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.  

I'm a sneaky little bugger...

hehehehe....  I've sneaked into my cabin to write a few lines this morning before things get hoppin...  Kaki is taking care of the guests, Donna Marie is cleaning all TWO cabins, I've washed, restocked, reorganized, folded and ironed about everything on the boat, so I'm taking a breather... even though I'll have a break at one today.

Anyway, as I was setting up breakfast this morning, I was reminded once again about why I love this job.  We're in Boston Harbor, and even though it's been dreary and rainy since we arrived, there was something calm and serene about the scene this morning.  The seagulls were crying out, the fog rolling in, and the water lapping on the docks.  In the distance, I heard the industrial sounds of cars and machinery.  Runners pounded the pavement around the docks as business men sipped coffee and read the paper at a nearby shop.  Yes, I would have rather been nestled in my little triangle-shaped bed, but I couldn't ignore the tranquility around me.  Almost as though all was right with the world.  The city is beautiful in the morning -- even a cloudy morning like this one.

If the rain holds off a while, I'm going to take my guitar to the Boston Commons to play...  no open case or anything, just a little lunch-hour jam session...  Maybe I'll get someone to take a picture of me playing?   

Memories of Home

So I've been thinking a LOT about all that I'm missing out on this weekend, and I can't help but remember a poem I wrote a couple summers ago. Here it is, in all its glory...

I remember...
Laina Breazeale

...misty mornings, chilly and wet, the valley tucked in a quilt of wispy fog.

...the treasure hunts for blue bottles. “It’s just milk of magnesia bottles,” Mommy would sniff, but I didn’t care. I still searched for them, squealing with delight when I found one.

...slamming screen doors and laughter in the house. "You kids git outside! Ya lettin' flies in!" 

...spitting contests, trying to propel it through my grimy fingers like Granny and Janie Ruth, but it always just dribbled down my chin.

...sinking deep into the sand, the cold water licking my ankles, beckoning me to plunge.

...swarming gnats and mosquitoes feasting on my arms and legs even though I was lathered in Skin-So-Soft and Army supply insecticide.

…running among the gravestones, a living, breathing irony—freshly sprouted child playing among the gnarled, sunken monuments to the dead.

…shelling green beans striving to pull out those strings because I hated how they felt when I ate them.

...chocolate-chip cookies and cherry Kool-aid in the scratched daisy cup with Granny Bird. With a red mustache, I watched the black-haired German woman in the blue sweater shuffle around the trailer telling stories of the old country.

...picking blackberries. Armored with long sleeves, pants, and hats, military insecticide lining our wrists and ankles, milk jugs tied around our waist—our holsters for the juicy fruit. “If you eat ‘em all, we won’t have any for cobbler.” Granezes reminded.

…the night symphony beating down the door and windows, singing me to sleep.

But I mostly remember...
...the late night conversations with blaring lights and sweltering heat, blanketed in sweat, weighed down with exhaustion, and enveloped with absolute peace.

working hard for the money...

Cocktail party tonight... despite the threat of scattered thunder showers ALLL evening. We've stocked Bud Lite, Corona, Sam Adams, and various wines and liquors like the end of the world is coming. CRAZY! I'm just worried about getting people hammered and then sending them home in the rain. EEK!

Tomorrow I should have another long break -- I'm the late girl again -- and I'm tempted to take my guitar to the park across the street and play for a while. Weather permitting, of course. I'm missing my jam sessions and open mike nights. We leave for Provincetown on Saturday morning, so I don't have much more time in the city. I should take advantage of it, eh?

I'm supposed to be the "early girl" tonight, but I have no clue what that means... I'll probably get off at 11:00 and still have to get up at 7, even though Mr. and Mrs. never rise before 9:30... oh well.

ANyway, I hope to have more to report this evening...

the finer things in life...

We're back in Boston... arrived here early yesterday afternoon after a rather choppy ride from Portsmouth. The night before the trip, I shared a bottle of wine with Chris as we exchanged pictures and stories from home... I really love this crew! But the ride into town was difficult... stomach stayed in tact, but my head swam circles around me... NO, I WASN'T HUNG OVER!! Just a little dehydrated, maybe.

Anyway, Chris is our chef, and he takes food very seriously. Whenever he gets some time away from the boat, he tries to eat at the hottest restaurants. Last night, I was invited to join him on one such occasion, and let me TELL YOU!!!! It was quite and experience!!!!

Chris is a sushi connoisseur, so after having read New York Times' best restaurants outside NYC article, he was determined to try out O Ya, named the best sushi bar in the nation. He made reservations for two and informed me that I was invited to attend. Of COURSE, I accepted, despite the fact that sushi has always made me feel a bit queasy - all in my head, I'm sure. So, at 8 pm, Kaki let's me go so I can get all dolled up for the big night out. I put on the ONLY dress I thought to bring with me, did my best to make myself half-way presentable in a record time, and traipsed across the street to the bar where Chris had gone with Mark and Tim. My hair was flat, and my sundress didn't exactly fit in with a chilly, rainy Bostonian evening. BUT... it's the best I can do, so I plastered on that dazzling smile and walked tall.

We decided to take a cab to the restaurant because we weren't sure how long of a walk it would be. Turns out, O Ya is just a few blocks away from the marina... When we arrived, the street seemed virtually deserted. We saw a sign for the restaurant, but that was the only indication that anything was nearby. The windows seemed dark, and the front door was solid wood... it was an eerie place, almost like out of a movie or something.

Once we got inside, the place was buzzing with activity. The restaurant is small -- only about 30-40 patrons at a time -- and guest are seated either at a bar to watch all the sushi being made, or against the side wall. We were seated against the wall, given a menu, and greeted by a wonderful server. The menu made my mouth water... I didn't know what half the entrees were, but they sounded scrumptious. I never could have chosen just one. Fortunately, Chris had a plan of his own. He had the chef cook for us. We ended up getting fifteen courses of a variety of entrees -- sushi, steak, mushrooms, eel, duck liver... and every bite I took made me want more. Some of the items sound disgusting, and honestly, I can't BELIEVE I'm saying this, but it was incredible!!! In addition to the entrees, we sampled four different kinds of sake... I walked out of there feeling fine... not a hint of a buzz. During dinner, Chris, who saved the menu, took notes of each entree. He numbered each one and noted their appearance and other seasonings not mentioned on the menu.

At the end of dinner, we ordered dessert -- coconut gelato and boston cream pie -- that ended up being MUCH less sweet than most desserts, but more satisfying and refreshing. Chris, knowing what it is like to work in a hot kitchen, bought the chefs drinks. They came out to thank him, and as we chatted with them, they brought us back to the kitchen for a tour. It was SOOOO COOL!! We saw how they make the ribs and how they package all their seasonings. Everything was so clean and well organized. The kitchen was small, but efficient and very well kept.

I won't even say how much the evening cost, but I will say that it was the MOST expensive dinner I've ever partaken in, and it is definitely an expense I will not often indulge. But, everything was great about the night -- the food, the sake, the company. And it made me realize something about this industry. My exposure to the "finer things" in life are going to spoil me pretty quickly. In fact today, the guests spent the entire afternoon off the boat, so we all had the day off. I had five hours to myself this afternoon, so I took off to run my errands -- I headed to the post office and the salon for a pedicure. THEN, I went into another salon and spent WAAAAY too much money on hair products for my mass of crazy curls. After a shower, I felt like a new woman... and my hair smells like roses and oranges... is niiiiice. I wanted to get some new clothes, but I ran out of time... oh well. Maybe on my next day off I can hit some cute boutiques. Oh, did I mention that I've lost a bit of weight on this charter? You'll still recognize me, but my jeans are looser and my shirts are roomier. Even Kaki has noticed! This is pretty good news for me since it seems like there's always something to munch on around here. Just tonight, Mr. and Mrs. brought back cannolis from the North End (the Italian district) and gave Mark a bottle of champagne to congratulate him on earning his Master Captain's license. Not to mention the croissants and homemade muffins every morning... AND all the wine that moves through this crew mess... EEEK! If I wasn't climbing 100 flights of stairs every day, I'd be as big as a house!

Spoke with my mom for a while tonight... It was so good to hear her voice... I guess these past few months have been the longest I've ever been without seeing her... How long has it been? Right at two months? I miss her (and the rest of my family) SO much, but I have to remind myself that I'll be back with them in a few weeks. This weekend is Decoration, and for the first time in several years, everyone will be able to make it. Everyone except me, of course, and even as I write this, it breaks my heart to know that I'll be missing them. I SO cherish the times I spend with my family -- reminiscing and laughing together; watching with amazement at how much my cousins have grown each time I see them; wishing the short moments together would never end... I've always lived from year to year looking forward to Decoration -- battling the gnats and mosquitos, gorging myself on a seemingly endless table of food, sliding down the waterfall until there is more mud in my underwear than on the rocks, listening to the deafening sounds of the crickets and frogs at night... Those are the moments when I feel most at home and comfort. It will, I fear, be a long time before I am able to see those mountains again, but until then, I carry the memories in my heart and long for the day when I will return again to my roots, no matter how simple.

Maine...

Okay, so we spent a whole 24 hours in Maine, but the Mrs. urged Mr. to go back to Boston. As a result, our stay in Maine was short... The sky rained for 18 of the 24 hours, but the fog and crisp air created an eerie romantic atmosphere.

Went out with the guys last night. Met up with Phil, Chris, Mark, and Tim at a bar and then we quite literally went bar hopping... hitting three bars in 3 hours. By one a.m. we headed back. Downtown Portland is actually really cute with cobblestone streets stretching and twisting around old brick buildings with charming storefronts and hanging wooden signs. At three o'clock this afternoon, we said farewell to the Pine Tree State and hello again to Portsmouth, New Hampshire. We leave for Boston at 8 am tomorrow morning... first thing I do when I get to Boston, I'm finding a post office and then a nail salon to get a pedicure... these dogs have definitely earned a little pampering. Maybe I'll splurge and get the royal pedicure -- with leg massage and that little foot skin shaver that always makes me feel like my feet are more disgusting than I realized they were.

We are scheduled to stay in Boston for a "few days", so I should have some time to explore further than Faneuil Hall and perhaps Newbury Street and Trinity Church. Kaki has extended our daily breaks to four hours to give us some more time to "play" during the day. Four hours on Wednesday should be enough time for me to get my business taken care of and then some exploring...

I just read through this blog and realized that I didn't really have much excitement to report... I guess I'm just getting into the routine of things. I'm glad we are working our way into a sort of rhythm with running this charter.... It definitely has cut down on the stress I experienced a few weeks ago. I've even noticed that Kaki has stepped WAAAAY back and allowed Donna Marie and I to do much of the service. She's been struggling with her fibromyalgia, so if she isn't doped up on pain meds, she's lounging around with heating pads and creams. Of course, the guests are absolute sweethearts, so that's made this trip even more of a treat. Yes, it is long hours and constant movement, but the rewards -- beyond the tip -- are making this job worth it. Despite how messy the guys are, they are darling. I see each of them as big brothers I never had. I don't mind cleaning their dishes or even cleaning the NASTY crew mess every evening. I swear, sometimes I feel like Wendy from Peter Pan -- being a mother to the lost boys... hehehe...

So, my dad encouraged me to start writing a novel or book of sorts... I've started tossing some ideas around, but nothing concrete. Of course, it would be a highly dramatized version of my own experiences upon the high seas... I don't think the general public could handle the raw and uncut version. That would NEVER be a best seller...

Anyway, we are half-way through the charter, even though it seems like we should be wrapping up the trip, we haven't even reached the home stretch yet. Still, these people are a dream to take care of -- half the time they just snack around and they drink like fish... keep em drunk, keep em happy... hehehe... (actually, it's more like "muahahahahaha", but...)

Going to bed soon... sleep is a premium around here...

I'm truly AMAZED...

I was checking out my profile views and it seems I've had over 1000 hits on my blog!! THAT'S INSANE!!! I'm not going to beg you to leave me a message, but I will tell you that it makes my day...

Anyway, today was a fairly easy day. Everyone left the boat by 9:00 a.m. and we anchored outside of Ogunquit, Maine. The ladies had a hat party to attend, and it was an all day affair. No problem for us!! I got a four hour break from the deal, so I was happy. The break was wonderful, too, considering the pitching and rolling of the boat. Apparently we got stuck in quite a swell that rendered the 160' megayacht helpless in the water... the Sky Lounge see-sawed back and forth preventing us from walking in a straight line or getting much work at all. My stomach stayed in tact, but my head jiggled like a bowl of Jello.

My mom and dad both sent me the sweetest emails today. Honestly, they brought a tear to my eye! It isn't until those moments that I really miss home. But, only a few weeks left and I'll be back for a short time. Mommy sent me words of encouragement that she is so good at giving (when she isn't lecturing me about my finances!), and Daddy encouraged me to keep writing. Well, here I am! It may be rough and uncensored, but the best writing seldom comes in neat little packages. I've been taking more pictures... I keep my camera with me in the Sky Lounge so I can run outside and snap a picture when photo ops come available. Just those little pictures are poems and stories in themselves. They conjure such a vast array of emotions that I'm feeling right now -- independence, adventure, loneliness, serenity, stress! I've especially become fascinated with the lighthouses that seem to dot the coastline. They seem like such pillars of strength and warmth -- even in the daytime. Even though I've never been inside one, they seem to comfort me.

Oh, there I go rambling again... It seems sleep is taking over again, but every time I close my eyes, the boat rocks back and forth making me feel like I've been drinking too much. The only thing I've had today is water, I PROMISE!

I hope that maybe tomorrow will be another light day. We'll be moving to another marina -- closer to the Portland action -- and the Mr. and Mrs. have offered to take the girls at least out to Barnacle Billy's for fresh Maine lobster since the boys singlehandedly ate the entire six pounds of lobster the Mr. sent back for the crew. I swear... those boys are a mess. Apparently, Billy's is where the Bush family likes to eat... which, by the way, we saw their boat entourage pass by us on our way to Ogunquit.

Okay, 8:30 comes waaaaay too early for my liking. Gotta jet. Send me some love, even if you just stumbled on my page... let me know what you think!

And yet another victory!

Docked in Portsmith, New Hampshire tonight... NO SEASICKNESS!!!!!!! I wore my shock bracelet for about 2 hours before I ripped it off... Was able to work through the entire trip...

This evening I was invited to drinks with the captain... had a GREAT time and was able to see the crew in a different light... Captain Phil, Kaki, Mark, and Chris were all there. Kaki came across as VERY different from how she is during the day... I could see myself becoming friends with her, and my respect for her grew a bit tonight. Mark and Chris were just as they have always been on the boat... goofy and sweet. Phil said something to me that I will treasure ALWAYS. He put his arm around me and told me that he was VERY proud of how I was doing on this charter. He knew that the past few days had been hard and I've been learning a LOT, but I've shown myself to be a great stewardess and he's very happy with how things are going. That means the WORLD to me right now as I'm struggling with whether or not I'm doing a good job. Kaki noticed tonight that sometimes I sigh... not necessarily out of frustration or exasperation (in my opinion), but just from being overwhelmed... Kaki told me as well that I'm doing a great job and she's happy that I'm here. It really helps to hear something like that.

Anyway, again tonight I'm exhausted. I have to get up in just a few hours and I'm dreading it. I'm the late girl tomorrow night, and I don't know what to expect... the ladies are going to a hat party tomorrow, so its a toss-up whether they will be out late or not... plus, we should be moving tomorrow evening, so...??? At any rate, I'm beginning to be attached to this crew... as difficult as the first few days have been, I am starting to gel with their dynamics... Chris is moody -- especially the morning after a drinking spree... Mark is just a hard nut to crack, but put a drink in his hand and he's Chatty Cathy... Kaki is just plain stressed... and Phil is a true British gentleman -- think Mr. Darcy but much sweeter and less mysterious.

Okay, so I sign off tonight tired, happy, yet nervous about what tomorrow may bring. Oh, and I still need to talk about the whales...

ME SO SLEEPY!

Yes, i was the late girl AGAIN... and I'm SO exhausted... there is so much I want to write, but I simply don't have the energy to type much more than this tonight... We are off to Maine tomorrow... I'm going to wear the wristband, keep cool, and focus on my job... maybe I won't get sea sick again!

Anyway, I'll post more tomorrow... maybe while we're underway!