April 18, 2008 It finally stopped raining today! YAY! And not a moment too soon! Cabin fever was starting to set in pretty heavily with all of us. The second the rain let up, we rushed out into the open air - even Neil hopped outside - and watched the patch of sky that we could see through the trees, waiting to see if the storm had truly passed. After an hour, we felt like we could safely say it was over. At least the worst of it. So, while Neil was satisfied with perching up on the top of the cave, the rest of us filed down to the beach, pointing out any damage we saw from the storm. Mostly there were some smaller uprooted trees and fallen branches that had been scattered around. No major damage. When we got down to the beach, the sun was shining so brightly and the breeze was so warm, we all started laughing and jumping and dancing, if you can believe it. Brian even swept me into his arms and I buried my face in the crook of his neck. (Sigh!) He still smells so good - even without the benefit of his daily skin regimen, with the fine moisturizers and washes. Yeah, I'll admit I was soaking that moment up faster than the million watt rays of the sun. I am so easy sometimes. After that initial ‘happy dance' reaction, we started the long trek down the shoreline to scout out a decent location for our new house. Now that we've weathered our first storm, we're all more aware of the need for real shelter. The cave is sufficient but too small for all of us - every day we were stuck in there it seemed to get smaller and smaller. Also, it tends to attract too many animals for Cynthia and Rory's tastes. And yeah, okay - mine too. I think we spent about half the day walking up and down the beach, only going about a mile either way. If we hadn't, and with our luck, we would have ended up on the other side of the island and the freak storm would have returned just to spite us. In the span of land we covered, we found two possible choices. The first was a spot at the base of a bluff that lines one side of the island. After checking it out for a few minutes we decided it was a definite no go. Yeah, there would be good protection from the back and side, but the water in that area is really rough where it hits the rocks. The second place was a little inlet. The water is really smooth and calm there. And it's just far enough inland, that it almost looks like the land is hugging the ocean. It just gives off a secure vibe. Brian wasn't completely sold, but Cynthia and I loved it at first sight. And since Rory had no real opinion about the location one way or another, we declared it to be the future site of the Pittsburgh House. Now...I know we probably should have included Neil in on this decision, but none of use have felt all that charitable towards him lately so... After we figured out where we wanted it to be, I drew the basic layout of the hut I had designed, in the sand, and we discussed how we needed to approach the whole process. We, more or less, have all the time in the world here but we couldn't wait for even another second to get started. We headed back to the plane and looked for things that might be used for building materials and we totally hit the jackpot. I think. We found a big pair of shears, a second utility knife, and several tools like pliers and screwdrivers and whatnot. Once all of that was collected, we went back through the trail and started gathering what fallen limbs we could find. The bigger the better. Brian and Rory found several sturdy pieces of driftwood when we got closer to the beach and Cynthia managed to literally stumble across a fallen tree that had been covered over with vines. The four of us managed to haul the cumbersome timber back to the site and after the second trip, Brian and I took off our shirts and used them as slings so we could carry more wood at one time. It especially helped me, since I only had the one good arm in the first place. By mid-afternoon, we managed to construct a very sad skeleton of the hut's base, marked out with the smaller limbs. I couldn't be sure, but it looked pretty straight. Brian wasn't sure about it though. The man never accepts less than the best. Believe me, I know. So we called it a day. Tomorrow we'll look at it again with a fresh perspective. *** April 19, 2008 Day 2 is over and I'm bushed. First off, Brian decided to change the layout of the hut. Instead of two large rooms (one for the girls and one for the guys) he put forth an idea that we have three medium sized rooms (one for Rory and Cynth, one for me and him, and the third for Neil) with a smaller "common room" joining the other three rooms together. Somehow he convinced us all that it would be the more comfortable arrangement. I would like to say that I was a tough sell, but I was on the bandwagon with that idea faster than you could blink. Something about not having to share with our dear pilot...or, if I'm totally honest, getting to share a room alone with Brian...appeals to me. The new design was agreed upon and we started looking for more building supplies.  We covered a lot more ground today, looking for more timber for the hut. It was kind of fun to explore more of the island, but Brian made sure that we didn't forget - work first, play later. He's gonna be a slave driver. I can already tell. So we got more than enough wood to cover the floor and that was our project for the day. We used the tools we had, as well as some sharp rocks that we picked up along the way and smoothed out the branches so they won't hurt our backs or feet or whatever. Brian taught us how to tie knots with the vines he had been weaving for the last few days. It took us, by my watch, about six or seven hours to put all of the flooring together. The branches are a bit uneven and I'm sure it won't provide the comfort that a four star hotel might, but it'll do just fine. It's still light out so I think I'll go take a "shower". I got a few of my toiletries from the plane on the last trip, so I have soap now. Have to use it sparingly though. It's only one of those little travel bars. *** April 20, 2008 We're taking the day off since it's Sunday. Rory's holding pretty strongly to this idea and no one is going to dispute it now, especially after the two hard days of labor we just put in. I mean...I'm so completely drained! I think it's more because of the sun. No - I KNOW it's because of the sun. We were out in the hot sun for hours and hours the past two days and all of us are looking a little scorched. With my pale skin and lack of sun-block, I'm now looking like a little lobster. The girls were smart and stayed in the shade most of the day, so their burns aren't too bad. Brian somehow managed to bronze, lucky bastard. The day has been pretty quiet so far. Brian did his disappearing act again. I warned him before he left, that if it started to rain again and he didn't come back straight away, I would kill him faster than any illness could. He rolled his eyes, but then he did something completely unexpected. He smiled at me...and he actually agreed! Color me fucking shocked. The girls have gone to the beach and Neil is practicing walking. While we've been working on the hut, he's been using his time alone to carve a makeshift cane. It's actually pretty impressive considering the long block of wood he started with. From what I can see, he's doing pretty well walking with it too. I wish I could go down to the beach and swim with the girls. As it is, I don't think I can move. Freakin sun-burn! Every time I move I feel like my skin is going to rip apart! Makes me feel all feverish too HOLY SHIT! LATER! *** (4/20 continued...) BIIIIIIIIIG SIGH! Sorry to cut out so quickly before. Brian decided to come back a little early from his walk. Seems he had gone to the plane and gotten a bottle of lotion from one of his remaining bags. The good stuff. The hundred dollars an ounce stuff. He asked if I wanted him to rub it on. Maybe it would ease the burn. He's so thoughtful sometimes. And man did I need that rubdown. It soothed the burn and I feel one hundred percent better for it. Of course, being the wonderfully considerate person than I am, I offered to return the favor.... *** April 21, 2008 Day 3 of the work began quite nicely. Apparently, the little massage session brought out a few sub-conscious desires and I woke up in Brian's arms. Well...that brought it about, but ever since he was sick, I've noticed that he's slept closer and closer to me every night. Talk about a nice view. I had forgotten how beautiful he is first thing in the morning. We both sort of just...stared at each other for a while and backed off. Haven't said anything about it. Probably won't. That's the beauty of our situation. Whatever happens here...it just IS. We don't have to question it or put a label to it or anything. It's a very freeing idea. But I can tell Brian is holding on to that last thread of resistance that tells him to beware of any ulterior motives. As if I could possibly HAVE any! It's ridiculous, I know, but I would stake my life on that being the case. We started working again just after dawn. Gathered even MORE wood then started building walls. We won't actually put them up until we can get all of them put together. Mid-afternoon we ran out of rope, so we collected new vines and took them back to the cave (this would be the others' way of getting my burnt ass out of the sun). With some amount of swearing and threats of violence to Neil's person, Cynthia taught the man how to braid and all five of us wove more rope. So we only got about 5 walls done today. Still need about 5 or 6 more. *** April 22, 2008 Day 4 Today was more of the same... Finished the walls. Including the smaller common room walls that were rather difficult since they required a doorway that could support some sort of door. Then we foolishly tried to piece them together, even though we were all exhausted. The first room we constructed fell down the second we weren't supporting it. It was a mess. We had to retie nearly everything! Will try again tomorrow. *** April 23, 2008 Day 5 Took us all fucking day but we managed to erect the walls. Finally figured out to attach longer poles at each end and bury them deep in the ground for extra support. Too tired to write any more... *** April 24, 2008 Day 6 Began work on the roof. The material for that is easier to find. Palm fronds litter the forest floor and smaller twigs and leaves are easier to come by than the larger items. Neil used his cane and actually followed us down to the site. He's been unusually quiet lately and I think a few of us are starting to feel a little sorry for the guy. I'm sure all it will take is for him to open his mouth again and that will be forgotten, but he seems so sad and subdued right now. It can't help that we leave him behind so much and constantly bitch about him to one another. While Neil sat quietly on a rock, watching us and "nursing" his injured leg, Cynthia and I worked on roofing - the cliched woven fronds. Meanwhile, Rory helped Brian tie off the crossties and such since she's limber enough to shimy up the trees to bind the hard-to-reach parts. After spending the entire day weaving those fucking palm fronds, my hands are blistered and raw and I have something akin to papercuts all up and down my right arm. The left is still covered with the bandage/cast, so it was spared. Still... It was wonderful fun. NOT. I'm going to see if Brian has something for sore hands. *** April 25, 2008 Day 7 STILL WEAVING! MotherFUDGECAKE bastard ass sharp-edged plants! *** April 26, 2008 Day 8 Today we layered the woven fronds and now we have a perfectly lovely thatched roof! We also stuffed the walls with the excess leaves to block the wind and covered the floor with them as well, to pad it for sleeping. It's amazing! We did it all and I don't think any of us have ever been so proud! Sure, we still have several things to do to it before it's completely finished, but it's good enough to move into now. Tomorrow we'll go to the plane to gather the rest of our things. Then we move in to our new - albeit TEMPORARY - home! I'm so excited! *** April 27, 2008 Today is Sunday, which meant that the first half of the day was the usual quiet morning. In the afternoon, we all left the cave one last time and hiked back to the plane. Since we had already taken the things from the cave to the hut, all we had left to do was gather everything that was left on the plane. Brian's large suitcase as well as his garment bag full of suits he no longer needed, had miraculously survived without a scratch. (The man is golden! I swear!) Cynthia and Rory's bags had both been ripped open and much of their clothing was ruined but they managed to salvage most of it. Neil's small overnight bag was recovered. Only my luggage was trapped in the crushed luggage compartment. Which meant that I would have no more clothing than the tattered and torn dress shirt and cut-off slacks that I found in my recovered carry-on a few weeks before. Since Brian seemed to have more than enough to spare in comparison, he offered up half of his clothing to me. A damn generous offer, I'd say! Especially if you knew what a clothes horse he was before! Once we had everything moved into the hut, we all hiked down to the falls and took turns showering. WITH soap and shampoo - since everyone had finally gotten to their make-up kits and whatnot. When we finished cleaning up, we changed into fresh clothing. Brian tossed me one of his favorite maroon Gucci tops. Said it would match my sunburn. Whatever. I ripped the sleeves out and it's now one of my favorite tank tops. Ha! Brian's face was...absolutely hilarious when he saw me ripping the expensive shirt and it felt good to laugh. I haven't laughed since we got here. Well, not really. We've all had our share of hysterical and frightened laughter but this was outright giggling. The others laughed too, all except Brian. But I saw him hiding a smile beneath his month's growth of facial hair. Once it got dark, we lit our first fire on the beach and had a small celebration. Finished off a whole bottle of Crown - not really all that surprising a feat I guess. Everyone danced and laughed. Even Neil was a little brighter and friendlier than usual. After the others had passed out, Brian and I danced on, to the music in our heads, neither of us wanting to stop. And when we could no longer dance, we sat and talked about anything and EVERYTHING. Something about the setting... The sound of the crackling fire and the crashing waves... It was a brilliant night.
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