I think it's a sign

What is that... spreading damp wet feeling under my foot...? *perplexed*

Oh. I'm standing on the bite valve for my water bladder.

Now might be a good time to go to bed. *sigh*

Sent... While in transit ;)

How to park the camper

It is very important, that when you go camping, as a couple you have worked out how to park a camper...

Man's criteria: The area should be relatively flat.
Wife's criteria: Closer to the washroom, closer to the picnic table, must have the nicest view available, and... I suppose relatively flat.

It is important to note here that the Wife's relatively flat is not the same as the Man's relatively flat. In fact these figures can differ by almost a foot.

Start off with a light verbal fencing. Both arguing in favor of the spot they've chosen as the right one... even though they both know, Man will come around to the Wife's position when she says: "You're such a good driver honey, I'm sure you can back it in here no problem." At this point Man's ego puffs up his chest by blowing hot air up his... *coughs* and says "Of course we can, we are Man!"

Next the wife assumes the role of the air traffic controller, consistently standing *only* in the blind spots using a rare dialect of hand signals known only if you're telepathetic... all the while shouting helpful hints into the roar of the exhaust including such phrases as "Yep just a little bit further, no no tuck it in a bit... yep, no the other way... straighten out, wait pull forward a little... hang on... oh yeah, yeah you're good... now you just need 4 more inches" (This is similar to the relatively flat size discrepancy thing...) Man's muttering and grumbling drowns in the rumble of the diesel, which has saved many a marriage.

Finally comes the device of measuring levelness... followed by the shovel, and most of a box of flat firewood. A half-foot stack of firewood on one side, a trench on the other, and some serious golden horseshoes later and you have yourself a perfectly level camper. Be sure to build up that bottom step though, as the camper has more or less attained porch height status!

Woman's Conclusion - "See honey, I knew you could park it here, nice work! Just look at this beautiful view!" Translation: I told you you could do it ;)

Man's Conclusion - "If I'd gotten out here before her, I could have had the camper parked and set up in 10 minutes and been drinking a cold one already!"

Oops

I don't think it's supposed to go like that...
This picture really doesn't do it justice, but that chain is wedged in that wheel like a thong in your whoohoo. No, like I had to get a ride back to the village.
This is why you pay $25 for insurance... Because this is easily $200 worth of damage! The guy at the shop pointed out though, expensive as biking is... It's still cheaper than a drug habit. See Mom, it's still good for me.
Fantastic day though, and no extra scrapes... Couple bruises but nothing photo worthy... Yet ;)
*this* even happened on close enough to the last ride down that I didn't mind catching a ride back lol (don't tell Mitts though, she *always* lasts longer than I do)

Edit: latest estimate comes in around $400... sooooo glad I got the insurance :D

A good day

Programming is like an epic adventure, there are long monotonous treks... without which you'd never reach the raging battles, soul crushing defeats or times of magic when the stars align and legends are born.

Right now, as we speak lightning fire is flowing from my fingertips and pixie dust sparkles are bursting from my eyelashes. It's a good day of programming!!!!!

Noms

Thanks to my inspiration into the wonderful world of good cooking... I couldn't just throw together some scrambled eggs and dry toast at eleven o'clock at night, nooooOoo...

So here I am at 11:30 putting the finishing chive *garnish* on poached eggs over toasted English muffins with cream cheese and tomato on them...

*rolls eyes* so it might be a little extreme, I may need an intervention... I would have taken a picture, it was beautiful, but I was starving so I'm not quite there yet.

By the way, despite this sounding like I'm just making it *right now* I'm not gonna lie, I totally ate first...

Sent... While in transit ;)

Poetic injustice...

My friend Mitts just texted me: "The dog just farted by me and then walked away."

I told her it was just "for all those times you thought you got away with blaming it on him"... He knows you did it, and he was not amused. Revenge, is that dog farts stink more.

I give up

Biking obviously isn't good for me. Maybe I should stick to walking, and just wear a helmet.

Time well wasted

Today I got up at the ridiculous hour of 6:30am on my weekend to go fishin' Which is a minor miracle as when I went to hop in the shower to wake up, I discovered that the power was out. I only attempted to turn the bathroom light and fan on and off twice before I figured it out.

Needless to say I was moderately disorganized as that threw my entire morning routine completely out the window... well that and I couldn't even put oatmeal on. Due to the layout of my apartment, you can literally walk in circles. For me, this is not always a good thing... and I did a couple laps this morning, you know, just to uh get the blood flowing. Yeah, that's it.

The troubles of the morning were soon forgotten though with a large double double in hand, and we drove off to the backwater lakes of Lavington.

This is Herb lake. We didn't catch nuthin' on Herb lake... oh wait, that's not entirely true... we did catch ourselves. Somehow we managed to get three of our four fishing lines, lures, clips and weights tangled. I don't know how that could have happened in such a small boat?!?! *giggles*

I'm honestly willing to bet that the nibble I thought I *might* have gotten (other than the colossal cluster) was probably a weed with a fishing line deficiency.

Three hours later, I had concluded that fishing was a zen like state you used to test your patience... and that being outside enjoying this beautiful world that we live in, and the company was more important than actually catching fish.

Then we went up the road to ummm some other lake *squints* I can't tell you the name cause it's a secret, but there were lots of fishies in it, and they were biting! It was so funny, because we were about two minutes away from the boat ramp when Ed says "This is about where we were when we caught them last time..." and BANG! He had a fish. I'm not even kidding you!

Of course the first fish I caught was the biggest one, probably weighing in at about a pound... soaking wet ;)

We did innumerable laps around the lake and caught a tonne of fish! And by tonne I mean I caught at least four, and had a bunch of good solid teasing nibbles... and Ed caught a bunch too *smiles*

What a fantastic way to wrap up the weekend! I mean really, how spoiled am I?! Please, don't answer that ;)

Did you know that...

Little niggling question, brought about by Mom on the boat and not being able to find the popcorn. (I'm not actually sure that we ever packed any in the first place) Nonetheless, she was complaining that the grocery story in Tahiti only had microwave popcorn...

Well that got me to thinking. "Can you cook microwave popcorn in a pot on the stove?" Like your Granny used to, back in the day, you know before microwaves.

I mean really, I don't see why not.  The basic premise of popcorn, is that you heat it until it can't contain it's water anymore and it explodes into a fluffly white air filled snack lacking any nutritional value whatsover.... A snack that somehow tricks you into thinking that your stomach is full.  The only thing with microwave popcorn is that someone put it in a paper bag, figured out the optimal cholesterol per kernal ratio... and that it should take *waggles hand* aboouuuut three minutes on high.

Two sore arms later ~ that haven't made popcorn the old fashioned way since Girl Guide camp, the answer is yes... more or less. I got one small bowl of beautiful normal fluffy popcorn. Further testing is required to determine if you can actually pop the whole bag, without burning the second half. So if you're feeling enthusiastic try it out and let me know, I don't think I'll be doing it any time soon... my arms are tired.

The pen was mightier...

Just working on a project which I will hopefully finish in this lifetime... Involving strangling a fountain pen to death, I mean an attempt at some old school calligraphy. It's not all fancy, the way the professionals do it... but I really think it's coming along and starting to look better!

Dori sings "Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming..."

One thing in life I've learned is worrying only wastes your energy - don't get down on yourself, you solve more problems when you're energetic and ready to go.  Find little successes and celebrate them.
~Mich

Sometimes I need a poke in the ribs reminding me to pull my head out of the proverbial bucket water to breath. This was it today. Thanks for the gentle nudge in the upwards direction.

Definitely!?!?

Funny just happened at work, there was a bug in Aaren's office and I was all ewwwww what is that?!?

He promptly stepped on it and said "That's an earwig..." Now I know what earwigs look like, and that wasn't an earwig... So he takes off his shoe, looks at the unidentifiable smear on the bottom and goes "Yep, that's definitely an earwig"

Doodles

Why can't the little things just be easy?!?

And I thought it took a long time to do things on the boat.

One hour, and four trips later to two different bike shops... and I finally have a quick release collar. What is so special about a quick release collar you ask? Well now I can quickly change the height of my seat without setting up an all you can eat buffet for the local mozzie population.

Trip one was really more of a recon mission, so it doesn't really count. I learned that you need the outside diameter of the down tube, and that I could just bring it in and they'd measure it.

Trip two I brought my bike down and Buddy measured the down tube diameter. Please note that this was *with* calipers.

I got home, easily removed the old collar and realized there was that moldy green grease on everything *before* I got it all over myself and my apartment, and on top of that I managed *not* to get it on the new part... that. didn't. fit.

Trip three was so I could exchange return the collar that wasn't going to stretch enough to fit even if I had some kind of spreader...

Trip four was up the road to the *other* bike shop, which after some digging finally found a Kona one which would fit.

So all in all, $11 dollars later I have a new "ooooh shiny!" quick release collar of awesomeness. I will no longer be able to blame walking up steep hills on the lack of torque due to seat height... but seat changes will no longer take as long as a full service pit stop.

From the Commadore

Reflections on my Trip

Well I've been home just over a week now and am finally getting my brain back into work mode.  I realize the problem this year is an allergy I've developed.  I got hay fever for the first time ever this spring and it's making my head fuzzy as well as runny eyes and nose.  The problem disappeared in Tahiti but is back with a vengeance now!

Talked to your dad last night.  The first time we've ever made contact with the home radio.  Woot! Woot!  The band conditions must have been just right.  He's going to leave soon as his visa runs out in 5 days.  That means he's been in French Polynesia 90 days!  Wow, hard to believe it's been that long.  He was going to check out the storage yard on the island he's at now tomorrow and then head out for the Cook Islands or Tonga after that.  Also, he was going to do another guided dive but it got cancelled due to high winds in the anchorage.  Hopefully he can do it today.

Anyways, about my trip.  Being back makes me realize how thankful I am for all the modern conveniences.  I love not having to pump the toilet to flush; the dishwasher, clothes washer and shower are all a huge treat having been away from them for a month. I'm not really the camping type.  I loved camping with Brownies & Guides for a 2 1/2 day weekend but I really missed all the water appliances while I was boating.  

On the other hand, I really miss the gentle rocking of the boat when I sleep, the fantastic view from the bunk porthole, the warmth of the air and sea, swimming with the tropical fish, all the fresh tropical fruit and veggies which were all so sweet, the vendors that sold the stuff every day on the roadside and the amazing flavours of ice cream.  

I do not miss the dirt on the boat, the sharp corners on which I stubbed my toes and the fires on shore every day which led to some seriously smokey days at times.  Bathing in a horse trough is not my idea of a fun thing to do although hand washing clothes while looking at palm trees was a very Zen like experience which I would love to achieve at home staring at the trees.  I guess the lesson there is that I need to do my hand wash clothes outside on the porch rather than in the bathroom which has no windows.  And being away from all the demands on my time was good.  I'm slowly ramping up into work mode again.

Love and hugs,

Mom

The Commadore

*whispers* after surviving a whole month aboard Marimba 2, I thought a promotion was in order... Ok, well that and Mom thought that "The Captain's Consort" sounded Mistressish...*waggles hand* Heh. Sorry Mom, love you! ;)

I did look it up before I used it, just to be sure she wouldn't outrank me, The Admiral, and I kind of liked all the definitions. (Although, I don't mind being a pirate wench, so I'm not really the best pilot audience)

Consort: (For pronunciation sound it out.. I don't have all those special characters on my keyboard)

1. The husband or wife of a reigning monarch
2.  A family of similar musical instruments playing together
3. A husband, wife, companion or partner
4. A ship accompanying another

In honor of the volumes of personal growth attained on your voyage, I shall henceforth refer to thee as The Commadore.

Commadore:

1. (military) a commissioned naval officer who ranks above a captain and below a rear admiral; the lowest grade of admiral.

I just ate sh...*ahem* dirt...

... and after all these years nothing has changed. I reached the same conclusion I did when I was 5. It *still* doesn't taste good.

I just had the worst bike ride ever.

I drove up Silverstar to go for a ride starting at the cross country ski area, and there were mosquitos but they were alright... I made it through riding the majority of the uphill bits, and then not too long after starting on the downhill I totally did a faceplant over the handlebars, I think I caught my pedal on the edge of the trail or something and then I just didn't let go in time, it wasn't really that big of a deal I wasn't going very fast, just scraped my knee a little.

It irritated me more than a little though.

I was having trouble finding my groove, so I decided to take the shorter trail down and skip the other uphill bits... and not too far down *that* trail there was a tree that was down. I think my wild angels must have been frolicking around with the butterflies, or they took a day off and forgot to mention it... because I tried to ride over that tree and totally did the hugest endo *and* scorpioned. (My bike landed on top of me facing backwards) and it wasn't just a little bit on top of me, it spread its weight out like a champion wrestler!

I scraped and bruised the same knee a little more, pouted, ignored the mosquitoes, regrouped over some powerade, then dusted myself off and carried on down. 

Hot, sweaty, dirty... bruised, bleeding and sore I couldn't even just walk away and lick my wounded pride... The mosquitoes were so bad I had to keep moving fast enough just so that I could see where I was going, and every time I slowed down the dark cloud of biothermo carbon dioxide nano-syringe's proximity alarms went off, and they threatened to consume me... literally. Or at very least turn me into a non-suitable blood host, leaving a mere husk of Sam... Just add the necessary pints of blood and other plasmids for your very own life size model.

I have never been so glad to see my car at the end of a ride, even that time we went camping and it rained for like 10 days... and everything that wasn't wet got wet when I fell in the creek. That was just a tired peaceful relief compared to this.

Even being at work after a long weekend was better *storm cloud frown*

Oh well, at least I had peas in the freezer... scientistically or not, they still make the best ice pack for the funny shaped bendy parts of your appendages.

When duct tape doesn't fix it...

Just add a dribble of epoxy, and duct tape over that!

Anatomy, from a 5 year old perspective

G-unit: "Nooo don't poke me in the belly button..."

TC *innocently dripping with mock sincerity*: "Why don't you like being poked in the belly button?"

G-unit: "Because my belly button is attached to my penis, and it hurts"

Being five he proceeded to demonstrate... poking himself in the belly button, falling to the floor and rolling around like a soccer player who's just been kicked in the junk. All by itself it was funny. When his 3-year old cousin "the hell cat"started imitating him (and she's a girl) it was all over.

From the Captain...

I'm sitting in the heat in Raitrea and the decision has been made that I'm going on to New Zealand and not exercising the other options that were available. I have to clear French Polynesia in a week because my visa expires, so I head for the Cook Islands and then Tonga, in basically two 5 day hops. After that it's island hopping to Fiji, than hanging around until mid October for the final leg to NZ. Then find a marina, work on the boat, probably fly home for Christmas for a month or 2, come back to NZ and,with crew, sail home.

That exercise will, I figure, be in three legs. NZ to Tahiti (3 weeks of getting beaten up), some cruising around here, then Tahiti to Hawaii (3 weeks) with a couple weeks at most there, then 3 weeks to Vancouver Island. If I leave NZ after mid March, I get here around April - but I shouldn't leave here until about June 1 -- so there's an opportunity for some cruising time in Fr. Polynesia if one wishes to avoid the long hauls. Alternatively, time spent in New Zealand might be fun as well. So, if you wish to book some time, proceed to plot - I don't think I need to know until say Christmas. I will be posting a request for crew and see what I get for each of the three hops. Apparently crew is generally not a problem as people are looking for the experience etc. See what happens.

I think I outlined the diving I did, the only other thing was time spent with a mechanic trying to find the cause of the noise that haunts me - without any success. The engine etc. "looks" fine - I just hope there's nothing seriously wrong that won't wait until NZ. Getting fuel from the main fuel tank may be a challenge - I think I may have to cut in the fuel pump I had your Mom bring so I can pump into a gerry can and put that into the keel tanks and run the engine from there - seems to work. Then there's the main water tank that seems to have a leak so it's empty and not in use. I've bought a couple of 20 l jugs and I'm trusting I won't have a problem with the short hops before NZ. That's about it. Take care.

Dad

Anyway, moving on.

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At 31/07/2011 6:29 AM (utc) our position was 16°43.64'S 151°28.76'W