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Thursday, April 29, 2010
Silly sailing dude in UK
This story begins with a gent deciding to buy a sailboat and sail to Southampton without charts or apparently, a compass.
We have sailed in the Medway river many times, and always made the overnight stop in Queenboro for pints and weather.
A question for this silly person, "Wouldn't you have started to ask yourself why that Safeway sign at Sheerness kept showing up by those same docks, over and over again?"
Thanks to "Bruce", currently in the sandbox, for that link.
We have sailed in the Medway river many times, and always made the overnight stop in Queenboro for pints and weather.
A question for this silly person, "Wouldn't you have started to ask yourself why that Safeway sign at Sheerness kept showing up by those same docks, over and over again?"
Thanks to "Bruce", currently in the sandbox, for that link.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Tuesday night end of action report
Our normal routine is to never do concerts or movies, (At least it's my routine)but last night was the exception. We parked downtown in a church parking lot for a "donation" of five bucks, which was fair because we were a block from the Florida Theater, which is a good thing. Seventy five yards later we were at the theater, walking up the red carpeted stairs to the Loge section where we would soon be watching Elvis Costello and the Sugarcanes, in his latest music experiment.
Appalachian/Bluegrass music, that is.
The Spousal Unit has been wanting to see a Declan McManus concert since 1980 and her parents and I have been successfully avoiding those opportunities for almost thirty years. In fact, as recently as two years (I can't really remember) ago, I talked her out of us going because I said it would just be a mess, and besides, I hate standing in line for anything except government cheese.
The tickets were an outrageous $52.00, each and I purchased them over the phone when they went on sale at 10:00 AM some Friday morning in February. No problem, I thought, this is months away...
Well, time passed, as it usually does with lots of fun and frivolity and a Buffett Concert that cost us $350.00 to attend, and we were miles away from the stage.
Suddenly, $52 wasn't such a bad idea. This McManus cat seems to have a sense that music fans should not have to go in debt to see quality music. Looking back to the 70's and the 80's, 52 bucks is like 15 bucks back then.
The Florida Theater is a relic from the 20's, cozy yet ornate. I was in the balcony, second row and was no more than 45 feet from the performers, only about 25 feet in the air. Every seat is a good one.
My Elvis Costello listening has mainly been his early stuff, This Years Model, Get Happy, Spike. I have been aware of his critically approved music experimentation with other notable writers and performers, but I always preferred the old stuff, especially the punk/rockabilly style with social commentary. The music Costello did with Nick Lowe is still on the favorite listening list. One other thing; An Elvis Costello album was always jammed with many more songs than the average eight songs, of which five are listenable. Not Elvis Costello; He made sure you heard at least 15 songs (It seemed that way) of which the last song always cutoff because there was no more room.
Just like his concert last night.
The set list only contained a few of the old songs, but I never expected him to perform some covers of anyone else's music like this;
Double Click Image to get full Size.
Grateful Dead???
I used this bootleg from four days ago because one, it only has a moment, (So McManus won't want to sue me for ripping him off, this is just a taste of the good stuff) two, that is the same view of the performance we had.
All that said, last night was incredible. There was not a bad song in the set (One exception was when Costello was doing "Allison", and when he slid into the Jim Reeves number, "...Put your sweet lips a little closer to the phone..." some bimbo screamed out, "I love you, Elvis...!" in the hushed auditorium, which blew his concentration forcing him to restart the song. Not cool, especially since the performer was putting on an intense performance for our benefit. He seemed annoyed for a brief flash, because the performer is such a perfectionist and there had been no mistakes in the previous two hours of rapid fire songs. Even the crowd felt the penetrating stare of disappointment.
No doubt about it, Elvis Costello has more musical talent in his right shoe than just about any other well known performer, and that is in any style of music. This concert rates as one of the very best performances I have seen, which includes a 1992 Meatloaf concert at "Pappa's Bar" on Beach Blvd in Jacksonville, that had a ten buck admission.
It's not just the music that was enjoyable, because there is something to be said about watching Blue Grass live, but a concert goer must also include the experience of good acoustics, comfortable surroundings and nice fans who are there for a good time and not to get sloppy.
I prefer intimate concert settings.
Anyway, the songs came at us one after another, with no jibber-jabber other than a fast intro to the next song, if he felt like saying something after a quick sip of tea. "This next song is a rock and roll song from 1921..."
After two hours and fifteen minutes of almost non-stop music, Elvis jammed in two more songs while the Bass player was packing up his music briefcase!
Value. Period.
The last Buffett concert will be exactly that; last. Unless it is at a venue like the Florida Theater. We will be sure to not miss the next Costello concert.
The Spousal Unit just walked by and said, "Are you critiquing the concert?"
Yes.
"Why don't you write, 'I was dragged to the concert and had fun'."
Ok.
Appalachian/Bluegrass music, that is.
The Spousal Unit has been wanting to see a Declan McManus concert since 1980 and her parents and I have been successfully avoiding those opportunities for almost thirty years. In fact, as recently as two years (I can't really remember) ago, I talked her out of us going because I said it would just be a mess, and besides, I hate standing in line for anything except government cheese.
The tickets were an outrageous $52.00, each and I purchased them over the phone when they went on sale at 10:00 AM some Friday morning in February. No problem, I thought, this is months away...
Well, time passed, as it usually does with lots of fun and frivolity and a Buffett Concert that cost us $350.00 to attend, and we were miles away from the stage.
Suddenly, $52 wasn't such a bad idea. This McManus cat seems to have a sense that music fans should not have to go in debt to see quality music. Looking back to the 70's and the 80's, 52 bucks is like 15 bucks back then.
The Florida Theater is a relic from the 20's, cozy yet ornate. I was in the balcony, second row and was no more than 45 feet from the performers, only about 25 feet in the air. Every seat is a good one.
My Elvis Costello listening has mainly been his early stuff, This Years Model, Get Happy, Spike. I have been aware of his critically approved music experimentation with other notable writers and performers, but I always preferred the old stuff, especially the punk/rockabilly style with social commentary. The music Costello did with Nick Lowe is still on the favorite listening list. One other thing; An Elvis Costello album was always jammed with many more songs than the average eight songs, of which five are listenable. Not Elvis Costello; He made sure you heard at least 15 songs (It seemed that way) of which the last song always cutoff because there was no more room.
Just like his concert last night.
The set list only contained a few of the old songs, but I never expected him to perform some covers of anyone else's music like this;
Double Click Image to get full Size.
Grateful Dead???
I used this bootleg from four days ago because one, it only has a moment, (So McManus won't want to sue me for ripping him off, this is just a taste of the good stuff) two, that is the same view of the performance we had.
All that said, last night was incredible. There was not a bad song in the set (One exception was when Costello was doing "Allison", and when he slid into the Jim Reeves number, "...Put your sweet lips a little closer to the phone..." some bimbo screamed out, "I love you, Elvis...!" in the hushed auditorium, which blew his concentration forcing him to restart the song. Not cool, especially since the performer was putting on an intense performance for our benefit. He seemed annoyed for a brief flash, because the performer is such a perfectionist and there had been no mistakes in the previous two hours of rapid fire songs. Even the crowd felt the penetrating stare of disappointment.
No doubt about it, Elvis Costello has more musical talent in his right shoe than just about any other well known performer, and that is in any style of music. This concert rates as one of the very best performances I have seen, which includes a 1992 Meatloaf concert at "Pappa's Bar" on Beach Blvd in Jacksonville, that had a ten buck admission.
It's not just the music that was enjoyable, because there is something to be said about watching Blue Grass live, but a concert goer must also include the experience of good acoustics, comfortable surroundings and nice fans who are there for a good time and not to get sloppy.
I prefer intimate concert settings.
Anyway, the songs came at us one after another, with no jibber-jabber other than a fast intro to the next song, if he felt like saying something after a quick sip of tea. "This next song is a rock and roll song from 1921..."
After two hours and fifteen minutes of almost non-stop music, Elvis jammed in two more songs while the Bass player was packing up his music briefcase!
Value. Period.
The last Buffett concert will be exactly that; last. Unless it is at a venue like the Florida Theater. We will be sure to not miss the next Costello concert.
The Spousal Unit just walked by and said, "Are you critiquing the concert?"
Yes.
"Why don't you write, 'I was dragged to the concert and had fun'."
Ok.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
On a lighter note;
I was morosely reading the Sailing Cruisers Forum about the antics of rude boaters who have no couth when it comes to anchoring. For instance, you might be anchored in a serene quiet bay when some jerk comes along with stereo's blaring, drops his tiny lunch hook about five meters from your cockpit. You know that his boat will swing and hit you in the night, hopefully gently.
By tomorrow morning you will be sleepless and coughing from the loud music, those generators running loudly belching carbon monoxide fumes that are choking your boat.
It happens, believe me.
Everyone has a story, but this is the funniest quote I could find, written by a cruiser named, "Terry";
Talk about imagery. That quote paints pictures, baby.
Have a humorous day!
By tomorrow morning you will be sleepless and coughing from the loud music, those generators running loudly belching carbon monoxide fumes that are choking your boat.
It happens, believe me.
Everyone has a story, but this is the funniest quote I could find, written by a cruiser named, "Terry";
One of the funniest things I have ever seen was a German boat in Greece with mum, big breasted, huge and ugly as a hat full of spiders, and dad, barrell bellied and hairy as yeti, both stark naked and waving to the new arrivals as they dropped anchor.
Talk about imagery. That quote paints pictures, baby.
Have a humorous day!
Monday, April 26, 2010
Some boating happened
Over the weekend, maybe not enough. Definitely too much beer drinking, I had enough on Saturday to last me a week.
Sunday morning was a bit cloudy and storms were predicted for the afternoon, so underway we were at the crack of 1030. As we passed the sailboaters, we made sure to get some action photos of them under sail.
We had our Navy Jack up (Thanks, Gary G!) and headed north to dodge the weather front. Winds were southwest at about 20 knots. Uncomfortable until we passed the Shands Bridge.
Celtic Cross was at Black Creek and the other two boats were about five miles past them.
Very nasty day to be sailing.
We arrived at the base at 1330, just as the first thunderstorm arrived. Winds picked up to about 30 and lightning began it's noisy show. We decided not to stop at the base to drop off Phil, the wind and waves would have dashed us against the F-Pier so we smartly turned east and north to the Yacht Club,
Pirates Cove was getting slightly squirrelly in the thunderstorm, but we expertly placed the Barco between the uprights and docked just as the heavy stuff arrived.
After the tie up was complete and the packing of trash was ready, I turned down the offer of the post boat-trip beer.
That's how fragile I was feeling.
Dropped Phil off at the base via truck and returned for the Spousal Unit and we departed for home.
At least the Kitteh's were glad to see us, I have a Mali cat watching me as I type!
Our friends on "Beaujolais", Roger and Janice, have arrived at Hiva Oa, Marquesas! I think it was a 22 day trip from Galapagos to the Marquesas, I look forward to reading about the journey.
Sunday morning was a bit cloudy and storms were predicted for the afternoon, so underway we were at the crack of 1030. As we passed the sailboaters, we made sure to get some action photos of them under sail.
We had our Navy Jack up (Thanks, Gary G!) and headed north to dodge the weather front. Winds were southwest at about 20 knots. Uncomfortable until we passed the Shands Bridge.
Celtic Cross was at Black Creek and the other two boats were about five miles past them.
Very nasty day to be sailing.
We arrived at the base at 1330, just as the first thunderstorm arrived. Winds picked up to about 30 and lightning began it's noisy show. We decided not to stop at the base to drop off Phil, the wind and waves would have dashed us against the F-Pier so we smartly turned east and north to the Yacht Club,
Pirates Cove was getting slightly squirrelly in the thunderstorm, but we expertly placed the Barco between the uprights and docked just as the heavy stuff arrived.
After the tie up was complete and the packing of trash was ready, I turned down the offer of the post boat-trip beer.
That's how fragile I was feeling.
Dropped Phil off at the base via truck and returned for the Spousal Unit and we departed for home.
At least the Kitteh's were glad to see us, I have a Mali cat watching me as I type!
Our friends on "Beaujolais", Roger and Janice, have arrived at Hiva Oa, Marquesas! I think it was a 22 day trip from Galapagos to the Marquesas, I look forward to reading about the journey.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Some fun stuff
Strange week already, eerie stuff in the air. I got in to work and started the day normally, but at 0904 the windows practically burst from the frames; The double pump/slap of a sonic boom caused by the good folks in the Shuttle "Discovery" as they made way for a landing at Canaveral.
I wish I had been outside. Glad they made it home safely to Florida.
My wandering of the blogosphere is changing. I used to visit several military related sites such as The big aviation one, an amphibian and a few others. Daily, for the past six years in some cases. It's time I stop following most of these web sites because it all has stopped mattering to me. There is nothing coherent I can add and any inane comments I might make are meaningless. As for prattling on and debating for and against, well, I will just disengage and return to having a good time and keeping mostly to my own business. This means I shall keep my snide commentary to myself and my six loyal readers.
There will be a couple places I will continue supporting such as Babalu, Lileks, Iowahawk and his buddy Coop, and of course Exile in Portales and Great Reader. LL at Mirage will also be a regular stop, too. End result will be a great reduction in anything military.
One of the fun things about wandering this great internet is seeing other people's stuff, like on the site called Flickr. Today, I was reading the Coop blog and he had a link to his Ed "Big Daddy" Roth cartoon collection.
Man, back in 1970, me and my buddies at Argonaut Elementary school in Hayward California lived for those little decal cartoons! Just look to the right of the picture and you can see a little block titled, "Browse" and you can move to the right or left.
There will still be the boating and I will get back to the successful conclusion of our Atlantic crossing in the next day, or so.
I wish I had been outside. Glad they made it home safely to Florida.
My wandering of the blogosphere is changing. I used to visit several military related sites such as The big aviation one, an amphibian and a few others. Daily, for the past six years in some cases. It's time I stop following most of these web sites because it all has stopped mattering to me. There is nothing coherent I can add and any inane comments I might make are meaningless. As for prattling on and debating for and against, well, I will just disengage and return to having a good time and keeping mostly to my own business. This means I shall keep my snide commentary to myself and my six loyal readers.
There will be a couple places I will continue supporting such as Babalu, Lileks, Iowahawk and his buddy Coop, and of course Exile in Portales and Great Reader. LL at Mirage will also be a regular stop, too. End result will be a great reduction in anything military.
One of the fun things about wandering this great internet is seeing other people's stuff, like on the site called Flickr. Today, I was reading the Coop blog and he had a link to his Ed "Big Daddy" Roth cartoon collection.
Man, back in 1970, me and my buddies at Argonaut Elementary school in Hayward California lived for those little decal cartoons! Just look to the right of the picture and you can see a little block titled, "Browse" and you can move to the right or left.
There will still be the boating and I will get back to the successful conclusion of our Atlantic crossing in the next day, or so.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Monday
Back to the Monday routines, the weather is cloudy with a chance of rain. Matches the moods around the office and we have four more wake ups before the we become happy again.
Here is a wine we enjoyed on Friday evening;
We were given a couple of these from sometime reader Erik's private stash. Apparently, Erik and a few friends in California commissioned a local winemaker to make up a special batch. Erik offered me just one bottle, but I asked for two because I like to be able to look forward to the second bottle.
My experience with newly tasted wines is that I might really enjoy a bottle and forget to write down the name and variety in our wine log. Then, I recycle the bottle and have no record or idea what that great wine was from Friday night. Never. To. Be. Seen. Again.
Frustrating.
So if I have two bottles, we get the log updated and we might be able to remember how and where we got the goodies. Plus, there is the anticipation of saying , "Ooh, we have a bottle of so and so, this is going to be great when our friends come over for dinner!"
Erik might have thought I was being a jerk when I asked for that second bottle but the wine was truly outstanding with our dinner. And we have one more bottle stowed in the wine locker, so Kudo's to Erik's family wine and I pass full thanks and gratitude for the gift we received.
Saturday morning was a bit blurry so we had breakfast and coffee and turned to for some Barco scrubbing and washing the topsides. Afterwards, we fired up the diesels and headed to NAS Jax just to see if it was still there.
Yep. Still there. Called Navy Jax Yacht Club on the VHF and asked for linehandling assistance.
Good ol' Phil came stepping down the dock. Instead of tying up to the dock, we changed our minds and asked if he would join us for a river run.
Phil had a seat and said he was up to a river run so we headed Southward at ten knots. Next thing we knew (about two hours later) we passed under the Shands bridge and decided to take a lunch at the dreaded Crab Shack.
Plenty of room at the dock, so we were moored and ready to eat. Our friend Wyatt came by so the four of us dined well.
Gator relaxing by dock and same gator after sunset, hunting.
It was a beautiful evening and we 'people watched' the locals who promenaded down the dock. There were plenty of No-See-Ums and other bugs, most notably the blind mosquitos. As the evening wore on the temperatures cooled and the bugs (The biting kind) were soon gone and we settled in to conversations related to the Tea Party Protests and the Federal Government in particular.
Midnight on the water came quickly, and Wyatt was sent safely home and we decided to make a night of it down below. The Barco crew secured the flybridge and left the rubble in the sundeck area for pickup in the morning. Only about forty empty beer cans and an empty Jim Beam bottle to account for ourselves.
All wreckage was contained in sundeck area.
Taps came at 0030 and we secured the generator and silently snoozed until the 0800 reveille.
Motors started and the Spousal Unit piloted us off the dock as we made way for home. After securing our lines I went below to make coffee X 2 pots and six waffles for to break the fast. Three hours later we discharged our Shanghaied crew at the base and returned to our home berth in Pirates Cove. We rapidly secured our boat and was out shopping by noon where we bought new clothing and other sundry items.
Let's do it all over again in a few days.
Here is a wine we enjoyed on Friday evening;
We were given a couple of these from sometime reader Erik's private stash. Apparently, Erik and a few friends in California commissioned a local winemaker to make up a special batch. Erik offered me just one bottle, but I asked for two because I like to be able to look forward to the second bottle.
My experience with newly tasted wines is that I might really enjoy a bottle and forget to write down the name and variety in our wine log. Then, I recycle the bottle and have no record or idea what that great wine was from Friday night. Never. To. Be. Seen. Again.
Frustrating.
So if I have two bottles, we get the log updated and we might be able to remember how and where we got the goodies. Plus, there is the anticipation of saying , "Ooh, we have a bottle of so and so, this is going to be great when our friends come over for dinner!"
Erik might have thought I was being a jerk when I asked for that second bottle but the wine was truly outstanding with our dinner. And we have one more bottle stowed in the wine locker, so Kudo's to Erik's family wine and I pass full thanks and gratitude for the gift we received.
Saturday morning was a bit blurry so we had breakfast and coffee and turned to for some Barco scrubbing and washing the topsides. Afterwards, we fired up the diesels and headed to NAS Jax just to see if it was still there.
Yep. Still there. Called Navy Jax Yacht Club on the VHF and asked for linehandling assistance.
Good ol' Phil came stepping down the dock. Instead of tying up to the dock, we changed our minds and asked if he would join us for a river run.
Phil had a seat and said he was up to a river run so we headed Southward at ten knots. Next thing we knew (about two hours later) we passed under the Shands bridge and decided to take a lunch at the dreaded Crab Shack.
Plenty of room at the dock, so we were moored and ready to eat. Our friend Wyatt came by so the four of us dined well.
Gator relaxing by dock and same gator after sunset, hunting.
It was a beautiful evening and we 'people watched' the locals who promenaded down the dock. There were plenty of No-See-Ums and other bugs, most notably the blind mosquitos. As the evening wore on the temperatures cooled and the bugs (The biting kind) were soon gone and we settled in to conversations related to the Tea Party Protests and the Federal Government in particular.
Midnight on the water came quickly, and Wyatt was sent safely home and we decided to make a night of it down below. The Barco crew secured the flybridge and left the rubble in the sundeck area for pickup in the morning. Only about forty empty beer cans and an empty Jim Beam bottle to account for ourselves.
All wreckage was contained in sundeck area.
Taps came at 0030 and we secured the generator and silently snoozed until the 0800 reveille.
Motors started and the Spousal Unit piloted us off the dock as we made way for home. After securing our lines I went below to make coffee X 2 pots and six waffles for to break the fast. Three hours later we discharged our Shanghaied crew at the base and returned to our home berth in Pirates Cove. We rapidly secured our boat and was out shopping by noon where we bought new clothing and other sundry items.
Let's do it all over again in a few days.
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