FOX & GOOSE PUBLIK HOUSE, Sacramento, Calif., USA - The Admiral and I passed a pleasant - if all too quick - evening at a local pub last night where local musicians gather to play some Irish music.
The Admiral has attended this gathering a few times and this time I went along to check it out.
Any place where a gorgeous Irish woman bartender smiles and says: What can I git for ya darlin' ? gets my vote.
There was great music, great food, great beer (Harp's, of course) and great company.
I didn't drag along my newest musical acquisition - an eight-string ukulele with a small amplifier. I can't play any Irish tunes yet and I didn't think a rousing chorus of Chuck Berry's My Ding-A-Ling would fit in.
November 28, 2007
November 23, 2007
Preparing the sailing dinghy for a return to Mexico
SACRAMENTO, Calif., USA - My much loved - and much-used - sailing dinghy was in the Land Park boatyard & repair shop today, getting fixed so it will be ready to challenge the waters of Tenacatita Bay in only about a month.
The 10-foot craft, nicknamed the Captain's Gig when it was a tender to Sabbatical in our cruising days, was badly banged up on the trip back from Puerto Vallarta two years ago. The damage was sufficient enough that a local fiberglass repair shop told me to simply buy a new hull and forget about repairs.
The manufacturer, however, said that was pure poppycock and that it should be repaired. (Actually, I believe they said it was total bullshit, but did not offer to repair it themselves.)
So today Sabbatical's retired Chief Engineer, Scott Noble, came over with sanders, cutters, vacuums, air compressors and other instruments of mass construction and began the restoration project.
I did a lot of watching, punctuated by mixing up fiberglass to put into the various cracks and crevices through which copious amounts of water most certainly would come in without the repairs.
The whole job will take a few days with the drying time needed for the fiberglass, sanding, and eventually, a coat of paint. Now that I've seen how the Chief Engineer did it, I'll attempt to fix a couple of other areas that are less critical.
When it's done, the repaired Captain's Gig should look like this.
A sistership under sail in Puget Sound
In between mixing resin and activator - and handing tools to Scott - I shot the video below:
The 10-foot craft, nicknamed the Captain's Gig when it was a tender to Sabbatical in our cruising days, was badly banged up on the trip back from Puerto Vallarta two years ago. The damage was sufficient enough that a local fiberglass repair shop told me to simply buy a new hull and forget about repairs.
The manufacturer, however, said that was pure poppycock and that it should be repaired. (Actually, I believe they said it was total bullshit, but did not offer to repair it themselves.)
So today Sabbatical's retired Chief Engineer, Scott Noble, came over with sanders, cutters, vacuums, air compressors and other instruments of mass construction and began the restoration project.
I did a lot of watching, punctuated by mixing up fiberglass to put into the various cracks and crevices through which copious amounts of water most certainly would come in without the repairs.
The whole job will take a few days with the drying time needed for the fiberglass, sanding, and eventually, a coat of paint. Now that I've seen how the Chief Engineer did it, I'll attempt to fix a couple of other areas that are less critical.
When it's done, the repaired Captain's Gig should look like this.
A sistership under sail in Puget Sound
In between mixing resin and activator - and handing tools to Scott - I shot the video below:
November 22, 2007
A day of Thanksgiving, even without Manhattans
LAND PARK, Sacramento, Calif., USA - What was looking like an extremely quiet Thanksgiving broke wide open mid-morning with the arrival of son Dylan today - and then nephew Alex Schwartz, shortly thereafter.
The Admiral and I had planned on it being just the two of us - both quite immersed in packing and getting ready for our Mexico sojourn - when Dylan called from his Berkeley digs and said he would like to join the family fete.
And because he is heavy into cycling now, he called his cousin Alex (who lives in Davis, Calif. a half-dozen miles away) so they could do a Turkey Day bicycle ride. Alex could not stay for dinner - he and his lady friend were hosting her father... but we almost talked him into it.
All the years I was growing up in Lakewood, New York, the unmistakeable signal of Thanksgiving was the appearance of pitchers of Manhattan cocktails, concocted by my Uncle, Howie McAvoy. These lethal drinks were sooooo potent that one was plenty, two had you singing Good Night Irene at the top of your lungs and three, well, three usually meant lots of aspirin the next day.
For Howie, more than one meant a reoccurence of his gout.
Everyone in the family had a least a sip of a drink - sometimes more. It was one of the few times of the year that my grandmother would wear a big grin on her face.
Manhattan, served straight up
Howie's recipe was 3 parts blended whiskey, two parts sweet vermouth, a dash of bitters and a few drops of Maraschino cherry juice. The ingredients were mixed together in a pitcher, poured over ice, and then poured into a stylish cocktail glass.
What a drink.
I've laid off the things for nearly 20 years, preferring wine. But one of these Thanksgivings, I think I'll break out the bottle of Four Roses whiskey and some sweet vermouth and toast to Uncle Howie and the hundreds of others I have introduced to the McAvoy Manhattan over the years.
Might be worth risking some gout.
Here's today's video episode of the cycling adventures and our modest dinner:
The Admiral and I had planned on it being just the two of us - both quite immersed in packing and getting ready for our Mexico sojourn - when Dylan called from his Berkeley digs and said he would like to join the family fete.
And because he is heavy into cycling now, he called his cousin Alex (who lives in Davis, Calif. a half-dozen miles away) so they could do a Turkey Day bicycle ride. Alex could not stay for dinner - he and his lady friend were hosting her father... but we almost talked him into it.
All the years I was growing up in Lakewood, New York, the unmistakeable signal of Thanksgiving was the appearance of pitchers of Manhattan cocktails, concocted by my Uncle, Howie McAvoy. These lethal drinks were sooooo potent that one was plenty, two had you singing Good Night Irene at the top of your lungs and three, well, three usually meant lots of aspirin the next day.
For Howie, more than one meant a reoccurence of his gout.
Everyone in the family had a least a sip of a drink - sometimes more. It was one of the few times of the year that my grandmother would wear a big grin on her face.
Manhattan, served straight up
Howie's recipe was 3 parts blended whiskey, two parts sweet vermouth, a dash of bitters and a few drops of Maraschino cherry juice. The ingredients were mixed together in a pitcher, poured over ice, and then poured into a stylish cocktail glass.
What a drink.
I've laid off the things for nearly 20 years, preferring wine. But one of these Thanksgivings, I think I'll break out the bottle of Four Roses whiskey and some sweet vermouth and toast to Uncle Howie and the hundreds of others I have introduced to the McAvoy Manhattan over the years.
Might be worth risking some gout.
Here's today's video episode of the cycling adventures and our modest dinner:
November 21, 2007
Bicycles, violins and ukuleles all in one day
SACRAMENTO, Calif., USA - In the countdown to Turkey Day, we had Anne, Samantha and Kamryn visit today for lunch and the surprise of the day (maybe month) was the just the day before, Samantha had taken her first solo on her bicycle.
And today she couldn't wait to grab ahold of the bike we keep at our Land Park casa.
After a bit of inflation for both tires, she hopped on and rode back and forth to show off her newfound skill.
I'll bet next summer she doesn't wait around for her Mom to take her to visit friends.
But right after that bit of transportation-related excitement, Admiral Fox and I transited to the studio where our music teacher, Bill Trainor, put us through an hour's worth of lessons on how to make the violin and ukulele sound good together.
It might take more than one hour's worth of lessons.
Still, it was fun and with even the little bit of instruction and suggestions, it looks like we will be able to stand up at open mic night in Mexico at Palapa Joes and not embarrass ourselves.
Not too much anyway.
One issue that arose immediately is that my ukulele just doesn't have the horsepower to play very loud, at least compared to a violin. So tomorrow I will be in search of a new ukulele (possibly an eight-string) that is wired for an amplier. And, of course, that means the purchase of an amplifier, too - a small one, but still - an amp!
Our Mexico-bound travel trailer is starting to fill up quick.
And today she couldn't wait to grab ahold of the bike we keep at our Land Park casa.
After a bit of inflation for both tires, she hopped on and rode back and forth to show off her newfound skill.
I'll bet next summer she doesn't wait around for her Mom to take her to visit friends.
But right after that bit of transportation-related excitement, Admiral Fox and I transited to the studio where our music teacher, Bill Trainor, put us through an hour's worth of lessons on how to make the violin and ukulele sound good together.
It might take more than one hour's worth of lessons.
Still, it was fun and with even the little bit of instruction and suggestions, it looks like we will be able to stand up at open mic night in Mexico at Palapa Joes and not embarrass ourselves.
Not too much anyway.
One issue that arose immediately is that my ukulele just doesn't have the horsepower to play very loud, at least compared to a violin. So tomorrow I will be in search of a new ukulele (possibly an eight-string) that is wired for an amplier. And, of course, that means the purchase of an amplifier, too - a small one, but still - an amp!
Our Mexico-bound travel trailer is starting to fill up quick.
November 15, 2007
A musical day with daughter and two granddaughters
RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif., USA - With a pile of student papers to be graded just above my knees - and a 'to-do' list that rivals in number of items on the list Dwight D. Eisenhower had the week preceding June 6, 1944 - I opted to do the only sane thing I could think of today: Go have lunch with daughter Anne and new granddaughter Kamryn Lynn Allen.
Kamryn doesn't talk much yet. OK, she doesn't talk at all. But she can be very expressive.
Very expressive.
The bonus was that Granddaughter No. 1 got out of school early today and so on our way back from a lunch at a local restaurant, we picked her up and headed back to daughter Anne's casa where Samantha quickly dragged out her flute and put on a concert.
It was amazing to watch the same fingers that are so proficient at winging a softball through the air work so delicately on the flute.
We hope that next week - when Samantha is off school completely - she will come over to our house and we can have a jam session. At least as much of a jam session as you can have with a flute, a violin and a ukulele.
I wonder if Samantha knows "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" by Alan Jackson & Jimmy Buffet?
Kamryn doesn't talk much yet. OK, she doesn't talk at all. But she can be very expressive.
Very expressive.
The bonus was that Granddaughter No. 1 got out of school early today and so on our way back from a lunch at a local restaurant, we picked her up and headed back to daughter Anne's casa where Samantha quickly dragged out her flute and put on a concert.
It was amazing to watch the same fingers that are so proficient at winging a softball through the air work so delicately on the flute.
We hope that next week - when Samantha is off school completely - she will come over to our house and we can have a jam session. At least as much of a jam session as you can have with a flute, a violin and a ukulele.
I wonder if Samantha knows "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" by Alan Jackson & Jimmy Buffet?
Today's concert
We found crew for our voyage to Mexico in December
LAND PARK, Sacramento, Calif., USA - It's a long way from our driveway here in Land Park to Tenacatita (about 1650 miles, I guesstimate) but the Admiral found the perfect crew member & pet to take along with us on our trek south and east.
He should also be relatively amusing - and/or annoying - once we hit the beach in Mexico, especially once his Spanish improves.
He should also be relatively amusing - and/or annoying - once we hit the beach in Mexico, especially once his Spanish improves.
November 10, 2007
Procrastination Version 11.10.2007
SACRAMENTO, Calif., USA - I will blame it on the rain, though there is plenty to do here inside the house.
But after attending an all-day conference yesterday - on how to better teach our undergrads to learn about new media and technology - well, I am sort of worn out.
Too much input.
So, instead of working on my writing today, grading, packing, or, or, or... I did managed to slap together a quick compendium from last weekend, starting with leaving to take the trailer into the shop for wheel bearings and brakes and ending with, well, you'll have to look at the video for that scene.
Gawd....
My only regret is that I didn't take any video of Scott Noble and I taste-testing some margaritas last week. They were dy-no-mite.
But after attending an all-day conference yesterday - on how to better teach our undergrads to learn about new media and technology - well, I am sort of worn out.
Too much input.
So, instead of working on my writing today, grading, packing, or, or, or... I did managed to slap together a quick compendium from last weekend, starting with leaving to take the trailer into the shop for wheel bearings and brakes and ending with, well, you'll have to look at the video for that scene.
Gawd....
My only regret is that I didn't take any video of Scott Noble and I taste-testing some margaritas last week. They were dy-no-mite.
November 2, 2007
A day 'off' the list - is this what retirement could be?
SACRAMENTO, Calif., USA - The day began by hightailing it over the trailer shop with the new Aerolite trailer in tow, getting there in time for the service guys to grab it for a full safety checkup. (I also learned how to dump the poop tank - muy importante, amigos, muy importante...)
All of my night-before worries about driving through traffic - and whether Troupey the Isuzu Trooper's had the ability to stop the 2,800 pound payload at stoplights were unnecessary. In downtown traffic, I found people moved over (waaaay over, thank you very much) as I appoached, some moved over faster than others, particularly if they were driving a really expensive car.
The trailer now gets to live in the shop for a few days while the brakes and bearings are gone over quite thoroughly. I'll be about $700 poorer sometime next week when I go pick it up, but happy to know that it will have electric brakes that actually, well, work.
It didn't have any brakes to speak of, according to Dan the mechanic.
But the best part of the day was completely ignoring my todo list. (OK, I confess, taking the trailer out to the shop was item No. 1. but that was it, honest!) Instead, I went about the day like, well, a retiree, spending my time having lunch with my daughter and two granddaughters (video is below, of course), dropping by the Post Office, a quick stop at Trader Joes (for medicinal and ceremonial wine) capped by nearly two hours on the computer searching for ukulele music.
Granddaughter Samantha is learning to play the flute and so I madly grabbed songs that I thought she might like to learn to play, with me doing a comedy act on my uke. Plus, I found a handful of songs that the Admiral and I can probably play together, too.
The Admiral, by the way, has launched her own blog - not content to let my missives stand as the only record of what we are up to.
Here's the link - and she's already posting video!
Admiral's Log
Here's a short video of the lunch bunch at a local Applebee's restaurant:
All of my night-before worries about driving through traffic - and whether Troupey the Isuzu Trooper's had the ability to stop the 2,800 pound payload at stoplights were unnecessary. In downtown traffic, I found people moved over (waaaay over, thank you very much) as I appoached, some moved over faster than others, particularly if they were driving a really expensive car.
The trailer now gets to live in the shop for a few days while the brakes and bearings are gone over quite thoroughly. I'll be about $700 poorer sometime next week when I go pick it up, but happy to know that it will have electric brakes that actually, well, work.
It didn't have any brakes to speak of, according to Dan the mechanic.
But the best part of the day was completely ignoring my todo list. (OK, I confess, taking the trailer out to the shop was item No. 1. but that was it, honest!) Instead, I went about the day like, well, a retiree, spending my time having lunch with my daughter and two granddaughters (video is below, of course), dropping by the Post Office, a quick stop at Trader Joes (for medicinal and ceremonial wine) capped by nearly two hours on the computer searching for ukulele music.
Granddaughter Samantha is learning to play the flute and so I madly grabbed songs that I thought she might like to learn to play, with me doing a comedy act on my uke. Plus, I found a handful of songs that the Admiral and I can probably play together, too.
The Admiral, by the way, has launched her own blog - not content to let my missives stand as the only record of what we are up to.
Here's the link - and she's already posting video!
Here's a short video of the lunch bunch at a local Applebee's restaurant:
November 1, 2007
New travel trailer leaves the space dock for first voyage
LAND PARK, SACRAMENTO, Calif., USA - The lights were working, the electric brakes still offline, but the new travel trailer - which could end up as the Tenacatita Bay Yacht Club's first building in just two months - left the driveway today for the first time, proudly dragged behind Troupey, our Isuzu Trooper bought last summer.
The first dicey moment came when I realized that I didn't have a bolt small enough to slide through the locking mechanism of the trailer hitch. Good thing I have spent the last 45 years working with lines on boats. I tied a tight hitch across the mechanism and called it good. (I also made sure the safety chains were on tight, too...)
The driveway posed a challenge going out (and in) because the jackstand hangs down slightly, managing to dig up a little concrete as it passed over. But the trailer pulled out easily and for about a half-hour, we tooled around the neighborhood, down onto a couple of main streets and then back home for the real test - getting back into the narrow driveway.
I didn't get any applause when I finally got the trailer back in, but I did get several thumbs up from neighbors who were out raking leaves and watching me go back and forth, back and forth, trying to get the trailer lined up perfectly in the narrow driveway.
With the maiden voyage behind me, I'll be a little more confident tomorrow morning when I take the trailer out to a service center to get the wheel bearings and trailer brakes checked out. Oh, and I'll be buying a couple of new batteries, too. The golf cart batteries that power the lights and water pump are the originals that came with the trailer when it was first sold 10 years ago.
It's a tribute to the Trojan Battery Company that these old T-105, 6-volt batteries still have any power left at all.
Here's a short video of the voyage:
The first dicey moment came when I realized that I didn't have a bolt small enough to slide through the locking mechanism of the trailer hitch. Good thing I have spent the last 45 years working with lines on boats. I tied a tight hitch across the mechanism and called it good. (I also made sure the safety chains were on tight, too...)
The driveway posed a challenge going out (and in) because the jackstand hangs down slightly, managing to dig up a little concrete as it passed over. But the trailer pulled out easily and for about a half-hour, we tooled around the neighborhood, down onto a couple of main streets and then back home for the real test - getting back into the narrow driveway.
I didn't get any applause when I finally got the trailer back in, but I did get several thumbs up from neighbors who were out raking leaves and watching me go back and forth, back and forth, trying to get the trailer lined up perfectly in the narrow driveway.
With the maiden voyage behind me, I'll be a little more confident tomorrow morning when I take the trailer out to a service center to get the wheel bearings and trailer brakes checked out. Oh, and I'll be buying a couple of new batteries, too. The golf cart batteries that power the lights and water pump are the originals that came with the trailer when it was first sold 10 years ago.
It's a tribute to the Trojan Battery Company that these old T-105, 6-volt batteries still have any power left at all.
Here's a short video of the voyage:
October 23, 2007
Logical progressions don't always seem so logical
CARMICHAEL, Calif. USA - The move to Mexico in seven weeks away and suddenly all the dominoes are falling: What do we take with us? Are we going to build a house? When will be actually start packing?
The questions didn't get answered over the weekend, but after wrestling with these three conundrums, we bought a travel trailer.
A travel trailer?
Yes, a towable land yacht (sort of) that is big enough for us to carry all of the things we wanted to take to Mexico with us as well as provide a ready-to-use beach house while we ponder the real house we want to build.
A travel trailer?
For two months I scoured the want ads for a utility trailer to haul kayaks, a rowing/sailing dinghy, household stuff, computers & electronics and, of course, clothes. (Clothes aren't that big a deal, given the climate.)
But every cargo-only trailer I looked at was either several thousand dollars - or so beat I would not drive it across town, let alone 1700 miles to La Manzanilla.
I was about to simply drive the Trooper south with whatever we could cram in when we saw a new-to-the-market small travel trailer, manufactured by Thor Industries, that we realized could double as a cargo trailer and temporary beach house. They are light, well thought out (like a boat) and easily towed. But the downside is they are also very expensive - as in the $20,000 range.
That's way beyond what I would pay for an aluminum box to sit on beach, 12 feet above sea level.
But a concept was born - buy a travel trailer.
A travel trailer.
And no, we didn't pay a fortune for our 1996 Aerolite (in the video below). Admiral Fox always gets a great deal and did so on this unit... Of course, now I need to head down to Camper World for all those accessories and then there is the issue of a Honda generator, and, oh, how about one of those outside awnings and....
The questions didn't get answered over the weekend, but after wrestling with these three conundrums, we bought a travel trailer.
A travel trailer?
Yes, a towable land yacht (sort of) that is big enough for us to carry all of the things we wanted to take to Mexico with us as well as provide a ready-to-use beach house while we ponder the real house we want to build.
A travel trailer?
For two months I scoured the want ads for a utility trailer to haul kayaks, a rowing/sailing dinghy, household stuff, computers & electronics and, of course, clothes. (Clothes aren't that big a deal, given the climate.)
But every cargo-only trailer I looked at was either several thousand dollars - or so beat I would not drive it across town, let alone 1700 miles to La Manzanilla.
I was about to simply drive the Trooper south with whatever we could cram in when we saw a new-to-the-market small travel trailer, manufactured by Thor Industries, that we realized could double as a cargo trailer and temporary beach house. They are light, well thought out (like a boat) and easily towed. But the downside is they are also very expensive - as in the $20,000 range.
That's way beyond what I would pay for an aluminum box to sit on beach, 12 feet above sea level.
But a concept was born - buy a travel trailer.
A travel trailer.
And no, we didn't pay a fortune for our 1996 Aerolite (in the video below). Admiral Fox always gets a great deal and did so on this unit... Of course, now I need to head down to Camper World for all those accessories and then there is the issue of a Honda generator, and, oh, how about one of those outside awnings and....
October 20, 2007
A trip to downtown Napa takes us to memory lane, too
NAPA, Calif. USA - Our friends Mary Jo and Peter - of Healdsburg, Calif, Cape Cod, Mass, & Costa Rica - met us in downtown Napa at Joe's Restaurant on the river for a lunch & catch-up on everybody's lives session Saturday.
I haven't been to Napa in probably 25 years, though it was at the Napa Register newspaper that I got my start in journalism. A good portion of the war stories I tell in class have to do with that newspaper, the wildman editor I worked for (John Shields) and what it was like to be 25 and know absolutely nothing about the business. (I graduated with a degree in English, but got an advanced education in what a reporter needed to know - in about two weeks from Shields.)
Napa Register - still in the same downtown building..
Mary Jo & Peter are packing their bags right now to head to Cape Cod to spend the winter. Yes, the winter. On Cape Cod. Yes, the same Cape Cod where thousands of tourists flock every summer to vacation.
Every summer.
It seems that Mary Jo & Peter have never spent a winter in the Northeast and decided it would be, well, fun.
We'll check in with them in February, when they haven't seen the sun for, oh, maybe a month, to see how the fun is going.
They still own several hundred acres of land in Costa Rica where at one time we thought we would sail Sabbatical and anchor off the beach. We even had plans of opening a sailing school right there near Domincal, until I read up that in order to import our boat into Costa Rica, we would have to pay a 100 percent duty on it. That's 100 percent of the value of the boat. Ouch.
That plan got scuttled but Mary Jo & Peter did build a nice house that they barely visit, Costa Rica being waaaaay far away from the U.S. by any mode of travel.
They were intrigued with the tale of our traveling hot tub, however and also viewed a lot of our Mexico photos. Peter has built houses on the beaches of Sanibel Island and had some advice on how deep to plant the pilings for our house - eight feet below the sand and eight feet above.
The entire Napa riverfront is being redeveloped with a riverwalk planned and large retaining walls in place to fight the flooding that hits nearly every winter. The restaurant where we ate was a first-class pub and crowded even late in the afternoon when we departed, full of amber ale and cheeseburgers.
Napa River view from Joe's upstairs deck
I haven't been to Napa in probably 25 years, though it was at the Napa Register newspaper that I got my start in journalism. A good portion of the war stories I tell in class have to do with that newspaper, the wildman editor I worked for (John Shields) and what it was like to be 25 and know absolutely nothing about the business. (I graduated with a degree in English, but got an advanced education in what a reporter needed to know - in about two weeks from Shields.)
Napa Register - still in the same downtown building..
Mary Jo & Peter are packing their bags right now to head to Cape Cod to spend the winter. Yes, the winter. On Cape Cod. Yes, the same Cape Cod where thousands of tourists flock every summer to vacation.
Every summer.
It seems that Mary Jo & Peter have never spent a winter in the Northeast and decided it would be, well, fun.
We'll check in with them in February, when they haven't seen the sun for, oh, maybe a month, to see how the fun is going.
They still own several hundred acres of land in Costa Rica where at one time we thought we would sail Sabbatical and anchor off the beach. We even had plans of opening a sailing school right there near Domincal, until I read up that in order to import our boat into Costa Rica, we would have to pay a 100 percent duty on it. That's 100 percent of the value of the boat. Ouch.
That plan got scuttled but Mary Jo & Peter did build a nice house that they barely visit, Costa Rica being waaaaay far away from the U.S. by any mode of travel.
They were intrigued with the tale of our traveling hot tub, however and also viewed a lot of our Mexico photos. Peter has built houses on the beaches of Sanibel Island and had some advice on how deep to plant the pilings for our house - eight feet below the sand and eight feet above.
The entire Napa riverfront is being redeveloped with a riverwalk planned and large retaining walls in place to fight the flooding that hits nearly every winter. The restaurant where we ate was a first-class pub and crowded even late in the afternoon when we departed, full of amber ale and cheeseburgers.
Napa River view from Joe's upstairs deck
October 15, 2007
Friends drop by and check out the new Flip Video
SACRAMENTO, Calif., USA - Our friends Dan & Lorraine Olsen dropped by this afternoon to say adios on their way south to hook back up with their sailboat, docked in Mazatlan, a pleasant place Sabbatical stayed several times - once for an entire summer.
We talked about travel plans - they are headed south on their boat, possibly as far as Ecuador this year.
We, of course, are headed not quite that far south - just La Manzanilla by Chrismas, where the Olsens say they might be if things work out.
In boating jargon, 'if things works out' really means, We Have No Freakin' Idea, But Would Like To.
But we showed them out latest video toy and insisted that they pick a up Flip video unit for their next travels.
And here they are:
We talked about travel plans - they are headed south on their boat, possibly as far as Ecuador this year.
We, of course, are headed not quite that far south - just La Manzanilla by Chrismas, where the Olsens say they might be if things work out.
In boating jargon, 'if things works out' really means, We Have No Freakin' Idea, But Would Like To.
But we showed them out latest video toy and insisted that they pick a up Flip video unit for their next travels.
And here they are:
October 14, 2007
Getting Sabbatical ready for the South Pacific
ALAMEDA, Calif., USA - So many things to do and so little time. But that's hardly something that's unique to the Admiral and I.
Still, we need lists to tell us which lists we need to refer to to do what projects and when.
Make any sense? If it does, please explain it to me.
Saturday was turned over to getting down to Sabbatical to give new owner/former owner Don Tiffin another helping hand as he readies the ship for departure to the South Pacific - his eventual goal. Don keeps his actual cruising plans tightly under wraps but it's clear he will likely get back to Australia sometime, where his other boat (up for sale) sits on a buoy.
Saturday's activities showed that the boat is closing in on being ready - we have gotten to the point of readying the wood and steel for the voyage. Both need to be protected from the salt water which is sooooo corrosive.
But I was pleased to see that the engine room - which I help dismantle a few weeks ago - seems back together enough so the boat can move if need be.
Here's a short video from yesterday:
Last night, after stretching our muscles and crimping our butts (almost four hours in the car to drive down and drive back) we had a great dinner with former Sabbatical Chief Engineer Scott Noble and his wife, soon-to-be Counselor Jennifer.
We talked Mexico and Scott's plans for adding a marine division to his carpet cleaning company... And, of course, I shot a few seconds of video of Scott.
'NobleCarpetCleaners.Com' anyone?
Still, we need lists to tell us which lists we need to refer to to do what projects and when.
Make any sense? If it does, please explain it to me.
Saturday was turned over to getting down to Sabbatical to give new owner/former owner Don Tiffin another helping hand as he readies the ship for departure to the South Pacific - his eventual goal. Don keeps his actual cruising plans tightly under wraps but it's clear he will likely get back to Australia sometime, where his other boat (up for sale) sits on a buoy.
Saturday's activities showed that the boat is closing in on being ready - we have gotten to the point of readying the wood and steel for the voyage. Both need to be protected from the salt water which is sooooo corrosive.
But I was pleased to see that the engine room - which I help dismantle a few weeks ago - seems back together enough so the boat can move if need be.
Here's a short video from yesterday:
Last night, after stretching our muscles and crimping our butts (almost four hours in the car to drive down and drive back) we had a great dinner with former Sabbatical Chief Engineer Scott Noble and his wife, soon-to-be Counselor Jennifer.
We talked Mexico and Scott's plans for adding a marine division to his carpet cleaning company... And, of course, I shot a few seconds of video of Scott.
'NobleCarpetCleaners.Com' anyone?
October 13, 2007
Launching more songs on the ukulele
LAND PARK, SACRAMENTO, Calif., USA - The addition of a new set of Bose earphones has opened up hearing songs sooooo much better than with the earphones that came with my Ipod, which are hooked into the computer while I work - or write blogs.
A late birthday present
And what they have also done is let me hear songs a much more clearly to see if they are possibilities for the ukulele.
Since discovering the Circle of 5ths, I have been busy transposing songs so my fingers can wrap around the adjusted chords.
Get ready for some Sonny & Cher songs, lots of Garth Brooks, one Allan Jackson song, but no Barry Manilow, yet. (Thank God, you are thinking. I know.)
But in keeping with my most likely musical performances - heavy on comedy, a little short on real music - I ran across a neat ditty by rock legend Chuck Berry that I have added to my repertoire.
Chuck Berry
Nope, it's not Maybelline, though that's a possibility.
It My Ding-A-Ling, a three-chord song that has, well, pretty funny lyrics.
The chording part is easy, remembering the lyrics is a lot harder.
But the fun part about the song is that when sung in public, it seems like audiences love to sing the chorus.
Here's a short version, in case you want to practice:
A late birthday present
And what they have also done is let me hear songs a much more clearly to see if they are possibilities for the ukulele.
Since discovering the Circle of 5ths, I have been busy transposing songs so my fingers can wrap around the adjusted chords.
Get ready for some Sonny & Cher songs, lots of Garth Brooks, one Allan Jackson song, but no Barry Manilow, yet. (Thank God, you are thinking. I know.)
But in keeping with my most likely musical performances - heavy on comedy, a little short on real music - I ran across a neat ditty by rock legend Chuck Berry that I have added to my repertoire.
Chuck Berry
Nope, it's not Maybelline, though that's a possibility.
It My Ding-A-Ling, a three-chord song that has, well, pretty funny lyrics.
The chording part is easy, remembering the lyrics is a lot harder.
But the fun part about the song is that when sung in public, it seems like audiences love to sing the chorus.
Here's a short version, in case you want to practice:
My Ding-A-Ling-A-Ling
When I was a little biddy boy
My grandma bought me a cute little toy
Two Silver bells on a string
She told me it was my ding-a-ling-a-ling
My Ding-A-Ling My Ding-A-Ling won't you play with My Ding-A-Ling
My Ding-A-Ling My Ding-A-Ling won't you play with My Ding-A-Ling
When I was little boy In Grammar school
Always went by the very best rule
But Evertime the bell would ring
You'd catch me playing with my ding-a-ling
Once while climbing the garden wall,
Slipped and fell had a very bad fall
I fell so hard I heard birds sing,
But I held on to My ding-a-ling
Once while swimming cross turtle creek
Man them snappers right at my feet
Sure was hard swimming cross that thing
with both hands holding my dingaling
Now this here song it ain't so bad
Prettiest little song that you ever had
And those of you who will not sing
must be playing with your on Ding-a-ling
When I was a little biddy boy
My grandma bought me a cute little toy
Two Silver bells on a string
She told me it was my ding-a-ling-a-ling
My Ding-A-Ling My Ding-A-Ling won't you play with My Ding-A-Ling
My Ding-A-Ling My Ding-A-Ling won't you play with My Ding-A-Ling
When I was little boy In Grammar school
Always went by the very best rule
But Evertime the bell would ring
You'd catch me playing with my ding-a-ling
Once while climbing the garden wall,
Slipped and fell had a very bad fall
I fell so hard I heard birds sing,
But I held on to My ding-a-ling
Once while swimming cross turtle creek
Man them snappers right at my feet
Sure was hard swimming cross that thing
with both hands holding my dingaling
Now this here song it ain't so bad
Prettiest little song that you ever had
And those of you who will not sing
must be playing with your on Ding-a-ling
October 8, 2007
If this video posting works, we have a winner for sure
SACRAMENTO, Calif. USA - A student intern at the California Newspaper Publisher's Association - who is actually pretty shy so I won't post here name here (yet) figured out the error of my ways in trying to post videos from the new Flip videocam to this blog.
If the silly one below works, well, we'll keep the camera - and the one supposed to arrive in tomorrow's mail!
Cross those fingers, por favor.
If the silly one below works, well, we'll keep the camera - and the one supposed to arrive in tomorrow's mail!
Cross those fingers, por favor.
October 7, 2007
One video post and already we are starting to FLIP
SACRAMENTO, Calif., USA - The video added to yesterday's blog triggered a certain receptiveness to the new technology that ended with not one, but two new video cameras in the media arsenal of Captain's Blog and From Where I Sit - not to mention Writing for Money, the Class of '66 and the Tenacatita Bay Bugle.
But I digress.
After viewing the video of both granddaughters posted Saturday and pondering how I could use video more, we wandered into Costco this morning on our weekly food run and there it was: A Flip video camera, a small camera that is as simple as anything I have seen on the market, small and easy to use - and very inexpensive, too.
Flip video camera
Naturally, we bought one and after playing with the unit for about an hour at home, we decided that we needed to upgrade one notch to the next version.
Flip Ultra - more bells & whistles
The software is in this $109 camera (Costco's price). It normally retails for $119. The upgraded version - already in the mail on its way to our house, I believe - is about another $50 but has just enough additional memory and features to make it worth having.
So, what-the-hell? Video?
Since making the decision to move to Mexico for part of every year, I have been in search of the lightest gear possible: lightest computer, lightest camera, lightest video gear, lightest bag to carry all of the aforementioned - and light clothes, of course.
I know that while we are planning on building a beach house, the same wanderlust that kept us pulling up anchor will have us crashing all over rural Mexico in our Isuzu Trooper, exploring riverbeds and climbing the occasional mountain.
I'm still in search of a lighter computer, but this new Flip camera might be the ticket for both video and stills, just the thing for a Backpack Journalist exploring Mexico. More on that concept another time.
Here's the link to the Flip camera site:
Flip cameras
And here's a short clip taken with the camera we bought this morning which is unedited - if it works at all - because there seems to be a snafu in the software!
Was the camera too good to be true?
Maybe...
Que lastima!
So, after many attempts at getting the blogsite to run the video, I have given up (as of 6:10 p.m. Sunday...)
But you can see the first Flip attempt here on YouTube
YouTube debut with Flip camera
But I digress.
After viewing the video of both granddaughters posted Saturday and pondering how I could use video more, we wandered into Costco this morning on our weekly food run and there it was: A Flip video camera, a small camera that is as simple as anything I have seen on the market, small and easy to use - and very inexpensive, too.
Flip video camera
Naturally, we bought one and after playing with the unit for about an hour at home, we decided that we needed to upgrade one notch to the next version.
Flip Ultra - more bells & whistles
The software is in this $109 camera (Costco's price). It normally retails for $119. The upgraded version - already in the mail on its way to our house, I believe - is about another $50 but has just enough additional memory and features to make it worth having.
So, what-the-hell? Video?
Since making the decision to move to Mexico for part of every year, I have been in search of the lightest gear possible: lightest computer, lightest camera, lightest video gear, lightest bag to carry all of the aforementioned - and light clothes, of course.
I know that while we are planning on building a beach house, the same wanderlust that kept us pulling up anchor will have us crashing all over rural Mexico in our Isuzu Trooper, exploring riverbeds and climbing the occasional mountain.
I'm still in search of a lighter computer, but this new Flip camera might be the ticket for both video and stills, just the thing for a Backpack Journalist exploring Mexico. More on that concept another time.
Here's the link to the Flip camera site:
And here's a short clip taken with the camera we bought this morning which is unedited - if it works at all - because there seems to be a snafu in the software!
Was the camera too good to be true?
Maybe...
Que lastima!
So, after many attempts at getting the blogsite to run the video, I have given up (as of 6:10 p.m. Sunday...)
But you can see the first Flip attempt here on YouTube
October 6, 2007
At the soccer field with TWO granddaughters
GOLD RIVER, Sacramento, Calif. USA - The Admiral and I were a little late (ok, it was halftime) for Samantha Rose Allen's soccer match today, but it was a gorgeous fall day and a great family day at that.
Samantha's baby sister - Kamryn Lynn Allen - was there, too, while mom Anne tried to watch the game and the baby, too.
Kamryn was a month-old Friday and already is holding her head up and showing signs of being a strong little critter. Yes, thank you very much, I am a proud granddad.
We took both cameras to collect some video and stills of this newest addition to the clan and also to see if I can make the video function of this blog work. If I can, it should appear right below this...
In case the video doesn't work as planned, we did shoot about 40 photos of Kamryn and Samantha, though Samantha is such a dervish that getting her to stand still long enough to get a good photo is almost impossible.
Still, I caught her from a distance in these two shots.
Sami - finally not running
Practicing a little volleyball
And you have been waiting for these two shots: the proud grandparents:
Michael clutching Kamryn
On Sylvia's shoulder
Samantha's baby sister - Kamryn Lynn Allen - was there, too, while mom Anne tried to watch the game and the baby, too.
Kamryn was a month-old Friday and already is holding her head up and showing signs of being a strong little critter. Yes, thank you very much, I am a proud granddad.
We took both cameras to collect some video and stills of this newest addition to the clan and also to see if I can make the video function of this blog work. If I can, it should appear right below this...
In case the video doesn't work as planned, we did shoot about 40 photos of Kamryn and Samantha, though Samantha is such a dervish that getting her to stand still long enough to get a good photo is almost impossible.
Still, I caught her from a distance in these two shots.
Sami - finally not running
Practicing a little volleyball
And you have been waiting for these two shots: the proud grandparents:
Michael clutching Kamryn
On Sylvia's shoulder
October 5, 2007
Will the Puffin make a return to the Admiral's fleet?
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., USA - As preparations for Mexico get more serious by the day, the debate has shifted to considering buying a trailerable sailboat and loading it with all of the stuff that won't fit in Troupey (our Isuzu Trooper) for the trip down.
Originally, the idea was to buy an enclosed cargo trailer (still a possibility) but a prospect that is equally enticing would be to haul a small sailboat on a trailer - such as a Laser - and load that trailer with our kayaks, small rowboat and other equipment for the trip down. We don't really need a cargo trailer in Mexico, but a sailboat is another matter.
But what sailboat and what trailer?
We have a line on a nice Laser (a very fast, very light boat) and several other slightly larger, heavier units, too. But none are exactly what I am looking for, so every day I spend a few minutes on Craigslist looking for boats.
Craigslist
The Puffin at the dock
The Puffin was son Dustin Fox's boat about 10 years ago - a neat little 17-foot British Leisurecraft that is as good a sailboat as any sailor could ever want. It's twin-keel system makes it soooo stable that it was as comfortable as our former 40-foot sailboat on San Francisco Bay.
The Puffin was sold when Dustin went on to other interests but the boat always stuck in my memory, largely because it was such a good sailboat and also because maintaining 17 feet, versus 40 feet (or 48 feet in the case of the recently sold Sabbatical) is a relative breeze.
And now the boat is back up for sale, having been through two owners and the Sea Scouts. The current owner bought it from the Sea Scouts and is ready to part with the ship. The downside is that the boat has no trailer and no outboard any longer.
Still, what could a flatbed trailer cost? What could an outboard cost? What price can you put on having a great daysailer in the warm waters of Mexico?
It might be worth it to have the Puffin scooting around Tenacatita Bay and perhaps up in Banderas Bay, too, where Dustin now lives.
Puffin's interior - sleeps two, or three really good friends
Puffin's cockpit
Originally, the idea was to buy an enclosed cargo trailer (still a possibility) but a prospect that is equally enticing would be to haul a small sailboat on a trailer - such as a Laser - and load that trailer with our kayaks, small rowboat and other equipment for the trip down. We don't really need a cargo trailer in Mexico, but a sailboat is another matter.
But what sailboat and what trailer?
We have a line on a nice Laser (a very fast, very light boat) and several other slightly larger, heavier units, too. But none are exactly what I am looking for, so every day I spend a few minutes on Craigslist looking for boats.
The Puffin at the dock
The Puffin was son Dustin Fox's boat about 10 years ago - a neat little 17-foot British Leisurecraft that is as good a sailboat as any sailor could ever want. It's twin-keel system makes it soooo stable that it was as comfortable as our former 40-foot sailboat on San Francisco Bay.
The Puffin was sold when Dustin went on to other interests but the boat always stuck in my memory, largely because it was such a good sailboat and also because maintaining 17 feet, versus 40 feet (or 48 feet in the case of the recently sold Sabbatical) is a relative breeze.
And now the boat is back up for sale, having been through two owners and the Sea Scouts. The current owner bought it from the Sea Scouts and is ready to part with the ship. The downside is that the boat has no trailer and no outboard any longer.
Still, what could a flatbed trailer cost? What could an outboard cost? What price can you put on having a great daysailer in the warm waters of Mexico?
It might be worth it to have the Puffin scooting around Tenacatita Bay and perhaps up in Banderas Bay, too, where Dustin now lives.
Puffin's interior - sleeps two, or three really good friends
Puffin's cockpit
October 2, 2007
There's hope on the horizon for the ukulele yet
LAND PARK, Sacramento, Calif. USA - Today ukulele lesson introduced the piece of the puzzle that might finally let me make the last leap to playing some of the songs I want to - in a key that I can actually wrap my cranky fingers around.
My uke teacher, who also is helping Adm. Fox with the violin, showed me something called the Circle of Fifths. (No, it has nothing to do with bottles of either Grey Goose Vodka or Jim Beam, though both are sometimes useful musical accessories when singing.)
This circle is a representation of musical notes and makes it easy (easy being a relative term) to shift all the chords in a song. In my case, in my struggles with Two Pina Coladas, it makes it possible to avoid the use of a B-flat note, which my fingers just do not like and, in fact, refuse to play.
With the shift of a few notes, however, that B-flat magically is now an F - a chord I can hit without even looking at the strings.
Watch out Garth, I'm movin' up.
Circle of Fifths diagram
Now I have to go back and look at the other songs I've been avoiding on the uke, most of them with a D chord, which I have found impossible to play.
It could be that House of the Rising Sun guitar/ukulele throwdown in San Miguel de Allende in Mexico might happen this year after all.
In the meantime, consider practicing these lyrics so you can sing along:
My uke teacher, who also is helping Adm. Fox with the violin, showed me something called the Circle of Fifths. (No, it has nothing to do with bottles of either Grey Goose Vodka or Jim Beam, though both are sometimes useful musical accessories when singing.)
This circle is a representation of musical notes and makes it easy (easy being a relative term) to shift all the chords in a song. In my case, in my struggles with Two Pina Coladas, it makes it possible to avoid the use of a B-flat note, which my fingers just do not like and, in fact, refuse to play.
With the shift of a few notes, however, that B-flat magically is now an F - a chord I can hit without even looking at the strings.
Watch out Garth, I'm movin' up.
Circle of Fifths diagram
Now I have to go back and look at the other songs I've been avoiding on the uke, most of them with a D chord, which I have found impossible to play.
It could be that House of the Rising Sun guitar/ukulele throwdown in San Miguel de Allende in Mexico might happen this year after all.
In the meantime, consider practicing these lyrics so you can sing along:
Two Pina Coladas
By Garth Brooks
I was feelin’ the blues
I was watching the news
When this fella came on the TV
He said I’m tellin’ you
That science has proven
That heartaches are healed by the sea
That got me goin’
Without even knowin’
I packed right up and drove down
Now I’m on a roll
And I swear to my soul
Tonight I’m gonna paint this town
-----CHORUS----
So bring me two pina coladas
One for each hand
Let’s set sail with Captin Morgan
And never leave dry land
Troubles I forgot ‘em
I buried ‘em in the sand
So bring me two pina coladas
She said good-bye to her good timin’ man
---------------------------
Oh now I’ve gotta say
That the wind and the waves
And the moon winkin’ down at me
Eases my mind
By leavin’ behind
The heartaches that love often brings
Now I’ve got a smile
That goes on for miles
With no inclination to roam
I’ve gotta say
That I think I’ve gotta stay
‘Cause this is feelin’ more and more like home
-----CHORUS----
So bring me two pina coladas
One for each hand
Let’s set sail with Captin Morgan
And never leave dry land
Troubles I forgot ‘em
I buried ‘em in the sand
So bring me two pina coladas
She said good-bye to her good timin’ man
By Garth Brooks
I was feelin’ the blues
I was watching the news
When this fella came on the TV
He said I’m tellin’ you
That science has proven
That heartaches are healed by the sea
That got me goin’
Without even knowin’
I packed right up and drove down
Now I’m on a roll
And I swear to my soul
Tonight I’m gonna paint this town
-----CHORUS----
So bring me two pina coladas
One for each hand
Let’s set sail with Captin Morgan
And never leave dry land
Troubles I forgot ‘em
I buried ‘em in the sand
So bring me two pina coladas
She said good-bye to her good timin’ man
---------------------------
Oh now I’ve gotta say
That the wind and the waves
And the moon winkin’ down at me
Eases my mind
By leavin’ behind
The heartaches that love often brings
Now I’ve got a smile
That goes on for miles
With no inclination to roam
I’ve gotta say
That I think I’ve gotta stay
‘Cause this is feelin’ more and more like home
-----CHORUS----
So bring me two pina coladas
One for each hand
Let’s set sail with Captin Morgan
And never leave dry land
Troubles I forgot ‘em
I buried ‘em in the sand
So bring me two pina coladas
She said good-bye to her good timin’ man
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