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.