Hello groovy readers!

New week with new challenges!

I just read a post on another blog and was personally scolded for some kind of hypocrisy vis-a-vis my bad movie review for the film, "Red Dawn". My review was making fun of the movie story line and I was taking gentle shots at what did not exist in the film,  'alternative lifestyles'. I imagined all kinds of funny business in a film that was trying to be serious. Somehow, my musings became a slam against an entire group of people I wasn't even talking about.

It seems that today, we Americans go a bit overboard on not wanting to offend somebody and conferring some kind of heroic victimhood on those who feel put out by words like, "...not that there's anything wrong with that". The reason for the italic emphasis is acknowledgement of the silliness of my previous comment in that post.

Lighten up, Dear Reader. I don't care who or what a person chooses spend their life with or how they find love in their lives. My making fun of a film is not social commentary criticizing anybody's lifestyle choice.  You condemn me for bigotry which does not truly exist, but since I am accused therefore I get to be guilty, because there is no possible defense in the public discourse when one is labeled with Hypocritical Bigot. Which is a Thoughtcrime!

Labeling people is just as bad as being bigoted, but in this case the labeler is sanctified by making the accusation.

The Writer of the Barco Blog writes of many things, and sometimes I am indeed wrong about what ever I happen to be jibber-jabbering about. We have a big boat here and we love everyone to stop by and share, and we also want everyone who reads this blog to feel comfortable. But I am the Captain here and am responsible for the safety and conduct of this vessel. If any of you feel wronged, feel free to say so in the comments or send an email.

Most importantly; Lighten Up. It was only a movie review.

Back to our regularly scheduled fun, ok?

Have a fun week!

Thrifty Thursdays

Yahoo News reports that someone in Lapeer Michigan (Where da heck is dat, eh?) has the winning Powerball ticket.

Just like that! My four bucks is gone, and my dreams of opulence vanish into the smog... I will sweat my sorrow out on the stair machine and work through the pain while inhaling the bitter smell of defeat. Wait; That smell is the cat litter in the Cat Bathroom. Thursday is trash day and I will be swapping out the old for new. Yuck. Especially the yellow newspaper, that is the worst! Cats don't aim, eh.

Somebody has to do the Cat Litter Custodial work, just like that somebody in Michigan will have to endure losing their privacy, tranquility and peace, all because of the luck of the draw. I wonder if they will want to trade for my permanent obscurity over the next few weeks?

Nah. I will always be Cat Litter Custodian, it's my job. Besides, I couldn't handle the notoriety and responsibility of a hundred million bucks. I would probably spend it on boats, airplanes, booze, friends and excess food. Then I would blow the rest of the loot on Pole dancers. You know, the athletic ones from Gdansk. (Not really. I just wanted to be controversial, heh.)

I am really getting into this Netflix online business, there is always some fun film to watch that seems important at 9:00 pm, keeping me up until the wee hours; Say 10:30 pm. At eight bucks a month I can say it is a wonderful entertainment deal. The night before last I watched a Dean Martin comedy, "Who's sleeping in my bed", from 1963. Dino is way too cool, even for today's standards and the film was very much rated G. I recently saw a trailer for the remake of "Red Dawn", so last night I watched the original "Red Dawn". I viewed that film when it was released in 1984 and over the years I had forgotten most of the original story which had what I thought was way too much male on male touching/ hugging/bonding with entirely too many tears for a war film. (I guess one might think that the taboo subject of strong young men camping with guns... not that there's anything wrong with that. Oh the imagery!) The fella's in the film didn't even bother to pay an iota of attention to the two very needy Hot Babes (Played by Lea Thompson and Jennifer Grey, growl!) as the Wolverines frolicked with guns in the Arapahoe National Forest. Makes me wonder why they would remake that film, it WAS avant-garde! As you might tell, I'm hoping for less crying and more character development in the new version, perhaps a bit in vain. A small complaint about the bad guys in the new remake; How the heck does North Korea get the wherewithal to invade the U.S? They can't even field enough materials for dinner  tonight much less move masses of troops and gear to Washington State.

Please to suspend your disbelief about remade movies, ok?

I can hear my readers already murmuring, "More Boating, less Commentary!!!"

Message received. August is the hottest month of the year, and we are more suited for shady poolside diversions along with the inevitable barbecue cuisine. So the Barco will remain in her berth for the time being, at least until a new mission emerges.

There is the matter of my One Dollar Lotto ticket for this coming Saturday...

Have a nice day.

Interesting times

August is moving along at a rapid clip and we are almost in the middle. Jacksonville has a primary election tomorrow and we will be there to vote like the other ten percent of the citizenry. I wanna be part of the solution and not the problem!

Can we just get to November, please? Let us get this election stuff over with, because the television news gets more bizarre with each passing day. Orwell's 'Ministry of Truth' has nothing on the machinations of NBC/CBS/ABC/CNN/FOX.

Doubleplus-bad thoughts. If I'm not careful I will be invited to the re-education camps, soon. All of these inter-webs are monitored by the good crew at Never-Say-Anything. For our own good... When staying at the lovely Re-education Camp they will feed you. But instead of Chik-Fil A, you get fed Confinement Loaf. And taught to think pure thoughts about the joys of diversity. (By the way- I don't mind the idea of Chik Fil A, I just don't care to eat fried chicken with a pickle sandwich. Just me being picky, I guess.)

Get This: I have an idea for a hit T.V. show; Flog the Congress-Critter! We get a member of the House or Senate and subject them to the scorn and ridicule they deserve for not doing their jobs like they were hired to do. You know, like balancing the Budget like an adult. Afterwards, the Panel takes the rebuked Solon outside for a proper Tar and Feathering which includes the old fashioned ride on a rail out of the studio to the hoots and derision of the audience. Would you watch?

We could make millions in advertising dollars! Who cares about dancing with B-List Stars; These Special Guests would be serving politicians who seem to think the American voter Rube is blind to the shenanigans that go on in the District of Columbia. Empower the Masses. More mind numbing T.V. for the oppressed!

Speaking of our Glitterati in Hollywood; We could have a special show once a month with a Movie Star getting the same Treatment in lieu of a Politician. The "Gifted"Actor/Philosopher, Sean Penn, would be awesome as one of our first special guests!

I'm just an idea guy, you know.

The Spousal Unit's walking skills improve daily and the swelling of the former ankle is reducing, thankyewverymuch. We really are thrilled with the progress. Being pain free is a real treat. Makes me grateful for my good health and for the ability to walk normally.

The Two of us went to the dreaded Outlet Mall in St Augustine on Saturday and we were able to walk slowly about without the need for any stabilizing devices. Our morale boosts with each little victory for which we are most happy!

The mission was to get a new purse, so we hopped into the Family Truckster and sped down I-95 doing about 85 mph in air conditioned comfort, as is our Right as Amuricans. What did the folks do a hundred years ago when they went to the local outlet mall, riding their horses or a dusty ol' train? (I know that Outlet Malls are a recent invention to fleece us smart customers with faux irregular merchandise)

Odd note about that Outlet Mall; The parking lot was crowded with cars, yet the stores we went to were practically empty. Hmmm, makes one think... Maybe people just abandon their unpaid for cars at Outlet Mall parking lots and run off with some hippie chicks to go smoke ganja with the Rastas at St Augustine Beach. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Anyway, we acquired the stuff we wanted and even made an unplanned visit to the Loft and got somebody some more clothes. On sale, naturally.

We went into two purse stores and we were shocked at what Lady's are required to pay for mere hand bags! These bags were costing upwards and past two hundred bucks!! Look; We want a Purse, not an accessory to hold our miniature pinscher... And so it goes.  Now get this;  We happened to be walking by a shoe store and saw purses. Really. Once inside we found two purses that would perform properly at a quarter the price of the fancy pants joints. Bottom line; $52 bucks (Total!) for both purses. And a Beachside burger in Flagler Beach cost $54.00 later on. Go figure... We are doing our part to restart the economy.

Are ewe?

Happy Wife, Happy Life!

Please to enjoy your week.

Quick Update;
Not trying to pick on Penn; But I mentioned the "Gifted" Actor above only because I couldn't spell George Clooney or that other special One Percenter; Zach Galifianakis.

Some small news concerning the Barco Sin Vela

At last, we have closed the book on acquiring a new enclosure and cover for our bridge. We had been talking about doing this since we bought the boat in 2008, we just couldn't bring ourselves to plop down the big bucks necessary to make the project happen. $8K is quite a bundle, but the sail makers added in cushions, covers and made the drive from St Augustine to Jacksonville a number of times to complete the mission. Background; We made the project available to local sail makers and had offers of $500 less, but they never included a completely new frame and design. Fuggeddahbout the seat cushions! The other offers wanted to just replicate the cloth and plastic enclosure as it was, which was not going to happen. The previous design was unsat from the beginning and if we are going to pay for a project we expect serious quality.

The plastic enclosure is so clear as to be invisible.

I think we will celebrate with dinner and a night on the Barco!

Now we have to figure out how to pay for all this. (Joking! We saved for this eventuality, it's been four years.) We put the bill on a credit card that has triple bonus points on each dollar spent for purchases over $250. Heh. They won't get enough interest payments to make it worthwhile for the card company. Gimme the points, baby!

Protected from the weather seating area with comfy dry new cushions? Luxury! Slowly, we shall make our way to embarking on that cruise around America's Great Loop and the Barco will be ready for this trip in every way.

Have a great weekend!

Ho Hum.

Found this in the driveway about an hour ago.

I was heading out the door, closed the garage and hopped into the truck, expecting to leave for the Barco. It seems the flybridge cover is installed and I wanted to give it a look over before paying the other $4K for the project.

The back window looked odd, I thought. It was beaded over like a heavy rain had just hit. I paid no attention as I closed the door and put on the seat belt.

That was when I heard the sound of a million glass beads hit the bed of the truck, like a bag of ice cubes being spilled on a tin roof.

All I could see was maybe a penny in the bed, perhaps someone threw it at the window while passing by, I don't know.

 Ho hum, my first glass claim and I called the nice folks at USAA/Safelite explaining I had a broken window. They confirmed my coverage but told me I have a $250 deductible.

"Did you know State Farm does not charge a deductible for glass claims in Florida?" I asked. (You see, I used to be working for those good neighbors, and I am still a Florida Licensed 220 Property and Casualty Agent...)

"Well, Safelite and USAA charge a deductible, sorry," said the nice lady. Then she referred to me in my old rank from the Navy which lit me off unnecessarily.

"Please don't call me that. I've been out for 13 years and I earned the title 'Mister'".

We amiably chatted about the claim and I asked Safelite to not arrange for repair just quite yet.

The reason I stopped motion on the claim is that Safelite was hoping to schedule a repair time over the next week.  They gets a bit busy towards weekends, yannow.

Unsat. I expected if I am going to pay $250 bucks, somebody might pop by, say in a couple hours?

No.

"Some time Tomorrow afternoon, maybe between oneish and maybe sixish?"

No.

Mental note:
Why the heck am I talking to a faceless national call center about scheduling a glass repair? Am I not  an insurance professional who knows people in da bidness?

We closed out the conversation with me getting a claim number and the spiel about how much USAA Safelite appreciate my business.

I whipped out my calling card book and called my good friends at T&C Autoglass, Orange Park. I have flipped them at least forty windshield claims in the past three years, and that doesn't account for our entire insurance office staff which was sending them business All. The. Time. This is because of their reliability and how well they treated our most difficult customers to the total satisfaction of those customers. I received nothing in return for sending those customers other than superb service from T&C.

Andrea remembered me and asked to call me back with a price for repairing my 2008 GMC Sierra. She understood that I would be paying for the entire repair and I would be responsible for any reimbursement due me from my insurance company.

Three minutes later I got my price; $165 with lifetime guarantee. "And can we come by your home tomorrow morning to install?" What a nice person!

This stuff happens everyday with auto glass repairs in America. The Glass companies have tough competitors and insurance companies leaning on them to keep repair rates low. USAA and Safelite have a little sweet deal which does indeed keep costs down, but it is a little sweeter for Safelite in that they get the whole deductible, when applicable. In fairness to Safelite, they are a National company with a good reputation for mobile repair and service and there is nothing wrong with earning a profit. State Farm happily does business with Safelite everyday, but in Florida, State Farm does not charge a deductible for any glass replacement. Pays to be the largest Auto Insurer in the USA, doesn't it?

I get no remuneration for saying nice things about State Farm other than an open door to return for employment, whenever I would like to go back.

Bottom Line:
Taking charge of my repair will save me about $85 bucks and I know the folks doing the work. And the insurance company saves the costs of adjusting the claim and having to pay their partners. Win-Win. I still like USAA, I just wish they weren't in so many "Partnerships", especially the partnership with Progressive for boat insurance. But that's just me being choosy.

Insurance "Pro-Tip";

Resist doing business with those nice folks who cruise parking lots and driveways, asking you personally if you knew about the damage on your windshield. If some seedy looking, pushy gent tries to tell you he can arrange for the repairs... Thank him for alerting you, and firmly tell him you will go through your own insurance company. Some company, named for the ocean edge of a continent, has crews of people in many cities looking to drum up business... and these guys get a little premium (say $50 to $100) for finding broken windshields. There is no problem with the quality of work that they do, but they may not have a cost cap agreement with your insurance company, leaving you with possibly owing an additional amount above what your Insurance will allow for the repair.

That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!

Middle of this week!

Nothing new to put out in the ether, just doing the daily grind.

Wake up. Feed cats. Drink coffee. Look at internet. Do 45 minutes on stair machine.

Done. Done. Etc.

I am also studying my internet courses.

The Olympics have been fun, but I have weaned myself off and am back to watching tivo'd shows and Netflix. Netflix is the coolest thing we have, hundreds of shows and movies. Last movie of note was "Escanaba in da moonlight". A Buckless Yooper returns to the Deercamp to face his fears, with a few beers. It was enjoyable.

The top has not been finished on the Barco and with all this rain I am getting a bit anxious. The Dock Master at the Yacht club says our flybridge radio is coming on and blaring country western music in the early hours. He has switched it off twice, but it returns... I went by yesterday to find the twang music alive on the boat. I guess there is a short in the stereo due to all the fargin' rain and no cover! So I switched the electrical power from that circuit to the OFF position at the dc panel.

Carry on!

I did watch the games last night.

Is it August already?

Like I predicted the other day about the U.S. Women's Gymnastics Team; They whooped on those poor, pretty Russian girls like rented mules! I almost felt bad. I cannot believe the Russian Team rolled over like that, it was sad to see some young and talented athletes lose their collective (Ahem!) cool on world wide TV.

I also saw that nice American girl land on her head in floor practice. Scared me to death, not to mention what her parents felt at that crunching moment.

Great victory for our folks.

Kudos, to those giant (6 foot plus!) ladies on the U.S. Swim team, showing the rest of the world how to kick ass! Now, if our team can only get some great divers to defect from China and join with us. But then, the Olympics would be boring if only the U.S. won the big events so we will just enjoy whatever happens out there. It was great seeing Mexico bringing in the Silver from the synchronized diving event.

Barco News; Gioia Sails called did some work yesterday. I will go check on it and I hope that the installation is progressing.

Have a fine day!


Update:

The Sail makers have been working:

I took these photos with my camera at noon.

What Barco looked like before. Note the Radar arch is above bimini.

New Plastic and protective cover attached to Radar arch

The sliding cover has a zipper attached to connect with rear cover while slide is in open position.

New Blue Cover for the front salon windows. Old one had holes.

Looking really nice. Hope it's all completed this week.