SHIP'S LOG:
Well That done and over with . . . . at least the surgical part anyway. I have a wad of gauze in the corner of my mouth, a very numb mouth indeed. I've got ice for 20 minutes every 20 minutes. I've got to change out the gauze when it gets too bloody. I am supposed to bite down firmly but gently on the gauze but not clench. Try make that determination when you can't really feel anything. The pain is not supposed to be really bad but they suggest that you start your pain medication right away so that you can manage your pain better. And you spend time praying that you don't develop a "dry socket," something that happens when the blood clot/scab/whatever detaches and goes away. I am not quite sure why it is painful but it is and it is to be avoid. Care needs be exercised.
The surgeon did considerable hacking and drilling and sawing and got the tooth out almost in one piece. It took less than 15 minutes once he started to work and he seemed very pleased with how it went and that's a good thing. I'll let you know about the pain when I can feel my face again.
Monday, September 19, 2016
Thursday, September 15, 2016
It Doesn't Pay To Be Too Wise
SHIP'S LOG:
Ouch! I cracked a tooth. My right lower molar, which is more fillings than tooth, cracked over the weekend. I didn't know for sure and thought that I had merely irritated the gum when I was flossing. It grew worse and even Ambersol and Oragel didn't do more that temporarily relieved the pain. So I went off to the dentist to see what was what.
She said that I had two problems. The first was that the tooth was cracked and that there was no way to fill it so as to relieve the problem. Secondly, the cause of the problem was actually an impacted wisdom tooth that I never had removed. Considering that I had had two teeth removed when I got braces in high school, I am surprised that the question the removal on wisdom teeth never came up. The impacted wisdom tooth, laying on its side, was journeying forward and was pressing on the weaken molar causing the pain. The end result is that the impacted wisdom tooth has to be extracted and the molar needs root canal work and a crown. The extraction will take place Monday.
The oral surgeon will do a CAT scan first because of the facial nerves involved and will then extract the wisdom tooth. Once that is healed, he will do the root canal and crown. How much fun does that sound like. They have me on a regime of antibiotics and Vicodin for pain, of which there is a bunch. It has lessened a bit after one day on the regime but unfortunately it also means that I can not drive the launch. Narcotics are a no-no. It puts the club in a bit of bind as two of the four launch drivers are away this weekend on a club cruise, one is away Sunday (my shift was Sunday 2-7pm) and the fourth is doing the morning shift on Sunday. It is not allowed for a driver to do two shifts in a day. I am not sure what the Commodore will do but really there is nothing I can do about it. Aside from that, everything is great!
Ouch! I cracked a tooth. My right lower molar, which is more fillings than tooth, cracked over the weekend. I didn't know for sure and thought that I had merely irritated the gum when I was flossing. It grew worse and even Ambersol and Oragel didn't do more that temporarily relieved the pain. So I went off to the dentist to see what was what.
She said that I had two problems. The first was that the tooth was cracked and that there was no way to fill it so as to relieve the problem. Secondly, the cause of the problem was actually an impacted wisdom tooth that I never had removed. Considering that I had had two teeth removed when I got braces in high school, I am surprised that the question the removal on wisdom teeth never came up. The impacted wisdom tooth, laying on its side, was journeying forward and was pressing on the weaken molar causing the pain. The end result is that the impacted wisdom tooth has to be extracted and the molar needs root canal work and a crown. The extraction will take place Monday.
The oral surgeon will do a CAT scan first because of the facial nerves involved and will then extract the wisdom tooth. Once that is healed, he will do the root canal and crown. How much fun does that sound like. They have me on a regime of antibiotics and Vicodin for pain, of which there is a bunch. It has lessened a bit after one day on the regime but unfortunately it also means that I can not drive the launch. Narcotics are a no-no. It puts the club in a bit of bind as two of the four launch drivers are away this weekend on a club cruise, one is away Sunday (my shift was Sunday 2-7pm) and the fourth is doing the morning shift on Sunday. It is not allowed for a driver to do two shifts in a day. I am not sure what the Commodore will do but really there is nothing I can do about it. Aside from that, everything is great!
Tuesday, September 13, 2016
RAcing Again.
SHIP'S LOG:
Well, HERMINE came and went without too much of a brouhaha and all of my careful preparations proved more than adequate for the problems she caused. Her effects hung around for a couple of days and thus delayed the restoration of ABISHAG to her normal state. That actually took more than two days as not only did I have to undo the preparations for the storm but I had to do new preparation for the Commodore's Trophy Race on the 11th!
While I have raced over the years, I haven't raced a boat of my own in about 15 years and it is a different thing altogether. Just getting crew is a bit of a chore as everyone is doing the same. I was able to secure two crew, Friend Fred and another club member, Matt. One or two more would have been very helpful as would have been some practice, but you can't have everything.
The race was wonderful and we spent the great majority of our time scudding along at between 7 and 10 knots which is really screaming for ABISHAG. We didn't finish last. She does not, however, have a racing hull and with two masts and a lot of sail area, we were "just a wee bit" over-powered a lot of the time. Then again, I just want to race. Winning would have been nice but it would have taken a lot of rum to really believe we could finish in the silver, so we settled for having a good time. Matt, in his first race, had a wonderful time. Fred was able to tweak and plot to his heart's content. Like I said, we didn't finish last and I am good with that.
I got out of racing because it gave rise to my inner Capt. Bligh. I could feel it rising on Sunday so I don't think I'll be racing again this year. Perhaps next year for one or two of the big races, but not every week. It can be a good way to loose friends.
Well, HERMINE came and went without too much of a brouhaha and all of my careful preparations proved more than adequate for the problems she caused. Her effects hung around for a couple of days and thus delayed the restoration of ABISHAG to her normal state. That actually took more than two days as not only did I have to undo the preparations for the storm but I had to do new preparation for the Commodore's Trophy Race on the 11th!
While I have raced over the years, I haven't raced a boat of my own in about 15 years and it is a different thing altogether. Just getting crew is a bit of a chore as everyone is doing the same. I was able to secure two crew, Friend Fred and another club member, Matt. One or two more would have been very helpful as would have been some practice, but you can't have everything.
The race was wonderful and we spent the great majority of our time scudding along at between 7 and 10 knots which is really screaming for ABISHAG. We didn't finish last. She does not, however, have a racing hull and with two masts and a lot of sail area, we were "just a wee bit" over-powered a lot of the time. Then again, I just want to race. Winning would have been nice but it would have taken a lot of rum to really believe we could finish in the silver, so we settled for having a good time. Matt, in his first race, had a wonderful time. Fred was able to tweak and plot to his heart's content. Like I said, we didn't finish last and I am good with that.
I got out of racing because it gave rise to my inner Capt. Bligh. I could feel it rising on Sunday so I don't think I'll be racing again this year. Perhaps next year for one or two of the big races, but not every week. It can be a good way to loose friends.
Saturday, September 3, 2016
Hermine Is on The Way!
SHIP'S LOG:
I spent 4 hours this morning getting ABISHAG ready for Tropical Storm (maybe Hurricane) HERMINE. It is a pain in the but to go through this procedure, but when you have no insurance, one does what one has to do. Having a boat that is 39 years old and counting, most marine insurance companies won't touch her. Even those who might consider it requires so many upgrades that completing them would cost more than the boat would be worth. So I simply prepare as best I can.
The anchors we removed from the bow of the boat and secured on deck. The way they sit on the bow could put them in contact with the mooring pennants if the surf causes her to hobby-horse and they would cut right through the lines (possibly). I also attached a second set of pennants to the mooring ball on the off chance that the primary ones let go. They are seven years old now and have held through IRENE and SANDY and numerous Nor'easters and will be replace in the spring. They are probably fine but you only know when they are not when they let go.
I removed the jib, tightened the main in its furling tube, and tied down the mizzen. I removed the bimini and brought it home. It is a perfect opportunity to repair the various hole, tears and weak spots. If I can do some more sweat equity at the loft over the winter, perhaps I will build a new one out of SUMBRELLA clothe instead of the vinyl of the current one. All of the cushions went below, out of the expected wind. And chaffing gear went on every line on deck.
Despite removing all items inside from high spots to low, the inside will look pretty much like a bomb went off in it if the winds get above 40mph. Locks on cupboards and lockers are never as strong as you would want them and things tend to shift a lot and are never happy with where they are and want to go someplace else.
Well, ABISHAG is as safe as I can make short of having her hauled out of the water someplace, but I don't have the coins for that. So now we wait. AH, the joy of boat ownership!
I spent 4 hours this morning getting ABISHAG ready for Tropical Storm (maybe Hurricane) HERMINE. It is a pain in the but to go through this procedure, but when you have no insurance, one does what one has to do. Having a boat that is 39 years old and counting, most marine insurance companies won't touch her. Even those who might consider it requires so many upgrades that completing them would cost more than the boat would be worth. So I simply prepare as best I can.
The anchors we removed from the bow of the boat and secured on deck. The way they sit on the bow could put them in contact with the mooring pennants if the surf causes her to hobby-horse and they would cut right through the lines (possibly). I also attached a second set of pennants to the mooring ball on the off chance that the primary ones let go. They are seven years old now and have held through IRENE and SANDY and numerous Nor'easters and will be replace in the spring. They are probably fine but you only know when they are not when they let go.
I removed the jib, tightened the main in its furling tube, and tied down the mizzen. I removed the bimini and brought it home. It is a perfect opportunity to repair the various hole, tears and weak spots. If I can do some more sweat equity at the loft over the winter, perhaps I will build a new one out of SUMBRELLA clothe instead of the vinyl of the current one. All of the cushions went below, out of the expected wind. And chaffing gear went on every line on deck.
Despite removing all items inside from high spots to low, the inside will look pretty much like a bomb went off in it if the winds get above 40mph. Locks on cupboards and lockers are never as strong as you would want them and things tend to shift a lot and are never happy with where they are and want to go someplace else.
Well, ABISHAG is as safe as I can make short of having her hauled out of the water someplace, but I don't have the coins for that. So now we wait. AH, the joy of boat ownership!
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
Sailing! Sailing! Sailing!
SHIP'S LOG:
Went for a long sail on Saturday, over to Watch hill and back. It was a perfect day. The wind, once we got into Fishers Island Sound was perfect and we cruised along at 6.5 knots there and and back. The only down side was that once out of Fishers Island Sound the wind all bit disappeared, but what the heck, it was not like we were going anywhere or that we basically didn't have all the time in the world. It was a perfect day, not too hot, low humidity and a few puffy clouds. You couldn't ask for better. If tomorrow is as promised, I will be out again as the loft is closed for lack of work and I am not scheduled to drive the launch. Ah, too bad it is June instead of the cusp of September.
Went for a long sail on Saturday, over to Watch hill and back. It was a perfect day. The wind, once we got into Fishers Island Sound was perfect and we cruised along at 6.5 knots there and and back. The only down side was that once out of Fishers Island Sound the wind all bit disappeared, but what the heck, it was not like we were going anywhere or that we basically didn't have all the time in the world. It was a perfect day, not too hot, low humidity and a few puffy clouds. You couldn't ask for better. If tomorrow is as promised, I will be out again as the loft is closed for lack of work and I am not scheduled to drive the launch. Ah, too bad it is June instead of the cusp of September.
Friday, August 26, 2016
SHIP'S LOG:
Actually haven't had much of a chance to do much sailing as almost all of the other launch rivers are off on the club cruise and it means mucho extra hours driving the launch. Ah!, but tomorrow, I get a chance to go sailing and I am taking Friend Fred with as a small way of thanking him for all his help with ABISHAG. The weather looks good and anything short of snow will be fine!
Actually haven't had much of a chance to do much sailing as almost all of the other launch rivers are off on the club cruise and it means mucho extra hours driving the launch. Ah!, but tomorrow, I get a chance to go sailing and I am taking Friend Fred with as a small way of thanking him for all his help with ABISHAG. The weather looks good and anything short of snow will be fine!
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
It Was A Great Day For Sailing! ! ! !
SHIP'S LOG:
Not a cloud in the sky and winds blowing a steady and solid 15 knots with gust to 20! It was ABISHAG's type of weather. Being an English built boat, designed for the English Channel and the North Sea, lots of waves and wind were just her cup of tea. It was rail down sailing even with a reef in! Usually in August, we get very light winds, but yesterday was certainly the exception. I saw only two other sailboats out enjoying the wind. Too bad. The wind of this strength undoubtedly caused other sailors to be concerned. It was work to keep her sailing well and I am sure that many others would not consider it a fund time, but it was great! And after almost 2 years, it was a joy! Ah, the fun, the real fun of boat ownership!!
Not a cloud in the sky and winds blowing a steady and solid 15 knots with gust to 20! It was ABISHAG's type of weather. Being an English built boat, designed for the English Channel and the North Sea, lots of waves and wind were just her cup of tea. It was rail down sailing even with a reef in! Usually in August, we get very light winds, but yesterday was certainly the exception. I saw only two other sailboats out enjoying the wind. Too bad. The wind of this strength undoubtedly caused other sailors to be concerned. It was work to keep her sailing well and I am sure that many others would not consider it a fund time, but it was great! And after almost 2 years, it was a joy! Ah, the fun, the real fun of boat ownership!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
