?

michael, i have to ask, where did you stay?

ok, i read this thread early this morning, and now peeking in...to say that i am a:

pollyrealisticanna

oh, and harleyanna, glad you popped in

oh, and rabble rouser...you too

from somewhere so way up the thread I get a nosebleed just looking at it:


"At least I've never been approached on a public street in the middle of the day and offered cocaine, marijuana or prostitutes like some of the other caribbean islands."

Wow, I thought one would have to travel to Amsterdam for ALL that in one place.

and from even higher still:

"Keely - sent me a note that he was going to go play elsewhere (after I asked him to be a little more polite and less insulting with his stereotyping of Americans). I think it's a shame that he moved on."

Well yes Jake, me too, sorry that he has moved on. I rather miss the little limejuicer.

Who knows, maybe somehow our little "cyberbuddy" will get the message of just how dull, lifeless and fallow the pages of BT have become in his absence. ahh IMHO of course.

Bas, I hope your head heals up ok.

Dave

p.s. I hate to get on topic again, but I found it rather strange that an outfit I dove with in Fiji last year had an assortment of rental gear with bonaire marine park tags on them. I would think common sense would dictate that if someone is risking getting bashed over the head stealing something, he she or it must have a ready fence for said stolen goods.

dave, i was thinking that maybe they fenced the stuff in aruba or curacao, but if you saw it in fiji, they must have connections.

pollyrealisticanna

Knock, knock, knock.....Who is it? It's me, Dave.....Dave's not here....NO, it's ME DAVE.....sorry Dave, didn't realize it was "you" all this time with the new handle. You are a trip...it's good to "see" you again and help us to laugh a bit. Yeh, we need to get Fancypants back on the board to liven the place up. Hey...Andy...come on home to us!! Ah, yes...Mimi.....shudder at the thought! Love the Scorecard, Dave...very nice touch. LOL. Carole

Cynde Lee - We were staying at Happy Holiday Homes. I had to decide whether I was going to post that or not because it's such a wonderful place and I don't want people to get the wrong impression. It's unfortunate that it happened there, but it's something people need to be aware of. I think Louise and Mel were wonderful hosts and I don't doubt they are doing everything they can to avoid this happening in the future.

By the way, the Police on Bonaire were very pleasant to deal with and typed us up a very nice report to turn in to our insurance company. Not that there are many people at the insurance company that can read dutch. Sure makes an interesting souvenir!


Michael

Aaaaah, now I see why my ears are burning so fiercely!
Having received mail about this thread from no less than seven BT'ers ... each of them Americans who've doubtless been verbally abused or insulted by me more than once in the past, :-) it seems only courteous to show some sort of response.
Firstly, a belated seasons greetings to you all.
Right, now that we've got the pleasantries out of the way ....
Dave, you rock fancying sob, what the hell do you mean by referring to me as a corpse? And then, not being content with that, you have the gall to insult poor Mr Wahliq! Who I'm sure doesn't have a clue what he's done to offend you either, by accusing him of not being all that he appears to be! While I think of it ... John (I hope you don't mind me calling you John?), I don't believe that the aforementioned rock head has replied to your Fijian query? No. I thought not. Perhaps you'd like to ask him again?
I think I'd better finish before I have to face the ultimate humiliation of the transportion of my ramblings to the Community Chat section!
Oh ... & thanks for those few kind words Jake. (I think?)

Andy, always a pleasure, good to see you

Well well, look what the mad cows drug onto the page, none other than John Wahliq aka andrew kipling. Now this is a crime, and certainly ON topic for this page.

Now Mr. Wahliq, what is you would like to know about Fiji within the confines of this page. I suggest something like "Mr. Scott, could you please compare and contrast your perception of crime in locations such Fiji and Bonaire, given the bonaire crime spree is now over with the apprehension of this kid who just looks a little old for his age and heavy for his weight"

fred flintstone or barney rubble?

(rock guys)

sponge, I'm afraid that's totally off topic, and somewhat insulting as well. I have a poster of Barney(in the foreground with the beautiful town of bedrock in the background) proudly displayed here at the world headquartes office of Acme Consulting(oops, thats another cartoon). He is sort of a role model for me, and well then there's "Betty" of course. guess I'm a Barneyanna.

Carole, yes,I can see how you didn't know it was me, the world is filled to the brim with insane geologists that can't spell and rant and rant for what seems like decades after having a few beers stolen from his parched grasp on Bonaire.

Did you see Mr. Wahliq has come back?

and could you go over to the chat page(I simply can't go THERE) and pull Meryl away from the millineum in review, my stay here won't be complete until she and wahliq start their cyber smooching again. its just a crime.

Could we have an update on the condition of Bas, is he resting comfortably after that brutal assualt?

xoxoxo
Barney

Dave and Andy all in one thread, hard to believe. Great to hear from you's (been in NE to long). Been way to long.

Dave put me down as a virgin polyanna.

We need stories of your lastest adventures, with pictures of course. We have no lives you know. One thing nice about the Chat section is it is more free ranging and not always about Bonaire.

Harleyanna here, nice to see Andy back among us! And hi to everyone else (esp.Cynde Lee!)..... Now what will happen to the confiscated stolen goods? Obviously, it would be next to impossible to return them to the rightful owners. When the victims cannot be located to return evidence,said items usually sit in the evidence room at the Police Department, for god only knows how long, until the items are either destroyed or converted to use by the Police Department. Maybe in this instance they can make an exception and donate it? Maybe it would be feasible to come up with a policy wherein all recovered dive gear is donated to various organizations and/or dive shops on the island; or at the very least maybe they could auction it off and give the money to some worthwhile diving cause on the island? (yes I know they are all worthwhile). Maybe I need to hop a plane right now and help them with the details.

And yourself Dean ... one of the few true gentlemen on the board.
But Cecil? ... Do I know a Cecil? Surely it can't be the same Cecil that so ungraciously ignored the birthday card I sent him a while back?
Nevermind "Put you down as a virgin Polyanna". If it was up to me I'd "put you down" & leave it at that
Bob Neer? Another unfamiliar name to me. Is this the Bob as in Spongebob? I assume that the Neer part is an abreviation too ... as in "Ne'er do well"?
I can see we're all going to get on together famously.
I fear that I can only keep up my current "being complimentary to Americans" tone a short while longer. Lest (is that a word?) I should inadvertently stray, I think I'll get back onto the safer theft theme. I've recently returned from a trip to Thailand. A couple of things are worthy of note. a)The diving's nothing special. & b)Theft is a problem there too.
After an unspectacular days diving I noticed as I left the boat, that my watch & dive knife were missing. The following morning, back on the same boat, I was somewhat surprised to find that the skipper, a local chap, was wearing both of them. Assuming that he'd found them & was hanging onto them for me, I asked him for them back, offering him a beer or two that night, as I did so. To my amazement he proceeded to try & sell me the watch. When I told him that "he must be xxxxxxx joking if he thought etc, etc" he replied by saying that he'd do me a better deal if I bought the knife as well !
I believe he's taken early retirement as we didn't see him around again after we'd finished saying goodbye to him that day!
Sweet of you to show concern for Meryl, Barney. I believe she's laid up with a kidney infection. Probably for the best. The strain of seeing us sparring would probably be too much for her heart!
Get well soon love.(I've kept your old job for you, until your return)

Rudyard Jr.,

and just how is it that you know about Meryl's kidneys? I still can't get over the fact she fell so hard for YOU rather than me.

Meryl, if indeed you are having kidney problems I will gladly send you one or both(whatever you need) of Keelys' neatly packed on dry ice in a small igloo cooler.

Andy,
IMHO, Thailand has some great diving. I'm just not willing to fly 22 hours for it!!! Where were you diving?
yanapollyanna

oh man, I give up. you win. how do you do it Andy?
is it your aftershave? stiff upper lip? what? what can they possibly see in you?

Well, Dave if you must know, I've a soft spot for men who drink double vodkas and soda without lime, not to mention that for some reason you remind of me Steve Erwin, the crocodile hunter. Danger danger danger..... Now stop whining already.

Andy, that Thailand story about the watch and knife is amazing. I cannot believe he not only had the audacity to be WEARING it around you, but then offer to sell them back to you. People amaze me. Maybe he needed a swim in some heavy shoes.

Why thank you Meg Ryan, in fact, I am Steve Erwin.

Now if Sarah would just pop in, maybe I could woo her back and even up the score.

Steve

Meg Ryan and Steve Erwin, interesting coupling. Now, where is that Sarah? She has the best profile picture ever. . .

I can't tell you how fast my heart was beating (sorry dave) when i actually saw that mr. keely, andy, Mr. Wahliq, sir andrew, fancypants...geez, i don't think i have evern known someone with so many "alias'" had returned to the BT pages to defend his honor!....had me cracking up, trying to be quiet so my office mates don't hear me (oh, BTW mr. keely, my witche's brew is simmering nicely...yes, poor meryl, better keep her out of this one or else she will be back in the hospital...let's just let her keep posting the year in review, much more calming than getting into it with andy!

harleyanna, i think you need to get right on to bon to begin the efforts to make something useful of everyone's stolen goods. i know, jake, you could set up a BT auction board, everyone could bid on their OWN stolen goods (andy, your fiji watch and knife may even show up!)

oh, and where is sarah???

dave,

you're right...i just don't think that well on my feet - it was the best i could come up with...i think i'll just leave this stuff to the more imaginative

Sounds like a part time job in the making. Although the on-line auction enabling one to purchase one's own stolen items is nice, too. Cynde Lee, how about we form an organization? Non-profit of course. Meet me in Bonaire!

Signed,

Meg "Anna" Ryan

I thought Sarah was in Bonaire???

meg-anna-ryan, harleyanna, geez, kelly, you are going to have as many names as andy, i see now that dave has given him another one..."Rudyard Jr."

it sounds like a great idea, although i think the least we could do would be to give a discount to those items needing to be bought back (kind of like andy's story, he would give him a deal on his watch ONLY if he bought his knife back too)...keely, i still can't believe the gall of the guy...i would have certainly lost my cool on that one!

ida, sarah is either still on bonaire, or home, i think she has been relaxing before her next semester comes. i did get an email from her a earlier this week saying that she was doing good

You know what Ida, I think you're right about that. I thought about that as soon as I posted that about her. She's probably busy working on another profile picture to make me even more envious.

Yes, that was me that did not thank you for the card. I'm still in denial about that particular birthday, I may come to terms with it later this year.

Hey Andy, I've gone over to the dark side and only do digital pictures now. Film is for wusses. Talk about not even looking back, so much better.

Right, this thread has been good to shape up my english a bit. Pollyanna? I assume you're referring to this:

One entry found for Pollyanna.
Main Entry: Pol·ly·an·na
Pronunciation: "pä-lE-'a-n&
Function: noun
Etymology: Pollyanna, heroine of the novel Pollyanna (1913) by Eleanor Porter died 1920 American fiction writer
Date: 1921
: a person characterized by irrepressible optimism and a tendency to find good in everything
- Pollyanna adjective
- Pol·ly·an·na·ish /-'a-n&-ish/ also Pol·ly·an·nish /-'a-nish/ adjective

If so, you can call me Pol

Now, regarding Barney... There's only one Barney, and he's playing in the semi finals of the Embassy tomorrow!

marc, glad you found a new English word however, i think that you should go in the ranks with randypolly, and be marcpolly

cecil, i think you will feel much better if you come to bon in june for the "big day"

Cynde, then I prefer pollyMarc... I have many sides... ;-)

Marc, this is the more common meaning of the word:

Pol·ly·an·na [ pòllee ánn ] (plural Pol·ly·an·nas)
noun

eternal optimist: somebody who is invariably and unrealistically optimistic


[Early 20th century. Named for the heroine of childrens stories written by the U.S. author Eleanor Hodgman Porter (1868\endash 1920).]

Also, I looked up Ms. Porter, seem she was(you guessed it) fatally bashed over the head at the 1st pink bus on Bonaire, a model "A", I think.

Of course one has to take the good with the bad:

rab·ble-rous·er (plural rab·ble-rous·ers)
noun

agitator: somebody who stirs up anger, violence, or other strong feelings in a crowd, especially for political reasons ( disapproving )

Barney Erwin

Also, just to help Marc, and in no way ment to agitate:

lim·ey [ lmee ]
noun (plural lim·eys)
1. a taboo term for a British person
2. a taboo term for a British commercial or naval vessel
adjective
U.S. a taboo term meaning belonging or relating to the United Kingdom ( slang taboo )
[Late 19th century. Shortening of lime-juicer (because sailors in the British Navy were made to drink lime juice to prevent scurvy).]


bum [ bum ]
noun (plural bums)
1. good-for-nothing: somebody considered to be irresponsible or worthless
2. hobo: a homeless person living on the street ( sometimes considered offensive )
3. devotee: a person excessively devoted to a particular activity or place a ski bum
transitive verb (past bummed, past participle bummed, present participle bum·ming, 3rd person present singular bums)
beg: to get something by asking or begging ( informal )
adjective
useless: useless, worthless, or of poor quality ( informal ) gave me some pretty bum advice
[Mid-19th century. Shortening of bummer, in the earlier sense lazy, irresponsible person.]
give somebody the bum’s rush to order or force somebody abruptly to leave a place (slang)

barney, i'm glad you added your disclaimer that you meant in no way to "agitate." this surley will bring what's his name back...

pollyrealisticanna

I can't believe I had to work all day and miss this momentous event(s)! Couldn't ask for more than this thread, that's for sure! Great to see you back my poop scooping pal (and that is said and meant with sincere endearment)...don't be upset Dave...we love you, too....such lively men...it's fabulous!

I'm actually not a true Polyanna, tho, Dave. I'm ore of a "Realistic, Pessimistic, Optomist", meaning if you expect the worst to happen and it does not occur, then it is a bonus and a good thing...make sense? I'm the last one folks would claim was looking at the world thru rose colored (coloured for you, Andy) glasses, LOL. I just like to go to Bonaire to escape the reality of an overcrowded, overpriced metro NY/NJ area...beats checking into a looney bin for much more money.

I can't believe I had to work all day and miss out on this tread as it was spinning its tale....I truly think I have the only government job where you really have to work hard all day long, and then some! LOL. Carole

I dunno either Dave. I've mused over the magnetism that I so obviously hold over all women for many years.
I've come to the conclusion that it's probably on account of my legs. You see, they resemble those of a six year old girl, so I reckon that most adults (of both sexes) just want to hug & mother me. Hence the pants. I find that wearing anything less invariably brings me unwanted attention. Even the glimpse of a well turned ankle proves too much for some of 'em.
Well Cess, so you've sold your soul to the digital devil, eh?
"Film versus Digital" definitely worthy of it's own thread, but, consider this ....
The human eye generates an image in the brain of around 100 million pixels (megapixels). Conventional slide film is equivalent to about 30 megapixels, whereas the best digital cameras on the market currently are only 6 megapixels. Still a way to go methinks. However, it hasn't stopped me treating Marcia to Canon's latest little masterpiece, the 4 megapixel S-45. What sold me was that she can attach the strobes & lenses from her old Motormarine rig to the S-45's housing.
Oh, we do love our toys, don't we?
Mostly round the Similans, Yana. Cattle boat diving at it's worst. Too many Kami Kazi Japanese & knife wielding reef nazis on too few sites for my liking, coupled with generally poor viz. Thankfully, the occasional whale shark put in an appearance, or I might have been tempted to fall upon my own knife (if it hadn't been stolen from me, of course) by the end of 18 days.
No, I'll be sticking to my favourite haunt, Indonesia, in future. Don't misunderstand me though ... I loved Thailand above the water. For non-divers it's a truly wonderful country.

Thanks for the added help Dave, but I'm on the net for over 7 years now and I've been through more flamewars with Americans AND Brits than the Bush dynasty has been with... well, the rest of the world. So I know words like "rabble-rouser", "troll", "limey" and "bum", and also... nah, let's not get into that
Film vs Digital, now there's reasons for a good flamewar. Still shooting slides, but with Bonaire's prices for films and development, I'm seriously looking at a D60. Much cheaper in the long run. And Andy, Kodak already has a full frame 14 Mp sensor built into an SLR...

I feel like Rumplestilskin...how long have I been asleep! I guess that makes me Rumplestilskinanna?
Dave I would have shared my kidney problem with you also; if you would have left a forwarding address! But no...you wiped out everything, your picture, your dog, Marilyn Monroe pictures, everything.....no more trip reports, bird photos..... ShunnedRumplestilskinanna....
I thought the meaning of Pollyanna was a gift that you give at Christmastime,,,everyone in "a family" picks one person?.....Well...thanks for the present of "popping back in" and getting Andy to do so also.....He is a handsome devil isn't he! Even with thin ankles....
It is turning into the Millenium in review isnt it....???? Glad your back...miss your mug shot!

Andy and Dave...it's that "Bad Boy" thing that gets us all....Carole

Meryl...Welcome Back! Missed your input lately. Do hope you are feeling much better now. Your "in" for May this year, too, right? Carole

Dave's right...Jake is going to toss us all over to the Community Chat area....a place I have never really been....shades of the Twilight Zone with verrrrrry long threads, to me...cb

Carol are you saying I need to be badder.

Andy/Dave, I hate the lose of pixels, but I love that little LCD when framing. Some ways the framing is better then a SLR dry. One nice feature is the arm's length shot of that moray's teeth. I in the middle of a best of 2002 cold water pictures.

Not all threads on the chat section are big, although most are. Maybe we could ask Jake if he can display thread size.

Cecil....the nice, sweet guys are up on the top, too...I married one of them! Don't change at all. There IS something about a "bad boy" tho....LOL. CArole

Pathetic activity over the weekend, looks like everybody has a life and use this media as a diversion when tied to a desk M-F. well same for me I guess.

Lets see, Meryl, Gee I had no intention of shunning you,(did I do that to Sarah too?) do I gather then that your relationship with Andy is a "rebound" thing? I certainly hope so. Hope you are feeling better, the offer for Keely's kidneys is open ended.I took all "that" info down cuz I kept getting hate email from hotmail accounts which I suspect were from Mr. Wahliq. Also, after 14 years ole Coco is no more, hey don't get all gushy, she lived a better life than most people on this planet. excellent boat/water dog tho(as he said getting all gushy)

ahhum

Andy, legs eh? that simple? and to think of all the years I wasted with those crocs, gators and snakes. and I don't really believe that, I suspect it's you're wordcraft. I can picture you in a "pickup" bar(you know, one frequented mainly by "tarts" and ther small pies) never speaking but scribing on napkins.

Cecil, I hate digital with a capital H. This should make some good fodder for you and keely, I still shoot hi8 video. Digital Photos blow,IMHO.

Carole,(maybe cynde lee too) you like bad boys, ok then I'll work on a tattoo(maybe a heart with arrow through it with "carole" in the middle) tools needed: alcohol candle, one "bic" pen[colour black] and any ole needle I can find, maybe I'll knock out a front tooth while I'm at it. sounds pretty bad to me.

so Meryl in an attempt to woo you back, I'll post a photo of myself I just took this morning, the image is not too good tho, its digital.

{secondbestdiver}

oh for christs sake, been awhile since I posted a pic

"I suspect it's you're wordcraft."


"your" of course, and it just proves why I needed all the reptilian gimics rather than cocktail napkins

Geologydave:

You say you've received "hate email from hotmail accounts which I suspect were from Mr. Wahliq". I'm assuming you spelled the name wrong. If you did intend to use my name, let me assure you that I have no hate for you, or anyone. I don't even have a clue what you would have said to me that I could be angry about. Also, I would never send email to a person without signing it.

I hope this is just a case of mistaken identity.

I will also send you a private email to ensure this message gets to you, I do not want anyone disliking me before they've met me.

Actually, I can't send you an email, you're profile doesn't publish it so I hope you read this one, please confirm that you have

Hi Dave

I have just returned from Bonaire and am sitting exams this week. I will be back..

Thanks to Andy for pointing me in this direction.. good to see you both here again.

Bye for now,
Sarah

ps: trip report possibly next week..........

Mr. Wahliq,

Gees where you been man. For at least a year I thought you were just another pen name for Keely, he says this is not true, that he just goes by the moniker "Rudyard Jr", however I find it just a bit too strange that "you" pop in just before "he" in this thread.

In fact Rudyard Jr. aka "keely" & "Mr. Wahliq" thinks "you" are actually "me", but I'm so many people, that really doesn't narrow it down too much, does it?

I hope that explains it, I don't think anybody actually hates anybody here in BT. They just get agitated from time to time.

sincerely

John P. Wahliq

Sarah, sorry I missed the op to meet you and hugh on Bonaire.

(and yes Jake I have should have stopped by to say Hi, tell you what, I'll just buy that place right NEXT DOOR to you to make up for it.)

Now Sarah, you best get back to those text books and not waste too much time with this "stuff".
Good Luck.

Dave Erwin Wahliq

Thanks Dave.. don't worry, my mind is full of all the right "stuff"... chat next week sometime..

Sarah

dave, i don't really like bad boys...that is all in my past...i just really like the how keely can spin a yarn/tell a tale with his keyboard, adds some "spice" to my polly-realistic-life! so, i will come over to the "dave" side if you can start spinning yarns like keely!

oh, BTW, how old is that dive gear you are wearing in your pic...you are a die hard! you would put ole stevie E to shame! he looks like a woosy pup now!

realistic-cynde

oh, and dave, my condolences on your loss of you dog...

Why Cynde, what do you mean old? I thought all BCs were orange, regs (real ones anyway) are chrome plated brass and the mask and fins(yep USD "rocket fins") are "issue". You would be supprised how many pimple faced newbies want to buy that old stuff just to "look" seasoned and salty on a dive boat!

Well we'll have to keep you in the Kelly camp, while I have no doubt I can dive his fancy pants off(christ what a thought), I'm nowhere even close to his league in wordcraft ie: The adventures in Molene. thanks for your condolences but as I said may we all have half the life of that old lab.

and to keep on topic.....another advantage of 20+ year old equipment, on Bonaire, you can leave it in the car, sometimes the shore thiefs have felt sorry for me and left a few hundred dollars with a note to buy some good stuff......... worth stealing.

Hello Mr. Dave Erwin Mahliq, or Geologydave,

Make a good bid for the place next door to the Richter's with far enough zero's at the end, and we are in discussion....

Harrie

dave, i had to go back up and look at the pic, how could you forget to mention the "classic snorkel." you better keep tabs on the equipment on boats and such, folks are likely to steal it right off your back!

if would be theives did see your gear in a truck, they would probably leave it because they would have no idea what it was for (or at least not know it is actually for diving)...although leaving cash for you is nice....i only know of 1 other person that has one of those "old" orange bc's...he is an instructor, and sells the stuff, but i guess if it ain't broke, no need to buy a new one!

A tatoo for me? Now THAT scores points! Maybe a "Sharpie" pen instead of the Bic, tho, eh? Don't lose the front tooth, tho....that lowers the game to a whole other class....the tatoo will do just fine....LOL. Carole

Cynde, maybe its an instructor thing, I have six more "sets" up in the attic, left over from the teaching days. I guess I need them as proof for the IRS for all those gastly depreciation dollars I claimed.

well I guess this concludes the OT moderator tolerance test. I'm off to bang on some rocks, nice talking with everyone again.

I'll check back in from time to time.(sorry Jake)

and Harrie,(you do know this is a family/faith based website? gees what a name!) five zeros looks like it should do the trick based on a recent recon of bonaire waterfront property valuation.

regards,

"the gang"

Dave,
I think that must be it -- we have a bunch of old (15+ years) scubapro stuff in the closet in the spare bedroom, left over from when my husband was an instructor, and the dive shop folded and couldn't pay him (he took equipment for some reimbursement). Metal regulators, (I wanted new, even though he said a reconditioned one would be just as good) orange BCs, (none of them my size). Now, this all was over 15 years ago, and he still can't part with any of it...

Dave,,,very glad to see your face again!Even if it is behind all that rubber! Rebound? hmmm gonna have to think about that one....you both left at the same time....What Andy can do with a yarn you can do with humor...so fear not ...we love ya both....(do you wear socks with sandels?)
Glad to have you both back, even if it is once and awhile...look at how many posts this page got......!!!! You gotta know your missed.....
Sarah...good luck on your exams....waiting for the trip report.....

Geologydave,

What you say is that "cartheft" is family/faith-based, good to know. I wouldn't think so...

Well, it is quite unbelievable how people on this site can "ouwehoeren", as we call it in Dutch, sorry, I don't know the expression in American. But as far as i can follow it, nice to reed.

BTW, we are not in discussion......

Harrie

Harrie, I think Dave was referring to your last name... I bet he was giggling when he wrote it .
And ouwehoeren is an understatement... [grin]

Make that "heel erg slap ouwehoeren"

Hey Meryl, I can do humour too! Don't be led astray by those big puppy dog eyes & his oversized snorkel. Honestly ... I'm all you need.
And Cynde .... I just wish I'd known him when Coco was still alive. She's the one I'd have been sending my condolences to.
Interesting that you've been getting some hate mail Dave. Me too. Look ... I'll stop sending it to you if you'll do the same for me, ok?
Oh, & I'm impressed with the size of the hole that your'e busy digging for yourself in your posts regarding my new best chum, John :-)

Thank you, Marc, I didn't realize that, I have that name as long as i have that thing.....

Harrie

boy am i slow...

Dave you're right about having a life on the weekends, this Mon.-Fri. thing keeps me sane at work most days. You are looking as handsome as ever, I am partial to that look! You are certainly in a class all your own. {as she signs fondly...} I am most amused by this who's who. Keep us guessing!

Good luck on your exams, Sarah. Yep, that's our Sarah, with the coolest profile picture ever. Glad you made it home safe and sound. Study Study Study!!

bob, i'm a little slow too, and i went to my online translator, and it couldn't translate "heel erg slap ouwehoeren" or "ouwehoeren", come on, please share with us of whom you speak

Amazing, I think this has turned into the longest thread ever on BT - and that includes the infamous Mimi thread and the 1000 Steps Accident thread.

All of this because some yahoo decided to try actually outrun the police on an ISLAND. I still have visions of him racing around the island trying to find a way off... and it's a very funny vision.

ok, got the translation of "heel erg slap ouwehoeren"...really now! i think it is more of a fillabuster!

Michael,

I think the Donkey Eradication thread from last month is the longest we've ever had, actually :-)

Jake

speaking of donkey's, and sort of back on topic, i got an email from a bt lurker, and the suggestion was to sell all of the stolen dive gear and give the money to the donkey sanctuary...now there is a stellar idea!

Ah, all is well in the homeland...the boys are back in town....and the ladies are lovin' it! This is a pretty neat thread we have going here. When will it end, Jake? Rock bangers, pooper scoopers and the rest of us nuts...what a bunch. Ya just gotta love it. Carole

Boy, look what happens if you don't pay attention. I really missed this tread. Even Andrew is back. Donn'tknow what happend here. I should stay awake longer and have a closer look to all this postings...

Yep Martin, when u're not paying attention the kids go wild
Okay Cynde now u've got me. What is "fillabuster"???

Igor, I think it's the same as "heel erg slap ouwehoeren".

Duuuuuh Martin
I wanted 2 check if Cynde has translated it correct.

She has... I told her what it means..

Ah, Ok. But I still haven't got a clue on "fillabuster"...

Any way to see this article in English?

Thanks

what article Susan?


Jake: "I think the Donkey Eradication thread from last month is the longest we've ever had, actually :-)"

Gees, and I thought I could stop, only 43 more to go then.

Dutch trolls(Igor & Martin, if that is your real names): ok I'll bite, what the devil is "heel erg slap ouwehoeren", I mean Ik sprek niet goede naderland. or something or other to that effect.

Kelly: "You are certainly in a class all your own"
thanks Kelly, I even go to school in a special "short" bus.


Keely: "Oh, & I'm impressed with the size of the hole that your'e busy digging for yourself in your posts regarding my new best chum, John :-)"

So it is you after all then, eh John! I have to admit you got me on that one Rudyard.

also keely: "Hey Meryl, I can do humour too!"

HA....brit humour? wait let me bash myself over the head first.

Carole, bad news, the "tat" didn't turn out so well, I don't think, but I'll have to wait for the bleeding to stop to be sure.

Regards,

Marcel van den Scott

Well Mr. van den Scott...I was about to script condolences as i had figured you had taken your priceless dive gear and headed off to another foreign shore to ride the currents!

i think that keely has gone into hiding waiting for the whole molene/sandles/socks incident to blow over

susan, good try at getting us back on topic

igor...filabuster and ouwehoeren are pretty much the same thing...let me see if i can do this...

Main Entry: fil·i·bus·ter
Pronunciation: 'fi-l&-"b&s-t&r
Function: noun
Etymology: Spanish filibustero, literally, freebooter Date: 1851

1 : an irregular military adventurer; specifically : an American engaged in fomenting insurrections in Latin America in the mid-19th century

2 [2filibuster] a : the use of extreme dilatory tactics in an attempt to delay or prevent action especially in a legislative assembly b : an instance of this practice

The second definition was the meaning I implied

After Martin told me what ouwehoeren meant, I know why my online translater wouldn't give me the definition!

And a real translation is not allowed to post here I think...

Cynde...what? does it mean filabuster or not, my little dutch dictionary is of no help at all.

as a matter of fact, it says that nobody can actually either pronounce or understand dutch. It goes on to say "the dutch actually sprik both german and english and just use "dutch" to confuse people or coerse them into signing lopsided trade agreements".

I certainly don't know, I always thgought they were pretty fun, but I never understood a single word tho.

and I never knew that filabuster had meaning #1,

wilhelm

de Weger...YOU again....

Please consider all of the little dutch children which may read this page....shame on you.

wilhelm, if i had your email address i would email you martin's translation...as yes, i don't want to translate it here in english...although, as i can't prounounce it in dutch, i take no claim for typing it over and over...i was surprised by filibuster meaning number one as well! we both "learnt" somethin' new today...

cynafilibusterin'

That's why I didn't put the translation on the board. And you must be carefull who you call a troll, We might be bigger than you know... And who says both Igor and I don't live in Florida, just across a certain river, looking at a nice house where a person with multiple personalities liv's... Wilhelm, Marcel, Dave or what other names you use.....

whatever it means, I like it. I like the sound of it and the was it just kind of naturally rolls off your tounge. kinda like those "no passing" signs you see in bonaire; something to the effect that it is "forbidden to inhale"

Well I refuse to exhale.

so "heel erg slap ouwehoeren" it is then.

It's the cornerstone of the reconstruction of my new profile.

Vort

As first user of the word Ouwehoer, I feel responsible for all the confusion I have made. I am sorry for that. The problem is that I have left my Dutch/English vocabulary in Holland, I will bring it asap. So the real translation, according to the vocabulary, will have to wait till then. I do have a vocabulary Dutch/dutch, an it explains "Breedvoerig kletsen", or "zeuren". Perhaps the small Dutch/English vocabulary can help you out now. The word is quite often used in Holland, mainly for meetings in big Companies, like Philips a.s.o. or governemental talking. We have lots of words for that, I think we are people that do so very much. Another Word is "Nuilen", typically used in the eastern Part of the Netherlands, the Region Twenthe.

The words "heel erg slap", are just expressions to make it worse, "heel erg" is very much. And "slap" means something like weak, or so.

Don't worry about the children, they will know the meaning of the expression, but not the real thing....

Why am I doing this? Just to help the people that don't speak one of the official languages on Bonaire. (American or English isn't).


Harrie

Martin,I've seen your picture mate.

and while we are at it, who is to say the I'm not #1 defination of filabuster.

But if that scurvy little brit did pass along certain information, bring it on baby. why I'll twist up a few half zware shags and blow the smoke in your face and dump some cheap american beer(ice cold of course)down your throat! Or maybe we could just go to the pub, Ja?

Nice Profile, Vort

Harrie

My picture? Is that as reliable as yours??

I don't know a thing about a certain Brit, I don't know what you're talking about...

I'll go for option #2...

geez dave,

now you're trying to re-kindle our PAB ???

not nice

drat!, hey Martin, option 2 it is then.

Sponge..PAB...got me on that one

dutchies 1
sponge 1
Vort 0

sorry, that should be PAD - your profile pic brings back memories of singel canal

guess i need to check airfares again

"heel erg slap ouwehoeren" and the resulting threads remind me of an old saying: "He has an alligator mouth and a hummingbird a*s"

well I dunno, I'm trying to post a pic of my brand new tatoo,a heart with arrow with the name carole in it. the file size is 49kb and it just won't go, I can't make the image any smaller, it's on my bicep, which of course is massive. so...guess I'll have to go back to the jail cell and get another on my hummingbirdarse so it will fit in here. I'll be back as soon as I can.

sponge: its low season now about $600 from atl.

Aaaah, "short bus" .... I think I've got it!
Looks like you need me to fix you up with a half decent script, as well as providing you with your latest Profile pic? Incidentally, I don't recall giving you permission to use it. I fear that a theft of such blatancy might prolong this already tortuously long thread still further.
Tell me ... Why does my mind's eye see you frantically turning Susan's wardrobe upside down in the hope of finding some pale blue socks and a pair of sandals?

Keely:I fear that a theft of such blatancy might prolong this already tortuously long thread still further.

Well that of course was the idea, so squid pro quo, again, seems you gave Martin my address.

Martin:"across a certain river, looking at a nice house"

I mean how much more detail do we need?

Andrew, do tell me please, are all the dutch so thin skinned?


as to the blue socks, you have my house "wired" too?

I'm not sure ... I haven't felt enough of 'em to reach a conclusion yet.

Love the profile pic, Dave...such honesty, ya gotta love it. I will scan in my donation for your fund, OK? Anxiously awaiting your tatoo update as above. Pay close attention when you return to the cell so that you only come out with one more tatoo and nothing more....Carole

Jeez...wander off for a week.

Yeah, no kidding! I though this string had run its course at 110 hits...

Move over Bob ... it's my turn to stand in the corner with the dunces cap on!
I can't believe that I turned in 5 hours ago without realising a potentially lucrative sideline for myself .... Maybe I should produce Profile pics for the rich & famous?
Hell, I'm already providing the service free of charge for Dave & Martin. It'd only be a small step up, don't you think?

hey dave,

about $470 from columbus to amsterdam (the week of valentines day) - thru either atlanta or detroit...

i don't think i will go though...i think my "girlfriend" moved to bonaire and became a divemaster

Yep, the more I think about it, the more I reckon I'm on to a winner.
Let's take a random look at what's already out there to see if there's a worthwhile market for the peddling of my wares ....

10 minutes later...

So many "empty" profiles. Not even a few words in some of 'em. Come on, will you? If Dave can do it (well mostly), you all can! Start hitting those keys. Martin will always help you out if you get stuck. Failing that ... ask your parents :-)
But what's this? ... I've found one! It's Wally & Eva. On the face of it, a nice enough snap taken at Lac Cai. But in these eco-concious times I'm a little surprised that you've defoliated the trees in an attempt to draw more attention to yourselves. Also I note your clumsy removal of the lower portion of the pic. Just where is Eva's hand heading? I'm amazed that the Moderator has allowed such stuff to pass unchallenged. In the past I've been severely rebuked for posting much milder "adults only" material.
Yes, it's plain to see that there's going to be no shortage of clientel eager for my services.

Did I tell you all I feel much better!!! This has been better than 10 bowls of chicken soup....
Dave does that mean you also have blue socks,worn with sandles? Can't wait to see the tatoo....
Andy I never doubted your humor!....I do have to update my profile picture...now be kind...I may have to wait till Feb...when my daughter can use her digital magic!

Update your profile picture....nooooo, I love it!

glad you are feeling better.

Meryl,

Glad the kidney made the trip intact and was useable. I was also going to grab his liver whilst I was in there but it was hard as a rock and full of holes(guess it was all those years of single malt), so I just left it there. He seems to being doing OK judging by the volume of hate mail he sent me this morning. Boy is he mad, not about the stealth blitzkrieg surgery, but because I used his picture in my profile (again). So I took it down.

Susan caught me this morning(in her closet) in my Marilyn Monroe outfit, with blue socks and sandals and became furious(she just doesn’t realize how hard it is to accessorize !) anyway, I’m getting off topic.... I’m afraid she won’t allow me to post the tattoo pic...

oh, I’d like to see a new profile pic for you.

Glad you’re feeling better.

Vort van den Monroe

Here's a nice new profile pic for someone....remote and all. Carole

It's bubba the cat...where have you been old buddy.
Come back to Georgia....but leave that sissy light beer up north.

Speaking of drawing attention....nice pant like leg drapery there Andy.

PS changed profile pic to something less risque...denuded trees and all

At 175 messages, none of which have anything to do with trip reports (the original topic this thing was in), a few BTers suggested perhaps this thread belongs here in Community Chat. We think they are right :-)

The Moderators

be sure it gets nicely archived...it's a classic

Here on BT, everything gets archived, sooner or later :-)

Jake (message pack rat) Richter

digital, right???

Sponge, I thought you were in Amsterdam.


Gees, this is no fun, I mean I'm not breaking any rules.

Sorry I got your SUV thread kicked over "here" too. Richter is on a rampage.

Dave??? or is it John?? "I don't want to grow hits on MY website"???? Waz up with that?? and I do like the digital image above

I can't talk to you Fred, I've posted my last comment to Harrie over in "Local Items" which soon will be moved here.

However, you see I have this website that I don't want to make ANY revenue from....hope that clears it up.

Dave, John, Vort, Please don't go!!!
SHANE COME BACK!!!!!

I've been watching this thread (as I posted earlier, way up on top of this mountain).....and it's been very fun and educational. However, last night - I dreamed that I actually met GeologyDave. I don't even know GeologyDave - but in my dream, it was an important event. Anybody hazard to guess why that would happen - I mean 'What's up with that?'
It must be the unfulfilled desire to see a true profile pick of this crazy guy. My husband thinks I'm nuts - oh well - off to work. ;-)
Michelle

Michelle, I've been watching this thread, too, it's too long to go back to see if I ever actually posted in it, but I think not...hmmmm...is this the SUV thread or the Thief thread? I am really quite confused now about who some of these people are ... or aren't ... whatever! Oh well, be careful what you dream for!

Michelle, I've been watching this thread, too, it's too long to go back to see if I ever actually posted in it, but I think not...hmmmm...is this the SUV thread or the Thief thread? I am really quite confused now about who some of these people are ... or aren't ... whatever! Oh well, be careful what you dream for!

Ginny, this was the thread of the thief who stole the SUV...
Michelle, I'm worried... it wasn't a Freudian dream, was it? I wouldn't tell your husband too much about this, if I were you ;-)

LOL - Marc you can see I really am confused, I posted the above note x2...someone will surely direct me to that other thread currently discussing midlife issues... :-)

Marc - John's used to my vivid imagination. He's pretty understanding regarding my take on Aragorn
(Lord of the Rings) ... Ginny's right - I should be careful.... Hmmmmmm
Oh well, GeologyDave will just have to remain the stuff that dreams are made of.....(smirk)
(Really Dave-No offense - see what happens when there's no profile pic?)

Jeez, speaking of dreams - I really miss Bonaire.
Michelle

no pic?

Well Done! Not the crazy eyed guy in cammies with a bunch of camera's hanging around his neck - Wait a minute - that was Dennis Hopper in Apocalypse Now,
so that's who I confused you with in my dream - wonder how that happened? :-)
Nice photo, Dave.
Michelle

Dave...yep...kidney is working fine....seems Andy's was a perfect match....I have to go to the bathroom every few minutes though.....and for some reason I have to stand????
Great picture update...you look like the valedictorian....guess that makes you Vort Van der valedictorian.

Great profile pic, Dave...
Meryl - not another alias for him - aaaacccck!

Why can't I keep my finger from clicking on this thread? :-) It must be an addiction, the cure for which is a trip to Bonaire...28 days!!!

dave, i am really upset now...you posted a gif? in community chat? eeeee gaddsss! oh, and wally, those "curtains" fancypants is wearing in his profile pic are really quite famous...there is a pic of he and martin holding them up in front of the reef cam..i am sure that it is somewhere in the archives...

thank you freddie

Ah, the fond memories...Carole

So, I'm finally reduced to this ... passing my limited liesure time with a Floridian psychopath & a multitude of ne'er do wells who wouldn't disgrace themselves if they represented their countries in the World Pollyanna Championships. As if that's not shame enough ... it's all happening on the Community Chat pages!
Wally, I grudgingly accept that your latest profile offering is a slight improvement. However, I'm still not convinced that all is as it seems ... Once again you appear to have clipped the bottom from the picture. Of course, we can only guess at your reason, but it wouldn't surprise me to find that the offending lower portion would reveal yourself & the charming Eva, each with a foot proudly raised upon the carcass of a bottle nosed dolphin that the pair of you had managed to wrestle to the shore. Am I right?
Also Wally, you speak so casually of the hallowed "Pants". They were gathering admiring gasps from followers of these pages long before you applied the varnish to your first rowing boat!
Dave ... I'm impressed! I actually found myself smiling at some of your latest offerings. Could've even penned a few of your words myself. Hey! You don't suppose, in these deceptive times, that we could be one and the same person, do you? ... Nah!
It concerned me a little that you even seem to be winning the affections of Michelle. Comforting to see though, that at least Meryl's still standing up for me. Presumably Steve's pleased that you don't pester him to put the seat & lid down after he's "been" anymore. You're welcome Steve ... I'd do the same for any man's wife.

Well after watching this thread for a week I figured that I should say that it has been a real hoot following it and that someone needs to do the 200th posting. I only check this posting out at work on the T line because it takes to long to down load on my dialup at home. Since we have reached the 200 mark is this long or what?

Do you suppose one, single soul could have written ALL of these postings by suffering from multiple personality disorder?? Hmmmmm. Something to ponder on...Oh, what a thought. Carole

Even worse yet.....clones. CArole

No I don' think so because of last count it was
1 cheerleader
3 polyannas
1 randypolly
2 bums(with sponge bob maybe being a closet cheerleader too)
1 rabble rouser
2 corpses
1 dutchies
1 sponge
1 pollyrealisticanna
0 vorts
So maybe the rest including the vort, the pollyrealisticanna, the randypoly and yours truly really could be clones. The more I think about it I think I am, since I'm a beachbumwannabe and that is one of the easiest forms to clone!

By the way here is a clone alert!http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_np=0&u_pg=46&u_sid=626653

Clint, You forgot the 2 polly wanna dolphin

Andy..I realized what the pants are now that I've seen them on the webcam...I didn't recognize them for what they were without the blue shift... REEF CAMO.
Eva and I were wondering who whacked the dolphin...definately small arms hit and run guerilla tactics.

Sorry,
1 cheerleader
3 polyannas
1 randypolly
2 bums(with sponge bob maybe being a closet cheerleader too)
1 rabble rouser
2 corpses
1 dutchies
1 sponge
1 pollyrealisticanna
2 polly wanna dolphin
too many clones and still
0 vorts