yeah, I know it's late, but I wanted to post...

Okay, so night four of being the "late girl" and it's really starting to get OOOOOLLLLD!!!  Of course, I don't have to get up early which is nice...

The guests were up until about 1:15 this evening -- they had invited some friends over for some cocktails, and the party lasted until the wee hours of the morning.  I didn't mind serving them because everyone was in a great mood and already hammered -- singing karaoke to Elton John and relaxing in the hot tub.  It is actually kind of fun to watch everyone get drunk... hehehe...

Oh yeah, and I have to tell you -- these people are JUST like the rest of the world...  in fact, one of the guests told me tonight that her favorite food is PIZZA!!!  This woman has two kids and drinks liquor... she's been around the world and tried all sorts of foods and her FAVORITE of EVERYTHING is PIZZA?!  OOOOOoohhh-kaaaaaaay... Case in point - having money doesn't make you any less normal or more special than anyone else...   

OH!    GOOD NEWS!!  I made it sea-sick free from the voyage yesterday!  WAHOO!!  About half-way through, I took the bracelet off because it was stinging the shit out of me...  I was fine after that... and I didn't need any Bonine.  In FACT, I think the meds make me feel WORSE than anything.  That's not to say that I've grown a beautiful set of sea legs just YET, but they are definitely sprouting...

In other news, I had the COOLEST encounter with whales yesterday during the voyage!  They ended up getting about 15-20 feet from the boat...  I almost CRIED it was such a moving experience.  I got some pictures, but they aren't as great as seeing them first hand...  there is something about hearing the blowing and seeing the tail slapping the water that is just magical...  Besides, my camera is slow and unreliable, so some of the pics turned out bad.  BUT, I was able to crop, so I hope I've been able to capture just a TASTE of what it looked like.

There is so much more I'd like to say right now... but I'm just too exhausted to do anything else... I got up at 7 this morning and have only had a one and a half hour break all day... didn't even eat dinner and I'm WIPED OUT!

SOOOO.... I'll have to save my comments on the whales for another day... Good night.

So far... so good...

Okay, so we've been underway for almost four hours, and I haven't puked yet...  My left hand is twitching from this fancy-smancy motion sickness bracelet, and I have to keep myself from getting hot, but other than that, it's been smooth sailing.  I honestly think this bracelet is more a psychological thing.  The tingling through my hand is keeping my mind off the swirling in my stomach... Hey!  I'm all for whatever works!!

I only have about 15 minutes left of my break, and then its the TRUE test of my abilities.  Kaki said everyone is up on the fly bridge (the very top deck), and its breezy and cool up there.  GOOD!  AND, they're drinking like fish.  Surprise, surprise!!!  They've been going through Absolut like it was water -- at LEAST a bottle a day.

Remember a couple days ago I said I'd be having school nightmares right about now?  Yeah, I had one last night... it was weird.  I showed up as a student, but I didn't have my shoes, and there was no way to get to my classes without walking over squishy mud or sharp rocks.  It was weird...

Anyway, I'm hoping that maybe I can work well enough that I can get off early tonight?  I'd love to play my guitar and relax a little around everyone else.  Every time I'm in the crew mess, everyone is either asleep or working!  Oh well...

Gotta run... 

I miss my guitar...

Okay, so we are scheduled to leave Nantucket tomorrow morning... for an 8-9 hour ride to Boston.  All I can say is, "Please, GOD, let it be smooth sailing!!!!!"  Kaki broke out the $100 motion sickness bracelet to hopefully keep me from ralphing the whole ride...  I've been "the late girl" for the past two nights, and I'll be the late girl again tomorrow night to make up for the time I'm potentially down tomorrow...  

Had another mood dip today...  started tearing up basically feeling sorry for myself...  I swear, lately I've been either pissed off or pitying myself.  I HATE it.  The only time I'm happy is when I'm alone or with the guests.  I honestly think that Kaki and Donna Marie think I'm retarded when it comes to service.  Okay, so I'm not an impeccable cleaner... I leave spots in the shower...  But, shit...  I'm still learning, okay?!  Whatever...  I'm quickly becoming numb to the lectures.  I'm not stupid or inept.  

As stated before....  I miss my guitar.  The other night was SO much fun playing and singing for Mark...  Tim (the engineer) stopped me yesterday to tell me that Mark had been saying how much he enjoyed my music...  Tim made me promise that the next time I get my guitar out, I have to call him.  Hehehe...  

The crew is quickly becoming my family...  Shelton, the deckhand, is SO sweet and cute... almost like a little brother.  He told me last night about a dock girl he was interested in, but he was afraid he'd be rejected.  I of course, had to play big sister and tell him how wonderful he was and she'd be missing out if she did reject him.  Then there's Chris, the chef who is grumpy every morning...  I honestly never know what to expect from him.  One minute, he'll be short and curt with me, and the next minute, he's play fighting with me in the kitchen... Crazy boys...  and Mark, the first mate, always makes me say good morning to him and calls me "gorgeous" and "love" in one of those Philly accents...  Its weird...  I've folded all their clothes, made Chris's coffee...  I know what sizes they wear and whose underwear is whose...  I iron their shirts every day...  Its weird, I know, but I really enjoy taking care of them...  they're like my brothers.  We laugh together, watch TV together...  do dishes together.  I guess the crew house was a good preparation for living on a boat with guys...  they are definitely slobs, but they are endearing in a way. 

Ugh, I'm getting mushy...  

I was able to leave the boat for a few minutes today.  Found some REALLY cute shops and took some pictures of Nantucket...  I haven't uploaded them yet, but maybe I will tomorrow...  the town is PRECIOUS with cobblestone streets and cute little weather-beaten store fronts.  The hydrangeas were blooming...  the perfect little coastal town.  

Tomorrow we are headed for Boston.  Tuesday we are supposed to host a cocktail party...  that'll have Kaki in a tizzy for sure...  and we'll be in Maine by the weekend.  I wonder if we'll make all these stops again on the way back down? 

Good night...  

I'm growing sea legs...

Hey there, 

We've been in Nantucket since yesterday afternoon.  Good news!!  I didn't get sick on the ride!!  I felt light headed a little bit, so I laid down out of preventive measures.  I'm thinking all that was due to the Bonine I took...  Next voyage, I'm just wearing bracelets...  

Was SOOOO tired today because I stayed up until one this morning playing guitar for Mark, the first mate.  He was making a wish list for the shipyard, and I was in my bunk practicing...  He hollered at me to practice in the crew mess, so I picked up everything and played in there.  One song turned into twenty and before I knew it, Mark had stopped working and was staring at me enjoying the music.  It was funny.  After every song, he said, "That was awesome!"  And then he'd promise to not say anything again, and then he'd say it again anyway.  

So, this morning I wasn't in any mood to be messed with... and of course, Kaki was in a mood to nit-pick at everything I did...  there were spots on the mirror, the glasses weren't polished enough, I should have dusted, blah, blah, blah...  whatever.  I've gotten numb to her constant nit picking to where now I just smile, nod, and forget about it.  I mean honestly...  I'm frikkin human.  If I miss one spot on a HUGE glass shower...  are the guests REALLY going to care or notice all that much?  Most likely not, and if they WOULD...  well... I won't say what they should do.  ANyway, after my afternoon nap, I was MUCH more chipper and ready to face the day.  Too bad the family (who had been drinking all day) went to bed by 10 PM!  

So, we're in Nantucket -- whaling capital of the world, and Herman Melville's home.  I'm sad that we leave on Monday, and I will not be able to see anything...  I imagine I won't be able to leave until late tomorrow because of... well, just because.  And Nantucket seems like the COOLEST place to visit so far!!  Oh well...  I'll be back another day.

Okay, my feet are killing me, my back aches, and I'm exhausted.  SO, I'm going to put some foot cream on, already have a heating pad on my back, and I'm taking some Tylenol PM and heading for bed...  A girl needs her beauty sleep...

Love ya!

one week down, five more to go...

... until my first charter job will be finished...  Hard to believe it's been a week, and we're already back around to Thursday.  Once again, Keith was right that you lose track of time on boats...  life must go on, so there is no such thing as "the weekend" as a yachtie.  We party every moment we can--whether that is Tuesday morning or Saturday night.  

It has been raining since yesterday evening... like pouring piss out of a boot, as my old pal Mike used to say.  The water came down in sheets making waves upon the waves and blurring the horizon into one wall and floor of water.  The effect was beautiful, but it made Mark and Shelton cuss because they had to scramble to get all the towels and cushions inside before they ruined.  It's funny.  We're on a vessel made for water, but much of what goes INTO it gets ruined by water...  cushions and towels dry rot, brass sinks spot and corrode...  I dunno...  one of the earth's great ironies, eh?

Anyway, I'm the late girl tonight, but I don't know how late everyone is going to stay up.  Today was pretty low key.  They don't seem to like Martha's Vineyard very much...  Tim hasn't even gotten off the boat, but their son and grandkids have been here every day, so maybe that's their draw.  I was able to get off the boat for a few hours.  Went straight to the legendary "Black Dog Bakery" to see what goodies they had.  Apparently, their t-shirts are more popular than their food, so I bought a couple shirts to take back home.  Nice quality, and the German chocolate cake was the BEST EVER!!!  At that point, the rain clouds seemed to be building, so I headed back to the boat, and sure enough, as I stepped onboard, the clouds opened again.

I've only got a few more minutes before I have to be back on... grrr...  Was pretty sluggish today...  my back was cramping, so I tried to hide down in the laundry room once Kaki and Donna Marie came in.  Was not feeling the whole "guest service" vibe today...  Would have much rather had a glass of wine and curled up with the Chronicles of Narnia.  

Gotta jet...  wanted to get some shut eye before the marathon evening ahead of me.  Leave me some love...  

the boat moved and I didn't get sea sick!!!

We anchored out today.  Our guests had guests of their own, three kids included, so we took a trip around the corner to anchor out and give them a chance to jet ski and play in the water.  I started to freak out when we backed away from the dock, but I decided that I wasn't going to let it get to me... I just moved slowly and kept about my work.  Miraculously I didn't get queasy!  

I got kindof down today.  Hid out in the laundry room for a while and kept myself busy with the massive amounts of ironing and washing to do.  Hiding behind the laundry seems to be a safe way to stay out of Kaki's path sometimes.  Not that she's hard to work with...  I just feel like sometimes my work isn't "good enough" for her standards.  Case in point:  today I was left to guest service while Donna Marie and Kaki both went on break for about two hours.  No problem.  Kaki left me the task to prepare for dinner, so I had to polish all the silver trays and platters.  No problem.  The guests had me making their drinks, I polished all the platters, folded the napkins... I was pretty frikkin proud of myself.  No problems whatsoever.  Until this evening when Kaki wanted to change into her black blouse that was in the laundry bag she had given me this morning.  Oops.  Seems I failed to keep the laundry going two floors below me in my attempt to serve my guests their wine, beer, and mixed drinks.  My freaking bad.  She didn't yell or scream, but I wish she had told me that she needed that laundry finished and it would have been done.  Oh well...  Usually I try not to take these things personally, but when I screw up, I DO take it personally...  

So now its 10:23 and it feels like 3 am....  My feet are throbbing, and I just want to take a hot bath... do you think anyone would notice if I sneaked into the master bath's jacuzzi?  hehehe...  I've been wanting to be a bit naughty on this boat.  Everyone is always so well-behaved.  

Tomorrow I have a three-hour break, and if we're not anchored out again (which I doubt we'll be), I'll be taking a walk into town to check out the cute shops.  Not that I have ANY money to buy anything with, but there's no charge for looking, right?

I just realized that if I were living my old life, I would be having "back to school nightmares"...  no really!  I'd be dreaming about horrible students and showing up to school without my clothes on and all sorts of frightening things.  To those of you teaching buddies out there, know that I am thinking about you, and I'll try to miss my old stomping grounds, but I have to warn you, I probably won't.  These dogs may be achin' but not that bad.

I noticed today that I have had 315 hits on my site!  CRAZY!  Who's been reading my blog?  I've only gotten a handful of comments, so those of you phantom readers -- SHOW YOURSELF!

Send me some luv...

My life is dominated by random songs...

Okay, so I know I posted the pictures, but I wasn't done talking for the evening...  I have had silly random songs stuck in my head ALLL weekend (and into the week)!!!  Today it was "Hang on Little Tomato" by Pink Martini, yesterday's was "Who Let the Dog's Out"; and Sunday's was some Josh Turner song about how much he loves his wife...  The sad thing is, I don't even know all the words to the song so that I can sing it and be DONE with it...  I just have the part that I know looping in my head ALLLLLLLLL day...  it drives me INSANE!  

Maybe I've had this problem because I'm itching to play my guitar.  I haven't even opened the case since I got here, and I'm quite literally sleeping with the instrument!  (See pictures below for more details...)  I've missed sitting on my bunk singing my heart out, but my life has taken a different turn, and I really do like it --  despite the banged head, upset stomach, and aching feet (which are feeling better, thanks for asking!).  

Tomorrow night is my "early night", and I'm hoping that it really IS an early night...  Maybe I'll be able to get out of here by 8 so that I can hit the town and see what all the hype is about.  I'll probably look around for an ornament and some postcards to send home...  Woo.  Hoo.  Just call me a party ANIMAL!!!  

Can I just say one more thing?  And then I'll go... Tylenol PM has become my BEST FRIEND lately.  It helps me sleep and eases my aches and pains.  Who needs a man when you've to pills?

Those promised pictures...

Newport yesterday evening...

The same shot, but original color...

My humble abode...

Those of you who know me well probably recognize some of these items!!  

The view from my bunk...  minus the picture of the half-naked chick the deck hand before me left behind...  I think he's moving back in after me, so I'm leaving his eye candy up for him...  I just glare at her.

I hate waves.

Well, I made it to Martha's Vineyard in one piece... minus the contents of my stomach and my pride.  Oh well...  I don't have my "sea legs" yet...  Spent the entire four-hour ride holed up in my cabin feeling EVERY wave that hit the bow of the boat.  Keith had said that the ocean outside Newport harbor was pretty rough, and BOY was he RIGHT!!!  Once I hurled though, I felt much better...  

Everything was fine at first.  I geared up with my wristbands, chewed Travel gum from Europe, and took my Bonine.  I ate a light breakfast of toast and water, and had a good night's rest.  Once we went underway and hit the rough waters, I got hot, the floor kept moving, and it was all over for me.  I managed to finish "stowing" the cabins and made it downstairs and to the trash can in perfect time to see my breakfast again.  Niiice.

I feel fine now that we are docked.  In a few minutes, I'll head back upstairs to serve dinner to our nine guests (who are going HOME at the end of the day!!), and I'll be up late to serve cocktails -- strong ones so they'll go to bed early! -- and prepare for tomorrow's adventure!

I must say, I've noticed that I'm making some improvements with my stew work...  I find that I take pride in having clean cabins and shining sinks -- the damn guests keep USING them and making them NOT shiny!  Since we're ON the subject, who in their RIGHT mind would put such a water-unfriendly material as a SINK?!  How STUPID!  Anyway, I digress...  I've also discovered that I'm pretty much the domestic goddess...  I can keep up the laundry, decorate the table, and keep the heads and beds in proper order.  But, I can't claim all the credit...  So without further ado, I would like to thank the following people:

Mommy -- the original domestic goddess who was determined to NEVER allow herself to be a slave to her home, but prided herself on having a domicile of cleanliness and tranquility.  She taught me how to separate colors, how to properly iron pants, that I can't get every "nook and cranny" of space if I don't move anything, and which cleaners do what jobs.   She is a firm crusader against the war on laundry, never relenting in her quest to have an empty laundry room floor.  

Clifton -- who taught me that procrastination pays negative dividends.  Why put off til later what needs to be done now?  Inevitably, "later" will introduce its own set of problems.  Taking preventive measures and getting jobs done while there is still no stress, will always save more stress later.  

Daddy -- for teaching me the value in patience and persistence.  Working with others is always a challenge, but if I am patient and bide my time, life will be more tranquil and everyone will be happier.  In addition, "stick-to-it-ive-ness" is key in success with everything in life -- especially in this job.  There are always heads that need attention, pillows that need fluffing, dishes to wash, laundry to iron.  Just when I think it's all finished, another item gets added to the list.

Herryn -- my trainer when I worked at Outback Steakhouse.  She was better known as "Hitler" because she was so stringent on EVERYTHING she did.  And the first night I was with her, I wanted to quit, but my mom wouldn't let me.  In the end, Herryn taught me to be thorough, take pride in my work (even if it is cleaning a toilet), and work hard.  I also learned from her that what seems hard at first will in time become routine.  

Those are a few of the lessons I've managed to carry with me to this new adventure...  I've also learned that work on a boat is NEVER finished, only put off until later; I need time to recharge if I'm going to do ANYTHING right; and a sense of humor and a smile go much farther than etiquette ever could. 

Enough for now...  It's almost time for me to don my black shirt and gear up for the night shift.  I have until Friday to come up with a plan for how I'm going to keep my stomach on the next leg of our journey.

I touched dry land today...

... and I still felt the rocking of the waves...  weird huh?

Anyway, today was my short day, so I started around 9:15 and got off around 8:15...  I was lucky because everyone went out to an early dinner...  Tonight is our last day in Newport, so I guess everyone wanted to see the town one last time.  I was able to get off the boat for about an hour this evening.  From the few blocks I limped around in, Newport is a REALLY cute town!!  There were little alley-ways with neat shops and cool restaurants.  When we come back in a couple weeks, I hope I get more time to explore! 

While I was out, I saw a couple with two Yorkies, and it made me miss my precious Percy all the more...  As if seeing his sweet face on my desktop isn't enough to break my heart, I had to run into two little angels on the street.  But, surprisingly, they lifted my spirits a bit.  Gives me something to look forward to when I make my journey back home.

Eek, the Tylenol PM is starting to take effect and I'm going delirious.  We leave Newport tomorrow and head for Martha's Vineyard.  I've been told the ride is a bit choppy, so I'm not looking forward to it.  I'll be taking Bonine, wearing wrist bands, and chewing travel gum.  If I get sick, I'll feed myself to the fishes.