SHIP'S LOG:
And to make matters worse, the 2014, 7lbs West Marine Catalog came in the mail today. Almost 1,000 glossy pages of all sorts of marine items, useful, needed, and totally useless and ridiculous. It is almost as bad as going to the store itself. I can always find lots of thing that I could "use," but it is more in line with that verse from that Jimmy Buffett song which goes, "Need is a relative thing these days/ it borders on desire/ the world is filled with lots of bright shiny thing/ we think that we really require." It is why I don't go to boat shows anymore, I always leave sort of dissatisfied. It seems that the more you have, the more you want. O well, this too will pass.
I guess I should not have publicly said that I would be going to unwrap ABISHAG on Saturday. The weather is forecasting "rain." Sigh! I might as well go anyway and do it as it has to be done sometime.
Friday, March 14, 2014
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Getting There
SHIP'S LOG:
You would think that winter would be over by now, but such is not the case. Now, I am not saying that we should have temps in the 70's or even the 60's, but they should at least get out of the 30's. It has been a remarkable winter and today it got in another punch, hopefully the last. This blast went north, far north, into northern New England. Down here, we got the a dusting of snow and a drop in temperature. It had actually been mild, relatively, for a few days and I had been thinking about heading up to Portland and getting ABISHAG out of her winter wear. Thank goodness, I was not seduced.
Actually, this little storm would really not have caused much of a problem after the long winter of storms, it is just the thought of uncovering before it is all done. I will take the plunge on Saturday, if there is no rain, and strip off the all the blue-poly covering. As I recall now, there are the remains of four cans of beer and half a case of water in the galley sink. Considering how bitterly cold the temperature got over the last few months, I fully expect that the cans will have burst and the plastic bottles split. Serves me right for leaving them in place, but such is the boating life.
You would think that winter would be over by now, but such is not the case. Now, I am not saying that we should have temps in the 70's or even the 60's, but they should at least get out of the 30's. It has been a remarkable winter and today it got in another punch, hopefully the last. This blast went north, far north, into northern New England. Down here, we got the a dusting of snow and a drop in temperature. It had actually been mild, relatively, for a few days and I had been thinking about heading up to Portland and getting ABISHAG out of her winter wear. Thank goodness, I was not seduced.
Actually, this little storm would really not have caused much of a problem after the long winter of storms, it is just the thought of uncovering before it is all done. I will take the plunge on Saturday, if there is no rain, and strip off the all the blue-poly covering. As I recall now, there are the remains of four cans of beer and half a case of water in the galley sink. Considering how bitterly cold the temperature got over the last few months, I fully expect that the cans will have burst and the plastic bottles split. Serves me right for leaving them in place, but such is the boating life.
Monday, March 3, 2014
Missed Us By That Much!
SHIP'S LOG:
We got a miss! Thank goodness! Yes, it look s like DC is going to get a FOOT! and we will get nada! How great is that! This will probably be, hopefully will be, the last winter storm of the season. True, it will still be cold for the next few days but the the temperatures are trending upwards, and that means that the snow cover will soon melt and that means that I can reach the boat soon and work can begin. And I am really looking forward to getting started.
We got a miss! Thank goodness! Yes, it look s like DC is going to get a FOOT! and we will get nada! How great is that! This will probably be, hopefully will be, the last winter storm of the season. True, it will still be cold for the next few days but the the temperatures are trending upwards, and that means that the snow cover will soon melt and that means that I can reach the boat soon and work can begin. And I am really looking forward to getting started.
Friday, February 28, 2014
I Hate Winter!
SHIP'S LOG:
It was a balmy 4 degrees when I arose this morning. True that was at 5am and it did warm up as the sun rose. It is now, at 8am, an even more balmy 18 degrees. And snow is coming. Not today, not tomorrow but on Sunday through Monday. And they are talking 6-10 inches. I hate winter!
I received another of those evil email ads from those real estate people in St. Croix. I wonder sometimes if they are really trying to sell real estate or they just enjoy tweaking us poor folk up here in the cold. we had a 10 minute snow squall yesterday afternoon. It snowed so hard and fast that you couldn't see 10 feet but thankfully it didn't last or drop anymore than really a dusting. I hate winter!
It appears that I am actually coming down with my second cold of the season. usually, I get hit with one in January and that's it. It has been a long while since I had to endure two, but it seems that this will be the case this year. Sniffles, runny nose, headache and probably a bit of fever, with an increasing cough. I know it is not the flu as my doctor actually convinced me to get a flu shot this year which I usually avoid. But as he said, elderly people should get one. "Elderly people?" When and why did I get lumped into that category? I hate winter!
The ICW Cruisers from TYC are spread about the southern east coast of Florida, most around Key Largo where they are or were taking in the FORCE 5 Winter Nationals. I'll have to email them and fiend out how the "team" from TYC did this year. Bob Cullen from the club is a 10 times National Champion so I imagine we did quite well. I remember that participant complained that last year that the water around Key Largo didn't quite make it to 80 degrees which made capsizing almost "traumatic for them." How they suffer. I hate winter!
Another real downside of a long, tough winter is the problem of "Marine Catalogs." I get them from Jamestown Distributors, West Marine and Defender Industries. Talk about spending money! Then again, I actually haven't spent a dime. Can't spend what you don't have you know. It is just a lot of unrequited wish fulfillment. Still in all, I long for the day when I don't have to spend any more than the cost of bottom paint to get ready for the sailing season. I hate winter!
It was a balmy 4 degrees when I arose this morning. True that was at 5am and it did warm up as the sun rose. It is now, at 8am, an even more balmy 18 degrees. And snow is coming. Not today, not tomorrow but on Sunday through Monday. And they are talking 6-10 inches. I hate winter!
I received another of those evil email ads from those real estate people in St. Croix. I wonder sometimes if they are really trying to sell real estate or they just enjoy tweaking us poor folk up here in the cold. we had a 10 minute snow squall yesterday afternoon. It snowed so hard and fast that you couldn't see 10 feet but thankfully it didn't last or drop anymore than really a dusting. I hate winter!
It appears that I am actually coming down with my second cold of the season. usually, I get hit with one in January and that's it. It has been a long while since I had to endure two, but it seems that this will be the case this year. Sniffles, runny nose, headache and probably a bit of fever, with an increasing cough. I know it is not the flu as my doctor actually convinced me to get a flu shot this year which I usually avoid. But as he said, elderly people should get one. "Elderly people?" When and why did I get lumped into that category? I hate winter!
The ICW Cruisers from TYC are spread about the southern east coast of Florida, most around Key Largo where they are or were taking in the FORCE 5 Winter Nationals. I'll have to email them and fiend out how the "team" from TYC did this year. Bob Cullen from the club is a 10 times National Champion so I imagine we did quite well. I remember that participant complained that last year that the water around Key Largo didn't quite make it to 80 degrees which made capsizing almost "traumatic for them." How they suffer. I hate winter!
Another real downside of a long, tough winter is the problem of "Marine Catalogs." I get them from Jamestown Distributors, West Marine and Defender Industries. Talk about spending money! Then again, I actually haven't spent a dime. Can't spend what you don't have you know. It is just a lot of unrequited wish fulfillment. Still in all, I long for the day when I don't have to spend any more than the cost of bottom paint to get ready for the sailing season. I hate winter!
Thursday, February 27, 2014
I Can See More Grass ! ! ! !
SHIP'S LOG:
. . . . . But unfortunately, winter is returning and soon I will be so lucky. The temperate has fallen into the basement and supposedly there is more snow on the way. with the snow melt, I can probably actually get to ABISHAG - not a lot of plowing was done in the boatyard - but there isn't much I could down when and if I got there. At least not yet. But that is coming too.
I am really getting antsy about starting work. I have more projects than I'll have time and/or money for but I want to get started anyway. My brain is turning to mush with all my free time and I need more to focus on. I've lost three friends over the winter and that weighs on me a bit as well. I need spring, warm temperatures and sunlight.
. . . . . But unfortunately, winter is returning and soon I will be so lucky. The temperate has fallen into the basement and supposedly there is more snow on the way. with the snow melt, I can probably actually get to ABISHAG - not a lot of plowing was done in the boatyard - but there isn't much I could down when and if I got there. At least not yet. But that is coming too.
I am really getting antsy about starting work. I have more projects than I'll have time and/or money for but I want to get started anyway. My brain is turning to mush with all my free time and I need more to focus on. I've lost three friends over the winter and that weighs on me a bit as well. I need spring, warm temperatures and sunlight.
Saturday, February 22, 2014
I Can See The Grass ! ! ! ! ! !
SHIP'S LOG:
After yesterday's temperature rise and the thunderstorm enough snow melted so that I can see the grass. At least I think that it is the grass, but it has been so long since I have seen it, I am not quite sure. This will be the second day in a row that the temp will get over 50! and tomorrow is expected to be more of the same. However, less we become over-joyed at the true onset of springtime, the weather is supposed to crap out Monday into Tuesday and Wednesday into Thursday we are supposed to get what the weather people refer to as "measurable & shovel-able snow." Winter is not done yet! Still it is great to really get that sense that it is fading away at last.
After yesterday's temperature rise and the thunderstorm enough snow melted so that I can see the grass. At least I think that it is the grass, but it has been so long since I have seen it, I am not quite sure. This will be the second day in a row that the temp will get over 50! and tomorrow is expected to be more of the same. However, less we become over-joyed at the true onset of springtime, the weather is supposed to crap out Monday into Tuesday and Wednesday into Thursday we are supposed to get what the weather people refer to as "measurable & shovel-able snow." Winter is not done yet! Still it is great to really get that sense that it is fading away at last.
Friday, February 21, 2014
I'm Melting! What A World, What A World!
SHIP'S LOG:
Yes, Dorothy, the snow is melting. I was beginning to wonder if it was going to happen or not, ever! The temp actually reached 60 and rain helped too. It is difficult to say how much snow has been converted to melt, but after today and tomorrow, it should be significant. That's a god thing because the temps are supposed to dip beginning next week and there is the possibility of some more snow. Sigh.
The DEFENDER INDUSTRIES catalog made it appearance an with it a notice that their March Madness Marine Sale is on and is on March 3rd. It make the old Filene's Wedding Gown Sale look tame by comparison. I will have to try to pick up at least the bottom paint as they really cut the price of that obscenely expensive item. Of the last two decades the EPA had kept requiring paint manufactures to change the composition of their paint. Not more lead, no more tin, less (and soon no) copper. The reason is that they have "discovered" that marine bottom paint kills the marine growth and the creatures that attempt to attach themselves to boat hulls. I don't wish to bust their balloon but that actually is the intent of the stuff in the first place. Sigh.
Yes, Dorothy, the snow is melting. I was beginning to wonder if it was going to happen or not, ever! The temp actually reached 60 and rain helped too. It is difficult to say how much snow has been converted to melt, but after today and tomorrow, it should be significant. That's a god thing because the temps are supposed to dip beginning next week and there is the possibility of some more snow. Sigh.
The DEFENDER INDUSTRIES catalog made it appearance an with it a notice that their March Madness Marine Sale is on and is on March 3rd. It make the old Filene's Wedding Gown Sale look tame by comparison. I will have to try to pick up at least the bottom paint as they really cut the price of that obscenely expensive item. Of the last two decades the EPA had kept requiring paint manufactures to change the composition of their paint. Not more lead, no more tin, less (and soon no) copper. The reason is that they have "discovered" that marine bottom paint kills the marine growth and the creatures that attempt to attach themselves to boat hulls. I don't wish to bust their balloon but that actually is the intent of the stuff in the first place. Sigh.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
