Morning musing

Is it just me, or did Corn Pops used to be more spherical?

Silver lining

Listening to the gentle snoring of peaceful slumber...

On one hand it sucks, because I want to be snuggled up sleeping too... but on the other hand I'd rather be working while they're sleeping than missing all the fun they'll have while they're awake.

I'll treasure this little piece of time that is mine, and more thoroughly enjoy the time we spend together later today, however hectic it may be.

The best laid plans...

I had plans this last weekend... plans to finish projects, clean the house, and go grocery shopping... among a few other odds and ends of 10 second tidying before my friends come visit.

Little did I know the Aunties didn't have plans, and would drop by with brunch and that we would then spend the rest of the day looking for garage sales, eating and spending money on things I didn't even know we needed at Costco (we did get some really good deals on stuff we're going to use anyways... I drew the line at 24 rolls of paper-towel - we don't need a 2 yr. supply of the stuff).  Now don't get me wrong, I made some poor decisions, I could have opted to stay home... but then I wouldn't have gotten 6x as many razor blades for the same price as usual, or found that perfect cabinet for over my toilet that I've been searching for ;)

It was slightly overwhelming, and a little nerve wracking wondering how I was going to get the bare minimum done in time, when I realized that it was great having everyone over and seeing them all, and that my friends, are coming down to visit me... not my house, it's just a box to hold all my stuff and keep me cool during the day.

I was also reminded that although family may be the people that drive you the most crazy, they're also there when it counts.  I'd like to sincerely thank Auntie Mayweather for cleaning my shower floor, I was hoping to get it half that clean, and she spent the better part of her morning before work scrubbing away my dirty footy-prints. 

It. looks. Ah-maze-ing! So amazing in fact, that I have resolved hence-forth to wash my dirty feets *before* getting into the shower.

Thank you Auntie Mayweather. No seriously. Thank you, so much... I owe you one.

Are you sure I was there when this happened?

Sometimes we have these conversations where its like I'm having it with someone else...

I guess you do too though, it's like my alter ego answers for me and then doesn't bother to tell me about it...

On sleep patterns...

My friend said she didn't fall asleep until 4am this morning... I commented about her being on Tokyo time (remembering this C&H strip)

Her response made me giggle:

No, I’m on rebellious time!

When an alarm goes off I get tired... Maybe I should set my alarm to go off when I want to go to sleep!

~The Little Ninja

I ask you

How is it that the last three minutes struggling through a run, feels longer than five minutes of drinking coffee in the sunshine?

*That* friend

Everybody needs that friend who trips you up short...

 just before you descend into your spiralling whirlpool of hypothetical chaos.

That friend who says 

"Dude, stop worrying about things that haven't happened yet. You have enough to contend with."

The one, who will, if absolutely necessary say "Remove head from ass, and use it for once!"

Then reaches down a hand to pull you out of your own Wile E. Coyote body indent.

The one who reminds you to stop, and breath for a moment.

I really appreciate that friend right now.

Thank you, friend.

The miles between strangers, from different worlds and times

You are intrigued, you think I might be interesting... and yet what a disappointment, how boring I must seem. A veritable chasm exists between us, although we appear at first glance to inhabit the same nerdy high-tech world... 

There are experiences I take for granted, that have left their mark on this skin that I wear, and helped shape me into who I am... and yet, here you are, arriving at the same time and place having travelled a completely different path.

It makes me a little bit sad, that you are so far removed from the natural beauty that surrounds you.

How you have no idea what it feels like to fall through fresh powder, or to get tumbled end over end through a wave with your surf board your lungs screaming for air, feeling like you're on the verge of inhaling water... only to break the surface and swim back out to try it again because you were *so* close to riding that last wave...

You've never ridden a bike in any manner that used any muscles other than the ones in your legs, nor have you had it try to throw you into a tree (which to tell you the truth, isn't a bad thing)... Nor have you been soaked to the skin, covered with mud and slush and chilled your face to an unnatural hue... But that also means you've never felt the thrill of accomplishment that comes with navigating a particularly hard section of trail, or just how wonderfully alive your entire body feels when you get off your bike in the parking lot... standing there panting, body steaming, warm muscles twitching as if sounding off that they are still alive and counted for.

Maybe you've woken up sore, a day or two after a particularly hard workout... but I wonder if you feel like you earned it, or if it's just something that you put up with, to maintain your "girlish" figure?

I am trying not to judge you, just as I hope you are doing the same.  This first hurdle is the hardest, getting to know someone when you have completely different perspectives, and it seems no common point of reference. 

When you look at someone surfing, or skiing you see crazy danger... but I see something beautiful and amazing. For a brief second I am caught up in what it feels like and long to do it again.

How do you explain that, to someone who has never done it before?  Describe how doing something feels (which sounds awful to them), but also convey the *entire body* sense of well being that comes after? I haven't found out yet. I will be sure to let you know if I do though.

In any case, I think we could probably learn a lot from each other. I know from experiences past we will find something, and then laugh and wonder why it took so long... but until then bear with me friend, I've come a long way... but I still have a long way yet to go.

I'm a very lucky girl :)

No hurricane warning, no earthquakes, no tsunamis and last I checked chance of tornado... is slim to none.

*deep breath*

Kind of makes everything else in my life pale in comparison...

Boys and girls...

So it occurred to me recently, that one of the differences between lunch out with "the guys" and lunch out with my girlfriends... is that when something like *this* won-ton malfunction happens:

Girlfriends will hand you their own napkin provided it's still relatively clean, and/or any other napkin within reach... while another one waves down the waitress and has her bring a cloth...

Guys? Well if you're lucky, they wont point and laugh... and you might get a helpful between-mouthful "there's a stack of napkins over there" *nod-point*

I guess that's one way to tell you fit in ;)

The meaning of a cup of coffee

I was having one of those afternoons just the other day, where I was daydreaming about how wonderful a hot, fresh cup of coffee would be right about then... when I returned to my desk to discover that some wonderful soul had left a cup of my favorite on my desk for me. I like my coffee like I like my cup size... double-d!

It was like the skies opened up and the angels sang *smiles*

But that got me to thinking. What does it mean? and more so what *can* it mean? Well let me count the ways... because while to you it may just look like a cup of something warm, it can be so much more.

A hot beverage from Timmy's can mean

Welcome, I'd like to introduce myself...
Hello, I'm not a coffee snob... and I'd like to be your friend.
I want to get to know you better, mind if we sit down and talk?

I know you don't understand what I said, but I can see how you might have taken it in a way I didn't mean at all, and for that I would like to sincerely apologize.
I'm sorry, please pardon my earlier rudeness.
I'm not sure what you're upset about, but I bring this as a peace offering.

Just thinking of you.
I appreciate you.
I just wanted to give you a reason to smile.

To warm you up.
*hugs*
Just because.

For a job well done.
I don't know how I can help, I wish I could but I can't... so I grabbed you a coffee.
Share a cup with me, and lets catch up I've missed you.

On top of all that, like the whip cream on the mocha... When someone remembers your favorite, well it's just that little extra bit of awesome... That my friend, means you're important. Important enough, that even though it may cause my head to explode and splatter the five phone numbers I know per person everywhere, I went to the effort of tucking in and remembering something you like... because I like you.

From the Captain...

It's been a quiet day today.  It's evening and despite the fact that I got the mosy screen up on the door there's at least one little bugger in the boat.  For the most part bugs has not been a problem at all, but I guess it's not surprising tonight given how calm it is and being near shore.  The great debate in my mind is when to move south etc. - seem like it might as well be sooner as later since my enthusiasm for exploration is low.

There are a variety of anchorages, all duly numbered by the local boat charter company who kindly distribute their guide and charter map to yachts.  It's a good idea since the local names are essentially impossible for western minds and tongues.  So, the VHF chatter is "meet you at 16 because we really liked the snorkelling there" refers to anchorage 16.  Each anchorage has a write up etc., they are all quite beautiful and somewhat unique.  There's typically some form of small village or cluster of houses etc. nearby because there are only so many places to bring a boat in and that's where both the locals and tourists will be.  It generally works out fine.  Each is unique but there is a sameness as well.  Deep green vegetation to the shore, snorkelling in the coral etc. with the fish - different places are a bit different and some unique features but consistent is many ways.  From a yacht point of view, some places are better protected than others or easier to get secure.  I'm getting jaded.

I've got in some excellent diving here with some spectacular coral.  Not a lot of  big fish (sharks, dolphins, rays etc.) excluding swimming briefly with whales again.  The big draw, I think, for diving is the coral - extensive live reef systems with hard and soft coral, huge fans and other structures.  They also have limestone caves, a swim through etc. for a bit of variety.

The town and indeed the people are third world.  I've also heard it said time and again that things are going downhill economically and you can see it.  I went to a talk by a Tongan man, roughly my age, who left here 30 years ago as a young man and has returned.  He stated that back then, growing up, people had more money freedom relatively though they didn't have cars, electricity, roads, TV's etc.  The islands had a positive import balance and were not reliant on 'remittances' - money sent home by Tongans working away.  Coincidentally, the owner of the dive operation said much the same thing - he's away part of every year and comes back and "things are little worse" with businesses going under or changing hands, infrastructure a little worse etc.

Wandering around town the houses are fairly dilapidated, indeed some of the sheds and shacks are deplorable that people are in but they seem healthy and happy.  The cost of almost anything is silly and given the annal average income is only $2500 to $4000 (and I thing that's Tongan, which is 60% of CAN$) I don't really see how locals manage.  Granted the housing need is minimal and there's not much need for heating etc., and with a garden and someone in the family doing some fishing combined with the pigs and chickens wandering around loose everywhere, I suppose needs are met.

If you were to rely heavily on what grocery stores there are, and what little is stocked, feeding would be very costly.  The locals do shop, and there is an extensive local market with fruit and veg etc., but the prices are high.  How does it all work?  I don't know.  Apparently the problem is the cost of freight - everything is shipped in - combined with a very high import duty ranging between 100% and 200%.  The latter is a sting but I can see it given it's probably the only realistic tax target the government has.  I also suspect there's a certain amount of inefficiency / corruption involved combined with what amounts to userism by the freight handlers (both marine and air).

I've talked to yachties who needed a part flown in and a small box has cost in the order of $1000 to get here.  So, it's interesting and again makes me appreciate how well off we are at home.  I used to think that our relatively low costs for food and 'stuff' was on the backs of the third world - not so certain that's the case.  It seems to me that both classes of items are, in themselves, not expensive anywhere but get expensive by the chicanery of the local system.  If the system is reasonably well run by a reasonably straight and financially solid administration, then there is some efficiency gained and costs are controlled.  Here, there is no efficiency, and costs are silly.

Another example, this is a small town of perhaps 5000 - within 2 blocks there must be 20 small places all stocking and trying to sell the same basic tinned food stuff, fishing stuff, a few items of clothing and hardware and paper products etc.  None of them are well stocked, none do anything well.  All of them move too little product to get decent pricing from any supplier.  And if someone needs something the least bit off "basic, basic" they're SOL.  I need an oar - despite hundreds of yachts and hundreds of local boats, there is one to be had.  A short (6') oar that they want T$187.50 (about C$115).  I didn't buy it.  There is no chandlery.  The local sailboat charter company imports all there own stock from NZ because they get only what they need - the duty on excess kills them)  It's seems like a no win situation which will gradually wind down the population to the point of no return.  The place has some promise but how to make it work with the current set up, people and of course the church is beyond me.  It will stagger along for another bunch of years and go broke in several different ways.  It's sad.

Never the less, it is beautiful to visit if you don't look to hard at the people questions.  The environment is beautiful, the weather is pleasant at this time of year.  The people are friendly if a bit standoffish.

So, what's next?  I'm checking out of here tomorrow and then working south through the next island groups down to Nuku'alofa the capital of Tonga.  There I'll do my final checks, take on some groceries and wait for the weather window for NZ.  It's about a 10 day trip and there's a high probability of getting clobbered by at least one blow along the way.  I chose not to go to Fiji simply because I was trying to avoid a passage.  The time from there to NZ is the same as from Nuka'alofa though arguably the trip is a little easier because you're already further west.

Take care
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At 25/09/2011 5:30 AM (utc) our position was 18°39.83'S 173°58.88'W

From the Captain

Sept 10 was the day last year we finished packing up and got away from NYC.  Now I think it's Sept 9 at home but since I crossed the date line, today is the anniversary of the trip start for me.

Thinking about it, we certainly learned a lot on the trip to San Diego.  Since then I've added some miles to the trip and some experiences.  It'll be another couple of months before the boat is tucked up for a bit and I get home for a visit but I thought a bit about reviewing things tonight, having another muffin and beer and just thinking.

I wanted to say :thank you" so much for taking the time last fall and coming with me on that first learning leg of the trip.  It certainly didn't go as planned but it was an adventure and we learned a lot about boats, each other, the US, people, places and sailing.

You're a great kid - love you lots and really proud of you- and again thanks.

Love

Dad
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At 10/09/2011 4:37 AM (utc) our position was 18°39.35'S 173°59.53'W

Just a touch of respect goes a long way

 When we accept that we do not all walk the same path in life,
nor do we climb the same mountains...
and we can respect that the views are just as beautiful...
may we find that peace is not something that has to be made
but rather has been waiting patiently within us all along.

Look before you leap

"Just look where you want to go, and the rest will follow"... the rental shop girl said to a couple of girls who had never ridden downhill before.  She was giving them some advice about riding the berms around corners, and I spared it little thought, other than a half smile in anticipation.

To be honest I was a little nervous, and a lot excited... This would be my third time riding downhill, and I was doing it without my best sports friend. Although I swear: she will be the death of me yet, she's the best confidence booster I know.

Little did I know when I heard it that morning, that the phrase would drift and weave through my thoughts all day. Bouncing and echoing around until it ended up in some dark crevice up there, where it turned around three times, curled up and sank in. Such a deceivingly simple phrase, that can be applied in much broader strokes... to life.

Look where you want to go, and the rest will follow.

Where was I... The day of riding? Well with a little skill, my enduring disturbing lack of fear, some blind faith and a whole lot of luck... I survived ;) It was absolutely fantastic! I ripped up the trail, I totally nailed some features I never would have been able to do last year and it was SO TOTALLY AWESOME!!!!!! I flew down the mountain, *whispers* and only over the handlebars twice... and once was on account of a mud pit that tried to eat my bike, I wrestled it back of course ;)

I even did a beam that was longer-than-I-realized-when-I-started *and* three guys were watching! I only let one tentative curse escape near the end when I didn't think I was going to make it... but I totally did *smug smile*... If I had been walking away, it would have been some strut let me tell you ;)

The weather was pretty much perfect, a sprinkling of rain to keep the dust down, and enough mud puddles to make it interesting and get me and The Fury sufficiently dirty. I got to go play outside, and I loved every second of it *smiles*

Today, I have hurty bits on top of hurty bits, but I know I earned every single one of them along with the bruises in the strangest place from my handlebars. I'm not really sure when they got close enough to my legs to bruise them... but they managed.

I also listened to that little inner voice when it said "Dude... we're done, and if you try to pull that *just* one more run down, I'm going to throw you off and beat you within an inch of your life." I couldn't hear it until it yelled at me, with the pain and stiffness cutting through the cusp of the wave awesomeness I was riding down, but after that I surrendered gracefully.

Happy Canada Day!

My body feels like it has been reset... after a weekend of extremes it has somehow rolled with it and taken the average... almost a calm after the storm, when the tornado has blown through and you're standing in shock looking at the wreckage wondering what you're supposed to do now.


Last night, that first real hot shower after the weekend... was bittersweet. That hot water feels so good washing off the blood, sweat and sunscreen that has literally bonded itself with the ball dirt into a second skin... but watching it run down the length of the tub and out the drain, well it about saps your remaining energy and you come down from the high of the weekend...

 Not only did you leave it all out on the field, every muscle in your body spent, every ounce of energy reserves used up... but mostly you realize that the friends you reconnected with, and the new friends you made... are people you wont see again, until the next ball tournament. You have to take the good times from the weekend and pack them up and use them to gently fill the aching space left behind.

 It occurred to me, that tournaments aren't always about playing ball, they're a reunion of sorts. When you get that many people together in one place, all with similar intentions... you're bound to find a kindred spirit or two. I'm pretty sure it's good for the soul... because that would explain the contentedness I feel rather than the ouch I was expecting.

This is ground zero, I'm pretty sure the ouch will kick in tomorrow.

I'd like to amend this to note, the ouch kicked in but it wasn't nearly as bad as I had feared... it's great to be alive *s*

Oh right, and we came in second... couldn't find our bats for the last game, but I guess it wasn't that important because I still had a fantastic Funtastic weekend ;)

Advice

Comes with no warranty implied or otherwise, and there is no lifetime guarantee...

Use or discard at your own risk. 

I am in no way liable for the results or consequences.
Unless of course its good, then I will assume full responsibility.

Idle thought

It just occurred to me, that you don't necessarily have to agree with me on everything for us to get along. The trick is to be able to disagree with me in an intelligent manner, and for us to be able to arrive at a solution together.

Solving all the world's problems in a weekend

The foods we have eaten this weekend have bordered on indecent... I should be going to church to repent the impure thoughts I've been having.

The divine smells emanating from the marinating steaks in the fridge, the chocolate chip cookies in the oven... the tastes and textures of the infamous newly invented potato salad as each bite has a party in your mouth and then tells you to invite it's friends.

The feeling of being full, but having just enough room for one more bite... Planning each meal down to the intimate details far in advance of actually having to prepare it...

Mmmmmm noms *dreamy smile*

I mean really if the entire world started their morning the way we did this morning, there would be no war. Everyone would be snuggled up with a smile on their face napping!

I'm not going to lie, I've run out of wonderful words to describe the fantastically fabulous food we've had this weekend.

Mild mannered Sam by day...

This evening was interesting... hectic... crazy even!

It started out normal enough, I was house-sitting, chilling with the dogs, and chatting with my Mom about Dad leaving to start his adventure again when my roommate's Mom called...

It was along the lines of "Nate's having trouble with his truck, I can't do anything from here, I'm bringing his alternator down tomorrow evening but he needs to get to school for the next two days can you help him?" I assured her that I would call her son and figure something out, and not to worry.

Talking to him, his evening could have been turned into a lesson on how to trash talk your truck 101, complete with an addendum of responses from the truck. I didn't follow the mechanics of all the troubles he had... but it's along the lines of the alternator was going... he knew it was, but had his fingers crossed it would last two more days. The big indicator was stalling at a light on the way home and not being able to start it, then jump starting it in reverse cause it's a standard, leaving it running without the fan on and blowing the starter out the side of the engine block *squints* I think that about covers it.

Oh right and he wasn't so concerned about getting the alternator down here... as he was that he didn't know which tools he would need. He was sounding a little stressed, I told him I was going to make some calls, and that in the mean time he should take a deep breath ;)

Three phone calls, a friend who's a mechanic and some musical cars later I had it sorted... I would go to taekwondo to get a couple extra classes in before my belt test next week, drop my car off with him at the apartment and borrow my friend's. If she needed it tomorrow I would drop it off at her place and walk to work, if not well even better I can still get my Timmy's in the morning!

Driving home in the PT Cruiser though gave me a chance to reflect on the events of the evening... and I realized that the ability to rally your resources and just "make something work, one way or another" comes from my best friend's family.

With them, it doesn't matter who it is, if you need help they're the ones you want on your side... They have a way of pulling together, organizing and making it work. It's absolutely incredible to witness... once someone has figured out what needs to happen, there's no huge debate, it just gets done... one step at a time, with as many people called in as necessary.

It's a pretty good feeling when you can help someone else out, especially when they've tied a knot and they're hanging from the end of their rope. At the end of the day, we've all been there... when your panties are so twisted they've cut off circulation to your brain, and really... lets be honest, one of these days I'm going to need a friend when I don't know it.

So here's to paying karma forward a little, or maybe just catching up on some of the karma I must have used on our boat shenanagins ;)

Cheers