SHIP'S LOG:
There is something very beautiful about standing outside at night in a heavy snowfall. Everything is muffled and, if there is no real wind, I could stand outside forever, or at least until I begin to loose feeling in various places. One of the down sides of having divested myself of so much personal property for my trip back in 2010 is that back then, I really didn't see the immediate need for winter clothing. True, I ran smack into one of Florida's coldest winters but who knew? For awhile, I had to go to bed wearing everything I owned and brought with me just to keep from freezing. That "cold snap" eventually passed, but the lack of winter clothing remains.
I am in no danger of freezing but extended periods of outdoor activity are things I dread. I never did like the winter all that much to begin with and as I have "aged," I have grown to like it even less. In the summer, I can always get cool, but in the winter, I can never get warm enough. Every cold draft can always find me and usually does.
With this in mind, I am looking out over a foot of snow with temps in the teens, lower with the wind chill, and the forecast that they will only drop. I am also looking out over the foot of fallen snow that I have to shovel. Well, not actually shovel, but rather snow-blow. Still, I have to be out in the weather and that I hate.The only consolation is that once again it is a light, "Dry" snow. God for shoveling, bad because it won't stay put. The winds, which are also forecast to be formidable, will blow it all around no matter where you shovel it. Odds are that some, if not most will end up right back where you removed it. I find it strange that the same wind won't just blow it all of the driveways and sidewalks.
Got an email from the people at Team St. Martin. These find folk run a real estate company in the American Virgin Islands. They have been trying to sell me places for years since I did what I thought was a discreet inquiry some 15 years ago. They never send the emails during the summer, only in the winter and especially when the weather up here is brutally cold and snowy. The must check the weather forecasts before they send them out. It is actually a pretty smart advertising and marketing strategy. And I hate them for it. BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
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.
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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Monday, January 20, 2014
How Do They Stand It In Canada?
SHIP'S LOG:
We are evidently in for another blast of cold weather this week. It may not be a return to the now famous or infamous "Polar vortex," but it is going to be unseasonably cold nonetheless. It appears however that what we see as unseasonably cold is for our neighbors to the north merely seasonal. We are probably feeling the same thing that Floridians feel when they checkout the weather up here in "the cold north." On my trip down the ICW in 2010/11, Florida, indeed all the south, got hit with some very cold weather. I can remember spending a week in Jacksonville where the high didn't get above 32 for an entire week and the low hovered at 22. You know it is cold, unseasonably cold, unusually cold when NOAA starts off every 15 minute broadcast segment with detailed information on how to recognize frostbite!
It is quite possible that this winter blast will also bring with it up to 8 inches of snow as well. Old and snow! Well, I guess that it is winter and such things are to be expected but who says I have to like it. Those adds from charter boat companies and Caribbean real estate firms are filling up my "Inbox," and look all the more appealing these days. There's nothing like a little sunburn in January and February. But that's not happening this year I am afraid. Perhaps next year.
I am a little over a month away from uncovering ABISHAG. Not that she is really "covered," rather it is the start of the spring maintenance season. All of the "destructive" work can begin so long as there is at least minimal cooperation from the weather. While paint won't adhere and epoxy won't set up and varnish will be a useless mass, screws will unscrew and bleach will kill mold and sand paper sands and things can be pulled apart. It is usually the reassembly and finish work that takes all the time anyhow. In the meantime, I have to get at the stuff in storage, get at the cleaning and the sorting and such. It is just stuff that needs to be done and it doesn't get done unless I do it. It is part of the fun of boat ownership!
We are evidently in for another blast of cold weather this week. It may not be a return to the now famous or infamous "Polar vortex," but it is going to be unseasonably cold nonetheless. It appears however that what we see as unseasonably cold is for our neighbors to the north merely seasonal. We are probably feeling the same thing that Floridians feel when they checkout the weather up here in "the cold north." On my trip down the ICW in 2010/11, Florida, indeed all the south, got hit with some very cold weather. I can remember spending a week in Jacksonville where the high didn't get above 32 for an entire week and the low hovered at 22. You know it is cold, unseasonably cold, unusually cold when NOAA starts off every 15 minute broadcast segment with detailed information on how to recognize frostbite!
It is quite possible that this winter blast will also bring with it up to 8 inches of snow as well. Old and snow! Well, I guess that it is winter and such things are to be expected but who says I have to like it. Those adds from charter boat companies and Caribbean real estate firms are filling up my "Inbox," and look all the more appealing these days. There's nothing like a little sunburn in January and February. But that's not happening this year I am afraid. Perhaps next year.
I am a little over a month away from uncovering ABISHAG. Not that she is really "covered," rather it is the start of the spring maintenance season. All of the "destructive" work can begin so long as there is at least minimal cooperation from the weather. While paint won't adhere and epoxy won't set up and varnish will be a useless mass, screws will unscrew and bleach will kill mold and sand paper sands and things can be pulled apart. It is usually the reassembly and finish work that takes all the time anyhow. In the meantime, I have to get at the stuff in storage, get at the cleaning and the sorting and such. It is just stuff that needs to be done and it doesn't get done unless I do it. It is part of the fun of boat ownership!
Monday, January 6, 2014
SOMEBODY STOLE THE SNOW! ! ! ! ! !
SHIP'S LOG:
Last week, the lovely hamlet of Griswold received somewhere between 8 to 10 inches of light fluffy snow. The bitterly clod temperatures insured that it would stay "fluffy" and the winds insured that it would blow around everywhere. Both also insured that going outside was a crazy thing to do, especially as I had the beginnings of my "annual" January cold. It hit full bore by Sunday (two exits no waiting) so I really wasn't going anywhere.
So you can imagine what a surprise I had when I awoke this morning to find the snow was GONE! And not only was the snow gone, the temperature was hovering around 60! I can't recall such a weather turn-around ever happening. It is really bizarre. To make it even more so is the forecast weather for the next few days when the cold is to return with a real arctic blast. There is also a dusting of snow forecast to come as well. Strange doesn't even begin to describe he weather. It is even further beyond the pale that the wildest of NOAA's opium inspired dreams. You know things are all out of kilter when Green Bay looses a game in Green Bay in brutal cold to team from California.
Last week, the lovely hamlet of Griswold received somewhere between 8 to 10 inches of light fluffy snow. The bitterly clod temperatures insured that it would stay "fluffy" and the winds insured that it would blow around everywhere. Both also insured that going outside was a crazy thing to do, especially as I had the beginnings of my "annual" January cold. It hit full bore by Sunday (two exits no waiting) so I really wasn't going anywhere.
So you can imagine what a surprise I had when I awoke this morning to find the snow was GONE! And not only was the snow gone, the temperature was hovering around 60! I can't recall such a weather turn-around ever happening. It is really bizarre. To make it even more so is the forecast weather for the next few days when the cold is to return with a real arctic blast. There is also a dusting of snow forecast to come as well. Strange doesn't even begin to describe he weather. It is even further beyond the pale that the wildest of NOAA's opium inspired dreams. You know things are all out of kilter when Green Bay looses a game in Green Bay in brutal cold to team from California.
Friday, January 3, 2014
Post Snowpocolypse
SHIP'S LOG:
Well, it has pretty much spent itself, the snow that is. I experienced somewhere between 8" - 10" of fluffy white stuff. It won't be as difficult to shovel as the "wet stuff," but unlike the wet stuff, it won't stay where you put it when you are through shoveling.
And it is cold! ! ! ! ! It is a rip-roaring 9 degrees. Probably an unimpressive number to the residents of the Dakotas, Wyoming, Montana and the like, then again this IS Connecticut! As over-insulated as this dwelling is, the furnace keeps kicking on every five minutes or so to keep it at a comfortable 60+/-. One of the great changes that old age is bringing is a greater tolerance to the cold. I don't like it anymore than I did when I was young but it seems like I can stand it better now. May I just don't care anymore about temperatures, but I still prefer SUMMER!
It is "sad" to note that most of Florida is experiencing temperatures of 50 or less. I can feel for those people for whom that is as bad as what we are experiencing up here. Supposedly there is no medical foundation for the idea that your blood "thins" the longer you live in warm temperatures, that the whole think is a mental approach. Who knows for sure, but it is also true that few in Florida own snow shovels, snow blowers and ice shoppers. It sound ideal until you encounter your first swarm of "Palmetto Bugs" which despite the protests of Southerners are simply large flying cockroaches on steroids. Every place has its good point and its bad points. You pays your money and you takes your chance!
Well, it has pretty much spent itself, the snow that is. I experienced somewhere between 8" - 10" of fluffy white stuff. It won't be as difficult to shovel as the "wet stuff," but unlike the wet stuff, it won't stay where you put it when you are through shoveling.
And it is cold! ! ! ! ! It is a rip-roaring 9 degrees. Probably an unimpressive number to the residents of the Dakotas, Wyoming, Montana and the like, then again this IS Connecticut! As over-insulated as this dwelling is, the furnace keeps kicking on every five minutes or so to keep it at a comfortable 60+/-. One of the great changes that old age is bringing is a greater tolerance to the cold. I don't like it anymore than I did when I was young but it seems like I can stand it better now. May I just don't care anymore about temperatures, but I still prefer SUMMER!
It is "sad" to note that most of Florida is experiencing temperatures of 50 or less. I can feel for those people for whom that is as bad as what we are experiencing up here. Supposedly there is no medical foundation for the idea that your blood "thins" the longer you live in warm temperatures, that the whole think is a mental approach. Who knows for sure, but it is also true that few in Florida own snow shovels, snow blowers and ice shoppers. It sound ideal until you encounter your first swarm of "Palmetto Bugs" which despite the protests of Southerners are simply large flying cockroaches on steroids. Every place has its good point and its bad points. You pays your money and you takes your chance!
Thursday, January 2, 2014
New Year! New Blizzard?
SHIP'S LOG:
Somehow, "Connecticut" and "Blizzard" just don't seem to go together. True it is that we have had some crackerjack snow storms, perhaps even a blizzard or two but still in all "Connecticut" and "Blizzard" are just terms that do not seem to relate.
Not that any of that matters as the state prepares to get seriously socked today. If this were Rhode Island, you wouldn't be able to find a battery, a loaf of bread or a quart of milk anywhere. The people of this state seem to take things in a more relaxed and carefree manner, at least until the 11th hours when panic will show forth full-bore.
Currently, those in the know - unfortunately that includes NOAA - are calling for 8 - 12 inches of snow which doesn't sound that bad. However, the temperatures are going to drop precipitously and the winds are going to rise exponentially and that combo is what is going to make the next day or so really awful. It could only be worse in Fargo, North Dakota!
I will duck out today to pick up a few items and gas up the car and then hunker down. The weather is "suppose" to begin to get crappy this afternoon but by then I shall be safe and warm and inside. I hope you will all be the same.
Somehow, "Connecticut" and "Blizzard" just don't seem to go together. True it is that we have had some crackerjack snow storms, perhaps even a blizzard or two but still in all "Connecticut" and "Blizzard" are just terms that do not seem to relate.
Not that any of that matters as the state prepares to get seriously socked today. If this were Rhode Island, you wouldn't be able to find a battery, a loaf of bread or a quart of milk anywhere. The people of this state seem to take things in a more relaxed and carefree manner, at least until the 11th hours when panic will show forth full-bore.
Currently, those in the know - unfortunately that includes NOAA - are calling for 8 - 12 inches of snow which doesn't sound that bad. However, the temperatures are going to drop precipitously and the winds are going to rise exponentially and that combo is what is going to make the next day or so really awful. It could only be worse in Fargo, North Dakota!
I will duck out today to pick up a few items and gas up the car and then hunker down. The weather is "suppose" to begin to get crappy this afternoon but by then I shall be safe and warm and inside. I hope you will all be the same.
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