Scintilla Day Four :: The Infamous Lifeboat Email

Being trapped in a confined environment can turn an ordinary experience into a powder keg. Write about a thing that happened to you while you were using transportation; anything from your first school bus ride, to a train or plane, to being in the backseat of the car on a family road trip. Having fun a few days ago in the Rescue Boat has had me thinking about Lifeboats.....you know where I'm giong with this right?

How about we take time to reflect on My Worst Day At Sea Ever.  The one where I puked uncontrollably for hours in a lifeboat that must have been 130 degrees.  The one where the lifeboat broke down and we had to get rescued by an Arab Fishing Boat....and then hauled on board by the Coast Guard.  The one where I ended up totally delirious and wanted to take my clothes off?  Riiiight.  This was majorly pre-blogging days BUT I did send an email home that has been immortalized forever as The Infamous Lifeboat E-Mail.

If a Lifeboat doesn't count as a confined environment I seriously don't know what does!

I'm participating in The Scintilla Project.  Yay!  So far it's been a lot of fun - join in!  (Also, here is the disclaimer that I skipped Day 3....and that I'm linking to an old blog post....apparently this is allowed....)

Scintilla Day One :: Drinking Diaries

Day One.  Tell a story about a time you got drunk before you were legally old enough to do so. Kokanee Beer.  Giggling uncontrollably in my Aunt and Uncles basement.  My cousins were freaking out because they got the girl cousin drunk.  So they fed me a banana and checked on me all night long to make sure I didn't die in my sleep.

Kahlua, Vodka and Milk.  I hid in the closet when the police came.  The crowds started to disperse and someone came looking for me.  When they found me I whispered, 'Tell the Cops my name is Ally McBeal!'.

Boones Farm.  We shared a bottle or two around a bon fire at Honoli'i.  Nothing better than drinking at the beach.

Sangria.  Girls of Summer Mugs - fluorescent hot pink, orange and yellow.  One for each of us.  Homemade sangria that was oh so delicious.  These mugs were huge and we used them allll summer long.  Best ever?  Rocking out to Vanessa Carlton in Babs The Little Blue Car.

Woodchucks.  A six pack of woodchucks at the Back Shore in Castine.  We are sitting in Marquis Mark (the big pimp ass car) listening to The Toadies and yelling along with the lyrics.  Therapy.

Crown Royal and Ginger Ale.  Making snow angels without my coat on.  My Bestie is visiting from her college in California.  She has stopped drinking because she's 'done'.  I yell at her as loudly as possible, 'PUKE AND RALLY!'....while we make snow angels without our coats on.

Cape Cods.  A Gremlin full of Midshipmen.  Drive up an un-plowed dirt road until it gets stuck.  Drink for awhile and push it out.  Repeat.  (On the way home pick up the Commandants dog and squeeze it into the car.  Go to the empty parking log and do donuts.  Then let the dog out and actually go home.)

I'm participating in The Scintilla Project.  Mostly because a few years ago I participated in Reverb10 and loved it.  I'm also participating because I'm enjoying making internet friends!  Also, I apologize but I'm already two days behind!

Nautie Galentines!

I read a post today over at It's like I'm....mmmagic! in which Brandy pays tribute to all her favorite ladies.  On a day rife with chocolates and roses I think this is a grreaat idea!  So of course, I'm going to copy her and pay tribute to my favorite ladies too! I've known for years that I'm extraordinarily blessed to have so many lovely ladies in my life.  In fact, I think it's abnormal to have such amazing family, friends, and mentors!  I don't stay in the best contact with all of them - and you know what?  It's okay!  Why?  Because when we do see eachother we can pick up exactly where we left off.  If you ask me that's how you know people are special!

I have a family full of amazing women.  Seriously kick ass chicks that have faith in me, have pushed me, and have supported me when I'm down.  I have a group of Aunties who have gone so far above and beyond the required Aunt-like duties that it is ridiculous.  Grateful doesn't begin to cover it - honored, flattered and blessed.  Truly blessed.  I also have amazing cousins.  Crazy cool chicas.

My friends - where to begin?  My friends aren't only smart, kind, funny, and amazingly adventurous - they're gorgeous!  When I was in High School I actually got into an 'almost fight' because this girl overhead me say in Science class that I thought my friends were the prettiest girls in school.....but, it was true!  My friends are freakin' gorgeous!  If I'm absolutely honest I think having such gorgeous friends probably gave me a complex about my own looks.  My point is this:  I'm lucky to have so many friends.  I'm also lucky that they know I'm a turd ball who doesn't keep in touch and love me anyways. 

I also have a church full of the cutest little Japanese ladies.  While I tower above them at a mighty 5'2" these ladies are nonetheless forces to be reckoned with and, they raised me up.  Do you know why I always take a gift when I go to someones house?  Because they taught me the importance of omiyage.  Do you know why my old plastic shopping bags are neatly stowed in a drawer?  Because they taught me how to fold them into perfect triangles.  Do you know why I can make kick ass floral arrangements?  Because I've been watching them make ikebana my whole life.   

While this blog is supposed to be 'mostly anonymous' I feel compelled to send a few shout outs to the Nautie Gals in my life.  Here goes....

• Mom- IMUA!  No seriously.  IMUA!!!!
• E.C.- A me ke aloha pumehana.
• Aunties- You freakin' rock.  All of you - real ones and hanai ones.
• Rhiannon- Can I please tell you how happy I am that we're in touch?  It's so RAD.  Who cares that it should have happened years ago - it's happening now!
• Pastor L- Love that you read the blog! 
• Jen-Jen- Thanks for being so there.  Love you.
• Bais- Find me some cowboy boots.  If I'm not there (which we will discuss no further - no need to put that out to the universe!) I'll wear them on your day anyways.
• Little Miss Sunshine- There is no one - and I mean no one - I'd rather send a drunken email or text to!
• Kels- I'm listening to Home by Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zero's.  I owe it all to you.
• Mamacholla- Miss you sis!  Big hugs for you - and little snuffleupagus snuffles for you know who!
• Hilo Ladies aka 'The Sunkissed Sistahs'- Wine and cheese?  On the beach?  Pretty Please?
• Lauren- You made Nautie Mermate sooo purty.  Mahalo nui loa.

 

Nautie Gals - Happy Galentines!  I love you ladies!

Thank You Russia...

Russia is cold. It seems strangely appropriate.  I mean really....when you think of Russia you think of fur hats and bundling up in Siberia.  You think of Dr. Zhivago....snow, trains and arm muffs....am I right?

Midnight watches suck when it is snowing sideways.  When you step outside and get a face full of snow....the kind of face full of snow that hurts all you can think is, 'what the hell am I doing here?!'. 

Snow blowing sideways and below freezing temperatures make me feel guilty that I'm a Mate.  I spend the majority of my watch in the cargo control room.  I go out on rounds about the deck however; I do two rounds an hour.  My watchstanders spend the entireity of their watch on deck.  Our ship doesn't spend much time in very cold weather which means that the deck isn't outfitted for cold.  There are no heated spaces outside of the house.

I joined my first ship in Seattle, Washington at the end of November (I was 22).  She got underway the next day for Alaska.  I spent 4 months aboard as an AB and realized exactly how brutal winter at sea truly is (a cold day ashore is nothing compared to even a chilly day at sea).  I was working on getting time on a tanker because, I didn't have the credentials to allow me to sail officer on a tanker....only other types of vessels.  Sailing AB was probably the best thing I ever did - it gave me some experience but, most importantly it gave me a little perspective....like, how cold you get when you stand a deck watch.

Being back in cold weather has me reminiscing about Alaskan winters.  One of my biggest reasons to leave Alaskan waters was that I truly didn't want to do another winter.  I soon found myself enjoying a Persian Gulf summer and decided then and there that I'd take an Alaskan winter any day over a Persian Gulf summer.....now that I'm back in the cold I'm wondering if maybe I should revise that statement! 

I didn't really expect to be really cold this trip.  I didn't bring my fleece neck warmer.  Do you know what this means?  It means that I'm wearing a coral colored pashmina around on deck.  It's bad enough that I wear a fuschia colored carhartt jacket....but paired with a coral colored scarf....talk about a shipboard fashion faux pas!  I'm pretty sure my shipmates (and the dockmen) think I'm freakin' crazy.  (I won't even tell you what it means that I forgot my waterproof gloves.  Think red vinyl....seriously.)

Being cold in Russia is making me yearn for a fur hat....you know the exact style of hat I'm referring to.  I bet if I wore a Russian fur cap no one would even notice that I was wearing a pashmina!  If only I had a fur hat like that when I was up in Alaska....

Wanna know another thing about being cold on a ship?  It has this magical ability to bond the crew.  Everyone is cold...and everyone knows that everyone is cold.  Before you know it people are pitching in to help one another just a little bit more.  Team work is slightly more prevalent.  Shipmates start taking care of one another just a little bit more.....because they secretly want to get taken care of.  I'm also amazed by how suddenly people are ready to have fun.  You'll see way more joking around...way more horsing around....way more chatting in rough and severe weather.  It's as if suddenly people realize that they have the ability to create fun.  Spontaneous snow ball fights on deck?  Yes please!

So, Russia, thank you.  Thank you for helping me remember just how awesome a shipboard winter wonderland can be. Thank you for reminding me of the days where I came into the house so cold that I had to start rewarming my toes with cold water and slowly increase the temperature.  Thank you for validating the purchase of 30 dollar wool socks.  Thank you for reminding me that at one time I was just another young pup on deck who got nervous when they had to tend the lines when they got icy.  Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to wear all the cold weather gear I packed....it makes me feel so much better about my heavy bags.  Thank you for reminding me how amazing a cup of hot cocoa can be.  Thank you for reminding me that there is fun to be had - and that snow ball fights are never a bad idea.  But mostly, thank you for reminding me that at one time I was an AB whose Mate sat in the cargo control room (which is the polite way to say: thank you for helping remind me to not be a douche bag Mate to my AB's).

My Uncle Bob.

Here's a shout out to my Uncle Bob.  I'm pretty sure today is his birthday - HAPPY BIRTHDAY UNCLE BOB! I think my Uncle Bob is pretty cool.  I think most people do.  He's my Mom's oldest brother.  My Mom calls him 'Big Brother Bob'...never just plain old Bob....she'll say, 'I need to phone my big brother Bob'....as an only child this always kind of cracked me up however; I never just call him Bob or even Uncle Bob.....I always say, 'My Uncle Bob'.

My Uncle Bob has a good wife.  He also has three boys - they're all older than me.  I pretty much spent every summer at their house when I was growing up.  My Mom sent me to Canada every summer - which was probably a really good thing - and I'd go and stay at their house.  I thought it was the greatest thing ever.  I'd go to Hockey games, and lacrosse games....I'd shuffle around with my Auntie....I'd visit other Cousins and Grandparents....sometimes I'd go visit Uncle Bob at work.

My Uncle Bob is building a Chubby in his garage.  I had no idea what a Chubby was....and I guess I still don't know how a Chubby is different than any other kind of car you'd build in your garage.

My Uncle Bob is a welder.  He's actually much more than a welder and I just have no way of articulating it all....there are boilers involved and sometimes ships or large plants.  When I was growing up he was the Dean of a Vocational College where he taught as well....and he also does a lot of private jobs. 

My Uncle Bob makes things and fixes things.  My Uncle Bob works hard...really hard. 

Most importantly, My Uncle Bob deserves a very large thanks from me.  When I was growing up I used to listen to my Grandpa, Mother, and Uncles sit around and debate the merits of education.  While my family are all staunch supporters of a formal education (thanks in large part to my Grandmother) my Uncle Bob maintained that you were wasting your time if you didn't have a skill.  A trade. 

My Uncle Bob was adament that the necessity of a trade did not just apply to men - it applied to women as well. 

Growing up in a family of hard workers I knew that I'd have to get my hands dirty to get ahead in life.  A standard had been set by all.

I have a trade - so do my cousins - thanks almost exclusively to My Uncle Bob.

Happy Birthday Uncle Bob!

p.s. Uncle Bob, I think you should take the day off work today and:

• have some tea and disgestives on the couch with the wifey or 
• take a drive - I know you drive a lot these days but, a good 'ole drive for a bite of food might do you wonders or
• putz around on your Chubby or
• visit some Grandbabies

Where were you?

This seems to be the question of the day. It amazes me how fresh a memory can be ten years later.  So many people have come and gone in my life.  I've sailed to exotic foreign ports and participated in debauchery.  I purchased my first home.  I traveled solo through New Zealand.  Where was I on March 3, 2003?  No clue.

Where was I on September 11, 2001?

I was a freshman at Maine Maritime Academy.  I had been at school for less than a month - I was still wearing my MUG blues - and had to run everywhere if I was by myself...if I was with a fellow Midshipmen we could walk together in step.  I was feeling shell shocked and very, very far away from home -Maine Maritime was not what I had expected.

I was at the waterfront in Castine, ME.  I had just completed a 4 hour nautical science lab - we were rowing monomoy's - approaching and breaking away from the dock.  I got a little wet so I changed into some dry clothes - I didn't feel like walking all the way to the changing room so I ducked into the sail loft (years of beaching it has allowed me to be able to change my clothes anywhere).

As I was coming down the sail loft stairs one of my MUG Mates (those are the MUGs who are in your company) said, 'Have you heard that the World Trade Center was bombed?!'.

Sadly, do you know what my first thought was....where the hell is the World Trade Center?!  I had honestly never heard of it.  All I really got was bombed.

The lab instructor just happened to be driving past at that moment and I hailed his car down.  He rolled his window down and I screeched, 'Capt. Weeks, Capt. Weeks!  You have to turn on your radio!  We're being ATTACKED!!!!'.

More of my MUG Mates showed up and we all huddled around the window of Captain Weeks car listening to his radio while he sat in the driver seat.

As the situation started developing I realized that my family had no idea what was going on because it was still the middle of the night in Hawaii (by this point I also figured out where the Twin Towers were - and what a big deal this was).

I sprinted up the hill to the dorms as fast as I could and called my Mom and then I called my Dad.  I made them turn on their televisions.  I was convinced that Pearl Harbor would be next and that I wouldn't be able to get home if more bad things started happening.

Classes were cancelled, phone lines were tied up as Midshipmen tried to get in touch with family, and common spaces were packed with students just needing to not be alone.

I finally hung up and went to The Waypoint (this was the little cafe on campus) to watch TV.  Virtually the entire freshman class was there - because none of us were allowed to have TVs in our dorm rooms.

I remember sitting in a large group of people staring dumbfounded as the video clips rolled thinking, 'I'm really, really not supposed to be here.  I'm just absolutely too far away from home.  This just isn't right.'

Where were you?