Escape to the Paradise

Last week, Irene and I went on a short unplanned power break to Dominican Republic where we joined our dear friends Krause recuperating after the depressing Petersburg's winter.

Dominican Republic was everything it promised to be and some more - generous sun, blue sky, clear warm water, sand beaches, palm trees, seafood, free drinks, lazy service, and, surprisingly, broadband wi-fi and a rock solid cell coverage.

(click for more pictures)

We spent all of the waking hours talking to our friends and we could easily go for more and more. So, everything was perfect and even flights were easy and quick and the only thing we came to regret was how quick it all went by. That, and, of course, the fact that we went alone, without kids - for Leon it was first week after his break and he couldn't miss it and Max, without Leon, decided against the trip (he said, 'you are going to talk in Russian about adult stuff and I'll be bored').

Since most of the troubles come in threes, in three days while we were away, the three unpleasant things had occured.

1. On Wednesday, Leon, coming back from his first group ride of the season somehow lost his beloved brand new custom designed Oakleys.
2. On Thursday, Max had an early dismissal at school. Unable to reach any of us on the phone from school, he took the school bus home, and, having almost two hours to kill while waiting for grandpa (kids stayed at grandparents), he jumped on the bike and rode to Dennis' house (a two-mile trip across a couple of big roads that he never made alone before). At Dennis' house, he circled around and instead of coming over, he decided to head back. He didn't have his helmet on and he could be easily stopped by any passing cop. When I asked him about it, he said - yeah, I thought about it, but come on, Dad, how often do you see a cop in our neighborhood anyway? So, the criminal act was premeditated and carefully planned. Max - a juvenile delinquent in making...
3. On Friday, my neighbor's moronic friends managed to get a huge van stuck up to its axles in my lawn. It is still helplessly sitting there. I'm calling cops. Ha-ha, Max.