A bold and dashing adventure is in your future?

Oh? How distant future? because I'm headed back to Fort Lauderdale for what looks like the rest of the season... til March at least. So much for spending the winter in the Caribbean! DAMMIT!

Crusin'

Okay, so I'm perched on the fly bridge (the highest deck on the boat) with the blue-green ocean stretched out in every direction.  It's SO beautiful, I just want to jump in it from here!  Yes, I've seen jellyfish all day, and there are TONS of sharks around this area... but the water is SO pretty!  

The boys (boss and guests) are on the Intrepid (our 33' tow-behind speed boat) getting lunch and bar-hopping and we are going to meet them at Mackinaw Key.  I should be doing laundry and ironing especially, but I just can't pull myself away from the view!  I should get my camera and take some pictures... the first in months.  

I did get a little queasy this morning.  Took some ginger pills and laid down in my cabin for about an hour and I've been fine since.  I'm SO trying to not use the ginger, but I think it's going to be essential until I can get my sea legs back again.  Sometimes, It's SO hard to work while we're underway.  The boat pitches and rolls (not as bad as when we're anchored out, though!) and it's all I can do to keep my balance.  Because I'm trying to keep my balance, I end up breaking into a sweat and getting hot, and the quease sets in.   I've been pretty good up til now, and I had told my captain and mate about my seasickness, so they are understanding.  As much of a pain as it is, I'm kinna glad we are moving so much this week... the sooner my sea legs will grow back!

In other news, as we were shoving off from Miami Beach Marina this morning, I saw SO many jellyfish!  I don't know what it is, but I'm fascinated by them!  The ones at the marina were like the ones I'd seen before -- clearish with a clover patter in the center, and blush-translucent with a red edge.  But when we stopped for a few minutes to pull the intrepid in, we saw this WHACKED out bug-looking jellyfish that was almost black-blue-green, floating on top of the water, with tentacles stretching a good 3-5 feet into the water.  It was CREEPY!  Looked pretty sinister...

Anyway, we've slowed the boat, so I'm gonna go find out what's going on...  AH!  The breeze is FANTASTIC!!  Later...

Invasion of Pirates... the boss and his buddies...

Okay, so I met my boss yesterday, and I must say, he's a pretty cool guy.  This morning, I set up his omlett extravaganza station, he made a helluva mess, and I got stuck cleaning it... oh well.  That's why I'm paid the big bucks, right?  But really, he is very down to earth and approachable.  

He brought 5 of his buddies on board, so I'm the only estrogen on the vessel, and I feel like my yacht has been overrun by pirates... they leave their crap everywhere, shoes kicked off wherever they may be, and clothes all OVER their rooms.  But they are funny and laid back, so I don't mind picking up after them.  

Honestly the past two days have been much easier than I anticipated.  The boys pretty much take care of themselves -- except for cleaning UP after themselves! -- and keep to themselves.  They've gone out both nights so far, and it looks like they like to stay off the boat and in the bars as much as possible.  I say, "GO!"  Tehehe... 

Anyway, we're docked at Miami Beach Marina tonight and we're off to either Marathon Key or Key West tomorrow.  I HOPE it's Key West because I desperately need to go to the grocery store (I'm having withdrawals since I didn't go at ALL today and I went five times this past weekend!), and I was too chicken to get off the boat by myself tonight.  I know, I know... that's something I'm going to HAVE to get over.  Also, I think I'm driving my captain nuts about going to the store because he was like, "Anticipate what we'll need..."  WTF?  When the boss requests something that wasn't on my list AND we go through stuff so quickly, what am I supposed to do?  Bring home the frikkin grocery store?!  There is only SO much room in the fridge.

I'm slowly getting more weighed down that I won't be home for Christmas this year.  I know, it's part of the life I have chosen, but that doesn't make it any easier.  I will definitely miss  the traditions of gorging myself and laying around all day and seeing family and warming myself by the fire... and braving the cold to get more firewood!  But, I am hoping to keep myself busy enough that I won't notice what day it is...  that really does happen after a while.  Every day is the same when the guests are aboard, so there is never a change in routine... every day seems like Tuesday... you just started and the end isn't in sight yet.  

ANyway, I have to get up ridiculously early, so I'm turning in... Just wanted to update you all on the latest excitement!  If I know you then -- Love you, miss you, want hugs from you...  If I don't know you... well, that's just weird.

It's too early in the morning to come up with a catchy title...

Okay, so it's Saturday morning, I've been up for over an hour with nothing to do...  We leave in a few minutes for our new "home" at Bahia Mar, an hour's boat ride away.  I finished everything I needed to do yesterday -- stowing the boat... and I'm just waiting to get out of this shipyard so that I can get some serious cleaning done before the boss comes on board tomorrow morning.  

I'm a bit nervous about him coming...  what if I royally screw up?  The captain says the boss is really cool, but likes to be served...  need to have bowls of nuts out, keep drinks in their hands...  other than that, he's a jokester.  Apparently, he's bringing six buddies for a "boys trip", so I figure there's going to be a lot of crude jokes, beer drinking, and crotch scratching.  Whatever...  I'm hoping to score some tips at any rate... wouldn't THAT be sweet?  

I was thinking about how cool it is to be on a yacht...  yeah, I know you guys back home are like, "Aw, shut up, ya braggart!"  But, aside from visiting exotic locales, serving rich (and sometimes famous!) people, and following the sun, the BEST part of it all is that EVERYTHING I need is right here on the boat.  I DON'T HAVE TO PACK!  So, I'm headed to Key West either Sunday or Monday, and then next Saturday, we'll be headed to Nassau.  Guess what?  I don't have to worry about packing the right stuff, will I have enough room in my bag, will it be too heavy for security, will I need to buy more shampoo, or ANYTHING!  IT'S AWESOME! 

In other news, I SO wish I could go back to bed...  I've been up since 6:30... went to bed at 9-ish, and I'm still exhausted.  I don't have anything to do until we get into the marina... the shipyard is dusty and gross, so every time I dust a new layer settles onto the furniture!  ARGH!  Once we get away from the dirt and grime, we'll ALL be happier...  the mate will be able to keep the outside clean for longer than an hour, and I'll be able to dust and enjoy the fruits of my labor.  

Ummmmm...  I don't know... I guess that's it for now...  I just felt the engines rumble, so I guess the boys are crankin' 'er up.  More to come...

Guitar Hero, I am.

Hey there...

Nothing to report on the yacht front... or should I say bow?  But, I did want to let you know that I'm becoming quite the guitar hero...  No, I don't mean the video game with the colored buttons representing chords and notes.  I mean that I am challenging myself with more difficult music... and I'm not ALLOWING myself the luxury of giving up!  I've gotten the chords and tabs to several new songs, and I'm going to learn them in my spare time here on the boat.  Hell, work ends around 5-6:00, and I don't go anywhere (at least not here in Fort Liquordale)... so, I might as well play around with my guitar more... Right?  It beats pining away on Skype or Facebook...  

Still a bit under the weather...  accidentally caught a few swigs from the captain's water (and he's been sick)-- he left it out RIGHT beside mine!! -- and I've been exhausted the past few days.  I'm going to bed early tonight to try to beat this crap before it has a chance to take hold.  Stupid germs... 

don't have much to report...  just the same ole thing...  I'm working hard to get the boat ready for Key West and the Bahamas, unsure of what I'll be facing as far as provisioning goes, especially in the islands...  

We got a delivery of about 40 cases of drinks yesterday.  It was MY job to figure out where I was going to stash it all until we need it...  hehehe...  I crammed them under beds.  

Anyway, that's about all...  as weird as this may sound, I'm really enjoying the quiet of this job.  It's SO different from a 7th grade classroom...  I don't "leave" work with a headache and wondering why in the WORLD I'm doing this...  I enjoy organizing and inventorying and cleaning...  I've been kicking some galley butt cooking for the guys, too!  Tonight we had nachos, but I had to season the meat all by myself because we didn't have any taco seasoning...  turned out pretty damn good!  Last night, I baked pork loin and made a honey balsamic dipping sauce, sauteed fresh green beans, and baked potato chunks.  On Friday night, I made pasta with sundried tomatoes and alfredo sauce...  It all sounds a lot more complicated than it really was, but suffice to say I've been having a BLAST in the galley!  

So, I'll be taking off within the next few weeks... leaving American waters, and heading south for the blue seas of the Bahamas.  I've made Victor promise to take me snorkeling, and maybe I can get my SCUBA certification while I'm down there?  Who knows what will happen... 

Being sick really sucks...

okay, so I'm coming back down with something that seems suspiciously like the strep I had back in October.  NOT COOL!!!  my throat has been getting progressively worse the past four days, i've had a steady headache for two days, and all I want to do is sleep... which i've done all weekend.  i've only been upstairs a couple times -- long enough to get some food and make a mug of tea.  the boss comes on in a week, and i still have a TON of stuff to do to get ready for my first trip on the boat.  I guess tomorrow morning I'll be going to the clinic again to get a strep test and some antibiotics.  fun.

in other news, chris, who came back from the bahamas this past week, left again on saturday.  it killed me to have to say goodbye to him again...  but, such is the life we have chosen for ourselves, right?  the trouble is that there is so much left unknown... about when we'll see each other again, what the next several months have in store for us...  and if our feelings for each other can withstand space and time.  I was thinking about all that in one of my sleepy stupors this weekend... and it kinna reminded me of those old war stories where the star-crossed lovers must say good-bye for no telling how long...  it takes a LOT of faith to hang on to something like that.  People change.  Time diminishes one's love for another...  we conjure up a fantasy about what the relationship "was"...  and then reality sets in.  

the new job...!!

okay, so i'm sitting on my new bunk, in my new closet... er... cabin... on my new boat.  Honestly, I wasn't very thrilled about this gig because the itinerary seems pretty boring -- Caribbean in the winter and Milwaukie in the summer.  What in the WORLD is there to do in MILWAUKIE?!  But, since i've been on the boat for a few days, i'm beginning to like this place.  I'm the only stew on board, so i get to make things the way I want them!  YES!!!  

Today, I started off with a full overview of the boat--looking in all the nooks and crannies, opening cabinets and drawers, and making a list of everything I could think of that needed to be done.  The problem with jobs like this is that once ONE job is complete, TEN MORE add to the list.  By the end of the day, I had done a linen inventory, liquor inventory, table decoration inventory, candle and glass decor inventory, cleaning supply inventory, and guest toiletries inventory.  Doesn't that sound EXCITING?!

Tomorrow, i'll be tackling the VIP stateroom -- cleaning, organizing, pressing all the linens, and figuring out what all is stored under that bed.  I imagine i'll also spend some time talking to the captain about my job, expectations, and those other details.  Eventually, I'll be detailing each of the rooms, bringing them all to my standards, and buying a TON of supplies.  

Current itinerary is this:  Leave on Dec. 14th for an owner trip to Key West.  From there, leave on Dec 20th for Bahamas and stay in the Caribbean for two months.  WAHOO!!!  We'll see what happens though...  

Spent last week on the island paradise of Cumberland Island with the fam and my second family -- the Rusch's...  it was pretty much AWESOME...  my legs are eaten up with sand flea bites, my nose is crusty because it ran like a faucet all week, and I still have a smoke-inhalation cough that won't give, but I would give anything to be back there again with everyone--even my complaining sister...  LOVE YOU, HL!!  

Sorry to cut this short...  it's getting late, and I need sleep to get me through the busy day tomorrow.  A woman's work is NEVER done!!

My red high heels...

Okay, so the past 48 hours have been somewhat hectic.  I flew back to Atlanta yesterday, Daddy picked me up, and dropped me off with Mommy in Woodstock.  I had been on the phone with the other captain from the boat in New York...  Mommy and I had a marathon shopping spree at two thrift stores and Ross to get some decent clothes for my interviews up here.  So, in short, I was up at 7 a.m. and didn't get home until after 9:30 p.m..  But, my night was nowhere NEAR over.  After I brought all my purchases and luggage inside, I had a TON of laundry, packing, outfits to put together...  I didn't stop moving... RUNNING... until almost 3 a.m.  My flight left at 8, so I had to be up and out by 5.  

My flight was smooth sailing... the plane was almost empty, so I was able to stretch out across my own row.  I couldn't sleep because I was jazzed out on coffee.  Once we landed, I ducked into the bathroom to put on my tights (which are the DEVIL!), saucy red heels, and make-up.  Blair, the mate, and Bobby, the engineer, picked me up at 11 and we drove the 20 minutes to the boat.  the BEAUTIFUL boat.  IT's only a year old, so it hasn't had time to get dirty.  I hung out with the guys until 12:30 and we went to get lunch with Jon, the captain.  I liked the boys immediately.  We have similar senses of humor and I felt comfortable joking with them.  Lunch was at a busy diner in Jersey City.  The boss arrived on the boat at 3 to interview me, and we talked for at least an hour and a half before he and the captain took a "break" to talk about moving the boat.  I met up with the boys in the galley where they told me I was doing great and that I had talked to Mr. longer today than they ever had.  

After the Mr. came back from talking to Jon, we started the "real interview"...  He asked me about my music, and he wanted to see my myspace page.  The boys hooked the computer up to the television and we all listened to my music while I blushed.  They seemed impressed.  Mr. was a bit stand-offish.  Later, I turned down the bed, looked at vinyl samples for new pillows on the sun deck.  Jon wanted me to help them pick out the colors.  He then asked me to look through the galley and assess what I would move around and change if I worked in there.  I looked around, but honestly I was so wiped out that I couldn't think straight.  Eventually, Mr. ordered dinner and Jon went to pick it up.  Meanwhile, Mr. requested that I make him a "Manhattan Vivere", but there is no ice on the boat because the refrigeration is not working properly.  Jon brought ice with the pizzas... yes, the first meal I served my potential boss was pizza.  He requested that we heat the pizzas in a skillet with olive oil to make the crust crispy.  My Manhattan Vivere needed more Vermouth, but Mr. was happy that it was well-chilled.  He turned in by 9, and now I'm in the crew mess watching TV with Blair and Bobby.  Jon lives in the city with his wife and 6 month old son, Sacha.  

I'm WIPED out right now...  Not sure what to expect for tomorrow, but I'll be up around 7 to get ready for the Mr. to wake up around 8.  I won't be cooking breakfast, but I do need to have his cappuccino ready for him.  My flight leaves for Atlanta at 1, so I'll have to be at the airport by noon.  I imagine I'll have an opportunity to sit down with Jon and talk to him about the job.  

Right now, I REALLY like the boat.  The crew--the guys--rock.  I would be organizing the boat how I like it, learning as I go, and getting some GREAT experience as a solo stew.  I'll need to beef up my knowledge of table settings.  I'd also like to contact my chief stew friends to get some info from them.  These boys definitely need a woman's touch here.  Apparently, the boat has only had temporary stews, so things have remained a bit touch and go.  Their decor is basically knick-knacks that the owners have brought on board, and it doesn't really match.  But that's cool.  I'm all about surrounding myself with things I love, so whatever makes them happy.  Blair says that the Mr. loves to spend money, so this is a good sign.

What I loved EVEN more was that they guys REALLY DID help me out.  Blair helped with serving the Mr. by getting out the flatware and placemat, heating the pizza, and helping with dishes.  Jon walked me through the turn down and gave me pointers on how to make the Mr.'s drink.  In short, this team REALLY DOES work together.

So, I'm waiting for the official invite.  then it's decision time...  New Moon or Vivere?  

Jobs Jobs JOBS!!

Okay, 

So I'm sitting in the airport after an interview with the captain of New Moon.  He gave me a tour of the boat and a run down of what they do on board.  Basically, I would be cooking for the crew as the boss's wife prefers to cook when they are on board.  (Unless they go out, of course!)  Summers would be spent on the Great Lakes and winters spent between Fort Lauderdale and Bahamas.  The itinerary seems rather boring, but one never knows.  He would like a year commitment, but that is always subject to a 2-month trial period.  They would provide full medical benefits, 401k matching...  I would be one of usually three on board, but with a charter happening, there could be as many as five crew.  Before I left, the captain offered me the job...

In addition to THAT, the captain of the 116' Azimut wants to fly me up to NYC tomorrow for a face-to-face interview.  From the job description, it sounds like it might be more than I can handle, but the pay is MUCH better than New Moon.  (I don't know about benefits, taxes, or anything like that, though...)  I'm thinking about going for it anyway, getting a feel for the boat and then seeing how I feel tomorrow evening.  I just don't want to miss out on Cumberland...  I know a job is top priority, but I'm SOOO close to the trip, and I hate to have my big plans screwed up at the last minute.  

SOOO, I have big decisions to make in the next few days, I just know it.  Such is the life of a yachtie, and part of me just wishes I had ONE job possibility so that I couldn't look at the greener grass on the other side of the fence...  Welcome to LIFE!

....leavin' on a jet plane...

Okay, so I had a VERY nice chat with the owner and captain today.  The captain just text messaged me and wants to fly me up for a face-to-face interview on Wednesday.  Between flying home tomorrow and to NYC and back the next day, it seems I'll be spending a good bit of time in airports in the next few days... CRAZY!  

As Murphy's Law would have it, just as I start making plans to QUIT sitting around the crew house, I get two more job leads.  The second came as I was sitting in Smallwood's putting Keith's resume's in the notebook.  A captain looked at me and asked if I was a stew, was I looking for a job, and could I cook?  He was looking for a crew cook/stew for his 112' motor yacht.  He's picking me up tomorrow to look at the boat and then take me to the airport--saving ME some money on a taxi!  YESSS!  The THIRD job lead came from an email from Crew Network about a 120' sailboat in San Diego needing a cook/stew.  It's privately owned, family prefers simple meals, they would be going to Caribbean til April and then probably off to the Med for summer.  With both of the jobs, they wouldn't need me to start until after Dec. 1st.  So that wouldn't conflict with my recording with Kimmie or going to Cumberland with my family!

I'm REALLY excited about ANY of these possibilities simply because they would be SUCH great learning experiences.  I believe the one in NYC would be more formal and a bit more work than I am ready for, but I am going to be honest with the captain and let him know what my stipulations are.  That a professional chef would have to be hired for the charters and for longer trips with the family, a second stew would also be hired.  I am willing to start out below $3500/month, but in three months, I would like a review for a raise.  I called around to four of my crew agents and they ALL said that average salary is $3500, but one urged me to no for no less than $4000.  

SO, the next couple days are going to be QUITE interesting... literally, I'll be living minute-by- minute.  I'm still planning on going forward with the original plan of going to Charleston and Cumberland, but that all my change if I get a job offer.  The most important thing is to get a job...  Welcome (again) to the world of yachting...

the waiting game....

Okay, so I'm waiting on a call from a captain and owner on a boat in NYC coming down here in the next little while.  I'm being interviewed for a Cook/Stew position on a 116' Azimut (check them out!  They're GORGEOUS!)  The boat is called "Vivere" which is Italian for "Dare to Live"... they do lots of charity work and have family on board all the time.  Sounds like a very relaxed boat with LOTS of work, but a potentially great atmosphere. 

Keeping my fingers crossed...  

"Courage is your greatest present need..."

... so said my fortune cookie today. Funny how apropos that little line is. I am about to embark on a leap of faith like no other... that seems to be quite the trend with me lately.

I called my dad tonight to update him personally (none of this blogging business between father and daughter!) on all that has been going on -- how there is NO work down here, a talent scout found my music myspace page, and how Kimmie has offered to help me get some more tracks recorded in Charleston. (I swear, I need to pay this girl for all her help! One day I'll have the opportunity to repay her for her kindness.) Anyway, I told him all that, and he gave me the advice and boost I needed to book a flight home to pick up my car and head to Chucktown for a while... I'm still keeping the yachting option open, but I'm just wasting time here in Ft. Lauderdale. And REALLY, I had a bad feeling all along about returning down here. At one point, I had to take some Xanax to calm my hysterics (my mom can vouch for that one!!). So, I'm taking a detour to my favorite city ever, and I'm crossing my fingers that I can score some gigs to save up some money to work on yachts once again when the market bounces back. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Going on a job hunt, a job hunt, a job hunt...

Okay, so the hunt continues, and honestly I feel like a greyhound chasing after that elusive stuffed bunny...  chances are slim that I'll be the lucky winner-- I'm neither the fastest, slimmest, nor in the right place at the right time.  Needless to say, it's beginning to wear me down.

Chris leaves on Wednesday or Thursday and there is no telling if or when I'll ever see him again.  Of course, we both want to keep in touch, but one never knows with this industry.  I'm kicking myself that I didn't accept the position on his boat... of course, after the way the chief stew (who shall remain unnamed but you can find out if you look at my previous posts) spoke to me the other night, I'm glad I'm not trapped in a job with her for another six months.  

I had a job interview on Thursday, but I got an email this morning saying that the chief stew hadn't selected me for a second interview.  Fine.  Sometimes I wonder what these people are really looking for... some cute prissy girl to look good in a uniform?  or someone who is going to actually do a good job?  someone not afraid of hard work, getting dirty, or messing up her hair?  Granted, I'm not saying that the cute girls searching for jobs as stews can't do a good job, but when housemates admit that they don't know how to iron, leave their wet towel on my bed, and make comments like "I'm SO not domestic!" YET, they are still offered jobs at the drop of a hat, it really makes me wonder...  

At any rate, I'm noticing my depression deepening into becoming more edgy with my housemates.  I don't mean to be, but it's hard to stay positive when I'm literally down to my last few dollars and I'm having to call home for money.... and the bills continue to pile up.  On Wednesday, I'm supposed to pay rent, and I honestly don't know how I'm going to pay for it.  I might have enough money on my credit card, but it would cost half as much to take the Amtrak train up to Charleston and see about getting work up there.  Of course, that could be a potentially fatal decision if jobs *suddenly* start pouring in.  I'm to the point of tears right now...  That's why I'm trying to stay to myself which usually means I'm curled in a fetal position on my bed either reading, staring into space, or sleeping.  

There is a job fair today, and I'm fully intending on going (along with every OTHER crew member in the tri-city area!)  I already know I'm just going to be another blurry face to the captain and crew agents represented there, but I've got to try.  I'm armed with about 20 resumes and a handful of business cards, I've got my make-up on and my "crew-niform" ready to go...  (a crew-niform is the standard white polo shirt and khaki or navy shorts)  I don't know what is going to happen, and I'm TRYING to have a good attitude about this.  But honestly, I'm so depressed that I'm exhausted and sick to my stomach.  I don't even feel like playing my guitar any more.  I just want to run away from it all...

On a lighter note, I was contacted by a talent scout about my music, and she wants to put me forward to have some music on an indie film's soundtrack.  Here goes MORE rejection...  (God!  I hate to be so negative!  But it isn't as disappointing as getting my hopes up and then having them let down.)  Anyway, Kimmie wants me to come up to Charleston to record some music with her to post onto my website.  I'd be working with a professional producer with REAL recording equipment in a studio.  I honestly feel unworthy of this sort of treatment.  Kimmie has always been SO encouraging and uplifting... she's always helped me and sacrificed her busy schedule for me.  

Anyway, I've got to pull myself out of this funk.  It's only a HORRIBLE vicious cycle that isn't going to get me anywhere but further down and away from what I've been looking for.  I need a a job and sitting around the crew house isn't going to get me anywhere NEAR that goal.  

THEY'RE GONE! 20 minutes 'til eleven, and they finally get out of here! Now I can camp out on the couch in a quiet house... AHHHH!

holy cow!  they're STILL HERE!!!  GO PARTY FOR GOD'S SAKE!!  

Halloween 2008

Okay....  so the crew house is hoppin' tonight as everyone (mostly the guys) gets dressed in their costumes...  so far, we have two knights, a Spartan, Superman/Clark Kent, Saturday Night Fever, William Warren, a redneck sheriff, Risky Business, a witch, and a pirate...  What am I going to be?  A COUCH POTATO!  I'm not leaving the house tonight since I'm so strapped for cash...  I did have a couple costume ideas though...  a Greek goddess, a bathing beauty...  a shacker (a girl who goes home with a guy at the end of the night)...

It has been fun coming up with ideas for the guys...  the girls of course already had their costumes.  The boys went shopping for their costumes around 7:30 this evening, and those caught with nothing after Dollar Tree closed we stuck with whatever we had in the house which was *surprisingly* a lot!  Simon provided Charlie with a suit so he could be Superman; Kelly made John's toga so he could be Leonidas; John lent Kelly a white dress shirt so she could be Tom Cruise in Risky Business...  tonight truly was a team effort.

Everyone seems to be leaving -- FINALLY!! -- so I can carry on with my "costume" of the evening... a pathetic couch potato.  I've got some ice cream in the freezer, raid the boys' beer stash (they'll never realize it's gone), watch Ghost Hunters Live -- a Halloween tradition since last year.  Sounds depressing, I know, but it's not too bad.  I don't have the money to blow on cab rides, cover charges, overpriced alcohol, and a 2 am Denny's run.  

I had to call my mom to ask for money today.  I've never done that before.  I've always been the one to send HER money.  It was hard to say the words, and I braced myself for a lecture, but I was surprised that she didn't seem to bat an eye.  I promised her that I'd pay her back as soon as I had a job, and she assured me that it was no big deal.  Still...  I hate asking for help.

Daywork -- WHOOPEE!!!

So, I've finished Day 2 of day work, and I must say... this girl PREFERS living the life of leisure, but enjoys having money to spend... on rent and shampoo...  I'm sure my roommates are thankful that I'm not using their shampoo, too.

We're preparing for the boat show that starts on Thursday...  today things got rather stressed as fixtures continued to be left unfixed, the "to do" list continued to grow, and more things seemed to break.  We leave tomorrow morning for our spot at the boat show, and I imagine it's going to be even MORE stressed as we work until the wee hours of the morning making everything PERFECT...  

At the moment, I'm chilling with Melissa for a RARE evening in front of the television.  It's FREEZING outside... well, 52 degrees.  Weather.com projects that the high tomorrow will be 70 but back in the 80s by Monday...  Whew!  I was worried I might not be able to wear flip-flops.  

In other news, I'm recovering from the strep quite nicely.  I have another three days of meds before I'm DONE, but I don't feel sick at all.  THANK GOD! 

Still on the job hunt...  turns out Sacajawea hired another stew who had been working on the boat for a while.  No problem.  The chief stew said she'd be glad to be a reference for me saying I'm a hard worker and I'm trustworthy to complete tasks well.  I hope everything works out for me...

Until another day...

Starting to feel better...

I don't think I've ever felt THIS much better after taking medicine, but in only a few days, I'm feeling TONS better...  of course, my head still aches a bit and my sore throat comes and goes...

More later.

Learning and living...

My purse looks like I raided a pharmacy, and in a way I did.  Currently, I have sinus meds, cough drops, throat spray, ibuprofen, two kinds of acetaminophen, penicillin, and rolaids.  Yes, folks, you guessed it.  I'm one sick puppy...  Went to the clinic yesterday and for the first time in my 20-something years, I have acquired STREP THROAT!  

It all started on Monday when I woke up with throat and ear pain.  Went to the clinic and the nurse said it was probably sinus-related, to get some meds that would dry out the fluids, and I'd be okay.  Monday night, I started feeling better, went to Chris's house.  Fell asleep over there, and woke up Tuesday morning with body aches and chills so bad that I wanted to die.  I had on sweat pants, long-sleeve shirt, two comforters, and a blanket and I still had chills.  Chris said he could feel the heat off my back through my shirt and without even touching me.  Needless to say, I didn't move from his couch that day, and he stayed home with me that morning...  picked up some juice and medicine for me.  Eventually, my fever broke, but my throat still hurt like hell.

Woke up Wednesday morning and decided that I needed to do something about this, so I went back to the clinic.  The five-minute strep test came back a glaring positive (I was glad that I wouldn't have to wait for some antibiotics!).  So, I've been hanging out in bed all day and all night... bored to tears and itching to do something.  My body is bursting with energy, but my head feels like a 50-pound medicine ball.  I need to walk up to CVS to get myself a new toothbrush... forgot to pick one up yesterday when I was there.  

So, what have I learned from all of this?  First of all, don't get sick.  But in the case of the inevitable, always have someone who will help you when you DO get sick... fortunately, I had Chris.  I'm sure I could have found others who would have helped me, but I always hate to ask.  Third, know where you can go to get help... meaning, I had access to the minute clinic at CVS... didn't need insurance, and it saved me a LOT of money I would have spent on a doctor visit.  I'm sure there are other things I've learned from this experience, but I haven't realized them yet...  I'm just glad I'm on meds.  And I'm thankful that my mom knows so much about stuff like tylenol and advil and how much to take and when...  

In other news, the job leads continue to come at me.  Not complaining, but they all seem SO great!  It's hard to decide which one to pursue.  So far, nothing concrete has really panned out, but I think the job on Sacajawea is pretty promising.  I was supposed to start working on the boat on Monday, and then I came down with THIS, but the chief stew has been wonderful and understanding.  

At any rate, I'm starting to feel like my old self again, except for a throat that feels gravelly and looks like raw ground beef... and a head that pound any time I move too quickly.  I should feel MUCH better tomorrow, and by Monday, I'll be on Sacajawea scoring myself a J-O-B!

Exhausted but Happy

I don't really know how to start this off, but I figured I hadn't written in a few days, so I was due.  This weekend was another great one spent with Chris.  He's still fighting his cold, and I think I'm starting to get it myself... I'm getting a scratchy throat and a cough here and there.  Of course, it could be related to all the smoking I've been around since I've gotten down here...  Yuck.

Anyway, I spent the entire day at the beach yesterday.  Chris and I went to John Lloyd State Park (the same beach we went to last week) with Mark, Boysie, Carrie, and Jane (our friend from New Zealand).  Mark, Chris, and Jane went diving for lobsters while Boysie, Carrie, and I hit the bar and beach...  they dove for around two hours!  And, for their efforts, they brought back one lobster, some great stories, and a bit more knowledge on how best to catch the little buggers.  

This morning, Chris and I had the lobster in an omelet -- YUM!  

I've been doing a little more writing lately...  some poetry and narratives... just some private things that I don't intend to show many if anyone...  I'm glad that the creative juices are flowing again...  Chris and I were talking about it last night, and I thought of a few things I could write about -- silly things like drinking with the guys, time spent with Chris...  

OH!  Friday night, I met up with the boys (Chris, Tim, and Boysie) at The Well.  The boys had been there for a few hours, so they were buzzing pretty well, and Tim pulled me aside and told me that if I didn't try out for American Idol, he'd never talk to me again.  Funny man.  He even offered to pay for voice lessons to improve my vocals!  But he said I didn't need to waste my "talent"...  whatever that may be.  Honestly, I play guitar and sing because I love it...  I love the songs I sing, and that in turn gives me the passion and drive to sing well.  I wonder sometimes if I could sing even if I wasn't "feeling" it... 

Anyway, I'm at Chris's house hiding out in his room...  the guys are watching the Indie car race, the sky is grey and cloudy, and I'm chillin with Blossom Dearie and Lena Horne...  I think I might pick up my guitar and crank out some tunes out by the pool.  Trouble is, I don't have my music with me and I can never remember the chords!  Some rocker I'll be if I have to have a music stand on stage with me!!  Tehehe...  

Fort Lauderdale is PARTY TOWN!

Went to the Triton party last night...  It was more like the Triton crowd!  Not only was the saloon jam-packed, but the city block in front of and around the bar swarmed with yachties.  UNREAL!  Despite the masses, I did find some friends -- Molly and Georgia, Danielle, Melissa, Jane, Linda (one of my agents), and a couple guys from my STCW class.  Ended up giving my free drink away to Shelton...  I just can't seem to hold my liquor these days.  BUT, the food was good.  Black beans, plantains, chicken wings...  YE-HAW!  

After about an hour of "networking" (more like standing around trying to look cool while talking to people I already know and see every day), I took a cab back home.  What doesn't make sense to me is how ironic this function was.  The *purpose* of this party was to mix and mingle with others on boats...  to score jobs, right?  Well, what REALLY happened was people getting pissed out of their minds, girls showing up like they were trying to score a roll in the hay... but, maybe that's their idea of a job?  I don't know if I would want to hire someone who showed up to a networking party dressed like a call girl... yes, they want to have fun and show off their bodies, but I would also expect them to bring some respect and propriety to the boat they work on.  

What do you think? 

Giddy-Yap!

I had an interview this morning...  went pretty well.  The chief stew found my resume at Smallwood's and called me yesterday while I was at Chris's house.  Turns out the captain was born in the same hospital I was born in, still lives in Georgia (when he's not on the boat), has friends at my alma mater, knows Sid Brown (my dad's old boss!), and has a nephew in the same school district where I used to teach...  WEIRD!  Or should I say, SMALL WORLD?!  

Anyway, the boat is 132' and is a pretty serious charter machine...  they are booked solid until February, and are hoping to get about ten more charters booked through until May.  The hard work doesn't scare me... and the money I'll be saving is GREAT!  (No, MOM!  Just because I'm not spending the money doesn't mean YOU can!!!!  But I will help you out with those tires on my car anyway...)

I've also been emailing a lady who responded to an ad I placed in the Triton.  She said she may have a lead for me...  turns out she's a travel writer, and she wants to meet me at the Triton networking party tonight.  The theme is "Cowboys and Indians" and a saloon in Ft. Lauderdale is hosting it...  I'll be looking more like a hillbilly than a cowgirl because I'm too cheap to invest in a pair of boots (they're SO not packable!), but maybe the plaid shirt I'm stealing from Chris and my braids and bandana will be convincing enough.  If not, I can always show a little cleavage.  Tehehe... Just KIDDING, DADDY!!

I'm off to Burger King with Trina and Carrie... no, I've already had my salad, so I'm just going for the exercise...  More to come.

there is hope in the universe...

Started off the morning with a bike ride half-way to "marina mile" to do some dock walking with Carrie before I realized that I wouldn't be able to get into the shipyards.  Besides that my tootie was wailing in pain, my bike had no breaks, and the tire was going flat...  So, I turned around.  

On the way back to my crew house, I stopped into the Crew Unlimited office to see about a couple jobs I was interested in.  Got some more information, but nothing super exciting.  Once Carrie came home -- she was following up on a job lead at one of the shipyards -- she said that she stopped by Roscioli to see the Aquasition crew.  Chris was still sick.  She threw together some AWESOME soup -- onions, garlic, thyme, sage, lemon, chicken stock, veggie bullion, and rice noodles -- and we took it over to the sick boy.  I was a little jealous that I couldn't cook like that.  One day, maybe.  

Anyway, we piled in on Chris whether he wanted us to or not.  I think he was happy for the company.  I pestered him to drink lots of fluids, he complied to a certain extent.  We watched Zohan (silly movie...  not one I'd see again) and all crashed for a little while.  By 4:30 the crew tumbled in.  Carrie and I lingered for a while longer, but nothing was happening, so we said our farewells.  

While I was over there, I did get a call about a job on a 130' yacht going to the Caribbean.  The atmosphere sounds great, and I'm looking forward to the interview tomorrow.  If the interview goes well, I'll be asked to work with them getting the boat ready for the boat show and then perhaps to stay on for the charter season!  YES!!

Now, I'm sitting in the crew house while the guys grill outside, listening to a little Van Morrison, and just hanging with the peeps...  I have an interview tomorrow, DESPERATELY need to do some laundry, and I can't seem to get full... I raided Chris's fridge eating some of Carrie's soup, chips and salsa, a ham sandwich...  then I got home and ate a couple pieces of chocolate, four slices of cheese...  and I'm still hungry.  I need something starchy...  like a doughnut or something.  BUT, if I eat that all the exercise I've been getting biking and walking everywhere will be for NOTHING...  oh, but a hot glazed doughnut would be SO scrumptious right now.

Okay... going to Dunkin' Drug-Laced Doughnuts up the street... I'll take a dozen to Chris... maybe that will make him feel better... I'll stop by the gas station and pick up some orange juice.. and maybe I'll bring my guitar to serenade him with my healing voice.

Crew House Blues

Okay, some call it a case of the Mondays, I call it the crew house blues...  Spent a wonderful weekend with Chris, and now I'm stuck here in the house laying on a squeaky, bowed bed with no job and cramps.  I still have a *little* bit of money, but that's draining fast as I still have to pay for lodging and food (living off salad and yogurt at the moment), and my car payment, and credit card payment...  I know once I get a job -- even a couple days of day work -- things will look better, and I could get something ANY day now...  I've had a couple leads already, but nothing super convincing...  I swear, the suspense is KILLING me.

It seems like most ads are looking for someone "fit" or "athletic"...  hmmm... that doesn't exactly describe me.  (as I reach for another Dove dark chocolate... it's medicine for my cramps, I PROMISE!)  I have been trying to live healthy while I'm back down here... I don't drink NEARLY as much as I used to.  In fact, this weekend, I didn't have ANYTHING to drink until last night.  And even then it was light beer.  And, I've been eating mostly salads and whole foods...  cutting back on the processed and starchy junk foods.  Except for the "groceries" Chris bought at Blockbuster the other night when we rented some movies.  That night, the four food groups became salty, sweet, chocolate, and carbonated.  I would exercise more, but it's SO damn hot.  I AM walking almost everywhere I go...  walked to CVS today...  and I've been swimming a couple times this weekend -- at the crew house pool and at the beach yesterday.  But, like I said, it's SO DAMN hot, and everywhere there is to walk to requires MONEY...  if there was a park or something nearby, I might be more willing to trek to it.  Of course, there is the beach, but it's about 5 miles away, and I'd DIE before I made it there.  Maybe I can score a bike one day and ride there...  and maybe take the bus back?  

Anyway, enough of the blues.   Let's talk about some happy stuff...  This weekend was AWESOME!  Yes, I spent the entire time with Chris, and yes, I think we *are* a thing, even though I don't think he is ready to admit it...  At any rate, we are both having fun with each other, and that's all that matters, right?  Friday night, we went to the Village Well... well, I actually RAN INTO him at the well -- another story full of drama and intrigue... and we hung out with the Aquasition crew.  FUN!  First Mate Mark said we were all going out on the tender to SCUBA dive.  I got ALL excited, but Mark never showed or called, so Chris and I spent the day hanging out on the boat... watching TV.  Nice and low-key.  He wasn't feeling very well, so I made him take some Day-Quil and drink lots of water...  That night we went out for Chinese and he got some Thera-flu.  

Sunday morning, he was feeling MUCH better, but still having never heard from Mark, we went to the beach to dive off the coast.  Well, we EVENTUALLY made it to the beach....  after getting some breakfast, then going to the dive shop for some lobster-catching gear, and then the gas station for a cooler and water.  By 1:30, we made it to the beach.  It then took a good 45 minutes for Chris to get all the gear assembled and ON...  and he didn't even dive for more than 30 minutes.  The surf was SO rough that it kept pushing us back toward shore, and the water was SO murky that we couldn't see much -- let alone catch any lobsters for dinner.  Next time, though. 

Even though I didn't see much wildlife underwater, I did see some above water.  As I crossed the footbridge from the beach on a trip back to Chris's truck, I came upon a raccoon crossing the bridge himself.  Once he saw me, he felt trapped, unsure of which way to go.  So, he climbed upon the ledge, latched onto a post, and kept his wide-eyed gaze on me until I was out of sight.  He was SOOO cute!  I wished I had a camera to capture such a precious picture!  

Last night, after we were fully toasted from the sun (actually, I was more toasted than Chris, who is part Native American and can handle the sun better than my Anglo-German heritage), we went back to his crew house and grilled hot dogs.  I swam a bit and allowed the cool pool water to cool my toasty chest and back...  what kills me is that my arms got quite a bit of sun yesterday, but it seems the sun refused to touch my hands.  It looks like I was wearing gloves!  Weird.

I raided Chris's CD collection and uploaded a bit of music onto my computer... some Blossom Dearie, Ben Harper, Iron and Wine, and Lena Horne...  Oh, and I saw some GREAT movies this weekend...  if you're in the mood for some uncouth comedy, check out Daniel Tosh's Completely Serious...  it's raucous and oh so wrong...  for some historical drama, see The Other Boleyn Girl.  Both Natalie Portman and Scarlet Johannsen do a FANTASTIC job in the film and it gives some interesting perspective on that time in history.  For a comedy-drama, I recommend The Love Song for Bobby Long.  It features John Travolta and Scarlet Johannsen...  (must have been a Scarlet weekend)...  I'd never heard of it until Chris told me about it, but it's become one of my faves.  It's a quiet film highlighting the romance of the South -- even today -- and finding family in the most unexpected places.  It's funny, poignant, and wise...  

Okay, so my chocolate meds haven't begun to kick in, and I have nothing to do, so I'm going to lay down for a few minutes...  I hope to have something exciting to report VERY soon...  Say a prayer for me.

Back on the Job Hunt...

Spent the day pounding the pavement with Carrie.  We visited all the crew agencies -- Crew Network, Crew Unlimited, IYT, Luxury Yacht Group -- and sweated like whores in church...  But it felt like a productive day.  By noon, we were drenched and ready for something cool, so we ate a quick bite and went to the Aquasition crew house's pool!

That was exactly what we needed, so after about an hour and a half there, we trekked the three blocks back to our house and showered off.  I've been perched on my bed ever since -- updating my CV, re-checking agency sites, reading all the yachtie magazines I picked up this morning.  

Carrie is at a Bar-B-Q at a friend's house, Chris is out drinking with Aquasition crew, and I'm here at the crewhouse listening to the nine boys I live with ramble around in the kitchen...  Yes, you read that correctly... I live with NINE guys and three girls... so in TOTAL, there are 13 people living in the house.  Life around here is rocking, to say the least.  I just hope I rock some work pretty soon...  I hate not really having much to do.

So, Carrie and I had talked about going to the beach tomorrow.  We'll probably make Chris drive us since he has a truck...  more than I can say for either Carrie or myself.  Of course, it would probably be better FOR us to ride bikes there, but it would also be MUCH MORE DANGEROUS!  

Ugh...  so I want to go out and be social, but I'm kinna feeling blah and nobody is around.  I guess I'll take a nap.

Flying South for the Winter...

Well, I arrived yesterday, and honestly it was a comfort to be back in Fort Lauderdale.  I'm currently sitting in the crew house with bad rap blaring out of the stereo, some cheesy game show on TV and people EVERYWHERE.  Yep, I HAVE ARRIVED!  

Once we got in, Chris and I met up with Mark, Boysie, and Tim at the Well.  We had some drinks and caught up.  I didn't realize how much I MISSED those boys!  It's too bad I won't be joining them on charter this season.  I'll be sad when we have to part.

Chris simply didn't want to go back to work yet, so we hung out at the beach today -- despite the fact that it was cloudy and rather gloomy.  As a result, the beach was relatively deserted and calm...  Niiiiice!  

We ate lunch at Bubba Gump and talked a lot about education -- a topic that I'm rather passionate about given my previous vocation.  I worried that I would bore Chris to death with my ranting, but he kept up nicely.  Not that I didn't think he COULD... it's just that sometimes what I'm passionate about seems to be rather boring to others.  Apparently not so with Chris.  Good.

So, I'm staying in tonight...  I'm rather tired after all the excitement of the past few days.  Tomorrow starts the job search - HOT N' HEAVY, BABY!  I'll be making my rounds to the crew agencies, putting my face in their heads, lobbying for a J-O-B!  It seems that most of the people in this house have jobs or are finding some day work.  Maybe I'll get lucky.

Another important issue on my to-do list is finding a costume for Halloween.  Yes, it's 3 weeks away, but STILL!  The past two years I've been the same thing, a gypsy, and I pull it off well.  But, this year I'm thinking of something a little different...  I'd like to utilize my hair maybe be an 80s rocker or something?  Of course, the guys' eyes perked up when I tried on Boysie's glasses last night.  Tehehe.  Maybe I'll be a librarian or teacher or something?  I'll make my decision once I get to a thrift store and see what's available. 

I think I'm gonna take a bit of a nap before things crank up tonight... of course, most people may not get crazy tonight since they have to work tomorrow...  That's fine.  I'm not really in the mood to party.  

Back to reality...

Hello there, Faithful Readers!

I'm BAAAAACK!  So sorry I left you for several weeks, but my journey brought me to the doldrums of yachting -- vacation -- and there simply wasn't much to report.  But, I'm afraid that I had to return to reality and work, so I'm back to reporting my daily grind.

Truthfully, I have not formally returned to Ft. Liquordale (as yachties so lovingly refer to it), but I will be come Tuesday.  I was able to extend my stay a full two weeks longer than expected, and whether or not that was a smart career move on my part, it definitely brought with it a number of wonderful opportunities.

To start, this weekend my sister came home from UGA and I REALLY got a chance to spend some time with her -- more than when I visited her on campus and when she came home two weekends ago.  We went to the football game Friday night, a dog show with Mommy on Saturday, and the mall today.  We pieced together her Halloween costume that is top secret, but is REALLY cute and had some great laughs.  Our honorary sister, our cousin Brooke, spent the night with us last night and we sat on the bed together IM-ing each other silly movie quotes and yearbooking ourselves.  We're nerds, I know, but I SO miss those days of being silly with my girls.  We reminisced about the past, talked about what life was like now, and looked forward to the day we could all be together again.  I'm going to miss them so much in the coming months... but, if you think about it, April isn't THAT far away...  six months?  Twenty-four weeks?  168 days?  BAH!  Pocket change in the grand scheme of things....  Sheah...  I'll keep telling myself that.

Staying longer also enabled me to meet up with Chris, so we could take that fly-fishing trip that he promised.  He picked me up on his way to his granny's house last Thursday and brought me back, albeit reluctantly, on Sunday night.  It was probably the BEST weekend I'd had in a LONG time, and I wish days like those weren't so far apart.  Even BETTER, I caught a wild trout.  It was less than half a pound and was shorter than some sardines I've seen, but nevertheless, I CAUGHT IT!  Here are some pics for your viewing pleasure...  

My Big Catch!

From Explore. Dream. Discover.

Casting the Fly...  And Hoping I Didn't Pierce my Lip in the Process!

whattya think about my outfit?  Pretty FLY, huh?  (Pun intended...)

From Explore. Dream. Discover.

Me and my Instructor...  He's such a great teacher!

From Explore. Dream. Discover.

So I leave for Florida with Chris on Tuesday morning with mixed emotions.  Again, I have to leave my family and friends and PERCY!  But, I'm ready to get back to work making money and stashing it away.  I'm eager to see what the next leg of my journey has in store for me... the Caribbean?  or some place more distant and exotic?  Wherever I go, you have my WORD that I will keep you all informed.  So many of you have told me what fun you've had living vicariously through my adventures.  I truly wish you could all be along for the ride -- the glamourous and not-so-glamourous parts -- because I'm sure we'd have PLENTY to talk about.  But, I am so grateful to have such supportive family and friends who pester me to death about keeping them informed.  :-)  You are wonderful and I would feel so unloved without you. 

I'm a baaaaaad blogger...

Okay, so in an attempt to get me back to blogging, my good friend Christy has "tagged" me...  here goes nuthin...

Here’s the rules for those I’m tagging. Check the list after my 6 THINGS to see if you’re it then

1. Link to the person who tagged you.

2. Post the rules on your blog.

3. Write six random things about yourself.

4. Tag sixish people at the end of your post.

5. Let each person know he or she has been tagged.

6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

Now for Six Random things about me:

1.  I attended all three midnight showings of the Lord of the Rings films.

2.  Every time I drive through Atlanta, I get lost.

3.  I love fresh cut flowers, especially garden roses, calla lilies, and gerber daisies.

4.  I'm a dancing MACHINE!!  I've taken ballroom and belly dance classes in the past few years, and I'm always looking for someone to dance along with me!

5.  My mom has five dogs and a cat, and EACH one has their own voice to match their unique personalities, given so generously by me...  my mom says I missed my calling as a voiceover artist.

6.  I used to make ceramics in high school and I love to quilt.

So there you have it, folks...  it may not be very creatively put, but it's some randomness about me.  AND, I'll have more blogs coming soon... I promise.

Home Sweet Home...

It's been a couple days since I've been home, and it's been nice...  Monday, I went to Button's house for dinner and laughs...  it was good to be around old friends again. 

Yesterday, Mommy and I kept the roads hot getting some much needed banking done.  I put her on my accounts and opened an account at Bank of America...  we went to the thrift store where I found some books on investing... and then we had a dog training session where Percy made me proud by remembering everything he and Mommy had worked on.

This weekend, I'm planning on a jaunt to UGA to see the stister (yes, it IS spelled correctly) and be a college student for another weekend.  We're both thrilled to see each other...  

Bad news on the job front:  the job I thought I had in the bag has been withdrawn...  Apparently my desire to think about the job (which wasn't going to be available until mid-October) didn't sit well with the powers that be, and the job offer was taken back.  That's fine.  It obviously wasn't meant to be.  In the end, I think this is all for the best, but I do admit I will miss the guys.

Gotta go...  watching the Republican National Convention...  

Coming Home

We pulled into Ft. Lauderdale (or Liquordale as the boys call it!) on Tuesday evening...  from there, I pulled a busy couple days getting the boat set up for the shipyard -- bagging linens, inventorying dish ware, stowing decorations...  In the evenings, I was able to cut loose with the rest of the crew...  On Tuesday evening, Carrie and I headed to the crew house to pick up my beloved car!  She was safe and sound, albeit a little dirty, and waiting patiently for my return.  Then we hiked over to Waxy's for some drinks.  Molly and Georgia met us there where I met some of the new house mates -- Tac, Phil, and Mark have all gone their separate ways to Bahamas, France, and Alaska, respectively.  Chris, Mark, and Boysie joined us at Waxy's where we finished off the evening and dragged ourselves back to the boat.  

Wednesday evening, I stayed in because I was SOOO tired.  Everyone went out and brought me pizza back.  The sweethearts!

Thursday evening, we stayed on the boat drinking leftover beer from the charter -- and believe me, there was PLENTY of it!  At one point, Mark pulled out a water gun and started randomly shooting us.  Boysie got in on the action and brought out the super-soaking-torpedo gun and proceeded to drench me from shoulders to shins...  I was wearing a white tank top, too.  NIIIIICE.  I retaliated by getting my OWN torpedo gun filled with water from the ice chest and dousing Boysie.  Everyone had a nice laugh at our expense.  I then pulled out my guitar for an impromptu concert on the deck.  Boysie wanted to know why I was working on boats with a voice like mine.  I told him he was drunk, but he then informed me that he was friends with David Bowie and some other musicians...  Don't know what that was all about, but at one point, he proposed to me saying that he'd still mean it once he sobered up.  

Friday, Chris and I left for Jacksonville -- I offered to take him to his mom's so he could help her pack for her move to Boston and so he could pick up his truck.  We hit a TON of traffic around Palm Beach and only made it to Vero Beach before we were whooped.  Neither of us had been to the small coastal town, but we both thought it was a VERY nice place to vacation -- mostly residential and quiet, even for a Friday night!  I must be getting old when I prefer the night life to be quiet!

We took advantage of the opportunity to sleep late, and only emerged our rooms when we were called by the front desk reminding us of the 11 am check out!  Hehehe...  From there we took A1A up the coast, enjoying the scenery and the crazy mailboxes!  We rolled into Jacksonville around 6 because we stopped for lunch and shopping in Cocoa Beach.  Chris's mom insisted that I spend the night because there was no way I'd make it all the way home that evening.  Always one to buckle under peer pressure, I relented and agreed.  She's a very sweet woman.  We went out for sushi and grocery shopping -- she was provisioning for about ten people to come in from Louisiana running away from Gustave...  

This morning, I left around 10 and made it home at 5... the closer I came, the heavier my foot was!!!  And, let me TELL you!  It feels GREAT to be back.  The first thing I did was hug and kiss Percy...  It was SO good to see him again.  He's a bit shy of me -- pretty mad for leaving him like this -- but he's laying right here on the bed with me.  I already have plans to meet up with Jenn for lunch and then Button for dinner.  Tuesday, I have a dog training session, Friday I leave for Athens to spend the night with Hannah-Leigh...  I'm thinking I need to invest in a planner to keep all my plans straight!!  

So, tonight, I am back at home, and it's weird...  I've been gone for almost three months and so much has changed, yet it's still very much the same.  It makes me smile to know that no matter how far away I may roam, there is still a place on this earth that will welcome me with open arms and a hot meal and a comfortable bed.  

Back in God's Country...

WE'VE MADE IT TO FLORIDA!!!  We still have 17 hours to go, but we are in Floridian waters...  Stepped outside tonight to get a breath of fresh air, and it even smelled different!  Like sulfur and fish...  

The time is 11 pm, and I'm on watch (again) with Mark...  He's told me at least five times how excited he is to get back home...  five times THIS watch...  about thirty times every watch previous...  Of course, he hasn't really been home in six months...  

When I was outside a few minutes ago, I took a look at the stars...  Keith wasn't lying when he said that the middle of the ocean is the best place to stargaze.  No city lights, no trees...  the sky extends from one horizon to the next...  The only light was the pesky light on the boat that Mark refused to turn off even for a few minutes -- despite the fact that there are NO other vessels around.  

"Why would it be a bad idea to turn off your light in Florida waters?"  he asked me.  

"Because the Coast Guard might think you're doing something illegal?"  

"Bingo."  And that was that...

But even with the light, I can still see the stars like I've never seen them before.  I swear, I saw the arms of the Milky Way and the stars sprinkled and scattered through the firmament.  I guess that's what the psalmist saw on those lonely nights out in the desert when he penned, "The heavens declare the glory of God..."  Scenes like those make me feel small and puny in comparison to the grand scheme of Creation and life in general.  And yet, when I see those sights, my heart swells with pride and joy to know that MY GOD is in control of the very same stars I'm admiring.  

A disturbing realization has been creeping upon me the past few weeks... Those around me -- the crew I work with -- doesn't seem thrilled about these things we've been seeing...  Yesterday, when the dolphins came, tonight with the stars, and even last night with the sunset I seemed like the only person who really enjoyed the moments...  I know they've seen some of the most beautiful places in the world, but I pray that no matter HOW many sunsets, starry nights, or dolphins I see I will NEVER get used to those moments when God comes near enough to whisper to us.

Dolphin Watch 2008

Okay, so I'm on watch with Mark right now, and we just saw DOLPHINS!!!!  They swam under the bow for several seconds before lagging behind and playing in the wake...  they seemed close enough to touch!  I could see lacerations and spots on their backs... and there were several BABIES!!!  What do you call a baby dolphin?  A pup?  Anyway, I'm not having so much trouble staying awake on this watch... it's sunny and I've slept about 36 of the past 48 hours...  there's not much else to do when you're underway... if I try to focus on anything for very long, I get lightheaded.  

The good news is we are making GREAT time....  We left NYC at 10 am yesterday and now, 32 hours later, we're already at Cape Lookout, North Carolina.  Phil has slowed us down a couple times, but I think we're getting caught in a current because we keep speeding up!  Hehehe....  It would be great if we could get into the shipyard early, but we aren't supposed to be there until Tuesday afternoon.  I'm hoping Phil will agree to anchor out for a few hours so we can swim...  wouldn't that be a BLAST?  OH!  and the water is absolutely GORGEOUS!  It's a deep, midnight blue... and SO calm.  We are about 20 miles off the coast, and I can't see the shoreline.  I kinna feel like I'm Noah -- stranded on an ocean covered earth...  

I'm a zombie.

All I've done the past 24 hours is eat, sleep, and be on watch.  Mostly sleep...  it's a weird feeling...  everyone has a weird schedule, so the only time we're together is when we are switching posts in the bridge.  And, it's HARD to stay awake during watch -- especially at night.  All the screens are darkened, the waves are methodically rocking the boat...  we have to keep the music down so we don't disturb Phil in his bunk next door...  And caffeine doesn't help at ALL.  I drank an entire diet coke, and I still nodded off the entire time.  Mark kept himself busy with all the monitors and log books, and my job was to keep MARK awake... hehehe.  

The water hasn't been TOO rough, but I've been downing the ginger tablets to keep my stomach from acting up.  However, it has been too rough for me to get a shower, and I NEED A SHOWER!!!!  SHEW-EE!!!  

Can't type any more... it's hard to concentrate on anything with the boat going every which way...  maybe I'll try to bathe my stinky body...

New York, New York

Okay, so my big day in NYC is over, and we are underway again -- this time for a 75 hour journey to Ft. Lauderdale.  

We arrived in New York on Thursday evening... after docking and making drinks for everyone, I headed out with Chris's sister, Carrie, and Shelton.  We wanted to go to SoHo for a shopping excursion, but we ended up in Greenwich Village -- home of more smoke shops than I've ever seen in my LIFE!  Anyway, we found a coffee house that sold bubble tea, and we purchased the BEST bubble tea I've EVER had... YUM!  After that, we ventured around the area, checking out the shops and local street life.  Interesting...  Around ten o'clock, we met up with Chris and Mark at a really great Italian restaurant called Lupe.  Of course, Chris, the gracious host, insisted on paying for everyone's meal -- that included several bottles of EXPENSIVE Italian wine.

Friday morning, we -- Carrie, Shelton, Mark, his dad, and I -- set off early to see some sights.  We first hiked to the subway, and after a helluva time trying to figure out which train to take, made it to CENTRAL PARK!!!  What a BEAUTIFUL place!  Our first destination, though, was snacks because the boys were hungry.  They bought some famous New York hot dogs that were nothing more than what my mom makes at home.  We weren't impressed.  

After food, we went to the Museum of Natural History.  WHAT a HUGE place!  I didn't even get a chance to explore half of the exhibits!  What I did explore was incredible, though.  I mainly stayed in the African and South American exhibits.  What fascinates me more than anything were the relics they had on display.  I saw massive stone carvings from Incan and Mayan ruins, delicate gold jewelry from Egypt, and intricately woven headdresses from the African plains.  To think that these very pieces were fashioned by human hands hundreds and thousands of years ago, used in daily life, and preserved over space and time just baffles me.  Aside from being beautiful, these pieces were also meaningful to the cultures they belonged to.  It makes me wonder what sorts of "relics" historians a thousand years from now would put on display for current-day America.  Cell phones, for sure...  and McDonalds -- they could probably use actual left-overs found in car floor-boards... bombs and guns...  designer handbags and clothes.  That really says something about our priorities, eh?

After we finished in the museum, we walked through Central Park.  We stumbled upon a small pond with couples rowing boats around...  what a PERFECTly romantic setting!  I could have watched that all day, but we snapped a couple pictures and moved on.  We found another pathway that was gravel and lined with benches and trees.  I couldn't help but read some of the plaques on the benches... some were heart warming, others heart breaking, but they each made me want to read another...  We saw street performers -- guitarists, sax players, dancers, mimes...  and the amusement park!  Central Park was like its own little world within New York...  a natural oasis from the concrete jungle.

For lunch, we went to Burger Heaven that was more like Burger HELL...  We got Reubens that were nasty, the glasses were cloudy, and the waitress didn't know what a smile was.  Needless to say, we were not impressed with that joint.  

After lunch, Mark and his dad went back to the boat while the rest of us checked out more of the city -- Rockefellar Plaza, NBC studios, Trump Tower, and 5th Avenue.  What I couldn't get over was the sheer breadth of wealth and poverty that could exist in tandem.  Homeless men napped outside Tiffany and Co.  

We made it back to the boat around five, took showers and naps, and were back out again at 9, in search of food.  After taxiing back to Greenwich Village, we wandered around a bit until we found a relatively secluded Japanese restaurant.  After sushi and sake, we walked around some more, finding a rather dodgy park infested with all sorts of sketchy night-crawlers.  I insisted we get out of there as soon as we could.  We taxied back to the boat, and our adventures in New York were officially over.  

This morning, we set off around 10 a.m., first circling the Statue of Liberty.  We're now out on the open waters again, and we won't stop until we make it to Ft. Lauderdale -- 75 hours underway.  Tonight, the waves are supposed to reach 4-7 feet, and I'll be on watch with Mark... NOT thrilled about the prospect, but I'll have to do it to make it through.  Maybe this will help me get my sea legs... and hell, if I'm puking the whole time, maybe I'll shed some unwanted poundage?  

Well, the charter has been over for a few days, but that doesn't mean all has been fun and games yet... not completely, at least.  

Since our guests have left, my days have been filled with mountains of laundry and miles of vacuuming.  Yesterday alone, I had to stow the boat which is a pretty intense job in itself, but to do it ALONE is easily a multi-day affair.  This isn't the normal stow where I just put vases and lamps on the floor.  Yesterday I stuffed pillows in cabinets with wine and liquor bottles and moved ANYTHING that wasn't attached to the floor to one corner of the room, and taped and tied all the cabinets shut.  At one point, Shelton and Mark laughed at my wild hair -- when I put it up in a half ponytail and let my curls splay out around my head.  I thought it was cute, but they said I looked like a witch.  Jerks.

We have lost some crew members for the trip down to Ft. Lauderdale.  Donna Marie went back home (LUCKY!), Kaki left to drive the crew car back down to Florida, and Tim went on vacation to Gatlinburg, Tennessee.  As a result, we got a new engineer, Phil's best friend Boise.  He's British and HILARIOUS!  I love him...  Mark's dad and Chris's sister are also joining us for the ride down.  Chris's sister just got out of culinary school, so she's getting some galley experience on the trip, and Mark's dad is just hanging out.  

I said that not EVERYTHING has been fun and games since the guests left, but that doesn't mean we didn't have a LITTLE fun.  The other night, Donna Marie and I went out on the town to celebrate the finishing of a charter, and we stumbled upon a blues bar that was REALLY cool!  Not only were our fellow crew members there -- Mark, Chris, and Boise -- but they had a Karaoke band!  Anyone who knows me KNOWS that I LOVE KARAOKE!!!  So, I couldn't WAIT to get myself up on stage.  I sang Carrie Underwood's "Before He Cheats", but I couldn't hear myself on the monitors...  everyone said I rocked it though...  It was SOOOO cool to have a LIVE band to sing with!!!  I've always said that I wanted to be a rock star for about fifteen minutes, and now I have... so I can tick that off my "To Do Before I Die" list...  

We are underway now for New York.  We should approach Chelsea, Manhattan around eight o'clock tonight, and we'll have all day tomorrow in Manhattan.  I'm really excited to see the city, but I have NO clue what I want to do...  I'll be researching today to see what's around the area, but if I have to take a cab, then SO BE IT!  

Last day...

Well, we've MADE it!  I've got a few more minutes of break left before I'm late girl on the last night of charter...  It's kinna sad actually.  I'll miss the family.  Once you spend a month with people, you either love or hate them.  I love them.

We had a crew meeting in the bridge this afternoon to discuss our tip.  I won't talk about money here, but just suffice to say it was DOUBLE my month's salary.  I'm STOKED!  I've already decided the bulk of it is going to credit card debt -- pay off one and pay down on another.  I know that money can't buy happiness, but a little bit of it can buy security, and honestly, that's what I'm looking for.  

SPEAKING of security, I was wondering what I should do once I have no more debts to pay off.  I can just hole my money up in a bank somewhere, but I'd rather invest it for the future...  I have NO clue where to start with all that...  maybe I should get an "Investing for Dummies" book to give me some good information?  It's weird to think that I won't have any real expenses as a yachtie -- no rent (except for my stints in crew houses), no utilities, no car payment (once I finish paying mine off).  

In addition, I am struggling with whether or not to accept Kaki's offer to remain on the crew full time.  She hasn't *officially* offered, but she's mentioned it several times and been "training" me like I'll be around for a while...  I would really like to experience more boats, see how things are run on different vessels... get around more crew...  Then again, Kaki and Phil have been fantastic -- understanding about my seasickness, patient with my inexperience, and generous with time off...  If I stayed on for a season, that would mean that I could leave in April once the boat returns to Ft. Lauderdale from the Caribbean.  I would be working EVERY holiday -- no Cumberland at Thanksgiving, no family Christmas...  I would be able to get ahead financially, and I can sacrifice one holiday season, although I shall miss my family terribly.  I am still mulling over the decision, and I probably won't decide anything until after we make it back to Florida.  Kaki has already said that she would give me a couple weeks to sort everything out at home, so I wouldn't be expected back in FL until mid-September.  That will probably be the last time I see them until April... weird, huh?

Casinos, pigs feet, sky lounge torture, and Percy

I have a rather random playlist for you today, but I think you will find it entertaining and enlightening.

1)  Casinos...  we are in Norwich, Connecticut today -- Home of the Mohegan Sun Casino...  Checked it out last night with Tim, Chris, and Mark (I never get to hang out with Donna Marie because we have to alternate duties...).  I had never been in a casino before, so I wasn't sure what to expect.  Honestly, I wasn't impressed.  Maybe it's because I already loathe gambling and think the flashing lights and chirping bells are all smoke and mirrors to hide a dark and sinister agenda.  Whatever the case may be, I was sickened by the amount of money thrown down on chance...  What disturbed me more than anything was the amount of elderly folks playing the slots...  In my inexperienced opinion, if anything in a casino is rigged, it would be slot machines...  another thing that really shocked me was the LACK of Native Americans at an Indian casino...  hmmmm...  I saw more Asians working there than anything.  In FACT, even the souvenirs had more Asian themes than Native American...  People say that the Indian tribe get the proceeds from the casinos, but I honestly don't believe it...  if that's the case, then WHY do Native people as a whole have higher rates of unemployment, suicide, diabetes, heart disease...  if the money is going to the people, then why do they have the highest poverty rate of ANY group in the nation?  I do apologize for getting on my soap box...  As many of you know, Native Americans have always had a soft spot in my heart, and it ticks me off to see their rich and beautiful culture bastardized by Western dogma.  But, I digress... on to lighter news.

2)  Pigs feet...  this is two fold...  First...  I routinely spend time in the galley -- prepping for meals AND cutting through from one part of the yacht to another.  Today, Chris has chosen to adorn his counter top with the most SINISTER and DISGUSTING pigs feet -- roasted and charred...  I am PRAYING they are nothing more than macabre decor and NOT an ingredient in a future meal.  Of course, he may be trying to tell me something... my feet REAK because I wear flip flops that make my feet sweat...  there's nothing to absorb the sweat, so... well, you get the picture...  I'm washing my shoes today, so I hope that will work...  I'll report back on that later.

3)  Sky Lounge Music torture...  I don't know WHAT the hell Kaki was thinking when she put together the music mix for these people.  Half the songs I've never heard, and the other half I WISH I'd never heard.  Today she put some crap on that sounded like bad karaoke -- swooning love ballads with women warbling and wailing through each note.  I think I puked in my mouth a couple times.  Bring back the Earth, Wind, and Fire!!!  The sad thing is, I can't do ANYTHING about it because Kaki is the chief stew and she's the boss...  So, my poor ears must suffer through the so-called music.

4)  And NOW, for the BEST NEWS OF ALL!!!!!  Percy is back home!  Got a message from Lisa that things weren't working out with Percy -- he was pooping and peeing all over the place -- so my mom picked him up today.  Honestly, I'm thrilled to have him back with my mom, and I know he is, too...  I'm so sorry things didn't work out, but I know that everyone will be happier now that all is right with the world...  Well, everyone except Clifton.  Oh well.  Can't please EVERYONE.  

Down to one hand...

So, there are five days left of charter...  Crazy to think that I've been at this for three and a half weeks already...  

Anyway, I'm in the crew mess alone...  everyone has gone to bed but me... I'm in WORK! mode...  I've been ironing everything I can get my hands on.  Even asked the guys if there was anything they needed me to iron for them.  I managed to convince Chris that I would NOT ruin his new expensive clothes by A) putting them in the dryer, and B) pressing them with a steam iron.  He was pleasantly surprised when I brought his linen shirt back without burnt stains on it.  Silly boys.

I think the storm from yesterday has blown over...  I steered a safe distance from Mark this morning just to make sure...  This evening I was able to ask him how long we would be underway (3 hours) without a scowl or anything.  He really is a nice guy... he was just frustrated yesterday.

OH!  I was TOTALLY snubbed at the nail salon today!  I showed up for my 2 o'clock appointment at 1:45 thinking it was polite to show up early, right?  The receptionist asked me to come back in fifteen minutes.  Thinking that was rude and WANTING to tell her that she'd be lucky if I came back at all, I walked across the street to some stores.  I arrived ten minutes later and was completely IGNORED!  The receptionist left and three employees walked by me without so much as a smile or eye contact... Was I a frikkin GHOST?  I waited around until 2:15 and when nobody even asked me what I was doing there, I got up and left... so I have nappy toes and mangy eyebrows, but that snooty salon will NOT have MY money!  OH!  And to top it all off, I had to listen to these two daddy's girls gossip about EVERYONE they know about...  "Oh my god!  I heard she was addicted to CRACK!"  "But, she's SO nice!"  "I know!  And I was like, why in the WORLD is she being such a bitch to me!  I'm living my dream here!"  One thing I've always been taught AND learned about people is that if they gossip TO you, they'll gossip ABOUT you.  Keep your mouth SHUT...

Anyway, we are heading to Norwich, Connecticut tomorrow... apparently there are some casinos nearby that the Mr. and Mrs. want to hit...  funny, they got rich by hold ON to their money, and now they want to blow it playing slots and black jack?  Oh whatever...  I've never gambled before, but I think I'd become addicted to it...  If I can become addicted to craigslist and myspace... and BLOGGER!  then I can DEFINITELY get hooked on gambling.  If I HAVE to go to the casinos, I'll bring $20 and once that's gone... I'M GONE.  :-)

OH YEAH!  Another colony of jellyfish floated by our boat tonight.  I leaned over so far to see them that I almost fell into the water WITH them.  Wouldn't THAT have been interesting?  Anyway, one of them was swimming around -- doing that mushroom dancey thing that looks so cool...  and as they passed in front of the light, their veins glowed red, green, and purple.  

What else?  Nothing that interesting...  I pulled some rock hard mashed potatoes out of the crew fridge today...  someone left them on the top shelf next to the freezer... so THEY froze.  Ummmm...  both of our vacuums are broken...  I woke up with a sore throat today and post nasal drip and a stomach ache...  I've become a hanger thief because I'm always out of them in the laundry room...  I was excited to get my FIRST project!  Napkin inventory!  Ugh, THIS is the life of a stew, my friends...  

$h!t has hit the fan...

Okay, so the proverbial shit hit the fan this afternoon when Phil got home and none of the guys were on board...  Because I was the girl on watch, I got the brunt of the guys' frustration...  well, everyone but Chris's.  It was none of my business what they did with their afternoon--whether they went to a bar to get pissed, or a salon to get pedicures...  They are grown men, and if they are supposed to be on duty, then how can it be MY fault if they're caught off guard?  BUT, Kaki had my back and assured me that I had done exactly what I should have done (stayed on the boat), and they should not have left me by myself.  Wow.  For once I've done THE RIGHT thing...  It's funny how quickly things can change...  both for the good and the bad.  I'm sure everyone's frustration and anger will blow over by tomorrow, and all will be well again...  

To kinna get away from the heat, I took off on my own tour of Sag Harbor...  um... yeah, not much happening.  By seven o'clock, half the stores had closed...  maybe I was walking in the wrong direction.  It's a cute town, though...  but not remarkable.  It looks like Anytown, USA...  tree-lined sidewalks, quirky storefronts, dogs on leashes, kids in strollers...  eh.

It's still early yet, and I'm sleepy...  maybe I'll humor my body and get to bed at a decent hour tonight.  I'm early girl tomorrow, so I need some rest to keep me running until my afternoon break.

All alone...

Okay, so everyone is off the boat... and I mean EVERYONE... I'm the only chump stuck here... holding down the fort... or would that be anchor?  Anyway, Kaki and Phil have taken Mr. and Mrs. to East Hamptons shopping; Mark, Chris, and Tim are getting manis and pedis...  (no, they are NOT gay, but maybe Provincetown had more of an effect on them than we thought); Shelton is jet-skiing, and Donna Marie has the afternoon off.  The GREAT part about all this is that I get the evening off starting at 6, so...  YIPEE!!

Not much to report, really...  just had a moment to chat...  

PICTURES!!!

Okie dokie...  so I'm doing gangway watch... basically, I'm keeping an eye on the dock to make sure our guests don't return without our knowledge...  Boring, but I have to stay here, and I can get on my computer, so I'm game...

Anyway, I thought I would post some pictures... the Provincetown ones that I owe you all and some regarding life on board...  So without further ado...  My pictures. 

Provincetown -- Notice all the rainbow flags??  And I thought Pride Weekend was FLAMING!

As if things couldn't get ANY more crazy, I saw this store front.  

Shelton, a.k.a Spiderman, scrubbing the side of the boat...  does this look fun?  Shelton would GLADLY give up the privilege.  

I am eating a BABY OCTOPUS!  It's chewy, and a strange texture...  I can only eat one at a time, honestly...  

Mr. Bigglesworth, the captain's African grey parrot...  he's SOOOOO cute!  Even though he snips at me all the time.  I just talk to him and keep my fingers away.

Went out on the town last night...  it was fun, but I had a HELLUVA time getting going this morning.  I started out with Mark and Chris hanging around the Nantucket docks, and then I got a text from Kaki telling me that Mr. and Mrs. were going to the Chicken Box and wanted me to join them.  I'd been wanting to check the little hole in the wall myself, so we grabbed a cab and headed over.  It was a dodgy bar...  pool tables on one side and dance floor on the other.  Beer flowed as freely as the laughter, and the band... well it was a Bruce Springsteen cover band...  and they weren't much better than the Boss himself.  Mr. and Mrs. are SUCH fun to hang out with!  There was a shuffleboard game at the bar that they kept playing...  it was MUCH harder than it looked because the board was sprinkled with silica to keep the discs from sticking...  THAT only meant that every disc I threw only sailed off the side of the table...  I don't know my own strength...  But after about six games, I started getting the hang of it.  

So, this evening, we are docked at Sag Harbor, New York...  near the Hamptons.  The weather is perfect, atmosphere is nice...  an American Legion post is at the end of the dock, and a band is playing old tunes...  How quaint!  I'm itching to get off the boat in this town, but I don't know when we leave, and I've decided that -- after last night -- ten o'clock is my curfew.  

Shelton's out here now... going to turn some laundry over and hang in the crew mess...  maybe Mr. and Mrs. will be out listening to the band... hehehe.

Sneaky, Sneaky!!

Hey there...  I'm hiding out in my cabin for a few minutes...  I'm service girl right now, but Kaki is taking care of the guests.  We're in a holding pattern for now.  We THOUGHT we'd serve a late lunch, early supper and not have any formal dinner tonight, but Mr. and Mrs. came back having had appetizers at the restaurant...  Oh whatever.  I'm early off tonight, so I just hope to be done with everything fairly quickly...

This family is SO sweet...  Mr. told Kaki yesterday that he wanted all of the crew to visit a certain clothing store on the island and pick out whatever we wanted.  Little did we know that the clothes in the store were fashions direct from Europe...  the guys mostly got button down shirts with fantastic detailing and silky soft fabric.  We girls had a more difficult time because the store was a MENs clothing store, but I walked out with a redish-coral sweater that is OH SO SOFT...  I shall thoroughly enjoy wearing this!  

We are now down to seven days left on the charter...  The whole crew is happy to be done with this trip, although we WILL miss the family.  They have been wonderful to work with, and they are already asking about chartering again in January.  Word has it, they've been chartering for about five years, and they've never chartered the same boat twice... so THAT, my friends, is a GREAT sign.  

Last night was an exhausting night.  Don't know WHY it was so tiring, but I'm so grateful that Shelton agreed to keep watch while I laid down for a bit.  I think we're all just getting tired.  Mark about popped is top yesterday because Nantucket recycles and nobody on the boat knows what to do, Shelton is stoked about his vacation home after the charter, and Kaki and Phil are gearing up for a stint in Europe.  Suffice to say, we all need a couple days off...  hell, half the time I don't know what DAY it is unless I look at a calendar... and I honestly feel like I've been on this charter for forever... 

Kaki has been talking to me about the trip down to Ft. Lauderdale.  Apparently, things are WAAAAY different when we are underway like that.  First, everyone has watch shifts -- usually three or four hours at a time.  Second, if the seas get rough, everyone sleeps in the staterooms!  (That's about the ONLY reason why I'd want rough seas...)  Also, word has it we are stopping off in New York for maybe a day and night...  THAT should be a blast!  I've already got some cute "going out" clothes, but I need a pair of shoes...  Also there have been rumors that we may stop off in Charleston as well...  I LOVE CHUCK-TOWN!!!

What else?  Oh, I dunno...  I'm SOOOOOO tired today...  I was able to sleep a bit later than usual because everyone was out so late last night, but I got up earlier than my scheduled time to help out with cabins... Early girl usually doesn't a break, so I'm hoping that everyone will scarf down their food and hit the bars...  I want to GET OFF THE BOAT again!!!  

Tomorrow we leave for Sag Harbor...  that's in New York / Hamptons area.  I'm looking forward to that port, too.  Actually, I've had no complaints on ANY of these places...  They've all be very nice and charming in their own ways.  

Hannah Leigh is officially left for college now...  Mommy and Clifton moved her things up to UGA today.  Funny how time has flown by.  Seems like yesterday she was graduating from high school!  Now, she's attending the big, bad university where she'll be a little squirt again...  I am PRAYING for her safety and success...  honestly, the sheer size of that school terrifies me.  But, she's a smart girl, so...

I'm gonna sneak a nap before Kaki misses me...  Later...  Oh, and I still owe you those pics... 

Provincetown, Mass...

Okay, so we anchored out at Provincetown, Mass. last night...  took the tender in to town for a little walk around, and LET ME TELL YOU!!!  HAHAHAHA!!  It was a pretty crazy place.  Rainbow flags hung EVERYWHERE, drag queen strutted around in pleather boots and bouffant wigs.  I have pics to post later...  Great shopping... found two cute "going out" tops and a beautiful red dress...  Word has it we are stopping in New York on the way down to Ft. Lauderdale, and Chris has already said I need to figure out where I want to go so we can do it.

Once we got back to the boat, everything was dark and the anchor lights were on illuminating the water.   There was a flock?  swarm?  pod?  of jellyfish just floating by... some a small as the tip of my pinky and some as large as my fist... as they passed in front of the lights, their veins shimmered and illuminated.  I felt as though I was staring into another world as I gazed into the water... there was no sound, no movement.  Nothing more than the fluid drift of the jellyfish.

We are pulling into Nantucket as I write this.  I really like the town, and I'm glad to be back and with a little money...  I'm trying to put together a better wardrobe than I have now...  I've got jeans, a couple shirts, a dress...  now I need some cool shoes and accessories.