May Day found me in Galveston, Texas, camping on a windswept gulf coast shore with my boyfriend Landon. Landon and I are on a Texas road trip, which of course involves me volunteering aboard the original 1877 barque Elissa at the Texas Seaport Museum. I spent a few days in the rig, tarring cranelines and brace pennants (cursing and refusing to accept that I'd bit off more than I could chew with those contrary main course brace pennants!). The upper t'gallant pennants helped me get over my schooner bum laziness - Elissa's rig dwarfs the Lady's rig. On top of that, they don't use seat harnesses. The full body harnesses drive me crazy with their hooks and eyes getting caught on every shroud and line around me, so I wear their ("Death") Belts, with lanyards on each side. Being that high up, without a harness that I can just lean back into, climbing far out on a steel yard, with the jackstay well buried under the excellently furled sail, my tar bucket swinging off one hip and my hands covered in pine tar and linseed oil... all these things are good for acknowledging my mortality.
The last day was spent taking the Texas Seaport's original steam powered shrimp boat out for a spin, stowing and labeling lines for Elissa while she gets her mizzen replaced, then scraping the mizzen topmast on the hard. Rigger Dave Mowr and Elissa manager John Schaumberger delegated us four volunteers for the day.
Upon arrival in Austin, we made our way to the popular nightclub "Dallas" with Mike Prusaitis and Steve Bitner (friends I hung out with often when we all lived in Hawaii). I also got a chance to meet Colby, whom Mike has been telling me stories about for years. Colby is a professional DJ and we're going to Lake Travis tonight to visit the club where he works.
I'll put up more pictures later, and hopefully talk about more "deep" thoughts than this factual fluff I'm putting out. I NEED MY OWN LAPTOP!!!!! Ahh..eventually.
the possums are mating down under
I'm currently in a rush to download music and make lots of snack size banana-chocolate chip pancakes for a road trip from Lubbock, TX to Galveston, where the barque Elissa sits waiting for me. I've written little blurbs about all the stuff I want to write about- stuff that's happened over the last few weeks, with transit and all that. Until I get around to really writing about that, I thought I'd post some more emails from friends that are traveling right now.
This first one is from Jen Reiner- a friend I met through the East Coast Girls in Hawaii, when we all lived in an apartment in Waikiki together. Jen is a special education teacher. She's been backpacking in Australia for 3 months now:
"Its been really interesting getting to know the culture here. I really thought it would be like california with accents, and in some ways sydney is,but in other ways it is really english. They act all put out and insulted when you say something "wrong" (which is very english). For example instead of saying "clean up" to children you say "pack up". Pretty similar right? I said clean up one day and they are were like WHAT ARE YOU SAYING? speak slooooowwwwy to the dumb american- and that was the three year olds! Working with children has given me the biggest laugh and they have also given me the most grief over being american. A few weeks ago a little boy asked me what language I was talking, and another told me I sounded like someone on "the biggest loser" (he might have said I LOOKED like someone on the biggest loser and I have choosen to block that out!) for some reason all 3-5 year olds know EVERY word to green day's american idiot in EVERY day care I have worked at and they all LOVE to sing it to me. In fact I think they learn it now instead of old mac donald. They are absolutely militant about sun block and all children wear huge hats and sunscreen 24/7. Also, for a country that has more bugs, spiders, snakes, roaches, etc that no one blinks an eye at ;they are really into color coding garbage, wipe cloths for counters and even cutting boards in even the dirtiest hostel or snack shop. because god forbid you cross contaminate dairy with veg or arts and craft table with kitchen table- meanwhile a whole army of ants just walked over the damn thing with a roach leading the parade- excuse me what wash cloth do we use for THAT?????? Also, men really like to wear speedos here- a lot, even the young guys. Though I must say the male lifeguards do it justice :) You can also sun bathe nude but since the popularity of camera phones its losing mass apeal. Darn, and I was just about to do it. "
This next one is part of an email from Shawn Strange, the cook off the Hawaiian Chieftain last winter season. She got off Soren Larson and is trekking around New Zealand right now:
"To say the hike was beautiful or stunning or magical only belittles the green mossy-covered trees knobbed with age and drooping with time, the tiny trickling waterfalls that trickled down rocks the size of a small car with a sound as delicate as diamonds, rockslides that revealed the strata beneath and reality that all is not permanent, (as well as massive gratitude to having missed the slide), swirling sun-bleached stumps that popped up like frozen gophers from the low-lying bush at the top of the mountain, and knowledge that for that one night sitting by firelight of a ironcast stove eating my dinner that was heating on it reading a week-old paper that I was the only human being on that mountain, (a thought that was not very comforting at 3am when I was awoken by hellishly startling sounds, (which I finally figured out was possoms fighting or mating- who knows). "
I gotta admit, I love that both these women are close to my age. We're all throwing what many feel are "normal" lives aside, along with materialism, and going out there to make the most of being alive. It's awesome! We should all have laptops and be writing books.
This first one is from Jen Reiner- a friend I met through the East Coast Girls in Hawaii, when we all lived in an apartment in Waikiki together. Jen is a special education teacher. She's been backpacking in Australia for 3 months now:
"Its been really interesting getting to know the culture here. I really thought it would be like california with accents, and in some ways sydney is,but in other ways it is really english. They act all put out and insulted when you say something "wrong" (which is very english). For example instead of saying "clean up" to children you say "pack up". Pretty similar right? I said clean up one day and they are were like WHAT ARE YOU SAYING? speak slooooowwwwy to the dumb american- and that was the three year olds! Working with children has given me the biggest laugh and they have also given me the most grief over being american. A few weeks ago a little boy asked me what language I was talking, and another told me I sounded like someone on "the biggest loser" (he might have said I LOOKED like someone on the biggest loser and I have choosen to block that out!) for some reason all 3-5 year olds know EVERY word to green day's american idiot in EVERY day care I have worked at and they all LOVE to sing it to me. In fact I think they learn it now instead of old mac donald. They are absolutely militant about sun block and all children wear huge hats and sunscreen 24/7. Also, for a country that has more bugs, spiders, snakes, roaches, etc that no one blinks an eye at ;they are really into color coding garbage, wipe cloths for counters and even cutting boards in even the dirtiest hostel or snack shop. because god forbid you cross contaminate dairy with veg or arts and craft table with kitchen table- meanwhile a whole army of ants just walked over the damn thing with a roach leading the parade- excuse me what wash cloth do we use for THAT?????? Also, men really like to wear speedos here- a lot, even the young guys. Though I must say the male lifeguards do it justice :) You can also sun bathe nude but since the popularity of camera phones its losing mass apeal. Darn, and I was just about to do it. "
This next one is part of an email from Shawn Strange, the cook off the Hawaiian Chieftain last winter season. She got off Soren Larson and is trekking around New Zealand right now:
"To say the hike was beautiful or stunning or magical only belittles the green mossy-covered trees knobbed with age and drooping with time, the tiny trickling waterfalls that trickled down rocks the size of a small car with a sound as delicate as diamonds, rockslides that revealed the strata beneath and reality that all is not permanent, (as well as massive gratitude to having missed the slide), swirling sun-bleached stumps that popped up like frozen gophers from the low-lying bush at the top of the mountain, and knowledge that for that one night sitting by firelight of a ironcast stove eating my dinner that was heating on it reading a week-old paper that I was the only human being on that mountain, (a thought that was not very comforting at 3am when I was awoken by hellishly startling sounds, (which I finally figured out was possoms fighting or mating- who knows). "
I gotta admit, I love that both these women are close to my age. We're all throwing what many feel are "normal" lives aside, along with materialism, and going out there to make the most of being alive. It's awesome! We should all have laptops and be writing books.
Eastport meets Westport
Miah & Gunny Vlad after a few
Eastport, Maine born and raised citizen Captain James Pearson meets Westport, WA. And now he's going back. JP will be missed. Thanks for keeping us alive!
Ode to our departing Chief Mate
Eastport, Maine born and raised citizen Captain James Pearson meets Westport, WA. And now he's going back. JP will be missed. Thanks for keeping us alive!
Ode to our departing Chief Mate
Been Thinking
Doing a lot of that, and wanting to do a lot of writing, especially now that I'm off the boat for a few weeks. Check back in a few days for new stuff, unless you hear from me via email first!
Love,
Kim
Love,
Kim
day off
My best girlfriend Polly drove up from LA to hang out with the crew and I here in Sausalito last weekend. I had Sunday off, so we drove to the Muir Woods nearby. Here's a few pics...
goofy look
ok, this "british virgin islands" tee from old navy was better than ANY tee i actually found down there...
Sea Mail
Got some updates from friends – decided to post a few choice blurbs from the content of these emails…
Eric “The Beard” Bott writes from Tri-Cities, Washington:
awesome. i love brig (schooner) p0rn. i miss the boats, but i plan to be back at it early next year, once my next step is in the bag, i have cash saved up and i can play for 8 months. its good to have the plug from the pipe bomb shirts. glad to see im not the only one flaunting them still. rock on. say hi to everyone for me, even bowditch. later, -bott
Steve Dilley:
…its good to hear from you again. I'm glad that you are on the Bill, they really needed the help. I'm actually off to Baltimore on Thursday to re-rig the Clipper City, but I'll be back at the end of April. You all should come down and visit in Vegas! You have a place to stay with a pool, spa, jacuzzi, and a putting green. Anyway, I don't check the e-mail too much so give me a call sometime and stay in touch!
The Lovely Shawn Strange (Cook for Haw’n Chieftain fall/winter 03):
you're sailing with Jesika, Jesse and Trandell?
man-o-man.
I'm back on Tole Mour this summer. Done with soren and backpacking around New Zealand right now.
What's you're cruisetrack? Are you going to be in SoCal anytime this summer? I'll try to look up the Bill's cruise track. Might be heading inland for a bit. not sure yet. just enjoying tramping around and knowing I have a boat to go to this summer. the Tole is sooooooo MUCH fun. Give my love to Trandell and Jesse and others that sai through. just caught a ride from a couple from Port Townsend today-funny timing this entire trip has been. They know Avery Africa too. Their kid is school with her-- too funny.
Heard from Tu at all? look forward to chatting either online or live.
love to ya doll,
-Shawn
From Captain Mark Griffin (alum Lady Captain and Mate):Say hi to Haida Bob, Capt. Ryan, Michael and all. I miss the Tall Ships. It looks like I will miss the Tall Ship festival in the Northwest as well. May just have to settle for the Med. Take care and watch those mud flats. Loved your photos!! Fair Winds Capt. Mark Griffin
From Daniel Macke (alum Lady crew) up in Port Townsend, WA:
IN fact, we were just talking about you...Brian, Nanette and I were catching up at Gary and Ta's house.
Sounded like you made the right move--at the right time, too.
So how is the bill o' rights? And what's the program? Is it also under … the Seaport?
Anyway, I'm missing the tall ship life…. But I have a hand to heal, and a boat to rebuild. (The masts go back in next week. 12 coats of varnish!) Will you be up here for the tall ships gathering?
Wild winds,
D
Other updates!
Andrew Mckee is flying to Baltimore next week and joining Pride 2 on it’s trip to Europe. Sounds like Mark Olson might be joining Bill of Rights for Tall Ships ’05! And my friend Ian Spain is off Denis Sullivan and getting ready to go to Moldova where he starts his peace corps assignment.
It’s a small world, our little tall ship community. I like that we keep in touch. See you “out there” :)
Eric “The Beard” Bott writes from Tri-Cities, Washington:
awesome. i love brig (schooner) p0rn. i miss the boats, but i plan to be back at it early next year, once my next step is in the bag, i have cash saved up and i can play for 8 months. its good to have the plug from the pipe bomb shirts. glad to see im not the only one flaunting them still. rock on. say hi to everyone for me, even bowditch. later, -bott
Steve Dilley:
…its good to hear from you again. I'm glad that you are on the Bill, they really needed the help. I'm actually off to Baltimore on Thursday to re-rig the Clipper City, but I'll be back at the end of April. You all should come down and visit in Vegas! You have a place to stay with a pool, spa, jacuzzi, and a putting green. Anyway, I don't check the e-mail too much so give me a call sometime and stay in touch!
The Lovely Shawn Strange (Cook for Haw’n Chieftain fall/winter 03):
you're sailing with Jesika, Jesse and Trandell?
man-o-man.
I'm back on Tole Mour this summer. Done with soren and backpacking around New Zealand right now.
What's you're cruisetrack? Are you going to be in SoCal anytime this summer? I'll try to look up the Bill's cruise track. Might be heading inland for a bit. not sure yet. just enjoying tramping around and knowing I have a boat to go to this summer. the Tole is sooooooo MUCH fun. Give my love to Trandell and Jesse and others that sai through. just caught a ride from a couple from Port Townsend today-funny timing this entire trip has been. They know Avery Africa too. Their kid is school with her-- too funny.
Heard from Tu at all? look forward to chatting either online or live.
love to ya doll,
-Shawn
From Captain Mark Griffin (alum Lady Captain and Mate):Say hi to Haida Bob, Capt. Ryan, Michael and all. I miss the Tall Ships. It looks like I will miss the Tall Ship festival in the Northwest as well. May just have to settle for the Med. Take care and watch those mud flats. Loved your photos!! Fair Winds Capt. Mark Griffin
From Daniel Macke (alum Lady crew) up in Port Townsend, WA:
IN fact, we were just talking about you...Brian, Nanette and I were catching up at Gary and Ta's house.
Sounded like you made the right move--at the right time, too.
So how is the bill o' rights? And what's the program? Is it also under … the Seaport?
Anyway, I'm missing the tall ship life…. But I have a hand to heal, and a boat to rebuild. (The masts go back in next week. 12 coats of varnish!) Will you be up here for the tall ships gathering?
Wild winds,
D
Other updates!
Andrew Mckee is flying to Baltimore next week and joining Pride 2 on it’s trip to Europe. Sounds like Mark Olson might be joining Bill of Rights for Tall Ships ’05! And my friend Ian Spain is off Denis Sullivan and getting ready to go to Moldova where he starts his peace corps assignment.
It’s a small world, our little tall ship community. I like that we keep in touch. See you “out there” :)
A real post.
All I do nowadays is post pictures. There's plenty of entertaining blog material to be had while living on board, but the time and energy to post it is hard to come by. There's a little pink notebook where I keep a kind of shorthand account of things worth blogging about. For example, we have breakfast conversations centering around politics and war history, or debates on better or worse music. The other morning the Captain swore that Gigi Allen was more respectable than Marilyn Manson. This got Rich and Jesika in on the conversation, who disagreed somewhat and Jesika proclaimed that Iggy Pop was the originator of shock performance. All of this stemmed from that silly article on the reservation teen who went berserk, and how he (of course) wore a trenchcoat, listened to Marilyn Manson and was pro-Nazi.
Word to the wise: DON'T TRUST ANYONE IN A TRENCHCOAT
Then we started talking about modes of transportation for Jesika once she disembarks next month. Our discussion of the "Shame Train" (Greyhound) led to Bhodi relating stories of the "Funwa Bus" from Boston's Chinatown to New York's Chinatown. Full of random crazies and entire families chowing down on noodles en route. Jes and I HAD to bring up the "Pee Man" on the San Fran bus a few weeks ago. He smelled worse than any bad day of overflowing blackwater, and managed to clear half a public bus in seconds. It was like a crush towards the aft door, gasping for better air.
My boat happens to have 4 crew who were born within a year of each other, and we sometimes argue like brothers and sisters. Yesterday "Dad" had to call us back and give us a talking to about our squabbling on how to set the main gaff topsl. See, Erin is the only one who knows how to set it, and she had to run off in the small boat to fetch a dry swab that had set itself free from the cap rail. So there we were, trying to figure out how to set this sail, looking pretty foolish and like the Marx Brothers probably. Passengers began laughing at us. It was funny, for sure. Erin is 23 years old and more mature, and often a better sailor than several of us old folks on board. She rarely wastes her time arguing. She just goes and does it.
So Jesse Loge is gone, much to my dismay, but Myuh and Shiny are back from there mini-vacations. Jesika and Elaine are leaving soon, and it looks like I'm going to have to cook for a few weeks. SHIT! And it's double-shit because the Bill budget is small because the crew is small. Jesika, as a professional, can make a 5 course meal out of flour and a garlic clove. I on the other hand need a mini grocery store onboard to get ideas. Looks like Bhodi and Erin will be leaving soon too. One benefit of this is that I'll be getting my own cabin after April 10th.
Polly is coming to visit for two nights in Sausalito! Yippee! After Sausalito I won't have much computer access until May.
There's only a few hours left of my day off in Redwood City, CA. Then I have to return Haida Bob's computer and Todd's car so he can get back to school... laters!
Word to the wise: DON'T TRUST ANYONE IN A TRENCHCOAT
Then we started talking about modes of transportation for Jesika once she disembarks next month. Our discussion of the "Shame Train" (Greyhound) led to Bhodi relating stories of the "Funwa Bus" from Boston's Chinatown to New York's Chinatown. Full of random crazies and entire families chowing down on noodles en route. Jes and I HAD to bring up the "Pee Man" on the San Fran bus a few weeks ago. He smelled worse than any bad day of overflowing blackwater, and managed to clear half a public bus in seconds. It was like a crush towards the aft door, gasping for better air.
My boat happens to have 4 crew who were born within a year of each other, and we sometimes argue like brothers and sisters. Yesterday "Dad" had to call us back and give us a talking to about our squabbling on how to set the main gaff topsl. See, Erin is the only one who knows how to set it, and she had to run off in the small boat to fetch a dry swab that had set itself free from the cap rail. So there we were, trying to figure out how to set this sail, looking pretty foolish and like the Marx Brothers probably. Passengers began laughing at us. It was funny, for sure. Erin is 23 years old and more mature, and often a better sailor than several of us old folks on board. She rarely wastes her time arguing. She just goes and does it.
So Jesse Loge is gone, much to my dismay, but Myuh and Shiny are back from there mini-vacations. Jesika and Elaine are leaving soon, and it looks like I'm going to have to cook for a few weeks. SHIT! And it's double-shit because the Bill budget is small because the crew is small. Jesika, as a professional, can make a 5 course meal out of flour and a garlic clove. I on the other hand need a mini grocery store onboard to get ideas. Looks like Bhodi and Erin will be leaving soon too. One benefit of this is that I'll be getting my own cabin after April 10th.
Polly is coming to visit for two nights in Sausalito! Yippee! After Sausalito I won't have much computer access until May.
There's only a few hours left of my day off in Redwood City, CA. Then I have to return Haida Bob's computer and Todd's car so he can get back to school... laters!
Happy Belated St. Patrick's!
So I'm a little late in getting the St. Patty's pics up. Limited 'puter use and all that. I had a few of our more unique and Irish looking crew pose: Here's Bhodi Sherridan... (send your love to Bhodi because he just broke his fingers this week)
And my lovely co-redheaded-Ed.Co. Elaine "Insane" Eno. That's Nick in the guinness tee. This is Nick's flag, and early that morning they asked Captain Evil if they could fly it off the brig mast. Evil said "Blow the Bear!"
I love this shot of Jesika's tee - Eric "the Beard" Bott made this tee stencil last summer in Aberdeen.
Here's Shiny & Rachel having a bonding moment
lots of Irish Car Bombs....
lead to lots of THIS...
And my lovely co-redheaded-Ed.Co. Elaine "Insane" Eno. That's Nick in the guinness tee. This is Nick's flag, and early that morning they asked Captain Evil if they could fly it off the brig mast. Evil said "Blow the Bear!"
I love this shot of Jesika's tee - Eric "the Beard" Bott made this tee stencil last summer in Aberdeen.
Here's Shiny & Rachel having a bonding moment
lots of Irish Car Bombs....
lead to lots of THIS...
Stuck in the Mud?
Yeah, that's where we were, in the middle of the South Bay in San
Francisco... with about 45 4th graders who desperately needed to get to
little league practice. While serving them hot cocoa and singing songs,
and reading them sea stories, we shuttled them via the "amendment" (our
zodiac) to the Lady Washington, who took them back to shore as we
waited out the night until the tide came in.
Elaine in the Head
Kellick, Natalie & Nick, and Cal Maritime Todd in the Main Hold on the Lady
Francisco... with about 45 4th graders who desperately needed to get to
little league practice. While serving them hot cocoa and singing songs,
and reading them sea stories, we shuttled them via the "amendment" (our
zodiac) to the Lady Washington, who took them back to shore as we
waited out the night until the tide came in.
Elaine in the Head
Kellick, Natalie & Nick, and Cal Maritime Todd in the Main Hold on the Lady
Jack London Inn
Here's Captain Christopher, Ships cook Jesika Starr, and brig bosun
Jesse Loge, watching South Park in our kindly donated hotel room in
Oakland.
Jesse Loge, watching South Park in our kindly donated hotel room in
Oakland.
Oakland, CA
So, this is kind of a funny picture. The new outboard engine prop is getting christened with a splash of Captain Morgans. That's Jesse, Cpt. Christopher, and Chief Mate Jim overseeing the ritual. Let's just say no good luck came from this.
Last night, in Jack London Square, at the First & Last Chance Saloon. It was built over 100 years ago and Jack London used to hang out here. So did Robert Louis Stevenson and President Taft. The building sank during the earthquake of 1906 and they never propped it up again. There's quite a slope in the floor. In this pic you can see Haida Bob just inside the door, and Insane Elaine (the other redheaded ed co) explaining to a minor belonging to "Clan Gempler" (Myuh's little bro visiting from Boise) that there's a "force field" at the door that keeps minors out. No really - that's exactly what she was saying. 
Above we have Haida Bob with his beer and Eric Allen in the foreground. There's Chief Mate Brian and Captain Evil in the background.
Below is Captain Christopher and alum volunteer/weekend warrior Todd, from Cal Maritime
Here's our First Mate Jim Pearsson and our new friend "Jack", a sailor from New Zealand.
Kim Carver, Eric Allen, Insane Elaine Eno and Jesika Starr Rowley
I hang out with all these crazies and forget how eccentric their looks are. At the laundry the other day I found a guy staring at Jesikas head and realized Oh Yeah! I hang out with a girl with bihawks and a giant tattoo on her skull. I forget sometimes. Here's Elaine with her custom earring. That's one piece of metal spiraled into lots of holes. She told us there's a picture of her on the front of a tattoo mag with the piercer pressing his hand against her face, tears streaming out, while he threaded the holes with this spiral earring.
Another view of the bar.
San Fran
Lady ed co Insane Elaine with outgoing volunteer and 18th century re-enactor Nathan "Indy"
Me on the fores'l gaff after doing MORE STITCHING
Me and the golden gate bridge!
Me on the fores'l gaff after doing MORE STITCHING
Me and the golden gate bridge!
The Sting of Censorship!!
I'm on Haight Street tonight, with Starr and Jesse. We're checking our email at an internet cafe. L. Bolton has emailed me and has admonished me for using words like "Sexy" and sarcastic comments, or noting the crew's outings to bars on my Bill of Rights website. I'm officially censored. I now know how Mark Olson and Haida Bob feel. I will keep my drinking stories here, not linked to the Bill website, which seems to have gotten to the SEAPORT with haste!
I was sick the whole transit. We ripped a crazy hole in the main, and broke the fore halyard. So, not much sailing. Today was nice, though. We deep reefed the main for our grand arrival.
IAN SPAIN got fired from Sloop Providence. I'm so glad I got off that fucking boat. I SO KNEW not only that crap was going to break from lack of care - but that they were going to dump anyone that stood up for themselves. Ian is a great sailor - a great guy all around, and practically EMT certified. And he set up their entire stupid sat phone system for them. And they fired him. Very stupid. I knew they wouldn't have taken us all to the Caribbean. I told Ian he should come join us asap!
I was sick the whole transit. We ripped a crazy hole in the main, and broke the fore halyard. So, not much sailing. Today was nice, though. We deep reefed the main for our grand arrival.
IAN SPAIN got fired from Sloop Providence. I'm so glad I got off that fucking boat. I SO KNEW not only that crap was going to break from lack of care - but that they were going to dump anyone that stood up for themselves. Ian is a great sailor - a great guy all around, and practically EMT certified. And he set up their entire stupid sat phone system for them. And they fired him. Very stupid. I knew they wouldn't have taken us all to the Caribbean. I told Ian he should come join us asap!
another blog? Sheesh!
I have just created an unofficial webpage for our schooner, Bill of Rights. Click here.
Please feel free to comment and ask questions of the crew. Every crewmember will have write access to that blog.
I will probably post equally to both this site and that one, since right now most of my life has to do with living aboard Bill of Rights!
Please feel free to comment and ask questions of the crew. Every crewmember will have write access to that blog.
I will probably post equally to both this site and that one, since right now most of my life has to do with living aboard Bill of Rights!
Ventura to Morro Bay
I have completed my first transit on schooner Bill of Rights, and it went well! And quickly, I might add. This boat is luxurious compared to other boats I've worked on. Tons of room, dozens of berths and some private cabins, and a beautiful salon full of brightwork and windows. She's been sitting at a dock in LA for 3 years, so she's a bit leaky, but there's enough dry berths for the minimal crew on board. My schooner experience has increased tenfold just over the last few days, along with my forearm muscles! Well not quite, but it feels like it. I have never, EVER hauled such heavy sails (gaff rig, no less) but within a week or two I think it'll be a piece of cake. Bill of RIghts is modeled after an early 19th century style of Gloucester fishing schooner, but she has a little inflatable avon on davits aft. She's known as "the amendment".
LA was fun. I had a wonderful time visiting PFunk, Maui and Hoku. Pfunk started her own blog, and I'm stoked about that. Now I can keep up with all that's going on her head! I don't read many other blogs, but I wish a few other friends would start blogs too.
Check out akimbophoto.blogspot.com soon, as I've taken several pictures and plan on posting them tonight or tomorrow. Looks like we'll be repairing some sail and making ready for our business here in Morro Bay, California. The Two Dogs cafe has a sweet internet hook up - real computers so's I don't have to have a laptop to communicate.
Hmm... what else? The transit... it was very wet. Very, very wet. And windy and cold. And our engine went out (our engineer didn't show up on his supposed arrival date, but those of you who know him -Krunch- well, it's probably no surprise, right?). So darn, we HAD to sail for a while. "A" watch saw whales and dolphins and lightning. My watch saw some phosphorescense and some decent speed (7.5 kts). Yes, I got seasick of course I did. But by midday today all was good. Coming into Morro Bay, all us girls in our foulies stood on the bow and cat-called the surfers. That was fun.
Anyway, I'm going to load those pics...
LA was fun. I had a wonderful time visiting PFunk, Maui and Hoku. Pfunk started her own blog, and I'm stoked about that. Now I can keep up with all that's going on her head! I don't read many other blogs, but I wish a few other friends would start blogs too.
Check out akimbophoto.blogspot.com soon, as I've taken several pictures and plan on posting them tonight or tomorrow. Looks like we'll be repairing some sail and making ready for our business here in Morro Bay, California. The Two Dogs cafe has a sweet internet hook up - real computers so's I don't have to have a laptop to communicate.
Hmm... what else? The transit... it was very wet. Very, very wet. And windy and cold. And our engine went out (our engineer didn't show up on his supposed arrival date, but those of you who know him -Krunch- well, it's probably no surprise, right?). So darn, we HAD to sail for a while. "A" watch saw whales and dolphins and lightning. My watch saw some phosphorescense and some decent speed (7.5 kts). Yes, I got seasick of course I did. But by midday today all was good. Coming into Morro Bay, all us girls in our foulies stood on the bow and cat-called the surfers. That was fun.
Anyway, I'm going to load those pics...
Blondes, boobs and sheepskin boots
Friday the 18th of 2005 has found me sitting in Emerson’s café on 9th and Los Angeles Street, in the heart of L.A.’s “fashion district”. Tenacious emailed me and said “I see an episode of Sex & the City unfolding…” which is exactly the scene I expected. Rather than Samantha and Carrie strutting down the wide sidewalks, I’d say with today’s rain (I’m like PigPen with a cloud following me wherever I go) and wind, and with the old warehouse-industrial feel of the place, it’s more like a variation on the Vancouver “scene”. In fact, I’d say there’s far more interesting and beautiful people in Vancouver compared to here. Fortunately true fashion does center on unique styles, so the cookie cutter blondes, boobs and sheepskin boots aren’t popping out of the Escalades and Hummers parked on the street.
There’s a store across the street that sells all the slightly off wholesale clothing that would otherwise be discarded. Everything in the entire store is $4.99. If I was a club kid, hitting a different trance or house music venue every night, this would be my official clothier. Skimpy tops and skirts with silly designs – just like the shops in Waikiki. I bought a skirt that I’m sure an older generation would call Plain Ugly. But hey, I’m from Seattle. Compared to every other metropolitan area, Seattle has cornered the market on retro, seemingly ugly fashion. So much so that it’s cool. It’s grown on me. Although up there it feels like you have to be heroine chic skinny to carry off the I-make-grandpa’s-clothes-look-good trick. Either that or have that rock star image that I’ve always wanted. Like a blend of Pink and Janeane Garafalo when she starred in Reality Bites. The thicker girl that accomplishes the hardened non-pastel wearing punk aura. My friend Starr does a pretty good job. With her bihawks, torn shirts, tattoos and smoking habit. Strangely my fashion idols are both her and Sabrina, who really does belong on Sex & the City.
P-Funk gets a lunch break from her bookkeeping work in half an hour. She has several clients here in downtown LA; all of them associated with fashion design and sales. Last night we did the Pasadena pub tour, starting with 35’ers, which attracted us with a sandwich board offering $6.50 pitchers of crappy beer. 35’ers is the ultimate sports bar. There must have been 20 big screen TV’s in that little place. Plus original jerseys from local sports stars. From there we made our way to Lucky Baldwin’s, where our waiter actually did look like Stephen Baldwin. Not on purpose, I’m guessing. That place was great. Stephen pushed some new Belgian beers on us, and I’ve really not been in the mood for making small decisions lately, so we let him pick some for us. He gave me a 12% alcohol beer called Spalik or Scalzik or something like that. It tasted like beer flavored alcohol. We ordered Guinness after that. They had Ben Folds and St. Germain and “all for me grog” on the jukebox, which made me happy. Strangely some kids sat next to us with binders and a can of Nevr-Dull, so I of course had to ask what the heck they were doing with it. Working on an advertising project for a college assignment. They didn’t even know what Nevr-Dull was for or how to use it. Good luck! Oh yeah – they’re probably learning how to market stuff that nobody knows anything about but will go out and buy because the jingle is so cool and the sparkly lights surrounding it are so entrancing. After that bar we made for Moose McGillicuddy’s, to see if it was anything like the one on Lewer’s in Waikiki. It wasn’t. The waiter was very friendly, giving us plenty of free shots and beers. We let him choose for us too. Then we started Drunk Dialing.
Yeah. So we called Tenacious, who was nice enough to not get annoyed with our blabbering on and on. P-Funk had never met him, but she and he have 3 mutual acquaintances so they still have things to chat about. We then dialed another old friend that we both hung out with a lot in Hawaii, and probably came very close to getting our asses and karma kicked by more than one entity. By 10pm we were well sauced and sporting “flash” that the cutesy MGD bimbos were peddling around the bar. P-Funk called DAD to pick us up and cart our drunken asses home.
P-Funk’s man, Maui, has around half a million dollars worth of computer hardware in his home office. It’s in the garage, of all places! They have alarms set up though. He edits trailers and commercials. When P-Funk and Maui aren’t working on their documentary, this is how he brings in the cash. He showed me several of the commercials he’s working on right now. You know how when you go to the TV Guide channel, and there’s previews of shows that they are trying to get you to watch? Maui edits these previews, adds music and voice-overs. First he has to watch the episode (for example- he did one for “Rescue Me” – that firefighting show with Denis Leary). So he gets a feel for the show’s plot and ties in all the sound bytes with the voice-over script. He edits it down, adds music and graphics, and voila! $1-3k is paid for a spot that lasts just a few minutes. It sounds like the pay for different camera work and editing jobs varies greatly. Maui said a 26 hour job working on Nelly’s “Pimp Juice” video only earned him a little over $100. Good work experience, though. Apparently a regular joe can go to voice-over school and start earning $4k for commercials with little effort at all put in.
One of P-Funk’s clients is a leather accessory designer called “Billykirk”. She gave me a bracelet that they make; it has a little shamrock on it. Now I have 2 leather bracelets – the one I made, and this new buckled one. Like a Tall Ship Wonder Woman.
ACK it’s a good thing I DON’T have my own laptop – I’ve been sitting at this café for hours, writing this and surfing the net. Today is my first personal experience with the wonder of free wireless internet. Pretty damn cool! I didn’t have to do anything – the computer found a network to hook up to and did it automatically. I’ll post this morning’s pictures of LA before I finish my chai and head out to explore the neighborhood…
There’s a store across the street that sells all the slightly off wholesale clothing that would otherwise be discarded. Everything in the entire store is $4.99. If I was a club kid, hitting a different trance or house music venue every night, this would be my official clothier. Skimpy tops and skirts with silly designs – just like the shops in Waikiki. I bought a skirt that I’m sure an older generation would call Plain Ugly. But hey, I’m from Seattle. Compared to every other metropolitan area, Seattle has cornered the market on retro, seemingly ugly fashion. So much so that it’s cool. It’s grown on me. Although up there it feels like you have to be heroine chic skinny to carry off the I-make-grandpa’s-clothes-look-good trick. Either that or have that rock star image that I’ve always wanted. Like a blend of Pink and Janeane Garafalo when she starred in Reality Bites. The thicker girl that accomplishes the hardened non-pastel wearing punk aura. My friend Starr does a pretty good job. With her bihawks, torn shirts, tattoos and smoking habit. Strangely my fashion idols are both her and Sabrina, who really does belong on Sex & the City.
P-Funk gets a lunch break from her bookkeeping work in half an hour. She has several clients here in downtown LA; all of them associated with fashion design and sales. Last night we did the Pasadena pub tour, starting with 35’ers, which attracted us with a sandwich board offering $6.50 pitchers of crappy beer. 35’ers is the ultimate sports bar. There must have been 20 big screen TV’s in that little place. Plus original jerseys from local sports stars. From there we made our way to Lucky Baldwin’s, where our waiter actually did look like Stephen Baldwin. Not on purpose, I’m guessing. That place was great. Stephen pushed some new Belgian beers on us, and I’ve really not been in the mood for making small decisions lately, so we let him pick some for us. He gave me a 12% alcohol beer called Spalik or Scalzik or something like that. It tasted like beer flavored alcohol. We ordered Guinness after that. They had Ben Folds and St. Germain and “all for me grog” on the jukebox, which made me happy. Strangely some kids sat next to us with binders and a can of Nevr-Dull, so I of course had to ask what the heck they were doing with it. Working on an advertising project for a college assignment. They didn’t even know what Nevr-Dull was for or how to use it. Good luck! Oh yeah – they’re probably learning how to market stuff that nobody knows anything about but will go out and buy because the jingle is so cool and the sparkly lights surrounding it are so entrancing. After that bar we made for Moose McGillicuddy’s, to see if it was anything like the one on Lewer’s in Waikiki. It wasn’t. The waiter was very friendly, giving us plenty of free shots and beers. We let him choose for us too. Then we started Drunk Dialing.
Yeah. So we called Tenacious, who was nice enough to not get annoyed with our blabbering on and on. P-Funk had never met him, but she and he have 3 mutual acquaintances so they still have things to chat about. We then dialed another old friend that we both hung out with a lot in Hawaii, and probably came very close to getting our asses and karma kicked by more than one entity. By 10pm we were well sauced and sporting “flash” that the cutesy MGD bimbos were peddling around the bar. P-Funk called DAD to pick us up and cart our drunken asses home.
P-Funk’s man, Maui, has around half a million dollars worth of computer hardware in his home office. It’s in the garage, of all places! They have alarms set up though. He edits trailers and commercials. When P-Funk and Maui aren’t working on their documentary, this is how he brings in the cash. He showed me several of the commercials he’s working on right now. You know how when you go to the TV Guide channel, and there’s previews of shows that they are trying to get you to watch? Maui edits these previews, adds music and voice-overs. First he has to watch the episode (for example- he did one for “Rescue Me” – that firefighting show with Denis Leary). So he gets a feel for the show’s plot and ties in all the sound bytes with the voice-over script. He edits it down, adds music and graphics, and voila! $1-3k is paid for a spot that lasts just a few minutes. It sounds like the pay for different camera work and editing jobs varies greatly. Maui said a 26 hour job working on Nelly’s “Pimp Juice” video only earned him a little over $100. Good work experience, though. Apparently a regular joe can go to voice-over school and start earning $4k for commercials with little effort at all put in.
One of P-Funk’s clients is a leather accessory designer called “Billykirk”. She gave me a bracelet that they make; it has a little shamrock on it. Now I have 2 leather bracelets – the one I made, and this new buckled one. Like a Tall Ship Wonder Woman.
ACK it’s a good thing I DON’T have my own laptop – I’ve been sitting at this café for hours, writing this and surfing the net. Today is my first personal experience with the wonder of free wireless internet. Pretty damn cool! I didn’t have to do anything – the computer found a network to hook up to and did it automatically. I’ll post this morning’s pictures of LA before I finish my chai and head out to explore the neighborhood…
