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!