The Blog Is Back? (Well, kinda)

Saturday
14 April 2007
N34’ 29.023”
W082’ 49.277”

Sorta.

This amounts to improvising a bit, but with Ken’s technical expertise (and the help of a tiny laptop) I’m doing my best to get back to regular posting.

Wow, the past few months have been hectic. So let’s get started.

JUST SOME CATCHING UP AND GETTING CURRENT Department

It’s 5:48AM and I’m anchored out at Zombie (“Horseshoe Island”). Not with Ben, and not with The Key West Kid either. You may already have surmised from Fran’s previous post that the new love-boat in my life is Calypso.

MEET MY NEW HOUSE

Calypso is a 1984 28-ft Carver “Riviera”. Hence she’s 23 years old (and also explains the nickname “CC” … Calypso Carver) and was built in Wisconsin. She’s a “twin” because she has two engines and her hull was designed for “bluewater” cruising … which hints at CC’s yearning to explore exotic foreign locales.

Of course I’d seen her before many times over the years, but our relationship was nothing more than a flirtation. (Brent Sears himself was with me when I finally met Calypso, btw.)

THIS IS WHERE I LIVE:

I’m down about halfway, on the right.

THIS IS MY FRONT YARD:

WOW, THAT SOUNDS EXTRAVAGANT Department

Calypso is 11 feet wide, has central heat and air, an electric stove and microwave, a shower, toilet, two bunks in back, a diesel generator … but cost much less than a new a 4-door luxury sedan.

Insurance is virtually the same as for my car and the monthly slip fee is significantly less than half what I was paying for utilities at the house.

Even with two gasoline engines, Calypso will cruise at 7mph sipping only six gallons per hour. Not bad fuel economy considering you’re driving your house around the lake … (although it was a shock the first time I filled up at the gas dock; $2.75 x 180 gallons=you do the math :-))

AND THE WORST PART IS Department

Doing laundry. I don’t mind cooking or not having mail delivery or even not having routine web access.

But the nearest Laundromat is a 4 mile drive each way. The washing machines only hold about as much as a motorcycle helmet and the dryers eat quarters by the handfuls.

$12 bucks to do laundry? Ridiculous.

If I could find a scrub board at the Jockey Lot I’d hang a clothes line alongside my slip and get busy with a soap bucket, I’m serious.

PAPA’S GOT A BRAND NEW BAG Department

It’s true. Three weeks ago Mike “The Asphalt Mariner” asked me if I was interested in being his assistant. Mike does it all when it comes to fixing and maintaining boats, everything from overhauling outdrives, rebuilding engines, installing toilets, repairing fiberglass or replacing damaged woodwork and cabinetry.

Shoot, he was even willing to pay me to go to work for him … heck, I woulda shouted “YES!” and jumped at the chance even if I’d had to pay HIM … so having the chance to learn from and watch “The Master” at work, and getting paid to boot is awesome.

It’s like getting a crash course at U-Can-Fix-It U.

HOW GOOD IS MIKE REALLY?

Here, decide for yourself:

A through-hull is a plumbing coupling that threads into the bottom of the hull, under the waterline, from the outside to inside the boat, to allow a controlled flow of water either into or out of the boat … like, for cooling pumps.

Actually installing a through-hull amounts to drilling a 2-3” hole in the bottom of your boat, pushing the through-hull in from the outside and then threading and sealing it more or less permanently in place to keep the hull water-tight. (Remember the words Controlled Flow, hee hee).

Drilling holes in the bottom sounds like something you’d want to do when your boat is out of the water , right?

Not so:

Mike can drill a hole in the bottom of a boat while it’s in the water and screw in a through-hull from inside the boat all by himself. Figure that one out.

Yesterday Mike told me, “I don’t want everybody knowing my tricks. But I don’t mind showing you, because you can’t remember.”

Ha ha.

A JOE OF ALL TRADES Department

In the past three weeks I’ve learned lots of useful stuff that might come in handy someday. I’ve also met somebody who’s hinted about teaching me a thing or two about TIG welding.

If there’s a downside to my new job it’s that now when I tell Mike, “The trim tabs aren’t working on Calypso” or “The manifold risers on Ben are leaking and need replacing” or “The genset’s solenoid is stuck” he just shakes his head and says, “Well, schedule yourself to go over and fix it.”

Time consuming, but Cool.

BUT HEY, WHAT ABOUT BEN? Department

Ben’s excited about moving west to a new home on Lake Powell in Arizona, near Page. My friend Photographer Bill and I are gonna split the costs … and Ben is just right for exploring narrow canyons and sandy beaches.

LOOK! LOOK WHAT HAPPENED TO MY STUFF! Department

I finally sold the house. The new owners bought the furniture, and even asked to keep Luke too (taking dogs to Tanzania is a No-No, due to illnesses carried by tsetse flies).

DJ, Will and Lloyd helped move the mini-mountain of my personal stuff to a mini-warehouse a half mile from the marina. Everything’s carefully boxed and labeled, but that doesn’t mean I can find anything or know where such and such is.

Seeing all the locked doors at the mini-warehouse complex reminded me somehow of visiting a graveyard. And that’s what those storage facilities amount to, vast mausoleums of materialism. We have so much stuff we end up renting space to bury it in because our stuff seems so “valuable” it’s worth keeping.

Even a month later, when we forget what’s even there … nonetheless, every rented space is sealed with an expensive lock.

THIS MORNING’S FUNNIEST TXT MESSAGE Department

Arrived from TPW around 2:15AM:

“Don’t you know only monsters are awake this time of night?”

I GOT A SHARK IN A JAR Playlist:
"Mack the Knife"

HOW'S ABOUT AN OLD-TIME PLAYLIST Department

"Word of God Speak"

See ya tomorrow!

Here's an idea...Papa and I have formulated a plan. I blow off the Masters, meet Papa at the airport, we hop a plane to Vegas, kidnap B and spend the rest of the week shoe shopping and watching shows. I know how to do the Vegas Showgirl walk by the way. I learned in dance class. And PR knows how to kill a NY Strip. So look for the next post from Vegas in a few days!

Deep Thoughts from Dock #6

Hello, O.R.P. here, posting for Papa Ridgeback. He left a series of long messages on my voice mail, and here are the main points:

* Papa has done much introspection from his place aboard the CC on dock #6 (He reports that she is a vast improvement from his spot on the trailer on the hill). Papa has come to the conclusion that he must be the most boring man on earth. This is a conclusion with which I emphatically disagree, but no one asked for my opinion. He thinks of what promise a date with him holds: No sex, no drunkenness, no gambling, no pornography, nothing untoward at all. Just wholesome conversation, maybe some good food, and a moonlit sail across the lake on a very sophisticated little boat.. (I think that sounds pretty good, but once again, just my opinion...) ;-)

* Papa has noticed that each action has a ripple effect. For example, when Mike the Mechanic drops his wrench into the lake, it causes ripples that make Buck the Duck bob and quack ("I thought this was a no wake zone! Quaaaack!!). Someone invited me to New Spring and my life changed. Then I was the 1,276,998th person to ask Papa to come to New Spring, and he came and his life changed. That's a pretty big ripple. Kinda cool, huh? Makes you start to think about your actions, both positive and negative, doesn't it?

And Now, O.R.P. must be going.. I have a trip to pack for and a horse to go brush!

Luck Be A Lady

CC (Calypsa Carver) here. F gave me PR's password. I hope this isn't TMI but actually I call him "My Captain". It's my little pet name for him. So F asked me to tell all the readers a few things about myself. Let's see...first of all let me say that since Captain has come into my life things haven't been the same. Where as before I saw the lake as half empty, now it's half full. I love beaches, sunnshine and sunsets. Cocktail hour while at sea and music. My passion is travel. I love anywhere new, strange or exotic. Some of my favorite spots on Earth are Potistika, Kaputas in Turkey where you most stop at port for an amazingly refreshing pomegranate gin and tonic, next on to Italy where I love visit Pollara in Salina, Stromboli where my drink of choice would be a Campari Martini (by the way this is where Ingrid Bergman and director Roberto Rossellini had there 1949 affair), and of course anywhere in the Riviera. I love France, especially south France. When in France I recommend La Plage des Aresquiers as your first stopover. I am looking forward to a long and happy future with My Captain and hope we discover many new and exciting lands and waters together.
On The CC Playlist
Escape (The Pina Colada Song)-Rupert Holmes

Where The Wild Things Are

F here making a guest star post for Papa. Once again, Papa is out at the marina and unable to post. I guess I'll get right to the point and I hope I'm not letting the cat out of the bag here :), but....Papa seems to have a new relationship in his life. Mums been the word when I've talked to PR but I had a sneaking suspicion there was someone new. You know, that faraway look in his eye, walking a little taller...all the typical "I'm so in love I'm about to call Delilah and request a love song"symptoms were there. Finally I called his bluff. Actually, I happened to meet her by chance when I dropped by the marina to give PR his birthday gift (a Yankee candle) and then I knew my suspicions were true and called his bluff. So, she's from Wisconcin, twenty-two years old, very exotic, glamourous, well traveled, and seems to compliment PR in every way. She was not inimidated of me at all when we were introduced and to my surprise we took to each other immediately. Who exactly is she? Well, her name is Clyssa Carver and she floats atop the water on dock number 6!!!

On the PR Playlist (and probably on Delilah as well)
Will You Be My Girl-Jet

Come Sail Away

Hello, O.R.P. here. It seems I am now a regular poster here at the Blue Book. I talked to Papa last night. He was sitting on Ben at the Marina, watching Buck the Duck, who had anchored himself somewhere behind the boat and was singing duckish lullabyes to himself.

Apparently Buck got very agitated yesterday when Mike the Marvelous Mechanic and Joe Haul were moving a cabinet from a boat to the dock. He kept quacking that the cabinet smelled like bread, and that he was starving. "Can't you see my little ribs??" He quacked, trying to get the guys to open the cabinet for him. Papa reports that there was no food in the cabinet. He thinks perhaps Buck has issues. I wonder if ducks really have ribs? I know that birds have hollow bones, but... I digress.

Anyway, here's the latest playlist, straight from the duck's mouth:
Drifting - Jimi Hendrix
Axis - Bold as Love
Silver Spring - Fleetwood Mac

Taking the Sexual Test Drive

I've heard single women admit, "I'd never marry a guy without sleeping with him first." But this is geared toward men. What does it say about a man who shrugs, "I'd have to sleep with a woman first ... to find out if we're sexually compatible."

I must be a simpleton, because my thinking goes like this:

You've already read about Mike the Mechanic. Mike can make a boat walk sideways to its mooring without steering the wheel. I know because I've seen him do it.

Mike can make boats do amazing things. Mike doesn't need how-to manuals, parking aids, engine additives, Dr. Phil or batteries to get the job done. Mike has the soft touch and feels how to make boats the size of a small apartment building come around.

Even in near-gale conditions when the bass-boaters are running for shore.

It's not even a matter of experience.

Mike listens to what the boat's doing, knows how to judge conditions like wind and current & doesn't fight the boat's disposition, knows when to apply or reverse the throttles and back down ... but most important no matter what happens or suddenly changes Mike doesn't give up, start screaming, blame the boat or the manufacturer, jump overboard and start looking for a new boat if things start getting hinky once he's committed.

Hmmm. Mike sticks with the plan he had it mind when he first got onboard.

I'm guessing Mike doesn't much feel the need to take any boat out "for a test drive" before he commits to one, either.

Zing

Hope to be posting regularly again soon, but since there's no web access at the marina, updates remain sketchy.

"Hey, You there! Stop Sinning!" Department

You don't have to any more. Really.

Turning Over a New Leaf?

Hello, O.R.P. here, posting yet again for Papa, who is still among the technologically challenged, since Ben has no modern capabilities at all, unless you count high-speed leaks. Bless his heart.

Anyway, Papa reports that he has showers again, so we can all breathe a collective sigh of relief. ;-) Papa has also embarked on a new career and has subsequently changed his name. He is helping Mike the Magical Mysterious Mechanic move boats in and out of the water for repairs, etc. and is therefore to be known as "Joe Haul" from here on out.

He's made a new friend as well. The marina is home to a very angry little duck known as Buck the Duck. He quacks at our Papa incessantly until Papa throws something edible his way. Buck is very conscientious about mealtimes, and has taken to following Papa around his parking-lot, quacking something about new york strips from the Gallery.

Buck says that he has never seen a blog, but that he would try one if we threw it to him. He also says that bleu cheese is culinary pornography for humans, and that someone needs to alert Reverend Joe Dale immediately.

We haven't heard from him in a while...

C++ Change

I'm blogging from a Mac ... and AVCLUB.US is mine!

Ha ha, eeeeh.

Agua, por favor!

Hi, O.R.P. here, posting once again for poor stranded Papa. He is still on a boat on a trailer on a hill, only now the house is officially sold. Papa reports that he is dangerous and homeless, but I wonder how dangerous he can be when he is suddenly several tons lighter. ;-)

Ben has a new engine now, but apparently that may or may not be an improvement. In addition, Papa reports that the marina has turned off the water for some sort of repair work being done on site. That means no showers or potable water on board Ben.

So in other words, Papa is dangerous, homeless, and smelly. I would like to state for the record that he is welcome to come to our house and abuse our showers anytime he feels like driving over here. I have a plethora of lovely scented bath gels and soaps and little scrubby thingies and extra new toothbrushes. And since L and Trigger are both more or less bald now, and Papa has been tearing his hair out for the past month or so, he will fit right in!

On the Papa Needs a Shower Playlist:
Dirrrty- Christina Aguliera
Bring Me Some Water- Melissa Ethridge

A Few Ugly Words for Wednesday

The 6 Ugliest Words in the English Language:
I don't love you any more.

The 5 Ugliest:
You owe me for that.

The 4 Ugliest:
I won't forgive you.

The 3 Ugliest (tie):
I hate you.
What about me.

The Ugliest Two Words (tie):
I quit.
I can't.
I'm scared.

The Ugliest Word in the English Language:
Mine.

The Fool on the Hill

Ben finally got wet for the first time in two years yesterday afternoon. Trouble is, he never left his trailer. Just a few little things popped up tween here and yonder.

The transmission won't go into gear because something like a solenoid is stuck. And the replacement engine's starboard riser is cracked and sprays water all over the bilge while the engine's running (this type of thing can contribute in a huge way to sinking) .

Last but not least, the replacement engine's fuel hose leaks gasoline into the bilge (this type of thing can contribute to ... oh, never mind).

Meanwhile, here's a photo I took this morning.


"Moonrise over Ben, New Engine"

Over on Dock 4 looks like a beaver is building his own condo in the slip next to The Kid.

I like the open, airy feel he incorporated into the foundation. Very nature-friendly, me thinks.

Funny Thing

I never noticed there's a big fat "i" smack dab in the middle of PRIDE.

Blue Book Birthday Shout Out
to Mia in Seneca, who turns 18 today.

How things look from the west coast

-excerpt from D's recent email, a friend from Aspen. Now she's an attorney in LA:

I will confess to voyeuristic tendencies in checking your blog but I usually feel it is written in code for those who are in the know. One entry did give me pause. I surmised it was some reflection on past relationships ... I have never been around on the "down" side of one of your relationships so I never thought of you as one of the heartbroken ...

True enough. These days it's usually mechanical stuff that gets broken.

The Last Time I Saw FF

Was on the Ingle's parking lot on Highway 24. Seems like we'd done something, gone to dinner the night before ... yes, that's it. She even took our picture with her cell.

That was the night we announced our engagement.

Francis you are 5 feet and 10 inches of raven-haired, green-eyed fabulous and I love you to death. I always look forward to hearing from you and seeing you is always a secret treasure.

I'm on the phone with you right now ... which proves our friendship is not only amazing, but multi-dimensional as well. Even if our engagement only lasted for an hour.

The 3 Day Month

Wish I could tell Ken I'd created this complex multi-layered image in Photoshop, but it's actually just a closeup of some of the stuff that came dripping outta the old engine on the first day of what was supposed to be a three-day engine swap.

Been up since 1:10 AM this morning because my air mattress had a flat. And No, Ben's not back in the water yet.

Turns out even though the new engine wiring plug looks like the old wiring plug, there's an extra pin. So the old wiring plug's gotta go back in and be attached to the fuel and oil senders, the alternator, etc. So maybe Monday.


Happy Birthday to AF, who turns 22 today.
Can't wait to see ya next weekend!

We've got lots of catching up to do ...

Hall in The Hall?

Wow. Last night I had a dream I was in the Kingdom Hall of ORP's childhood.

First thing I wanna say is that the colors in my dream had the same look as the pics on her blog. Not only that, but the women were dressed same as in her photos. Just the same. And they talked in odd, simple phrases spiced with Little House on the Prairie.

One of the women gave me a small handmade silk pillow as a gift. As she handed it to me I got stuck by a sewing needle protruding from the bottom of the cushion. I didn't make a big deal about it in front of my hosts, but later when I tried to remove it and took a longer look, I discovered the sewing needle was actually a scalpel.

I'm sure Freudians would have a field day with that one but personally, I don't think dreams are anything more than static electricity firing across miscellaneous neurons, and mean nothing at all ... sorta like the ticking sound a motorcycle engine makes when it's shut off and starts cooling after a long high-speed run.

Weather Delay

Today's weather has pushed The Big Day back till tomorrow.

In the meantime here's a few images from yesterday's events ...


Bachelors know all kinds of stuff that's lost to married men. Like, a 30-gallon trash bag will hold much more than 30 gallons. Like, a whole lot more ... I'm pretty sure they're impossible to fill.


How far is it from the marina to Tanzania?



Mike does a lot of this.


Mike finally gets the last hose attached. Well, we thought it was the last hose.


Anchored out for the duration on Marina Hill. Nice sunset, but no engine.

Almost There

Mike got Ben's got Ben's new engine mounted yesterday ... and thinks we'll be on the lake tomorrow.

Meanwhile, I got a nice surprise visit from Brent Sears. We took The Key West Kid out for about an hour ... and Brent showed he knows how to cleat up a boat nice n' neat.

Hope to resume regular posts later this week and uh oh, I've almost filled a small (blue) book with
notes and ideas.

Ahoy ... great seeing & talking with you this afternoon, dearest friend. Must do it again soon!

Decisions, decisions

Why is it that facing the consequences of bad decisions always seems easier to accept if we approach the situation with the attitude, "But why me?"

Here's a few things I saw this week.

A car hidden away because the owner still needed it, but could no longer afford the payments. Women standing on street corners late at night along Whitner. The boat of a man of a man who drank himself to death ... in less than 3 months.

It struck me that none of these situations occurred accidentally. Nor did they suddenly develop overnight. In each case that person's predicament took time, years even, to finally develop and emerge ... and most likely, only after a long series of ill-advised personal decisions.

Ah come on, Joe. Sometimes things just happen that way.



Not every crisis has severe moral overtones nor does any one of us make perfect choices every time. But again, none of these scenarios happened overnight ... and I certainly doubt any of these people woke up one morning, smiled to his or herself, and then decided to intentionally choose a course that would cause them to self-destruct.

We face choices and make decisions every day ... like whether to invite a co-worker to church, who we'll associate with and call our friends, what TV shows, movies, books and entertainment we'll pump into our brains ... so often and so regularly they become routine and so seemingly benign that we make them spontaneously and without thinking ... forgetting to consider the long-term consequences of what seem to be quite minor, insignificant and unrelated actions.

Wouldn't decision-making be a lot easier if we could only see the potential consequences of our choices ahead of time?

Or maybe we already can ... it's just more fun, or glamorous or more exciting to ignore consequences and convince ourselves "That won't happen to me."

Which inevitably tricks us around the corner to discover "But why me?"

A Duck's Tale - updated with this morning's photo

This morning I finally saw Hansel and Gretel again ... they're a pair of gorgeous white ducks I've seen around the marina for years.

Yaaa, and this fairy tale came to me to explain their tale (as well as why they're always inseparable) ... hope you like it.

Once upon a time there was a young man named Hansel who lived beside the lake. Then one morning Hansel noticed a beautiful young girl standing on the opposite shore. He waved and to his surprise, she waved back at him.

Even though the lake was too wide to cross, too long to walk around, and too far for even their voices to carry across, each morning Hansel would nonetheless stand on his shore and wave across at Gretel. He tried shouting, "Hello!" each time he saw her, even though the wind carried his voice away before it could reach her.

But Hansel was badly smitten, and refused to give up because that far away vision of Gretel had found its way inside his heart.

Now there was a mean hag who lived among the weeds on the bottom of the lake, whose name was Aeges. Aeges was hateful and malicious, as hags most always are, and one morning Aeges heard Hansel on the shore calling out to Gretel, "I would give anything to be with you."

Puzzled, the mean old hag swam under the waves to investigate and see for herself who had captured poor Hansel's heart. Aeges followed Hansel's voice and roamed across the lake bottom until she came to the far shore where Gretel stood, staring across the lake at Hansel.

Then Aeges heard the girl say, "I would spend the rest of my life with him, if only I could."

The horrible hag was so outraged and furious that even the wind blew itself away. Ages was beside herself with wrath and said many oaths because she was so wicked herself ... and Gretel's beauty and innocence had captured Hansel's heart. And then to find out Gretel was also in love with Hansel only made matters that much worse.

So right then Aeges decided to curse them and their love forever.

"Fine," she snapped angrily to herself. "If you two are so eager to be together forever, then good! You shall have your wish!"

And with the snap of her slimy fingers she turned the two lovers into a beautiful pair of snow white ducks. Not sure what had just happened to his arms and feet, Hansel nonetheless lunged into the water and began to swim madly, paddling as hard as he could toward Gretel, while at the same time Gretel lost no time swimming from her side to meet Hansel halfway.

Which is just what they did. And to the old hag's surprise and disappointment, Hansel and Gretel were delighted to finally be together, and have been inseparable ever since.

You may be asking yourself, "Why did the hag choose to turn Hansel and Gretel into ducks?"

Remember that Aeges was a wicked, cruel and spiteful hag ... and was perfectly aware that ducks can never touch hands, kiss ... or hold each other in an embrace.

Heartbeat on the Hill

Mighty to Save 5:08-09:40

I Am Free 73:42-78:29

Answered in a timely fashion

But I fear that somehow you will be led away from your pure and simple devotion to Christ, just as Eve was deceived by the serpent. You seem to believe whatever anyone tells you, even as they preach about a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed.
-2 Corinthians 11:3-4

Remember; it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.
-James 4:17

Nope nope nope

Last Thursday turned out not to be engine day. Won't be today, either because there's no lift truck. Not tomorrow, because it's gonna rain.

Maybe could be Saturday but definitely not Sunday.

We'll shoot for Monday or Tuesday and see what happens.

Feels like I'm turning into a potted plant ... at least, I'm fighting the urge to plant azaleas and install aluminum siding around Ben's trailer.

Checking In

A noise woke me up around 1:30 this morning.

Thought it was a diesel truck idling outside but it was the fresh water pressure pump turning itself on ... which led to nightmarish visions of water flooding into the cabin from a hose clamp suddenly busting loose behind an inaccessible bulkhead.

I never did get back to sleep ... but everything checked out OK this morning once the sun was up, so no complaints on my end.

It's 10 days late, but Mike says Thursday is the new target date.

Posting by invitation ...

This is Joseph Sangl, standing in for the Big Papa today. I am the personal finance wildman that Papa has referred to regularly in his daily blogs.


I was asked to post today by an invitation from the Papa. It made me think about the power of "Inviting".

Come on over to my house for dinner. That is an invitation to learn a lot about someone. They are opening up a portion of their life that most of their peers never see. You will be able to see their neighborhood, their living arrangements, the type of food that is eaten, and how they interact with their family.

Want to go to church with me? Want to learn a lot about someone? Attend church with them. See if they act any differently than they do normally!

Can you help me work on my house? This allows you to see how well they interact with others. It allows you to see how they interact with friends, suppliers, contractors, etc.

Would you help me move? Wow! You get to see all of the person's stuff! Very cool.

Invitations are incredibly important ways to learn about someone. Many times the invitation is very subtle. We are scared to open up parts of our lives to others so we veil the invitation. Occasionally, someone will pick us up on the invitation. I have met most of my closest friends through an invitation to go help them with something or to visit somewhere with them.

Papa - Thanks for the invitation!

Airwaves

Heard these two quotes this morning on 106.9 FM while driving home after the 9:15 am

"Joy does not come from our situation ... our joy comes from faith in God."

"This is the wisest advice I can give you: treat everyone as though their heart is broken- because most people's are."

Are looks superficial?*

*Or, What will I look like 30 years from now?

Doesn't matter- you'll be in good company:

Only 3 temptations catch me off guard

1. The kind that appear fast, suddenly and unexpectedly

2. The kind that smoulder a long time, go away but then keep coming back

3. The kind that occur daily

You can't put it there if it's not there

Man, I love landscape-photography cliches.

I fiddled around trying to frame this image for almost 30 minutes ... but on that day it just wasn't gonna happen.

The Hill After Hours

The Kid is Loose!

The other day I moved The Kid forward about 30 feet to the slip formerly occupied by the Roamer. Then Mike called yesterday morning around 11:30 AM and said The Kid was aground beside Dock 4.

Fortunately it only took about 10 minutes, and some new knots, to have her back home safe and sound.


My little runaway. Uh oh.


Mike takes a gander.

Safe and sound.

Bad Day at The Bean

Notes on Flying Solo

I vividly remember the first time I soloed in an airplane because the experience was not only a major thrill, but flying alone also gave me an entirely new and unexpected perspective ... about several things.

At the end of that afternoon's lesson the instructor told me stop on the taxi way, opened the door and stepped out. He leaned into the cabin with a handheld radio in one hand and said, "Joe, you know exactly what to do and you've proved to me you've already got the ability. Now show me you can fly this airplane."

Then he grinned, shut the cockpit door and watched from the grass beside the runway while I pushed the throttle home and began accelerating down the runway. As the tiny airplane leapt into the air I remember glancing at the empty seat beside me and thinking, "Whoa. I'm up here by myself ... and nobody can get me back down except me."

The idea tickled me giddy because I was so eager to be done with the mind-numbing memorization of gas, gear, wheels, propeller and trim. I wanted to finally enjoy the sensation of flying, and the freedom of actually being in the air ... without an instructor murmuring in my earphones.

About a minute later I leveled off in the landing pattern and peeked back down at the ground, noticing I while could no longer see my instructor I remembered he had his radio on, just in case a "situation" arose.

That was the reality of flying solo for the very first time. I had the ability and knowledge to do what was necessary to land safely ... and all I had to do was remember my training and ultimately perform and execute.

One of the things that discourages me most often is seeing believers who carry their old sins around in their pockets ... like a set of keys to a house they no longer own.

So many behaviors and attitudes have become routines that they're habits and we no longer see them for what they are: Sins.

And even though the smallest, most insignificant and seemingly trivial and harmless sin-- whether it's gossiping, telling "white lies" or throwing a temper tantrum still represents a detour, a hurdle and an obstacle in our walk with Christ.

Maybe the thrill of salvation has gradually worn away because our faith is rusty and out of practice. Maybe eternity seems too far off in the future to be concerned about. Or maybe there's something we want- whether it's emotional, sexualk or material doesn't matter- We Want It Right Now to satisfy ourselves and think God won't notice if we help ourselves to it.

... or maybe we think we're flying so high on our own we can't see Christ is still watching.

Maybe some of us feel scared of being "out there" in the big sky in a tiny airplane all by ourselves either because we lack the necessary skills to keep going, or no longer have confidence in our training.

Maybe without a legalistic voice in our earphones reminding us of the rules, we feel entirely free to ignore them.

Maybe it's simply too hard to think about Performing and Executing when the time comes or fear has so eroded our faith that we doubt we can ever get back down on solid ground.

We forget Christ the prayer's radio there when "situations" develop ... even after we'ved turned the communications radio off. The difference is, obviously, that no matter what it feels or seems like, believers are never soloing or flying alone in the cockpit.

God's always there and faith in him through Christ comes with incredible power to walk away from sin and temptation ... if we trust and believe that we can.

-and no I'm not perfect, either.

Log from The Blue Boat

There's no TV or web access up on the hill, so Ben's radio stays tuned 24x7 to 106.9 FM Two things I've heard stuck with me.

The first is that if you kept records of the TV shows, web sites visited, books (including romance novels), spending habits (including tithing) of believers and compared them to the TV shows, books, etc. of non-believers you'd have a hard time distinguishing which group was which.

The preacher who made this point went on to include the work ethic, views on sexuality and promiscuity, the jokes believers tell and repeat ... on down to what clothes they wear ... just don't vary that much with the lifestyles of non-believers. What?

His point supports the observation of another radio preacher: the biggest problem with believers today is the failure to separating ourselves from sin, because we no longer fear God or believe we'll be disciplined ... and subjected to a harsh and sudden course correction.

Don't Take the Snap
The other preacher related that atheletes hate watching replays that highlight and point out their mistakes. Especially when the errors include missed chances at making The Big Play and fumbles resulting in a score for the opposing team.

The mistakes are up there on the big screen in plain view for all to see ... so there's no place to hide.

It's kinda hard to explain away with, "That wasn't me" or "It wasn't my fault" or "What about all the other guys on the field? They made me do it."

During slow-motion replays of fumbles, interceptions and dropped passes I've heard sports announcers chuckle, "I'll bet he wishes he had that one back."

I wonder how big the screen's gonna be on Judgement Day, and how many people will watch the replay and stammer, "Wow, I wish I had that one back" ... and suddenly realize how their fumble on the interception they threw, in the biggest game of all, allowed the enemy the go-ahead score.

Baldness? And other Man Troubles

Hi, O.R.P. here, posting for Papa once again.

I got a phone call from him a moment ago. He reports that his favorite new activity involves rolling down his hill, tearing at his hair. Why the angst? Mike the Mechanic reports that Ben's transmission is perhaps incompatible with the engine they were planning to install today. So. It looks like another long week on the boat, on the trailer, on the hill, at the Marina for Papa Ridgeback.

The good news is that with the engine out of the way, Papa can access Ben's plumbing without hanging upside down. So it isn't all bad-- at least he has something to do out there besides rolling down the hill, snatching himself bald.

Papa also reports that since his house is sold now, he has to have all of his stuff moved out by next Friday. He mentions possibly cloning himself in order to get everything done in time. I say the world is not ready for PR clones! I have volunteered to round up all of the remaining moving boxes from our house and come help Papa move.. without touching his stuff, of course.

Because we all know how he hates it when people mess with his stuff! He likes the dust bunnies and has been cultivating them since I met him 14 years ago. ;-)

Engineless Boat with Plumbing Trouble Playlist:
"Crying" -Roy Orbison
"Son of a Son of a Sailor" -Jimmy Buffett

Be My Valentine

Roses are red
Violets are blue
Hope all your prayers are answered
And all your dreams come true.

-joe

Twins

-from last night's reading

Destruction is certain for those who drag their sins behind them, tied with cords of falsehood. They even mock the Holy One of Israel and say, 'Hurry up and do something! Quick, show us what you can do. We want to see what you have planned.' - Isaiah 5:18-19

You who love the Lord, hate evil!
He protects the lives of his godly people
and rescues them from the power of the wicked.
Light shines on the godly,
and joy on those who do right.
-Psalm 97: 10-11

Grocery Getters

FF here again. Saturday morning, before Papa had so generously been loaned the white camry with groovy purple tinted windows, Papa needed groceries. Always being up for an adventure with Papa I volunteered to come scoop him up in my "Grocery Getter" (the cavalier) and take him on an excurstion to the local Ingles. For those who were wondering, here is the Papa Basic Staples Marina Grocery List


Bagels


New York Strip


Hand Soap


Diet Coke


Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies





Here is the Frashley Grocery List


Pellegrino Bottled Water


Snow White Valentines Candy


Special Valentine's Gum contained in both gorilla and bear containers (I got both and intend on repurposing them at work to hold paper clips and thumb tacks)


Frozen Broccoli (to be a fit Frashley)


Chocolate Glazed Donut Holes


Pillsbury Slice and Bake Valentine Sugar Cookies





While in Ingles Papa and I saw a very interesting Valentine. It was red and camo and said "GET ER DONE" on it along with a picture of whatever comedian came up with that phrase. Just goes to show you never know what will happen when you are grocery shopping on a Saturday moring with Papa Ridgeback.

Artwork by Richard Burnside of Pendleton, SC.

At the end of the day

guest post

Real quick, like, this is Ken at AV Club proxy posting for the Papa. NewSpring was rockin' full on today. Totals:

9,260 in attendance
250+ salvations

Perry sums it up well.

Does God have a sense of humor?

Dispatch from The Hill hiatus-

Oh definitely, he must because this is amazing. The irony here is beyond belief ... heart-breakingly funny ...in fact, I've already named my new ride The Grouchmobile.

Thanks to Paul and Beth for lending me these wheels while Yellow Steve's in the infirmary; Beth thinks driving a Camry will allow me a chance to get back in touch with my feminine side.

Hmmm.

Papa Needs a Brand New Bag

Hello, O.R.P. here, guest-writing at the Blue Book, because our dear Papa is still out of commission. He sits high on a hill, cold wind whipping around his stalwart, if dysfunctional, little boat. I picture Papa atop a boat named Ben, in turn on top of one of those boat trailers, which is on top of a parking lot on top of a hill.. it's kinda like a song we used to sing in elementary school.. but I digress.

So, my thought for the day is that Papa needs a few "brand new" things. If I had the money, here's what I'd buy him (in no particular order):
1) A New Sea Camper. We'd get some psychic or something to transfer the soul of Ben into the new boat.. then Joe wouldn't be in danger of sinking.. once he hits the water, that is.
2) A new SUV that does not have any Lucas ELectric components. A Hummer maybe? Or one of those old Toyota Land Cruisers...
3) A new love interest.. someone of appropriate age, maturity, and character to give our Papa the lovin he so richly deserves. But then I probably wouldn't be able to buy this one.. Hmm.
4) A horse. Horses are good for everything that ails ya.. they're friendly and warm and they always know the way home even when you get lost on the trails. Like dogs, their needs are simple, though they are a lot of work to maintain. Still, Papa needs one, if only so he can go riding with me and Trigger.

And with that, I am going to bed. Before I go, a special O.R.P. edition of the playlist:

"Big Ovaries" - Saffire the Uppity Blues Women
"The River"- Wanda Johnson
"Caldonia" - Louis Armstrong (I think. If not, I apologize to BB King)

Modern Day Drifter

FF here, posting for Papa Ridgeback.
PR has not had a good day. In fact, Papa has had a bad day. As I am writing this he is stranded at the marina. This afternoon he was driving into town when he unexpectedly had some car trouble. He ended up having to get Yellow Steve (The Disco) towed. He had no way to even get to his home from where he was. The Frashelys wanted to come take him into our custody, however we were at school and could not leave. He was able to get a ride to his house and then finally got dropped off at the marina. He is now snuggly contained in Ben, listening to the wind whipping through the trees and listening to music (I imagine).
I am searching for a good moisturizer, thinking of all the wind Papa must be hearing right this very instant reminded me of this.
Certain words and phrases should be eliminated from being used. The use of "per", as in the order is "per Winnie, Regional Manager". That is sooo hinky!! I had a co-worker at the mall who used this incessantly. On another note I really like the word "splash". It's not a bad movie either.
Lindsay Lohan just bought Marilyn Monroe's old apartment. I still want one of her personal effects. They can still be found for auction from time to time. Do you think LL will experience any hauntings? Before Mariah Carey had a stint in rehab she thought she heard Marilyn Monroe's voice coming out of her baby grand piano.
Today I sent PR a Valentine on facebook. It was a little treasure troll icon, hiney first. He sent me back a groovy lava lamp Valentines.
I have been really offended because I have overheard so many comments people have made about Anna Nicole Smith. Today in MGMT 371 some kids behind me were laughing and making fun of Anna Nicole. The poor girl has not been dead 24 hours, I mean come on. That is so mean spirited. There is even a group on facebook as of today called "Now that Anna Nicole Smith is dead the average IQ has risen"-so tacky. I am sure she has made mistakes, but who hasn't? I know I have made many. She may have had her phases of looking like a marshmellow, but she was always beautiful.
I am about to go to bed.

On The Papa Playlist
SOS Rihanna Song, especially the line "cause I'm your tiny dancer"
Ain't No Other Man, Christina Aguilera

Several Thousand Words Or Less About Today

Tomorrow in Grease to My Elbows Playlist:
Sitting in Limbo - Jimmy Cliff
I Want You - BVMSP

Ben on The Hill

This is Ben's temporary new home. By 9:30 AM tomorrow morning, Mike expects me to have the automatic fire extinguisher, engine grounding harness and one battery moved and out of the way. Hmmm.

Ok, here finally is a shot of the electrics locker. Every switch, every panel, every connection was lovingly, deliberately wired by hand.


Hump Day's Not Over Till It's Over Super Wednesday Playlist
Runnin' Down A Dream - Tom Petty
Please Don't Go - KeyWest and The Sunshine Band*




* (I may've slipped a ringer in there, to see who's paying attention :-)

Miles n' miles to go ....

What's promising to be one of the longest days ever is already shaping up that way.

Woke up at 2:30 am & forced myself back to sleep, sorta, till 4:30. Then started putting Ben back together, spent 45 minutes fiddling with the boat trailer, for this morning's trip back to the marina ... where Ben will live for the next week or so till the engine's replaced.

The good news is the used engine Mike found also comes with a transmission at no extra charge. Good news for me since the seal leaked badly on the old one, but more installation trouble since the outdrive is in the way. Which means it's gonna take longer than one day to swap engines.

I know all this boat stuff is excruciatingly boring, but it's part of the process of getting from here to there ... taking many baby-sized steps along the way.

Playlist Solo

This song came on while I was at Home Depot yesterday afternoon ... and kept me lingering near the Home Furnishings department, which is probably reason enough to mention it here.

The Tuesday Crush Real Granite Counter-heart Playlist:
Wonderwall - Oasis


Supplement
Unplayed, Unappreciated, Unmentioned and Overlooked Long Enough Playlist:
Tumble in the Rough - Stone Temple Pilots

Panic

Mike the Asphalt Mariner wants Ben at the marina by no later than noon tomorrow. Oh wow.

-Does hot water work? No!
-Running lights work? No!
-Oven screwed back in place? No!
-Water heater hoses installed No!
-Any ideas about replacing the fridge? No!
-Think you can back the trailer from the driveway without hitting the house? No!
-Are you thoroughly hosed? Yes!


Uh oh.

I never would, but if I did ...

DJ's got a kitchen knife that's so sharp you could shave with it. I know, because I tried and I did.


It's a Cutco and it's dreadfully expensive. A complete set costs something like $1100, which I'd never spend on kitchen knives, but Cutco cutlery is out of this world. Comes with a lifetime sharpening warranty to boot.

The new Blue Book?

While I'm sitting at the command & control console, waiting to be teleported to AVICLUB.US headquarters for an important conference, here's what's on today's agenda for discussion.

Some of the text messages I get are funnier and far more interesting than anything I can think of to blog about here. My idea is to port my Inbox straight into new posts here at The Blue Book, and dispense with original posting entirely.

For example ... messages I've received from different people on different days with completely different subjects:

Do you ever get a crush on the idea of someone not the person? 12:30 am

Wish u were here 8:27 am

Turn u're phone on- it's time 4 for my session 8:48 am

Ah. Sitting, waiting, wishing. I knew the dance well. 3:36 pm

Do you like green eggs and ham? 3:50 pm

Depends on if you have a girl over at the house. 8:28 pm

What r u doing 8:59 pm

Awww! 9:33 pm

Do a ditty bob ditty b00 - u r right again 11:37 pm

Tell me something about yourself you've never told anyone else

If I get one more myspace message, or even a personal email asking me that question, I'm gonna think seriously about deleting that person's account and purging their address forever.

Maybe this will be one of the posts I look back on later and think, "What was I thinking when I posted that?"

But right now I'm missing the Super Bowl (waiting for tonight's Playlist to burn to CD) so I'll slide this one in ... and hope nobody notices until it's buried deep within The Blue Book archives.

Here's something I'll bet ya didn't know about me: I'm not into boobs. It's true. Maybe I'm the only guy on the planet, but there it is.

So I guess that's all: now you know everything there is to know that I haven't forgotten.

Uh oh. My cell just called me on the house number, I'm not kidding. Both phones are sitting by themselves in plain view on the desk. Can anyone explain how that happened?

Se neno, ninakufahamu -updated with links

Mighty to Save - McD and the band
Word of God Speak - Mc D [acoustic]
--

Usiku mwema. Lala salama, marafiki.

Sat Nite Wind-Down

Snow, ice and inclement weather (including frog rain) doesn't much bother us here at Blue Book Central, because we've got passive solar electrical generators and thermal nodes deep underground to keep the power going.

We're also powered by PCs, you see.


--

I keep wanting to tell you about Bill, but ...
--
Anyway, you scream I scream we all scream for some disco, so ...

"The Artful Dodger's It's A Snook Saturday" Playlist:

West End Girls - Pet Shop
I Feel Love - Donna Summer
Last Dance - Donna Summer
MacArthur Park - Donna Summer [I dare you ...]

I get really ticked when ...

Stuff I really hate Department

- Going all day without getting a single new e-mail

- People who don't return messages or phone calls

- Having my facebook "Invite Friend" requests rejected or ignored

- People who blab for hours about nothing once they've got you on the phone

- Being rushed

- People who are wishy-washy, especially about critical details

- Complacency

-Being told No!

- Finding out I've got 600 e-mails waiting to be opened

- Feeling obligated to return messages and phone calls

- People I can't stand expecting me to be their myspace "friend"

- People who act as though talking to me on the phone is a chore

- Running late

- People who are inflexible, especially when I could care less

- Overachievers

- Being told Yes!

Why is this man angry?

Man. I haven't seen a mug this angry since the last time I forgot my driver's license and tried paying with an out-of-state check in the Express Lane at Walmart on a Saturday night in south Georgia.

What on earth could possibly cause this type of unrepentent rage? Well, there's just one reason:

This fellow, who shall remain nameless, owns an Apple. Apples come in different colors and flavors but real computers, they are not.

But How Does It Taste?

-from Canada.com

Would you eat a 167-year old wedding cake?

"Pieces of Queen Victoria's wedding cake will go on display as part of an exhibition on royal weddings from 1840 to 1947 to celebrate the Queen's diamond anniversary this year, palace officials said.

"The slices will be on display for a year starting April 27 in small boxes, one cardboard, another silver, marked "Buckingham Palace February 10, 1840" - the date of Victoria's marriage to Prince Albert.

"They are from one of the couple's several wedding cakes, the largest of which measured three metres across and weighed more than 135 kilograms [297 pounds]."

Hmmm. Pretty sure I've got stuff in the back of my fridge much older than that.

NFL Tackles Churches

-from CBS Sportsline.com

In suburban Chicago, Poplar Creek Church plans to host about 100 people to watch Sunday's Super Bowl game on a big-screen TV in the sanctuary. Pines Baptist Church north of Miami plans to host flag football games before guests gather to eat and watch Sunday's Colts-Bears game, Pastor Luis Acosta said.

In Indianpolis, Calvary Temple Church planned a Sunday shindig for about 100 young adults, complete with snacks and a big screen TV to watch Sunday's Super Bowl.

But temple leaders scrapped the idea after learning the NFL stopped a similar get-together at another Indianapolis church, saying it would violate copyright laws.

"I didn't realize the Super Bowl was a copyrighted thing," business manager Bill Kaler said.

Roger Goodell and the NFL want separation of Church and Super Bowl. (AP)

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said these gatherings are fine, as long as the churches stay within certain guidelines. That's where Fall Creek Baptist Church in Indianapolis went wrong.

The church planned to charge admission to cover the food tab for its party and show the game on a big screen using a projector. It also promoted its "Super Bowl bash" on the church website.

Those are copyright no-no's.

A Day Off from The Blue Book

Yetserday afternoon I tried typing a text message into the garage door opener ... so taking today off from The Blue Book seems like a good idea.

This is worth sharing and a great way to start the weekend:

"I am so SAD about the people I have met that are incredibly gifted and talented, but are in financial bondage! I KNOW that they could be able to go do exactly what they were made to do in just a few short months or years if they would just take the time to fix their finances. I KNOW that they would be doing exactly what God put them on earth to do! I KNOW that I would see them at their finest - at their most alive point in life - if they would just eliminate the financial stress and go do the very thing they were put on earth to accomplish!"

Nothing to blog about - Updated

I'm not even gonna say what this is, except that (a) It happened around 7:40 this morning (b) I was occupied on the phone with FF (c) I was trying to strike a wood match a second time, without looking first to see if it was already lit.

Yes Virginia, there is a match head stuck (maybe more like welded) to my finger. At least there was a match head in my fingertip ... it fell off about 4 hours later, leaving hardly a mark.

You kids out there, Joe Is A Professional. Don't try this at home.

Snow photos

I don't own a digital camera, and used my little Sony mini-dv camcorder to capture a few stills this morning.

Why is this still hard?

Had lunch with Joe Sangl today (if you have money worries, can't qualify for a mortgage, have a credit card with an unpaid balance, always seem to run out of money before you run out of month, or have a title loan on your car then Call Joe Now and make an appointment for financial counseling. Ten years from now I promise you'll want to buy Joe a new car to say Thank You, and be able to buy Joe's gift with cash ... though I doubt he'll accept it :-).

Remember what I said here ten years from now. Yes it is that easy to become debt free and stay that way IF you want to do it.
--

I had a great time ... if you don't like Joe chances are you wouldn't like a man willing to throw life preservers to drowning families either ... but being a perpetual slow-thinker, I drove away unsure whether I'd been quite able to express what I was feeling. At least until now.

Communication is hard, especially with words. But then making this point is always hard when it should be so easy.
--

Have you ever seen a beheading video?

Wow, that's unpleasant. But if you haven't ... especially if you're an agnostic, an atheist, a secular humanist ... or even a believer who considers him- or herself a follower of Christ yet still think you can make deals and "private arrangements" or have an "understanding" with the Creator ... then I wish you'd bookmark this page, Google and watch one from the web, then check back here before reading any further. I'm serious and I'm makng no apologies because this is your life we're talking about.

Better still, watch two or three ... so you get a real feel for what I'm talking about.
--

Now I want you to picture it's you wearing the orange jump suit. Imagine yourself shackled, being led into a squalid, dim room with a video camera in the back and seeing a man in a black mask with a knife tucked in his belt waiting. You already know what the knife is there for and feel like your insides have just been kicked by a 6-legged mule.

Imagine feeling the sweat bursting on your forehead as you're shoved to your knees, then looking up into the camera and hearing the uneasy shuffling of the men standing behind you as the man in black starts reading. You feel like vomiting but wish you could cry instead ... because you feel so utterly helpless.

No one there will help you. You want to scream that you'd do anything ... anything to make it stop ... but no one's listening to you because they're listening to the hooded man who owns you instead and you think he must be the devil.

You wonder what your family is doing in another part of the world. You wish you could tell your executioners There's been a mistake, just let me go ... while beneath the masked man's voice you imagine the jeers around the world as your final moments are replayed on video and mocked for years after your execution.

You start hating yourself then because your imagination is showing you vivid pictures of what's coming soon as the man in the black mask stops reading and you can't make it stop ...

You lungs seem to catch on every breath and syllable and your heart feels like it's stopped each time he pauses or reaches the end of a sentence. You're so scared you're not even sure whether you've already lost your mind. Then the room goes blackly quiet and the world is dizzy, blurring forward in agonizing slow motion.

You close your eyes expecting to feel the knife plunge into your throat ... but then all the lights come on and suddenly all the hatred and rage you felt poised behind you is gone.

The camera shuts off and stops recording as the hooded man puts away his knife and helps you to your feet. He unties your binds, looks you in the eye and says in perfect English, "Someone else took your place, and you are free."

You think this must be a joke ... because it's too good to be true.

The hooded man is embarrassed, shrugs and tries to explain. "He said he took your place because he loves you and wanted you to believe it. He only asked for you to show others the same love ... and to live your life for him."
--

I don't understand why some believers feel like tithing is too great of a sacrifice, why some Christians try to deal with God from the bottom of the deck, or why so many of us act like our so-called righteousness puts God is in our debt and makes him owe us one single thing more than we've already got.

Have we forgotten who paid the price in our place?
--

I have problems with legalism, because God's power is infinite and also because God keeps his promises. When scripture says

"God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God" [Ephesians 2:8 NLT] I believe it ... without question, doubt or tacking on any fine print or disclaimers. Nothing we can do will ever measure up to what Christ has already done for us.

Like the prisoner suddenly released as he's about to be slaughtered simply because another was willing to die in his place, we did nothing eo earn our release and there is nothing we can do ... no matter how many rules or traditions we make up ... to repay that debt. Knowing Christ means being released ... and not having to struggle with fear or worry about losing our salvation.

Rejecting Pharisaical legalism doesn't mean I'm free to sin; it means I'm free from sin. Sin has no more power ... because Christ paid the price in full. Nor does Christ's sacrifice mean we were freed, only to become re-chained with organ music, stained glass windows and traditions. Instead of all those things we are free to follow him.

Besides, I can't think of one good reason to argue with the man who was willing to die in my place.

Wild or Mild?

"Jesus was not a lady with a beard."

-Doug Giles
Clash Radio

If John Deere was to Tractors like Mac is to Computers ...

We'd be mowing our yards with something like this:

Crash the Super Bowl

Doritos had a great idea: let the folks out there shoot their own Super Bowl commercial.

I've seen the one that'll be airing second after the kick-off. The guy, who's a wedding photographer during his day job, shot the whole thing himself and did the editing with an iMac.

But I liked it a lot anyway.

Foibles gone wild

Joe Francis, 33, founder and owner of the "Girls Gone Wild" video franchise, has an estimated net worth of over $100 million. source

In 2005 Hooters projected an estimated revenue just under $1 billion dollars.

Operating System Degradation

I like Ken and consider myself a bonafide card-carrying member of AVCLUB. Still, I puzzle over all the fuss about Macs.

I'm not gonna get started on all the reasons why PC's are better. Not just because the arguments are obvious, but also because LOST starts up again soon and nothing feels more miserable than the rejection of being bounced out the backdoor from the Wilson household (at least, this is what dj told me).

So I won't gloat here about the firestorm of headaches to be expected from a computer that intentionally named itself after a fruit.

ps. wasn't it Eve who took the first byte?



-from Apple Matters: Five Reasons Why There Will BE No More Macs in 2010

"Credit the people who love the platform, or OS X for the machine’s resilience, but don’t count on the Mac being there forever. The era of the all-in-one hardware and software solution has been gone for at least the last ten years, even though Apple hasn’t quite caught on yet. Here are five reasons why Apple will catch on and abandon Mac hardware by the start of the next decade."

I Don't Want One!

No, I need one.

The Moby soundtrack works, too.

Crunch Time

Mike the Asphalt Mariner called a few minutes ago and said to have Ben ready to go on Saturday morning. Wow, after two years it's time to swap engines.

Stuff I Don't Want to Admit Department:
1. Galley (kitchen) faucets still leak
2. Hot water line to shower still drips, slightly
3. Running lights don't work at the helm On/Off switch
4. Refrigerator looks shot
5. A few port reading lights don't work
6. Some leaks remain (I think)

Stuff I'm Glad AboutThough:
1. New oven/stove propane line works with no leaks
2. Electrics locker 99% re-wired
3. DSC VHF radio "talks" to the GPS
4. Old refrigerator is out & off the boat
5. Carbon monoxide detector installed
6. Many leaks repaired (I think)

I'll try to add a few photos, case yer interested.

Front Porch Outback - updated with photo

The exquisite and wonderfully charming FF took me to Outback last night which, finally after three years, gave me the opportunity to meet her boyfriend Shawn.

Didn't have a chance to talk very long but he seemed like a good guy ... and he's a Marine, to boot. And I woulda said that even if he hadn't picked up the tab. :-)

FF's a big fan of the 6:15 when she's in town.