Would You Believe It? A Blizzard!

SHIP'S LOG:

     OK, I get it. It is winter. Snow happens. It is supposed to be cold and windy and all that sort of wintery stuff. But this is getting to be a bit much. Sometime later on today, it is supposed to start snowing again and drop 5-10 inches. Then the temperature is supposed to drop into the teens or single digits for the rest of the week, with a possibility of more snow and colder temperatures over the weekend. Where are we? Frostbite Fall, Minnesota?  And again, the coast is supposed to get the worst of it. Cape Cod and the Islands are going to get creamed. O well, there is nothing that can be done anyway about except endure it. Russ was going to Haiti with a group tomorrow and his flight got canceled YESTERDAY! I guess they, whoever they are, are very serious about this storm. I would hate to be in DC, Philly or New York over the next few days. An inch of snow shuts them down, though of the three, Philly is perhaps the best in such a scenario.

     It will be a good day to spend in front of the computer checking out prices for the various items that I will need for the spring "tune-up" of ABISHAG. I wonder how much the price of bottom paint has gone up? This is always an exciting exercise in "self-abuse." Gone are the days when I could simply go to West Marine and buy what I needed/ wanted. I avoid the place like the plague as they have the highest prices going. Truth be told, I do the "window shopping" online with an eye toward the March Madness sale at Defender Marine. It is always exciting. The pushy crowds make the old Filene's Basement wedding gown one day sale appear sedate in comparison. Last year, the charged me twice  which totally screwed up my finances and took weeks to get square away and months to recover from. Still, if they have the item you want, they have the best prices . . . for that weekend. Not a long shopping list this year:
1.) One gallon bottom paint
2.) Shaft zinc
3.) Hull zince
4.) 2 tubes of Caulk
5.) Epoxy filler
6.) one case of cans of spray enamel(white).

     There is more but  I have to save some money as I have to get the main halyard replaced and "redeem" the sails for the sail loft and that'll be another Marine Unit or so. I do not even want to do any deep contemplation of the projects list as it is almost endless I am sure. Once again, it will be the case of doing only what is necessary to put her in the water. And I don't even want to think of the yards bill. Perhaps the broker will come through and find someone who is willing to buy ABISHAG. Not that I want to sell her, rather I have to sell her. Of course currfently, nobody is buying much of anything they don't need.

Looks Like It Is Going To Be Another One Of Those Days . . . .

SHIP'S LOG:

     This is actually the second blog I've written today. Unfortunately the first one, which was spectacularly witty and perhaps the best I've ever "penned" disappeared somewhere into cyberspace and is gone forever. Sometimes things just happen and today is one of those sometimes.

     Previously I lamented the fact that we are facing another blizzard here in God's country. Maybe not much by the standards of other places in the country, but 5-10inches will do us proud. considering 2-3 inches will shut down most east coast urban centers, 5-10 inches will may a hell of a mess of things. And it is supposed to get brutally cold again for the rest of the week. Maybe we won't quite rival Frostbite Falls, Minnesota, but single digits is cold no matter where you live.

      It will be a good day to plan out the upcoming spring maintenance work on ABISHAG. It takes a little preparation as I have to spend money. It is not just a question of doing the work. That is actually the easy part. Rather, find the ducats to pay for the absolutely necessary supplies, few as they might be, requires the preparation. When you consider that bottom paint will go about $130 a gallon, or at least did last year, it does require some financial wherewith all. And there are zincs to buy (hull and shaft), and caulking and epoxy filler and enamel interior paint, plus paying to redeem the sails from the loft and pay for a dangerous halyard replacement, in addition to the yard bill and the registration fees, well it just gets a bit much. And there are only so many convenience stores that you can rob and they are being overwork by others anyway. Yup, Publishers Clearing House needs to find me fast. Failing that, I hope my broker can find someone to buy ABISHAG. It is not that I want to sell her, it is that I need to sell her. Until then I will continue to sail her until  I sell her.

     This edition is a lot short than the first  but then the muse is gone.

WHEN I HIT "PUBLISH" THE FIRST BLOG EDITION SHOWED UP. LIKE I SAID, IT IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THOSE DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!