Our Cuba trip starts August 5th after several unexpected cancellations due to family medical matters. We just went shopping and loaded up on consumer goods that the people of Cuba need so badly. There are certain products they really need such as - children's school supplies (pencils, pens, erasers, post it notes, rulers, etc), soap, shaving cream, women's tampons, razors, lip balm, sunscreen lotion, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, aspirin, band aids, and other goods. We spent about 100 dollars so far which filled up a small luggage, we will add to it in coming days.

Our vacation package provides a "butler" during our stay, along with the usual maids that help each day (my wife and I are simple people and we would never want a butler, but it is part of our vacation package and they are people who need to be paid so I would not refuse the service. We often find that we become good friends with our "butlers". We will leave these goods for them as they will have families who desperately need these kinds of products. I am taking some Toronto Blue Jay shirts and hats , and maple syrup (no maple trees in Cuba) and we will give them away. We will also leave good tips for them and others at the resort all week. They desperately need foreign currency as Cubans can't buy normal imported consumer goods with their Cuban currency that they are paid with. They can only buy imported consumer goods with foreign currency like Canadian funds and American funds, that allows them to shop in specialty stores. When you give them these small goods and money they are over the moon happy as they struggle to survive in their economic situations. It is not uncommon to have doctors and engineers working in bands and working as service staff on the resorts. Many of these highly educated people work in simple jobs at resorts in order to access foreign currency they get through gratuities, and they could not get any foreign currency in their government jobs. $40 dollars a month in wages doesn't go very far and the high end jobs pay the same as lower end jobs in Cuba. It is an odd economic system there, one that does not work well for the average citizen, so they struggle. They get about 6 hours of electricity supply in their private homes, so after they arrive home from 12 hour work shifts at the resorts they are in complete darkness. It is a very tough place to live, but it is amazing how friendly and happy they are to us.

The amount of tips we give out during the week will be more than 7 months of wages for an average Cuban worker, plus it is foreign currency so it goes much farther than their own money. It is an important part of our vacation, I wish I could give more. I wish I could take some bicycles for them as they ride around on broken bikes quite often, but that would be too bulky for us to lug around. Seeing the reaction of the workers as they receive the gifts and money is very gratifying.

 

My good news. This weekend might have been the last of the little league tournaments. I can go back to enjoying my quiet little neighborhood. I expect more baseball but on a much smaller scale.

I don't know the difference between Little League and Cal Ripken youth baseball, however, since two towns combined into one athletic league, and switched to Cal Ripken, there are multiple tournaments from mid June to end of July. The facility across the street is one of the nicest in the areas, so they are often the hosts. It wasn't this busy when we bought our home. There are worse things to have in one's neighborhood. Thankful for central AC.

 

 

I’m going through something similar in my neighborhood. We have about 100 houses in my development and I would say eighty percent if not more are vacation homes which meant they used to be empty most of the time but now one after the other they are being sold and people are buying them and turning them into Airbnb’s and they are rented out a lot. Luckily most people are staying under control just more noise and dogs running around everywhere but I have been spoiled having a nice quiet neighborhood to myself. The house diagonally behind me that has almost always been empty is up for sale as is another house around the corner that has always been empty. Oh well guess I’m just turning into

 

When I checked my mail I received my Personal Tax bills for my vehicles including my utility trailer. The GOOD news is based on it's age my 2003 S-2000 AP-1 is now valued by the county at $100.00. Therefore this year I only have to pay $33.00 in tax on it.

 

It's not the ball playing or the people or even the PA system (which has had improvements). It's playing music over the PA system before games, between games, etc. It's loud. That is something that didn't happen years ago. Some of these weekend tournaments have days of 12 hours of baseball with three or four fields going. It's busy to be sure. Those in charge are of the opinion the music adds to the experience for these soon to be major league players. I disagree.

 

Damn kids!!

 

 

Hey Patty glad you are back home safe and sound!

 

Patty I had a thought for next time.
buy some hamburgers and hot dogs.
Set up a grill in the yard and throw the burgers on.
The coals always go out before the burgers are cooked.