tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40198128885010089982024-02-20T22:49:10.332-08:00Chronicles of Crew ChangeChronicles of Crew Changehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08967137351121143522noreply@blogger.comBlogger79125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4019812888501008998.post-78300490919877461652019-02-17T18:44:00.000-08:002019-02-17T19:33:40.506-08:00The Weather Beat Me<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvLbVu4XNamNlF1HebBIpT3_baLI4ioGFsa0AnS-pOc5EoBNkV2bDsNGckuXagBhZAIMSjjXP9h2tjKox2UDC6315aHxaAiSK7lFEP4Let5SYLjgsY7iMxKigGC1ubL66khTjiclbgOPk/s1600/RS5575_100636723-scr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1306" data-original-width="980" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvLbVu4XNamNlF1HebBIpT3_baLI4ioGFsa0AnS-pOc5EoBNkV2bDsNGckuXagBhZAIMSjjXP9h2tjKox2UDC6315aHxaAiSK7lFEP4Let5SYLjgsY7iMxKigGC1ubL66khTjiclbgOPk/s320/RS5575_100636723-scr.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Acurate</b></i></td></tr>
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We all know that one guy. The one guy who wears shorts the
entire year. <span class="ilfuvd">Neither snow <b>nor rain nor</b> heat <b>nor</b>
gloom of night, </span>no matter what the weather is, shorts are that guy’s
preferred attire.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am that guy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Growing up in the northeast, we experienced our fair share
of less than seasonable weather. I also had my fair share of winter weather
clothing as a youth. I put my snow boots on wearing Wonder bread bags. I had
the pairs of mittens that had a string running up your sleeve that fastened
both mittens together to ensure there was no way to lose just one mitten. You
had to lose both of them together. I had the little pompoms on my winter hat. We
always had the lined up winter boots melting snow onto the floor right by the back
door. I knew that when you were snow blowing a driveway to always shoot the
snow downwind, no matter the circumstances. I had the cold weather thing down
to a T.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg0pqjNtO5QrzraTdsikcaNgVTqBEb_5v6Hys8f-uHNBx3_43fa4-cr60EVzd1Nc-3REWHbtBJO4dnXiqxXiAyDGK1fyfIP_KV5BomEaviVezYdNq60jqgFORnY6j7Gu18n_klSe9bJBQ/s1600/Bread-Bag-Uses-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1193" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg0pqjNtO5QrzraTdsikcaNgVTqBEb_5v6Hys8f-uHNBx3_43fa4-cr60EVzd1Nc-3REWHbtBJO4dnXiqxXiAyDGK1fyfIP_KV5BomEaviVezYdNq60jqgFORnY6j7Gu18n_klSe9bJBQ/s320/Bread-Bag-Uses-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>This is also an acceptable way to put on a Survival Suit. So it's nautical.</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzPoYI5zPwAEqah9U6611LThhsKuJfPEz8z_F7E7Y83THa98qL_11B2H8d5-zXViKOiLSRWsqAQyurPoGPtmOLDq7R-iPyuD0KX2bD1ecQVLcZ46A35QE1NJfGQXZgnXaCwtrday0D7PA/s1600/img_5598-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="588" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzPoYI5zPwAEqah9U6611LThhsKuJfPEz8z_F7E7Y83THa98qL_11B2H8d5-zXViKOiLSRWsqAQyurPoGPtmOLDq7R-iPyuD0KX2bD1ecQVLcZ46A35QE1NJfGQXZgnXaCwtrday0D7PA/s320/img_5598-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>You may lose your mittens, but at least they will be lost together.</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now that I’m an adult (arguable), I’m done with snow. I
moved to the south. No more blizzards for me. Sure we get a snow storm or two
down here. But the worst thing that happens is that they close school for a
week. Apparently, the south agrees with me that shoveling should be done by the
sun.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Alas, sometimes my job keeps me up in the northeast during
the winter. This winter has been no exception. The work has been steady and
plentiful. But it has also been cold. Cold winters kind of go hand in hand with
keeping busy. And as long as people keep using home heating oil, the work
transporting home heating oil to those in need will continue.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This year hasn’t been particularly cold. We have had some
cold snaps. But the weather usually turns warmer after a few days. There have
been a few days where the temperature was below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. That
magical number where water freezes and the weather personalities on TV lose
their collective minds. Pipes freezing, wind chills, Real-Feel temperatures,
wearing layers, exposed skin, etc. all ad nauseum on the news when the magic
number appears on the Exclusive Accu-Weather forecast. But so far, nothing that
would prevent me from continuing to wear shorts 365. Until 2 weeks ago.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have a few weather related phrases that drive me crazy.
First and foremost, “safely out to sea”. I loathe this one. Sure, the weather
system is going out to sea, away from everyone on land. Except for us. Those of
us that work out to sea are about to get an ass kicking. Thanks, weather reading
bobble head. A close second is, “frozen tundra”. Tundra, by definition, is
frozen ground. So saying frozen tundra, is really just saying frozen frozen
ground. So stop it. And the third weather cliché, and the reason for this post,
is the newly emerging one, “polar vortex”. It popped up a few years ago for
some reason. And now anytime the mercury dips down low, some newscaster has to
explain a brief dip on the thermometer as being caused by a “polar vortex”. I’m
sure I have a social media post out there threatening the first TV personality
to mutter “polar vortex” with irreparable harm.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLunQPVmB1zhT-iubkrEMG5rrgmm5zk9B96lmLOEQZ2mFBbEEmwnYoOJEVy4eh1lklMvEMPzJHHQAefIHQdN1QBrNhWjIBmJZ9L8oAfjS4TqfIUK7fM8W2ySjGFltnkxeHWVShK7cCPeU/s1600/fd96f9493c2773f8315056d31414ebb9.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="714" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLunQPVmB1zhT-iubkrEMG5rrgmm5zk9B96lmLOEQZ2mFBbEEmwnYoOJEVy4eh1lklMvEMPzJHHQAefIHQdN1QBrNhWjIBmJZ9L8oAfjS4TqfIUK7fM8W2ySjGFltnkxeHWVShK7cCPeU/s320/fd96f9493c2773f8315056d31414ebb9.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Not all weather is bad. Look at that relative humidity.</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Which brings me to the point of this post. Finally.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A few weeks ago, the dreaded polar vortex descended upon the
northeast. Concurrently, we were also scheduled to crew change in the
northeast. I flew in Boston’ Logan Airport decked out in my New England
Patriots sweatshirt (it was a few days before the Super Bowl) and a trusty pair
of shorts. A slight breeze was blowing and a gentle snow was falling as well.
It was below that magical 32 degrees, but I wasn’t planning on spending a long
duration outdoors, so I could still pull off wearing shorts and a hoodie. The
boat was delayed getting into the berth so I picked up the Chief Engineer and
we headed off to do a bit of grub shopping and buy some new linens for the tug.
After wasting a bit of time in the local Target store we headed out with our
cache of food and our recently purchased Star Wars and Avengers bed sets. As we
loaded our items into the car, the temperature had taken a noticeable dip and
the wind had increased substantially. “I’m still good”, I thought, wrongly so. We
next made a stop off at the neighboring Wendy’s fast food establishment. Where
the Chief got some food and I bought (wait for it) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a Frosty. We headed back out to the car to
finally go meet the boat at the dock, which is when I made a fateful decision.
I swung the car around and we headed back to Target.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Hey, the guy with the shorts is back!” the cashier at
Target greeted me. “What you forget?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Pants. Mistakes were made.” I replied sullenly. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The guy who wears shorts 365 days a year, had finally met
his match.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In my hand was a pair of sweat pants and two pairs of
gloves. My Engineer had bought himself a winter jacket during our earlier foray
at this particular Target store. I, one the other hand, had bought a pair of
flip flops. Our priorities were quite a bit different. However, the Chief had neglected
to buy a pair of gloves. At this point, knowing that a pair of pants, even for
me, as going to be required. I figured a $5 pair of gloves would be a welcome
purchase. So $30 later, I walked out of Target with a pair of pants and two
pairs of gloves.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_XS42CuFLqekKAPOgmgC8TFKvvPzbkKzMfBGdRVbp0eKt2rhjA1jwx7BVwdaF_ITRA_hY7UufM5TZSY1q2KFjJcRAV9mDgmV-UxuwYUS6k8Hlm6TGhs-vu67UpJQBW3alZkyruWEAqr8/s1600/9169050-6647815-image-a-15_1548840268926.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="358" data-original-width="634" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_XS42CuFLqekKAPOgmgC8TFKvvPzbkKzMfBGdRVbp0eKt2rhjA1jwx7BVwdaF_ITRA_hY7UufM5TZSY1q2KFjJcRAV9mDgmV-UxuwYUS6k8Hlm6TGhs-vu67UpJQBW3alZkyruWEAqr8/s320/9169050-6647815-image-a-15_1548840268926.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>It's colder than a witch's... Well, you know.</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And never has $30 been so well spent.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When we got to the dock, the temperature had dropped to 2
degrees. The wind was blowing a steady 30 mph. I’ll let you do your own wind
chill math. It was COLD. As we sat in the car blasting the heat and waiting
until the absolute last minute to grab our purchases and make a mad dash run to
the boat, one of our other crew was parked next to us. He cracked his window
just enough for me to hear him. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Are you wearing shorts?” he teased.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Yes.” I didn’t tell him they were under my newly purchased
sweatpants.</div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The weather had beaten me. </span>Chronicles of Crew Changehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08967137351121143522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4019812888501008998.post-45793897668068339972017-10-11T17:19:00.001-07:002017-10-11T17:30:47.609-07:00The Jones Act<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi315yHAP8tBemQJBA43BfAYfgu5k3phGR899U7uhFQAZ_O4aLdMssG81oev5cE6F6TQLsv54DCSv3xi4yKlmR0A2dbyjS26c91OazadisBWcf5UYA8Tx3KzpAxKHi9rzN-uDTEOPRd9EM/s1600/duty_calls.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="330" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi315yHAP8tBemQJBA43BfAYfgu5k3phGR899U7uhFQAZ_O4aLdMssG81oev5cE6F6TQLsv54DCSv3xi4yKlmR0A2dbyjS26c91OazadisBWcf5UYA8Tx3KzpAxKHi9rzN-uDTEOPRd9EM/s200/duty_calls.png" width="181" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Kind of like that.</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Have you heard about the Jones Act recently? Maybe caught a
hint of it during a news cast. Possibly you heard about it from a politician
running through their list of media talking points. More than likely saw it
mentioned in someone’s social media post. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Social media has been alight recently with posts about the
Jones Act, also known as the Merchant Marine Act of 1920. Most notably about
how this almost 100 year old law has been hampering the recovery efforts in
Puerto Rico. Not surprisingly, most of it has been wrong. Very wrong. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Even so, I tried to stay out of it. Seriously. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I tried. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I really did. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The problem is, no one, especially the ones squawking about
it’s effects on the current recovery efforts in Puerto Rico, know jack-all
about the Jones Act. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here is where this blog comes in to help you navigate
(you’re welcome) the mass of misinformation currently being spread about the
Jones Act and what the law actually entails. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let me get this right out there at the beginning. The Jones
Act is a Protectionist Law. You will get no argument from me on that point. But
there are plenty of reasons for it to exist.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But let’s start with a basic “Cliff Notes” version of the
Jones Act.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Jones Act of 1920 is a cabotage law that regulates the
Interstate transport of goods by water. Any cargo that originates in a US port,
destined for another US port, must be transported by a US made vessel, which is
crewed by US citizens, and owned by a US company. This law includes not only
the contiguous US states, but the territories of the United States as well. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Doesn’t seem that difficult to understand, right?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yet, here we are.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This year has been an exceptional bad year for hurricanes
that have made landfall in the United States. Hurricane Harvey lashed the area
between Corpus Christi and Matagorda, TX with strong winds and tidal surge. The
storm then stalled out and dropped more than 3 feet of rain (in some areas
double that) over the vast majority of the US Gulf coast. Flooding was a major
problem and entire communities were swamped. The relief effort was enormous. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Shortly after Hurricane Harvey came ashore in Texas, all
eyes turned toward the Caribbean as the next hurricane formed. It steamrolled
across the Leeward Island as a Category 5 and took aim on the mainland of the
US. During this time, I boarded my tug off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida
and immediately made the best speed possible northward and out of the path of
the closing storm.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC-aBYDYjcFhWd91Wlm_W9FHa-l5M4HzkGMeULn2f_qCfWWTqcAtOK0P2Yo-_rYLG19rVDmqnz1DqkP8taUAZz7t-Gx5ykVZ5cMMaiGdl46kT3U5Xz4g9gvMTa5AaHsZLj24OX32YwKMY/s1600/Model+vs+route.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC-aBYDYjcFhWd91Wlm_W9FHa-l5M4HzkGMeULn2f_qCfWWTqcAtOK0P2Yo-_rYLG19rVDmqnz1DqkP8taUAZz7t-Gx5ykVZ5cMMaiGdl46kT3U5Xz4g9gvMTa5AaHsZLj24OX32YwKMY/s320/Model+vs+route.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Our normal route (in red) vs. the predicted "spaghetti models of Hurricane Irma.</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And for good reason. My memories still fresh of the <a href="http://chroniclesofcrewchange.blogspot.com/2016/10/remembering-el-faro.html">US flagged ship El Faro</a> and it’s crew of
33, one of whom, Jeff Mathias, was a classmate of mine at Massachusetts Maritime
Academy. Who had left the same port of Jacksonville just shy of 2 years
previously on it’s fateful last voyage before getting caught in Hurricane
Joaquin and sinking with the loss of all aboard. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At the same time I was heading northward. My alma mater was
preparing the school’s training ship <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Kennedy</i>
to head southbound. Loading the ship with relief supplies and preparing it to
set sail for the flood devastated areas of Texas. The United States Maritime
Administration (MARAD) had activated the school ship to provide support to the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), just as it had done in 2012 for
Superstorm/Hurricane Sandy. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also
activated for the response was the<i><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Empire State IV, </span></i><i><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-style: normal;">SUNY
Maritime’s training ship, </span></i>and Texas A&M University's T/S <i><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">General Rudder</span></i>. Together, these three
vessels can not only bring relief supplies such as water and food, but also house
over 1,200 relief workers, freeing up local hotels for displaced residents. <i><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-style: normal;">All
of the state</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></i>Maritime Academy
vessels not only act as training vessels, but are also part of the
National Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF), a collection of ships
maintained by the Maritime Administration for use in times of national
emergency. All crewed by US Merchant Mariners, and in the case of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Kennedy</i>, some of the crew are personal
friends of mine. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV0spSzzAw4beZyPu85J4QXXNWyJu8zXVagjDmBo8qtwBQ90bglaYIS9DMKvcqJ1r7nzitqPHXr_7w4wIegFclZtC3SBuZ5a7JrgESnzySOzq0TmphD28yqtnco2OUx3crvusa1DszKmo/s1600/federal_kibune-9606053-bulk_carrier-8-169046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1076" data-original-width="1600" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV0spSzzAw4beZyPu85J4QXXNWyJu8zXVagjDmBo8qtwBQ90bglaYIS9DMKvcqJ1r7nzitqPHXr_7w4wIegFclZtC3SBuZ5a7JrgESnzySOzq0TmphD28yqtnco2OUx3crvusa1DszKmo/s320/federal_kibune-9606053-bulk_carrier-8-169046.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>The Training Ship Kennedy. Not as cool as the TSPS!</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Just after the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Kennedy</i>
and the other training ships set sail for Texas, Hurricane Irma slammed into
the Florida Keys. The storm delayed the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Kennedy</i>
in its voyage through the Florida Straits, but eventually it arrived with its
relief supplies in Corpus Christi, Texas. Just in time for the next hurricane in
line to bear down on the already ravaged US Virgin Islands. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hurricane Maria destroyed whatever was still standing in the
previously hurricane hit Virgin Islands and then took direct aim on Puerto
Rico. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Which brings us up to speed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Cue the reports that the Jones Act needs to go!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But here’s the thing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Jones Act isn’t having any negative affect on the relief
effort in Puerto Rico. In fact, a strong US Merchant Marine is the reason why
the island of Puerto Rico is getting the much needed support that it currently is.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the most visible groups in any response effort is the
US military. A big, gray Navy ship loitering just off the coast is a pretty
good cue that help is on the way. However, a US Navy ship is (as they love to
say over the VHF radio) a warship. Guns, missiles, and things that go ‘BOOM’
galore. But as far as providing the essentials, like food and water for
thousands. A US Navy warship just isn’t up to the task. Which is where the US
Merchant Marine comes into play.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnCTtjDnMotc_CfMT7WXEn-JmIjxJRkNAd1oPZ_qErWVhpbDYOoTBW2eT7XaLmOUOkYrW8DehEl6-cgiSlMzaz1QAPbrsi76I8Txa1QNXAa0Fro9wqtcTY1B53zjR8v-ENTT0dEwrtfMk/s1600/be-proudthis-is-us-usns-comfort-t-ah-20-in-high-res-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="575" data-original-width="920" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnCTtjDnMotc_CfMT7WXEn-JmIjxJRkNAd1oPZ_qErWVhpbDYOoTBW2eT7XaLmOUOkYrW8DehEl6-cgiSlMzaz1QAPbrsi76I8Txa1QNXAa0Fro9wqtcTY1B53zjR8v-ENTT0dEwrtfMk/s320/be-proudthis-is-us-usns-comfort-t-ah-20-in-high-res-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>USNS Comfort</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Let’s just take a very visible example in the response to
Puerto Rico, the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">US Navy Hospital Ship
Comfort</i>. I saw a few social media posts from politicians up on high about
how the government should activate the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Comfort</i>
and send it immediately to Puerto Rico to assist. And it sounds like a good
idea. Send the US Navy to help. It’s even right there in the name, US Navy
Hospital Ship. Except it isn’t. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, kind of. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Which is where we lose a lot of
people. The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Comfort</i> IS a Navy ship.
However, it is crewed and manned with…wait for it…United States Merchant Marine
personnel. The doctors and nurses are mostly US Navy and US Navy Reserve, but
the ones who run the ship, are all US Merchant Mariners. Do away with the Jones
Act, decimate the US Merchant Marine, and who is there to crew the vessel?<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTaKQB9s3aZ47vlWgg_EJthaFFevDFE5gwSSxZzsuRZhoG_7wLhb1Fby4T_yKauX8Kmp-6SVuHWj9K-81MJ0fB1qh_lpm7iKlwtNrnCbJrjJ6EEKqYJ03Rsny9Q7qQmUUwcpY24nFc5zs/s1600/150618124215-usns-comfort-12-super-169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="619" data-original-width="1100" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTaKQB9s3aZ47vlWgg_EJthaFFevDFE5gwSSxZzsuRZhoG_7wLhb1Fby4T_yKauX8Kmp-6SVuHWj9K-81MJ0fB1qh_lpm7iKlwtNrnCbJrjJ6EEKqYJ03Rsny9Q7qQmUUwcpY24nFc5zs/s320/150618124215-usns-comfort-12-super-169.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Navy Ship. Says so right there. Kind of.</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Truth be told, the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Comfort
</i>is actually a “MSC” ship. MSC, is just another Navy acronym, which stands for
Military Sealift Command. MSC ships operate hand in hand with the US Navy all
over the world. They are the tankers, munitions, and supply ships which support
the US Navy in their day to day operations. Take away the MSC support ships and
the Navy can’t operate. Seriously. Who else can supply the aircraft carriers
with aviation fuel? The destroyers with provisions? The landing craft with
ammo? The Navy needs all of these things, constantly. And who mans the MSC
ships? United States Merchant Mariners. Who do you think brought all of the
military’s wonderful toys of destruction to them during the conflicts in the
Middle East? Answer: MSC Ships. Many of them are prepositioned all over the globe ready to support
the US military wherever they are needed at a moment’s notice. Every single one
of them crewed by United States Merchant Mariners. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCP188Cgdbww3Xx5yS-ToqAVxu5YzacAbFZ1iTlzHPeLbcCzFGBqlSURau_sl6Twe28qD9CNdleBpUj5lL4lIIzVlr1VosDdmUQpqi_dTa4qS6aEdFTpKjt1eGIBnFooSkaLMLtjQ88aE/s1600/US_Navy_060303-N-9254J-023_The_Military_Sealift_Command_%2528MSC%2529_fast_combat_support_ship_USNS_Supply_%2528T-AOE-6%2529_pulls_alongside_the_nuclear-powered_aircraft_carrier_USS_Enterprise_%2528CVN_65%2529_during_a_replenishment_at_sea_%2528RAS%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="1600" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCP188Cgdbww3Xx5yS-ToqAVxu5YzacAbFZ1iTlzHPeLbcCzFGBqlSURau_sl6Twe28qD9CNdleBpUj5lL4lIIzVlr1VosDdmUQpqi_dTa4qS6aEdFTpKjt1eGIBnFooSkaLMLtjQ88aE/s320/US_Navy_060303-N-9254J-023_The_Military_Sealift_Command_%2528MSC%2529_fast_combat_support_ship_USNS_Supply_%2528T-AOE-6%2529_pulls_alongside_the_nuclear-powered_aircraft_carrier_USS_Enterprise_%2528CVN_65%2529_during_a_replenishment_at_sea_%2528RAS%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Navy ship? Nope. Military Sealift Command. Note the blue and yellow stripe on the stack.</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGbWBC2K8tzVKxbu5ZNYzVHDImZziDMFQd5478B4TIyc4qnTlZwBfrtkwDw6AFUA9PC3EVMI2r6AhWHLujG2Ac8uynfsoDnBx5v8t1MYRCTW9iosvgGcHexLbDR0rRBMXbZgAgBVxutpg/s1600/UNREP-for-Upton-blog-II.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGbWBC2K8tzVKxbu5ZNYzVHDImZziDMFQd5478B4TIyc4qnTlZwBfrtkwDw6AFUA9PC3EVMI2r6AhWHLujG2Ac8uynfsoDnBx5v8t1MYRCTW9iosvgGcHexLbDR0rRBMXbZgAgBVxutpg/s320/UNREP-for-Upton-blog-II.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Navy ship doing UNREP (Underway Replenishment) with a US Merchant Marine MSC ship.</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz1N-kpoQHIEsuQDlDn7ElBTrajq2KP_TCVziH0zIMWgt687U65u96WuVmK7KuUSaOHs1PDmgVa9jMWmB1r9q6TvDGRtrdxxC4VsuWjxiEvlSLrK5NQ2nVU82tUuhad5211Hu167ESkQQ/s1600/comfort+lnc+unrep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="800" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz1N-kpoQHIEsuQDlDn7ElBTrajq2KP_TCVziH0zIMWgt687U65u96WuVmK7KuUSaOHs1PDmgVa9jMWmB1r9q6TvDGRtrdxxC4VsuWjxiEvlSLrK5NQ2nVU82tUuhad5211Hu167ESkQQ/s320/comfort+lnc+unrep.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Both Military Sealift Command. US Merchant Marine crews running both of them.</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is said that, “An Army marches on its stomach.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The same can be said of the Navy. “The Navy sails on the
back of the Merchant Marine.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In addition, please don’t think that the US Merchant Marine
is just the deep draft “Blue Water” merchant ships. It also includes the thousands
and thousands of tugs, barges, ferries, passenger ships, ATB’s, and anything else
that plies the coastal waters of the United States.The Jones Act specifically protects the Interstate trade of our country.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUvNZIhQ7mgf9S3omEupkstaakFHjUVJdkIaMc9TS3CwGpQWKJo4QmHQMA10ckMF_OC_Wvv7R6A9rJ9hkLXAdumhIq5h6iqTXk5Nmeoz9u5WFCGpM6Gig7-YLXbwGT7we_jAzqVGnwG3Q/s1600/AkerAmericanShipping_Yard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="500" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUvNZIhQ7mgf9S3omEupkstaakFHjUVJdkIaMc9TS3CwGpQWKJo4QmHQMA10ckMF_OC_Wvv7R6A9rJ9hkLXAdumhIq5h6iqTXk5Nmeoz9u5WFCGpM6Gig7-YLXbwGT7we_jAzqVGnwG3Q/s320/AkerAmericanShipping_Yard.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Jones Act ships being built in Philadelphia.</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5UWF4Cj52UwjPDL1tp7uAOwysC_qPYpMlcvU-PQ7tFDUUMkG5G-ucy9_ZdWq7-GqIgZS92ADWLqMyPGxGaP6WxQBLwMiUYTpBzXHWoLsUq_YgG1hoPpPQSYaQxvzJfbM536taqDOCUqY/s1600/crowley_barge300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="600" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5UWF4Cj52UwjPDL1tp7uAOwysC_qPYpMlcvU-PQ7tFDUUMkG5G-ucy9_ZdWq7-GqIgZS92ADWLqMyPGxGaP6WxQBLwMiUYTpBzXHWoLsUq_YgG1hoPpPQSYaQxvzJfbM536taqDOCUqY/s320/crowley_barge300.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>One of the many tug and barges that specifically supply Puerto Rico in the Jones Act trade.</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg80PA-LeCZlh1JxtuOaGoqJe3BhzjHNzhxELtJ0md5oatl1gyHCZTV1_NMc-vQS9CrOEGbOgiRhdmlKuVCVDOPYSd_h89aWcK1BKWUxpwkprpr0vlavuVDQsHRWeyBHjXwBMKB4LTnagw/s1600/OSGVision_34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg80PA-LeCZlh1JxtuOaGoqJe3BhzjHNzhxELtJ0md5oatl1gyHCZTV1_NMc-vQS9CrOEGbOgiRhdmlKuVCVDOPYSd_h89aWcK1BKWUxpwkprpr0vlavuVDQsHRWeyBHjXwBMKB4LTnagw/s320/OSGVision_34.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Ocean-going Articulated Tug/Barge unit which is also a Jones Act vessel.</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Perhaps a better example would be to use the airline industry. The airlines have their own set of laws that protect their own interests. It is completely acceptable for American Airlines to fly from Charlotte to Paris, France. Conversely, it is acceptable for Air France to fly from Paris to Charlotte. But it is not lawful for Air France to fly from Charlotte to Denver. The airlines have protectionist laws against that. Nor could American Airlines fly from Paris to Nice. The French would frown upon our airlines trying to take over their own interstate transportation. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The same holds true for US flagged shipping because of the Jones Act. It is perfectly acceptable
for a US ship to go to Barcelona, Spain (been there myself). It is
also acceptable for a foreign flagged ship to load in Dubai and come to New York. The ship can even discharge part of it's cargo in New York and then continue to Philadelphia to discharge the rest of it. However, it CANNOT load cargo in one US port and bring it to another US port. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In reference to Puerto Rico, foreign flagged ships are more than welcome to bring their goods to the island anytime they please. Many times over the last few days I have heard that foreign flagged
vessels that are going to Puerto Rico have to stop in the US and unload
their cargo so that it can go to Puerto on a US flagged Jones Act
vessel. This is 100%, categorically FALSE. The truth is, 70% of all
ships that stop in Puerto Rico are foreign flagged. The Jones Act only affects cargo that originates in a US port. It is also true that
most seafaring nations have a similar set of cabotage laws that protect
their own shipping interests. Those countries are also interested in maintaining a strong maritime presence. They don't want to become reliant on another country's merchant fleet to deliver goods that they can transport themselves. And neither should the United States.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Believe me this post could go on for a quite a bit longer. The
Jones Act is more than just the ships that call on Puerto Rico and the Hawaiian
Islands. There is so much more to it than just that small sampling of what we
do.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzJFSMdfMC8ub516qhqA6v-gt6YSoByV5q2uLgaSIdim-9tHz6mjjUsLfyqpbhlLNjL56-F_xSYQSEX2JDCljPGnr7M-NMWqUz8_LIfffMF2uTckwVmOAQAMsdzt0tKqMvQvZs35J_IUE/s1600/22279516_10155727726901310_1846490823379297142_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="540" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzJFSMdfMC8ub516qhqA6v-gt6YSoByV5q2uLgaSIdim-9tHz6mjjUsLfyqpbhlLNjL56-F_xSYQSEX2JDCljPGnr7M-NMWqUz8_LIfffMF2uTckwVmOAQAMsdzt0tKqMvQvZs35J_IUE/s320/22279516_10155727726901310_1846490823379297142_n.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sadly, if you destroy the Jones Act, you destroy the
Merchant Marine, the Navy, the shipbuilding, the shore side terminals, and open
up our interstate commerce to substandard shipping. There is the law of
unintended consequences that will reverberate throughout the coastal states and
the entire country.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Getting rid of the Jones Act is an incredibly short-sighted,
bad idea. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, please, before you listen to some politician’s social
media post, or someone’s opinion based on a newspaper article, take the time to
do your own research. I am more than willing to answer any questions or
comments you may have. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know the Jones Act.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is my job to.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div>
Chronicles of Crew Changehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08967137351121143522noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4019812888501008998.post-78761022113625512632017-05-23T19:28:00.001-07:002017-05-23T19:28:19.458-07:00Tugboating Top Tips<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNINo30DkJaP-wplRvEB4NxwtzPL1yiYaCzJaRVeLTvgxdLS1rWxkpFz7xSbWBwGWOzeSosMnX2U9hfRx1iTtNgp_x-KOXJD7i0IKt_EeLk23j7mNX8UMWU8XPQAyt_tplbDL0I4CWgpU/s1600/memorial-day-history.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNINo30DkJaP-wplRvEB4NxwtzPL1yiYaCzJaRVeLTvgxdLS1rWxkpFz7xSbWBwGWOzeSosMnX2U9hfRx1iTtNgp_x-KOXJD7i0IKt_EeLk23j7mNX8UMWU8XPQAyt_tplbDL0I4CWgpU/s200/memorial-day-history.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Memorial Day. The “Unofficial” Start to Summer. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pay no attention to all of that “remembering our nation’s
fallen warriors” stuff. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s time to get the hamburgers and hot dogs a grillin’, get
all boozed up, and head out on the water in that boat that you haven’t even
looked at since last October. Woo!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For us, the “Unofficial” start to WAFI and MAFI season is
more like it. Interestingly enough, this week (May 20<sup>th</sup> to the 26<sup>th</sup>)
is also called National Safe Boating Week. I submit that it should be renamed “Idiots
with More Money Than Brains” week. It’s catchy. Not surprisingly, this weekend there
was no shortage of a complete lack of nautical knowledge to be found.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe9Gjnp2n57RO0HAXq0YViLTaeYzLiktJiBnCOueo9yC15y4RQ_L3XG7rffChQf6yC6oWUshyFlJq8yw3Il8_rLUghQyjjy-bESVFp5Sbkd13Q0Jf1qmiAopc6UY5NvyjGh012HnoDOR0/s1600/1104070_1280x720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe9Gjnp2n57RO0HAXq0YViLTaeYzLiktJiBnCOueo9yC15y4RQ_L3XG7rffChQf6yC6oWUshyFlJq8yw3Il8_rLUghQyjjy-bESVFp5Sbkd13Q0Jf1qmiAopc6UY5NvyjGh012HnoDOR0/s320/1104070_1280x720.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Stupid hurts. And is a bit expensive.</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So in an attempt to spread some nautical tid-bits of
seafaring knowledge with the masses, I present to you: Tugboating Top Tips for
the Woefully Unprepared Seasonal Boater (abridged version).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tip #1: Radio Checks. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Stop it. Just stop it. Especially on VHF Channel 16! All
summer long Channel 16 is clogged up with weekend warriors and their “Radio
Check, Radio Check”. And all summer long the watchstanders at U.S. Coast Guard
stations all over the country reply with “Radio Checks are conducted on VHF
Channel Zero-Nine”. I get it. You haven’t even though about doing any maintenance
on your boat since you put it away last fall. I’m sure the squirrels have had a
glorious time nibbling on you radio wires in the dead of winter. But a simple
check of your equipment shouldn’t have to be broadcast to the entirety of the
nautical world on the one channel that is designated as an emergency hailing
frequency. So cut it out! </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTVlgoqEdHnLydxfxIgy0kq-w4BkBPlCkgU-0CcLpDUpZDEz2ekHMsHh4feU_gODyAoOvpx8ljBhTNO4_JCL9m2NGxSajpUV-Hn4TT-5mEhnkpuU0NUAKe3ZTIhGVNG2c0oCya1USsml8/s1600/101209-G-0450H-105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTVlgoqEdHnLydxfxIgy0kq-w4BkBPlCkgU-0CcLpDUpZDEz2ekHMsHh4feU_gODyAoOvpx8ljBhTNO4_JCL9m2NGxSajpUV-Hn4TT-5mEhnkpuU0NUAKe3ZTIhGVNG2c0oCya1USsml8/s320/101209-G-0450H-105.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>It's okay. You can switch channels.</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tip #2: More Radio Stuff.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here is another VHF Radio Top Tip. If you are trying to
contact a commercial vessel on VHF Channel 16 (and this is especially important
in the New York Harbor area and major ports with a Vessel Traffic Control
system), don’t be too surprised if no one on that commercial vessel is
listening. Now, stick with me for a second, as I’m sure some of you are
confused. Most people assume that everyone is listening on Channel 16 all of
the time, as well you should. It’s in The Rules. Here’s the legal stuff:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In general, any vessel
equipped with a VHF marine radiotelephone (whether voluntarily or required to)
must maintain a watch on channel 16 (156.800 MHz) whenever the radiotelephone
is not being used to communicate. (</span></strong>FCC 47 CFR §§ 80.148,
80.310)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So there it is. Except when it’s not. More legal stuff:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">In addition, every </b>[commercial]<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> power-driven vessel </b>… (condensed to
take out some legal mumbo-jumbo)<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> must
also maintain a watch on channel 13 (156.650 MHz) --channel 67 (156.375 MHz) if
operating on the lower Mississippi River-- ; </b>…(more condensing)<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> These vessels must also maintain a watch
on the designated Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) frequency, in lieu of
maintaining watch on channel 16, while transiting within a VTS area.</b> (See
33 CFR §§ 2.36, 26, and 161; 47 CFR §§ 80.148, 80.308-309)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So there you go. Simple, right? Here is the gist of it:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Commercial vessels are listening in on VHF channel 13 ALL OF
THE TIME (channel 67 on the Miss. River). So if you need to get ahold of a
commercial vessel, take a second and switch from channel 16 to 13 and hail them
on that channel. Your chances of success on reaching said vessel on 13 are much
better than calling on channel 16. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Case in point. In my wheelhouse I have 4 mounted VHF radios
and a portable VHF radio at my disposal. While operating in a Vessel Traffic
area, I have one radio monitoring Vessel Traffic, a second radio always tuned
to channel 13 to monitor and communicate with any concerned vessel traffic, a
third radio monitoring my company’s “house channel”, and the fourth radio
monitoring our vessel’s “working channel”. Listening in on four different radio
frequencies is a handful. At times, to help to try to limit “information
overload” radios #3 and 4 might get turned down, or turned off. Based on the
amount of radio chatter, you sometimes need to prioritize which radio channels
need to be monitored. Channel 13 and the Vessel Traffic channels are at the top
of the list. To add on monitoring channel 16 in a busy harbor just adds to the
confusion. Hence, the “in lieu” provision in the above legalese. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, to sum up the last couple of paragraphs of long winded babbling
and to make this as simple and easy as possible:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Call commercial vessels on channel 13. There, easy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sidebar: Out to sea, chances are pretty good that you will
be able to get a commercial vessel on channel 16, just don’t expect the same
results in the harbor.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGlw-Itm-DRTzxm_bGSe9jFXemKPefblDgAlvxj5QOIxx19HC38rvQ7B25oH1Xsthyphenhyphen9mvY_A82BM0-ZCQxu0GeWgyzJr3enFtZg5PGSxfxoZ5gPq4EoNrbriqoiLkCfMkm98vz19vuFF0/s1600/9646610.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGlw-Itm-DRTzxm_bGSe9jFXemKPefblDgAlvxj5QOIxx19HC38rvQ7B25oH1Xsthyphenhyphen9mvY_A82BM0-ZCQxu0GeWgyzJr3enFtZg5PGSxfxoZ5gPq4EoNrbriqoiLkCfMkm98vz19vuFF0/s320/9646610.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Mariner Multi-tasking.</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tip #3: Navigation Lights.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Squirrels like navigation light wires just as much as they
like marine VHF radio wires. So before you head out in “Druken Engineer” (name
of an actual boat I heard calling the USCG for assistance) for the first time
this year, check to make sure your navigation lights work. Last weekend I heard
a boat call a tug who was making up to their barge mid-stream say they were
hard to see because their sidelights were burned out. Not smart. Also, not
smart is displaying the incorrect navigation lights. I already dislike
sailboats. What makes me dislike them even more is when some salty sailboat
captain decides the way to best be seen is to put on not only one set of
running lights, but two! Here is a nice little diagram that highlights what I’m
talking about.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVwDovQES_ZfV4HlEOQyChLGZOFtF0z1NKNt0RC-BTctAJag7pl57RQyaSCgbDJO9KhMLk0k_-m7S8x6S2_gWzbM3WPI2m1tBb2woSiJIr47N3iZjmqE_JrrrRhEeKO9j-ijZL4DHsb-0/s1600/Navigation-lights-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVwDovQES_ZfV4HlEOQyChLGZOFtF0z1NKNt0RC-BTctAJag7pl57RQyaSCgbDJO9KhMLk0k_-m7S8x6S2_gWzbM3WPI2m1tBb2woSiJIr47N3iZjmqE_JrrrRhEeKO9j-ijZL4DHsb-0/s320/Navigation-lights-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>"Either"</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Please note the “EITHER” in reference to the running lights
in the first picture. It means you can display ONE or THE OTHER. Not both! Don't be "That Guy".
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tip #4: Power driven vs. Under sail.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Since I’m already ripping on sailboats, and since pictures
are worth a thousand words. Let me end with this flurry of pictures. See if you can
spot the subtle differences between a sailboat and a power driven vessel. The
Rules of the Road concerning these two types of vessels are quite different.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtzI2SVUobYt9qPvjYiLbm1Q5afWa8bLHOj7gQrQjyr62sIJWXbl6CGAOsTuftc8LlWsHoJPlcETYnxOoywRPMj9ANfFzW9Ap5MkCxV6e0LHpViXBnE51D4VfzJW24Vy6hzCMYUdhUyps/s1600/main.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtzI2SVUobYt9qPvjYiLbm1Q5afWa8bLHOj7gQrQjyr62sIJWXbl6CGAOsTuftc8LlWsHoJPlcETYnxOoywRPMj9ANfFzW9Ap5MkCxV6e0LHpViXBnE51D4VfzJW24Vy6hzCMYUdhUyps/s320/main.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Sailboat.</b></i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNT2ZID0L6o4yVFjHLYzOF4xjVksGJSPlWHw0R-L2ZpvgMt9GWEmiISCyH9rIDg83ZgDKtAOoqtcBGW2fUWnUurNt34uY3MvCSx7rDsv3vUCkWPuZMAWSXe1JzA7v1IjwtNZ4Om95gJDc/s1600/Lafitte+44+under+power-thumb-400x300-410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNT2ZID0L6o4yVFjHLYzOF4xjVksGJSPlWHw0R-L2ZpvgMt9GWEmiISCyH9rIDg83ZgDKtAOoqtcBGW2fUWnUurNt34uY3MvCSx7rDsv3vUCkWPuZMAWSXe1JzA7v1IjwtNZ4Om95gJDc/s320/Lafitte+44+under+power-thumb-400x300-410.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Not a sailboat. Power boat.</b></i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1W4-z0UkoCz5BZCQlInzhBtDz-zHYsQaPqmODXxvdRoOo9r1Rrn9YTEO0bW8hkTc3MY8cMV1tQjNVOhschPT5E3r6BuyYlAra1WqPHIqo_Gz-_y9v6RQAOUiVzH-ErGwFKIN9Gv9xw1s/s1600/Yacht-regina-56m-vip-luxe-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1W4-z0UkoCz5BZCQlInzhBtDz-zHYsQaPqmODXxvdRoOo9r1Rrn9YTEO0bW8hkTc3MY8cMV1tQjNVOhschPT5E3r6BuyYlAra1WqPHIqo_Gz-_y9v6RQAOUiVzH-ErGwFKIN9Gv9xw1s/s320/Yacht-regina-56m-vip-luxe-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Sailboat.</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyeyuyxzbjMc3_GRlC8Lx_FYtqB6K_tB2aJlk6vV27wgT8a50Jk4Ml-EZ_LQ-wfm2NAULiF-YB9Pckr3XgqYYonntiN40GXG0adMsoym39Bw8ZXIAHcZ-Fd8KHl701CX5nVM4l4z11i6A/s1600/Gulfstar-Sailmaster-47.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyeyuyxzbjMc3_GRlC8Lx_FYtqB6K_tB2aJlk6vV27wgT8a50Jk4Ml-EZ_LQ-wfm2NAULiF-YB9Pckr3XgqYYonntiN40GXG0adMsoym39Bw8ZXIAHcZ-Fd8KHl701CX5nVM4l4z11i6A/s320/Gulfstar-Sailmaster-47.gif" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Power boat with a big aluminum lightning rod attached. Not a sailboat.</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So there you go. Four simple Top Tips to help make your summer boating experience a bit more fun and a bit safer. But hopefully safer. Because if you're safer, that makes me safer. And I'm all for that.<br />Chronicles of Crew Changehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08967137351121143522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4019812888501008998.post-40751295291844073662017-03-24T04:19:00.000-07:002017-03-24T05:22:01.731-07:00Broken RecordAs a General Rule, I like to try and keep this blog relatively upbeat and light hearted. Funny little stories intertwined with doses of moments of sheer terror. Essentially, a carbon copy of life aboard a tugboat.<br />
<br />
Alas, on occasion over the last few years I have had to pen my thoughts regarding the loss of <a href="http://chroniclesofcrewchange.blogspot.com/2013/09/dose-of-reality.html">friends</a>, <a href="http://chroniclesofcrewchange.blogspot.com/2015/03/dangerous-job.html">mentors</a>, and coworkers. An unfortunate reality of life.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Featured in some of those "funny little stories" was my deckhand, who the crew had nicknamed "Mongo".<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjYtk7TQOd8iMGcqBgX_3I7hs3rFpoovsP5QhgcP-3rTBCM6ZzkTFvl8a_Cb4lfJDb1M-Wo5J5k3jrHJpToD076rJfGg1V8YdN1Pg67BynMZrtTn93lPkU9tgmVwjRFPAnvhUDTb4asBI/s1600/att_1400790628854172.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjYtk7TQOd8iMGcqBgX_3I7hs3rFpoovsP5QhgcP-3rTBCM6ZzkTFvl8a_Cb4lfJDb1M-Wo5J5k3jrHJpToD076rJfGg1V8YdN1Pg67BynMZrtTn93lPkU9tgmVwjRFPAnvhUDTb4asBI/s320/att_1400790628854172.jpeg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mongo fish!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Mongo came over to my company a few years ago from another tugboat company. He had just gone through a condensed, accelerated school to get his steering license and was striving to get a Mate's position. While he was training to fine tune his boat handling skills, he was also my deckhand.<br />
<br />
During the time we worked together, Mongo was always the center of attention. If he wasn't, he was trying to be. Mongo was a big dude. But it wasn't always his physical stature that was the focal point. Case in point, at some time during his wheelhouse training with us, a stuffed, fluffy unicorn that lit up and played music appeared in the wheelhouse. Mongo was definitely a little kid, trapped in a big body.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Mongo about to give an improvised beating to keep morale up</i></b>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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His personality is of course highlighted by <a href="http://chroniclesofcrewchange.blogspot.com/2014/01/its-not-all-doom-and-gloom.html">this story</a> from around Christmas time a few years ago. If you haven't read it, please take the time in order to get just a little bit of insight into who Mongo was.<br />
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Mongo was also a motorcyclist through and through. Crew changes were always an interesting sight. Whenever he wasn't dressed like this...<br />
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You could definitely find him dressed in a leather motorcycle jacket, his wallet on a chain, and more skull rings and jewelry than any one person should be allowed to wear at any one time.<br />
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He was a perfectionist. A hard worker. He was a bit quirky at times. But also one to lend a hand and try something that he had never attempted before. As was the case when we rebuilt the galley on the boat with some rudimentary tools and a lot of cursing. So became the beginnings of...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Mongo and Me Woodworking Company</b></i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Recently, I was in the office doing office type things, when Mongo's name came into the conversation. He had just been signed off as a Training Mate on the boat we had worked together on. It was the first crucial step in getting that coveted job as a Mate he had been striving for. Mongo and his unicorn were going places. A mere month later from that innocent conversation in the office, we received another message from the office regarding Mongo.<br />
<br />
Mongo was on his time off. Undoubtedly enjoying a must needed break from moving to a new boat and starting his training with a new Captain and crew. Mongo was at home in Florida riding his motorcycle, something which he absolutely loved to do. He had an accident and was killed.<br />
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Another friend gone too soon. Another Brother mariner taken from the maritime family way too early. Working on tugs is a dangerous business, but one doesn't have to be on the boat to be taken from us.<br />
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I'm not the best when it comes to saying goodbye to friends I've lost. This one is no different. We always just assume people will be there and not taken from us. I looked forward to seeing Mongo around the harbor. I wanted him to give us an assist into the dock on his new boat. I wanted to see how he had progressed as a boatman from the last time I had worked with him. I wanted him to keep working hard and get that Mate's spot. Instead, I get to pen another blog post lamenting the loss of a friend. Struggling with how to end a heartfelt miss-mash of words trying to describe a man who cannot be described with words alone.<br />
<br />
We'll miss you, Mongo.<br />
<br />
That is about the best I can do. <br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Anthony
Giuliano</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">October 5, 1970 – March 22 , 2017</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>We'll miss our Mongo!</b></i></td></tr>
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<br />Chronicles of Crew Changehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08967137351121143522noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4019812888501008998.post-31788988987608637802017-02-04T19:25:00.002-08:002017-02-04T19:30:55.864-08:00Super Bowl of Calories<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Super Bowl is tomorrow. Once again, my beloved New England Patriots are making an appearance in the NFL's season finale. Roger Goodell has no choice but to watch Tom Brady and Bill Belichick once again go for the Lombardi trophy. I can't wait.<br />
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Problem is, I'm on the boat. I would much rather be at home terrorizing my family, screaming at the television, and throwing pillows around the living room in excitement as I did the last time the Patriots were victorious in Super Bowl 49. I never did find that pillow I threw.<br />
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Alas, there are bills to be paid, so here I am at work. I tried to get one of my friends to bring me a New England Patriots flag down to the boat so I could fly it from the mast tomorrow to show my support. After some promising sounding messages from a couple of local friends, the end result of a Patriots flag flying high from the yardarm ended in futility. Schedules didn't match up and no flag was able to be procured for the BIG game. To be fair, my parents were willing to drive 3 hours to deliver a flag to me but that sounded a bit extreme.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Damn you, Amazon for not delivering to vessels while underway!</i></b></td></tr>
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So I won't have a flag on the boat, but we are still preparing for the game one way or the other. One way we are getting ready is through a well thought out, highly organized list of menu items for tomorrow. We purchased a deep fryer for the galley this hitch. We thoroughly tested it last weekend by dialing in just the perfect amount of seasoning and fine tuning the cooking time for the most delectable chicken wings this side of Hudson Canyon. Also on the menu is meatballs in a fine reduction sauce slowly simmered in a crock pot for hours. Currently, the Chief Engineer is researching the perfect recipe for batter to be used for deep frying Oreo cookies, brownies, candy bars, and whatever other sort of food item that seem like it would be delicious if it happened to be slathered in batter and deep fried to a golden-brown, crispy perfection. The list could literally be endless. While we were making up our grub list earlier this week I was both absolutely horrified by some of the items that were being written down, and yet somewhat intrigued by the same items as to what sort of concoction that we would be able to come up with. A healthy diet this list would not make.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitrU0oKL5utzugig4HUpkWXfJ1L115PdTmVOKtCJEv6-X-2RP3aFXC9FDSmiIeNM8O60JCJEduTUUI_YWgZvpBbdHRinbBOFEDxLb4ElS01izFY4wAXDH4a-cwomZ3OEFsOiPUf3pXKUs/s1600/Salad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitrU0oKL5utzugig4HUpkWXfJ1L115PdTmVOKtCJEv6-X-2RP3aFXC9FDSmiIeNM8O60JCJEduTUUI_YWgZvpBbdHRinbBOFEDxLb4ElS01izFY4wAXDH4a-cwomZ3OEFsOiPUf3pXKUs/s320/Salad.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Arugula. Still fun to say.</i></b></td></tr>
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Which brings me to my latest Million Dollar Idea. Similar in scope to my last couple of Million Dollar ideas. Namely, purchasing a tank and selling rides in said tank for a minimal fee. Or my long time dream of opening up a Bacon Restaurant where everything on the menu contains bacon of a varying degree.<br />
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The latest idea- The Tugboat Cook Book.<br />
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Now I'm pretty sure that someone out there has already come up with such a thing. Similarly, I know that there are already Bacon Restaurants, and places to drive tanks. However, as with most things that come out of my head, this Tugboat Cookbook will have it's own kind of flair. My own personal touch to it.<br />
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Page 1. Nothing in this cookbook shall be construed to be considered healthy in any way, shape, or form.<br />
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Page 2. CPR instructions. Links to the National Red Cross, the American Heart Association, and directions for First Aid, including the Heimlich Maneuver and use of an AED.<br />
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Pages 3 thru... whatever. Recipes that are delectable in every way, yet horrendous for you in every way.<br />
You know, tugboat food.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijeM5y6mgigdtohJ2Fhg3Ujf85hAzAACSrGHDLkbV6pSbljxU_rhAhwboPnScx_0wTOL_jkAA4-jmesVZymH4ihkB1ffL2Xr_JG2eONzbW8A_hEfwHHblp2MD-az6ziOBEBCqD0rTEZc4/s1600/bacon.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijeM5y6mgigdtohJ2Fhg3Ujf85hAzAACSrGHDLkbV6pSbljxU_rhAhwboPnScx_0wTOL_jkAA4-jmesVZymH4ihkB1ffL2Xr_JG2eONzbW8A_hEfwHHblp2MD-az6ziOBEBCqD0rTEZc4/s200/bacon.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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In the last few years, great strides have been taken to improve the lives of mariners through proper rest schedules and healthy eating. As a crew, we try to eat healthy and exercise. It's a work in progress. But with all diet and exercise, you have to allow yourself a "cheat day". Tomorrow just happens to be one of those days.<br />
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And yes, the "cheat day" irony is not lost on me. I get it. New England Patriots, cheat day. Funny.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVZybT9VI8cQBiGnb1Lmi70eO0jnsFsOSkv6ikzHPGIepmYw3vjj7slH9keom9rnLM2HUvAwqc953bjSt1mDvDo5Kd9bs0UU0OiiaKyZBOdX2fbcjZJf0Z2ETb9tis8FJcEH5bAkyxPw/s1600/new-england-patriots21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVZybT9VI8cQBiGnb1Lmi70eO0jnsFsOSkv6ikzHPGIepmYw3vjj7slH9keom9rnLM2HUvAwqc953bjSt1mDvDo5Kd9bs0UU0OiiaKyZBOdX2fbcjZJf0Z2ETb9tis8FJcEH5bAkyxPw/s320/new-england-patriots21.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Go Pats!</b></i></td></tr>
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But let me end with this.<br />
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Here is a list of all players that have played in seven Super Bowls:<br />
TOM BRADY.<br />
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If you need me tomorrow, I'll be watching the Patriots in the Super Bowl while deep frying a cookie and serving it on ice cream. Should be on page 17 in the Tugboat Cookbook.<br />
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<br />Chronicles of Crew Changehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08967137351121143522noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4019812888501008998.post-88984910527351740862016-11-27T18:26:00.000-08:002016-11-27T18:26:10.007-08:00The Grub GodsWorking out to sea sometimes requires a lot of sacrifice.<br />
Most notably, we sacrifice time with our family.<br />
Sometimes it is just inevitable that we are going to miss the important things in our family's life. Birthdays, <a href="http://chroniclesofcrewchange.blogspot.com/2013/03/happy-anniversaryies.html">anniversaries</a>, holidays, and even the occasional <a href="http://chroniclesofcrewchange.blogspot.com/2013/01/happy-little-trees-normal-0-false-false.html">kids appendix surgery</a>.<br />
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But there are other types of sacrifices that we have to make as well.<br />
There was the one occasion we had to sacrifice a <a href="http://chroniclesofcrewchange.blogspot.com/2014/05/wahooooooo.html">fishing pole</a> to the deep in order to break our string of horrendously bad luck at fishing. Totally worth it.<br />
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But just this week we had to make another type of sacrifice.<br />
Sure we were on the boat for Thanksgiving. Missing our friends and family over the holiday weekend. But not that kind of sacrifice.<br />
We had to make a sacrifice to the "Grub Gods".<br />
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“An army marches on its stomach”, attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte, also rings true for tugboats.<br />Contrary to popular belief, our boat does not run on diesel fuel. It runs on coffee and food . Or as it is known in maritime circles, grub. Nothing slows a boat down, or kills morale quicker, than a boat with no grub. Except maybe a Charlie Foxtrot of a crew change. But since this blog is already about the chronicles of some of our illustrious crew changes, we will stick to grub for this blog post.<br />
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Not to say running out of grub doesn't happen. In some of the ports we go to it can be a logistical nightmare just trying to get to a grocery store. Shopping for, transporting, transferring, and loading $1500 of food can be an absolute nightmare. Add in a less than helpful terminal that doesn't quite understand that getting a sufficient amount of food on board is an absolute necessity, can be enough to question ones career choice. Plus, based on what kind of crew you work with, $1500 doesn't last long. Whenever a cashier asks how many guys we are buying food for, and how long it will last, they are always shocked when our answer is, "Seven. See you next week." Seven guys (sometimes more) can put some food away.<br />
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So entering week number two of our three week hitch, we were due for a "grub shop". Our neatly detailed grub list was compiled and we <strike>begged, borrowed, and pleaded</strike> enlisted the help of another one of our tugs to come pick up our guy for the trip to the grocery store. Four hours later (it takes a while to get that much grub) our waterborne taxi cab returned with the fruits (and vegetables) of our grub expedition. We were at anchor so the other tug had to maneuver alongside of us in order to pass the grub from one boat to the other. The weather wasn't too bad. A little brisk and breezy, but we've done this exact thing in far<a href="http://chroniclesofcrewchange.blogspot.com/2012_07_01_archive.html"> worse weather conditions</a>. Milk, eggs, meats, all the things that make a crew happy (read: cookies and cake), were passed from one boat to the other.<br />
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And then it happened...<br />
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A shopping bag containing, of all things, a bag of candy, slipped from my hands as it was being passed across the gap between the two rocking boats. Down it went. I was sure it was headed straight to the depths of Davey Jones's Locker. A sacrifice to the Grub Gods for sure. Then it hit the rudder fendering, got stuck there momentarily, just before the two boats rubbed together trapping the bag just inches from the swift running water. The spry deckhand from the other boat reached down and deftly retrieved our lost bag of candy from the icy grips of the harbor. Our candy was saved! As was a couple of bags of beans. But seriously, our candy was saved. Not this time Grub Gods! Tragedy averted, we continued transferring the grub.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ZWTAFW3m96_0gBnuIO5TjVGsGwd5nIsL2JvvAUGfRMAUrWhJw0qsQJO9guP58oCXIEnt-zuG8o3qMdEB3Ry9m662G4S6xBo2wkF-2UzlOvxGQQxaCXOerAtemGXRCgHkFCBhmj7gNsA/s1600/kit-kat-snack-size-42-count-jumbo-bag-22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ZWTAFW3m96_0gBnuIO5TjVGsGwd5nIsL2JvvAUGfRMAUrWhJw0qsQJO9guP58oCXIEnt-zuG8o3qMdEB3Ry9m662G4S6xBo2wkF-2UzlOvxGQQxaCXOerAtemGXRCgHkFCBhmj7gNsA/s320/kit-kat-snack-size-42-count-jumbo-bag-22.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>You didn't think I would post a picture of beans now did you?</i></b></td></tr>
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But the Grub Gods were not to be denied. Minutes later, as we were nearing the end of the project, a 12-pack of soda was being passed through the air. A gentle, sloping arch of a pass from one crew member to the next in line. Except this pass was too quick. The previous 12-pack of soda had not been passed on to the next crew member. A traffic jam of the grub kind. An attempt was made to catch the flying soda with one hand as the other soda was shifted to the other hand. It was all for naught. At least one 12-pack was going to be lost in this battle. Coke Zero sprayed everywhere! The case broke open, cans spilled out, and the thin aluminum had no chance against the hard steel deck. It was a fireworks show of <span class="_Tgc">carbonated water, caramel color, phosphoric acid, and other natural flavors. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4jhYNKWKbLSASCT4husbMqg_XJGA4pK_msSNhZWkpVtpWa3V2z3zYNK_vcUp-UqbU7o40Jo5qs9XD_GBwq0xGinuqExbOPzo8SX94ufnowjxAJlIBHzeNjzv3ctnn5ZDodwWIFNPVT_g/s1600/04255RL1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4jhYNKWKbLSASCT4husbMqg_XJGA4pK_msSNhZWkpVtpWa3V2z3zYNK_vcUp-UqbU7o40Jo5qs9XD_GBwq0xGinuqExbOPzo8SX94ufnowjxAJlIBHzeNjzv3ctnn5ZDodwWIFNPVT_g/s320/04255RL1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>A "before it hit the deck" representation.</b></i></td></tr>
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<span class="_Tgc">A sacrifice had been made. The Grub Gods were happy. </span><br />
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<span class="_Tgc">It's a regular occurrence. A gallon of milk here, a carton of eggs there. More often than not the Grub Gods will get their fill. You just have to plan ahead for the inevitable. For starters, don't put all of the same item in one bag. If you lose one, at least you will have a backup bag with another. Especially the candy! </span><br />
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<span class="_Tgc">And especially if you are using another boat to transfer the grub. Sometimes the <a href="http://chroniclesofcrewchange.blogspot.com/2015/10/an-act-of-piracy.html">candy disappears </a>that way.</span><br />
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<span class="_Tgc">You can't blame the Grub Gods for that. </span><br />
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<br />Chronicles of Crew Changehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08967137351121143522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4019812888501008998.post-59131446953246569022016-10-01T16:45:00.000-07:002016-10-02T02:34:25.238-07:00Remembering El Faro<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]-->The last few nights, while the crew has been eating dinner, as is Standard Operating Procedure, the television has been tuned to the local
news station. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There have been plenty of
things to report on; a train crash in New Jersey, a man saved by a Chinese
cargo ship after being in a liferaft for a week, and, of course, all the
political banter one could ever hope for. But when the local weatherman has
been cued up to start his report, it gets very quiet in the galley. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is a
hurricane in the Caribbean. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A big one. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At one point it reached Category 5
status, the highest category issued by the National Hurricane Center. It’s
currently taking aim at the islands of Jamaica and Cuba. After that, the
forecast is somewhat uncertain. It may head for the <a href="http://chroniclesofcrewchange.blogspot.com/2012/11/hurricane-sandy.html">East Coast of the United States</a>, or it may head “<a href="http://chroniclesofcrewchange.blogspot.com/2012_06_01_archive.html">safely out to sea</a>”. No matter what course it will take,
one thing is certain, Hurricane Matthew is not going to be a storm to trifle
with. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju-E40jiYZ9eXUxAIgMhPJ4PzZI0RbXgW7AppkDOXwTdfBq53XKub-ZBff56q7TzjkZfiiBnu0ex4L343dM6nNlS1W_ev9pQmIG-zuAtkBlvAFpToG1RRqMMwnvG2zpnl6JSARvFuGbn4/s1600/at201614.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju-E40jiYZ9eXUxAIgMhPJ4PzZI0RbXgW7AppkDOXwTdfBq53XKub-ZBff56q7TzjkZfiiBnu0ex4L343dM6nNlS1W_ev9pQmIG-zuAtkBlvAFpToG1RRqMMwnvG2zpnl6JSARvFuGbn4/s320/at201614.gif" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Current forecast track of Hurricane Matthew</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Exactly one year ago today there was another hurricane
spinning in the Caribbean. Hurricane Joaquin, with winds in excess of 130 mph was battering the islands of the Bahamas. It was also battering a 790-foot long
US-flagged cargo ship, the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_El_Faro">El Faro</a>.</i> On
board that cargo ship were 33 fellow mariners involved in a fight for their
lives against the powerful storm. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4y8Zq-5sNPmxHp8-9BVq483w6BigZfoM5RVRqBL68CM2K5vjWpGeuArC33pBFdIUO6MWSleMQL2e5ZSokMMmtXbq0LlGv-ReNAcgPDRnkmZ50oDuA3EdDMnf7pIwm1mIMJ71k8lBsnc/s1600/el-faro-3-ships-23599.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4y8Zq-5sNPmxHp8-9BVq483w6BigZfoM5RVRqBL68CM2K5vjWpGeuArC33pBFdIUO6MWSleMQL2e5ZSokMMmtXbq0LlGv-ReNAcgPDRnkmZ50oDuA3EdDMnf7pIwm1mIMJ71k8lBsnc/s320/el-faro-3-ships-23599.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>The El Faro</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of those 33 sailors onboard the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">El Faro</i> was an Engineer named Jeff
Mathias. Jeff was working as a contractor preparing the ship for some work that
was going to be done in an upcoming shipyard period. As the eye of the storm approached perilously close to their location, the ship lost power. With
no ability to maneuver, there is no doubt that every member of that engineering
crew, Jeff included, was using every trick in the book to get the huge engineering
power plant back online and running. Unfortunately, the storm proved to be too
powerful. So powerful that when the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">El
Faro</i> was located 15,000 feet below the ocean’s surface, the top two decks
of the ship’s superstructure, including the wheelhouse, were ripped off from
the rest of the vessel and found a half-mile away from the rest of the
wreckage. All 33 sailors were claimed by the hurricane and the sea. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA78uZ_xGTuuolqlL9TBcjhJ-PyABSCa3-MOf84gNIwZcf6e83RybWhelyev6eVG4CHUsPFiID0A9NULCprfxleAfOIhLsuXnlo6pJUv8acrcl5qd6t99yIm6WrPTZkXl9sUXaOipZRmU/s1600/fl-ap-el-faro-search-20160103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA78uZ_xGTuuolqlL9TBcjhJ-PyABSCa3-MOf84gNIwZcf6e83RybWhelyev6eVG4CHUsPFiID0A9NULCprfxleAfOIhLsuXnlo6pJUv8acrcl5qd6t99yIm6WrPTZkXl9sUXaOipZRmU/s320/fl-ap-el-faro-search-20160103.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>The wreckage of the El Faro</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmO9Hxl1aRlFmqwgB5lnNtWe0MTynpZQWnTgnOWAEXNhGaUIxTww91E8XRzHIP_l3FtphFF0s9yxjjNWbqD2z8m2Vo7lkOFjGTqHkRvj6KNqPdH2NaVCHAbUrtAxky93RJEKAguZqdx8Q/s1600/ap_3cec136423114d00ae49b11849656b8d-620x310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmO9Hxl1aRlFmqwgB5lnNtWe0MTynpZQWnTgnOWAEXNhGaUIxTww91E8XRzHIP_l3FtphFF0s9yxjjNWbqD2z8m2Vo7lkOFjGTqHkRvj6KNqPdH2NaVCHAbUrtAxky93RJEKAguZqdx8Q/s320/ap_3cec136423114d00ae49b11849656b8d-620x310.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>The wheelhouse located 1/2 mile from the rest of the wreckage</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Two weeks ago, at the Homecoming celebration at the
Massachusetts Maritime Academy, they dedicated the Diesel Engineering Lab to
Jeff Mathias. Two weeks ago was the celebration of my 20<sup>th</sup> year
reunion of me graduating from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Had
he not been on the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">El Faro</i>, Jeff would
have celebrated his 20<sup>th</sup> year reunion as well. Jeff was a classmate of mine at the Academy.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7J9sBDep3fr78OQZm35IGGNeo_-tsjJOS27X5Rwq47JXdM_26wXhqBbcB_JEMghjTs74Nk0XVNdu2IeApsz1B0kVA2pQKbXoSW9buT2i8S4hWlrwdzTSF4AhdG9AbmnVwfhECsH37K_Y/s1600/14333131_10210423910176765_7387053698553814834_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7J9sBDep3fr78OQZm35IGGNeo_-tsjJOS27X5Rwq47JXdM_26wXhqBbcB_JEMghjTs74Nk0XVNdu2IeApsz1B0kVA2pQKbXoSW9buT2i8S4hWlrwdzTSF4AhdG9AbmnVwfhECsH37K_Y/s320/14333131_10210423910176765_7387053698553814834_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Over my career, I have lost numerous <a href="http://chroniclesofcrewchange.blogspot.com/2015_03_01_archive.html">good friends</a> to the sea. During that same span, many mariners, though not personal friends of mine but
still ones with a shared kinship, have been taken by the unrelenting waters as well.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So when I hear a local television weather personality say
that a powerful and dangerous hurricane or storm is going, “<a href="http://chroniclesofcrewchange.blogspot.com/2012_06_01_archive.html">safely out to sea</a>”,
you can probably see why this simple, unassuming statement causes me such ire. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is a pet peeve of mine.<br />
I think reasonably so. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Alas, I’ll keep one eye watching the television
personalities recite their forecasts, and I’ll keep the other one on the skies. A
hurricane spinning off the coast of Cuba may not be a concern for many, but for
me and my fellow mariners, it could very well be a matter of life and death.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/jeffmathias"> https://www.gofundme.com/jeffmathias</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
Chronicles of Crew Changehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08967137351121143522noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4019812888501008998.post-31729392344098070752015-12-17T18:43:00.000-08:002015-12-17T18:43:09.189-08:00Chance Encounters of the Tugboat Kind<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
I've mentioned before that my current locale of residence isn't really a hot
bed of<a href="http://chroniclesofcrewchange.blogspot.com/2014/03/boats-is-boats-is-boats.html"> nautical knowledge</a>. Sure I live next to a great big lake that provides
for a multitude of summertime waterborne activities. But that fun and
frolicking on a party barge doesn't really transfer into knowledge about the
commercial maritime trades. The chances that you run into someone in my town
who knows anything about the maritime industry, never mind the small world of
tugboats, is pretty slim. Or so I thought. (insert scary theme music)<br />
<br />
A few weeks ago my <a href="http://therealvd.blogspot.com/">wife</a> and I were doing our evening walk around our
neighborhood. It's happens to be very good exercise for me for recovering from
my second installment of <a href="http://chroniclesofcrewchange.blogspot.com/2015/08/a-break-because-i-was-broken.html">back surgery</a>. Plus, we get to check out any of the
multitude of new houses being built in our development. That night we were
headed into the wilds of "Phase Two". Being that our neighborhood is
still under construction we have to be able to delineate the new arrivals in
the development compared to the original settlers. A rumor had been swirling
around that someone in Phase Two had also worked on tugboats. So on this
particular evening we had made it our mission to try to narrow down what house
this supposed tugboat person lived in. I was going on the premise that a
mariner is required to have nautical things outside of their house. An anchor,
red and green running lights, or at the very least, a replica of a lighthouse
should adorn the yard. My wife was a little more practical. An older gentleman
and his elderly wife would probably live in a one story ranch style home. More
than likely correct. She’s smart like that. But I was on the search for
nautical knick-knacks.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSoMTlMOaHrQ_7LUfqddp0LFd9wAcVRNfXX6cd2ssUB5dYyOowfn-zhYW3JlyMz_vLQOMf8xF7TtMNdhpUlOJLoNbctPSX_wIlebZmRXIulAaBPd40rJDsrShK8VxXzatT9RJv2uVKIes/s1600/anchor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSoMTlMOaHrQ_7LUfqddp0LFd9wAcVRNfXX6cd2ssUB5dYyOowfn-zhYW3JlyMz_vLQOMf8xF7TtMNdhpUlOJLoNbctPSX_wIlebZmRXIulAaBPd40rJDsrShK8VxXzatT9RJv2uVKIes/s320/anchor.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>You call yourself a mariner but don't have one of these at the end of your driveway?</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As we proceeded on our walk, one ranch style house seemed to stand out as
the most likely of choices that an ex-mariner would reside. Unfortunately, no
one seemed to be home at the time. Plus, it seemed kind of creepy to just walk
up and knock on their door and ask if anyone there had ever worked on a
tugboat. So we continued our walk around the development. On the way back home
we once again were about to pass the suspected mariners house. Just as we did,
a car came down the street and slowed just in front of our suspect’s driveway.
The passenger side window rolled down and an elderly gentleman poked his head
out. Then, with a markedly Scandinavian accent, the gentleman in the car asked
if I worked on tugboats. Now granted I happened to be wearing one of the many t-shirts that I have
made that said, "New York Tugboats" printed on the front. However, I
don't think that mattered.<br />
<br />
Tugboaters know tugboaters.<br />
<br />
We can pick each other
out in the grocery store, at the airport, or any other public venue. I'm fairly
sure I could have been wearing a superhero shirt and he still would have been
able to pick me out of a police line-up as a fellow tugboater. We proceeded to
have a very nice conversation all about our current and former tug careers.
This very nice gentleman worked for Moran Towing, the BIG tug company with the
giant "M" on their stack, for many years. My current employer happens
to be a very short stone’s throw away from Moran's tugboat yard. So close that
one day I may have to take the short walk to their office to see if I can get
some Moran tugboat swag to bring back for him. Tugboaters love swag. Promises
were made to get together again sometime soon for coffee and the inevitable sea
stories. And with that, we continued on our walk, armed with the knowledge that
another merchant mariner, a tugboater at that lives not only in the area, but
in our own development. <br />
<br />
Small world. Smaller neighborhood.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNqHpBJkuiLkVFmnIRtLP9lqYus1bpE1z4Q2EOImsFjqLkq156-lZx7yFk3mG-KgFxaQ4ltcXSVrwCja_YSCUYSCD0YCv8Mue7YaVqsG5s9YfUnnyaoeRQzQ_-2d1PRzIfY1sKqR5PE0s/s1600/Moran+Towing+Issue+113a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNqHpBJkuiLkVFmnIRtLP9lqYus1bpE1z4Q2EOImsFjqLkq156-lZx7yFk3mG-KgFxaQ4ltcXSVrwCja_YSCUYSCD0YCv8Mue7YaVqsG5s9YfUnnyaoeRQzQ_-2d1PRzIfY1sKqR5PE0s/s320/Moran+Towing+Issue+113a.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>A Moran Towing tractor tug </i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
A few days later, another happenstance meeting absolutely blew my mind about
how small of a world it is that we actually live in.<br />
<br />
I had been looking to purchase a new handgun and was in the midst of doing
my due diligence and research to find just the right one. I had compared
prices, options, extras, etc. and was quite sure of which particular model I
wanted to buy. But I wanted to physically inspect this particular one before I
was ready to put my hard earned money into someone else’s pocket. The only way to
do this was to take a leisurely stroll down to the local gun range in order to
get my hands on the model I was interested in.<br />
After speaking with the salesperson for a while, another gentleman happened
to come over to where we were talking. Very politely he asked me, "Do you
happen to work on tugboats?" Now normally I happen to be wearing one of
the multitude of tugboat t-shirts that I make in my spare time. Such as was the
case when I met the elderly gentleman in our neighborhood. However, this time,
I wasn't. No tugboat shirt. No tugboat hat. Nothing with a logo. No nautical accoutrements
whatsoever. Not a single distinguishing piece of apparel that would give me
away as a merchant mariner. Somehow this gentleman was still able to pick me out
of the proverbial police line-up of tugboaters. As we continued to talk, I
slowly recognized the one single distinguishing feature that most tugboaters
seem to recognize each other by as one of their own. His voice.<br />
<br />
I have always said that whenever we go to a company meeting, I don't
recognize anyone there. These are the guys that I've worked with together for
years. Yet, the vast majority of them, I have never met. We are just voices on
the radio. One wheelhouse guy talking to another wheelhouse guy over the VHF
radio as you do the job from your respective boats. The joke I have always used,
was that if I didn't recognize someone face to face, all they had to do was
give a mock security call as they would over the radio. By their voice alone, I
would usually be able to tell you exactly who they were, what boat they were
on, and which crew they worked with. You recognize the voices, not the faces.<br />
<br />
As it turns out, I should have recognized his face, not just his voice. The
gentleman in question, in the gun store, in my newly adopted hometown, was
indeed a fellow tugboatman. In fact, he and I both worked on the same boat, on
the same crew, some 16 or 17 years before. He was the Chief Engineer and I was
one of the deckhands. It had been a very long time since either one of us had
seen each other. To say that I had gained a few pounds from the last time I had
seen him would be a bigger stretch than if I were to try to fit into my pants
from a decade and a half ago. A little bit more gray hair for both of us was
also evident. But the one thing that remained the same. That one distinguishing
factor for both of us, was the voice. I was stunned.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNOI9glzwxcTQCW5l_ZSjI87rSvUPtNIxChb8gkZfhhSWLpALCo7KH2oPu9zTrF4nXjqVWYWI-lplFjZSOI6h58cZJp8jna6VUPF_Dhsgfg_8O_QHeqtvRMEjzt-Vj_6WkW5Vhd1VOc80/s1600/11693785723_3cb55f5c87.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNOI9glzwxcTQCW5l_ZSjI87rSvUPtNIxChb8gkZfhhSWLpALCo7KH2oPu9zTrF4nXjqVWYWI-lplFjZSOI6h58cZJp8jna6VUPF_Dhsgfg_8O_QHeqtvRMEjzt-Vj_6WkW5Vhd1VOc80/s320/11693785723_3cb55f5c87.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>The tug in question upon which we both worked.</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In a small gun shop, in a town far removed from where we had both previously
lived, a decade and a half of time in between, a voice from the past was all it
took. I'm still absolutely amazed that he recognized me. Unfortunately, our
chance meeting was cut short by other pressing responsibilities. Kids like to
get picked up when school gets out. However, I know it’s only a matter of time
before we cross paths again. Two tugboaters who escaped living in the northeast
that now live in the same town in the south who like shooting guns. Yeah, we
might have a bit in common. I don’t think it’s too much of a stretch to foresee
yet another meeting for coffee and sea stories.
<br />
<br />
Maybe the tide is beginning to turn (obligatory nautical reference). Now when
I meet a new person who says they have never met someone who works on a tugboat,
I’m beginning to think these people don’t get out enough. I met two of them in
two weeks. In my own town. Meeting one of them didn’t even require me to leave
my own neighborhood. It’s a big, brave new world. Get out and explore it! Or
maybe it’s just that the older I get, the smaller the world seems to become.<br />
<br />
Then again, tugboaters know tugboaters.<br />
Chronicles of Crew Changehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08967137351121143522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4019812888501008998.post-50349365314829208722015-10-24T17:17:00.000-07:002015-10-28T09:14:58.602-07:00An Act of PiracyAlong with my<a href="http://chroniclesofcrewchange.blogspot.com/2015/10/the-big-lie.html"> recent promotion</a>, I was also rewarded with a different boat in a different locale. No more sunny days with the sparkling blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico. So it's back up to New York harbor and once again I'm working on a local harbor tug. Just in time for the cold northeast weather. Yippy. Now I have to buy pants. Pants! It's been shorts and t-shirts for years. I may even have to find a jacket.<br />
<br />
It's a nice change from working on a tug and barge unit that essentially was just a small ship with a portable engine room. Now the work is more of what people would consider "traditional" tugboat work. It's the kind of work that brings me back to my roots. The type of stuff I've done on tugs since I started many years ago. It's fun. Everyday is something different. We do assist work. Move oil barges. Shift vacuum barges. Move construction equipment. Run crew changes for the other boats as they pass by. Provide fuel and water to the smaller barges. Standby other units as the tugs go to resupply, fuel, grub up, and take potable water. We do just about anything and everything.<br />
<br />
One such task we found our self doing recently was running a crew member from a different tug back to the dock so that they could go grub shopping for their boat. It's a lot easier for our tug to be a waterborne taxi cab for them, than it is for them to leave their barge unattended. The other day we did such a task. And since we were standing by waiting for that tug's crew to come back for grub, we decided to go up and get some of the essentials that we needed as well. We go through a lot of eggs for some reason.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfdTteflcVonMSfdPpFdJQtvxk4ECCUqbVnAhwM44AVnPi2XuXLicZs1c0e2iF0y32IGd_LD0gYztEkR4MtFS1-zPfXk1g-jn-vODJSElCITw0Y8RdWz5_Lz0nuUZHr0e8IktJFIuQpiU/s1600/250px-Candy-Corn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCMqk8K2vK3WgKoHDNu78Anys7U2WbWzeqoyTEOsUt-lCrDcXkZhNQKK0-bqfkoy44PdQArAGaufigvQyJ5W9oRsutRp74Glyb-kxaLYbuflCxShAeOcGMn7rYwuernr-LI4x8Dtb-PP0/s1600/Salad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCMqk8K2vK3WgKoHDNu78Anys7U2WbWzeqoyTEOsUt-lCrDcXkZhNQKK0-bqfkoy44PdQArAGaufigvQyJ5W9oRsutRp74Glyb-kxaLYbuflCxShAeOcGMn7rYwuernr-LI4x8Dtb-PP0/s200/Salad.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Arugula. Because it's fun to say. Arugula.</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Our return from the grocery store was timed perfectly to coincide with the arrival of other tug's crew. We loaded up the grub onto the boat and off we went to deliver them back to their anchored vessel. Grub was transferred, pleasantries were exchanged, and off we went to go do our next job. It was only later that we noticed that some of the grub we had purchased was nowhere to be found on our tug. And it wasn't a bag full of things like canned peas, asparagus sprouts, or arugula. Those are the kind of things that we could probably live without. The bag that was missing was full of items that were IMPORTANT!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
They took our bag full of Halloween candy!!!</div>
<br />
Not cool.<br />
<br />
Granted, it was a honest mistake. We went shopping at the same time and used the same grocery bags. When loading the grub onto the boat it was easily misplaced and simply went into the wrong pile of foodstuff.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAPrFgahvOXMjz6Vm89308RS_0rj0-ow8zTqgYd2We4P4D8SaxiFiprX2V4xRtR9xpROHLT66QNCqGhhQMZT7FrKdGP4xHVaw-oYa2Sop5jRq7Sfjt0gjuTwrFkUgfyxm8oGM4_jYioUc/s1600/250px-Candy-Corn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAPrFgahvOXMjz6Vm89308RS_0rj0-ow8zTqgYd2We4P4D8SaxiFiprX2V4xRtR9xpROHLT66QNCqGhhQMZT7FrKdGP4xHVaw-oYa2Sop5jRq7Sfjt0gjuTwrFkUgfyxm8oGM4_jYioUc/s1600/250px-Candy-Corn.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>And it wasn't that Candy Corn crap either!</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
However, when the other boat noticed that even though they had only bought two bags of Halloween candy, and they now miraculously had 8 bags of candy, we should have gotten a phone call with 10,000 apologies. Alas, it was not to be. Those pirates took our candy and went out of town so we couldn't even publicly shame them over the radio for all to hear that they were candy thieves.<br />
<br />
We're not talking to them anymore. They can find someone else to run grub and crew changes for them. Canned vegetables are one thing. Halloween candy pilferage is a direct violation of the <b>Law of the Sea.</b><br />
<br />
I'm sure it is.<br />
<br />
I'll have to look that up. <br />
<br />
<br />Chronicles of Crew Changehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08967137351121143522noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4019812888501008998.post-89736697798048906552015-10-04T07:45:00.000-07:002015-10-04T07:45:55.031-07:00The BIG LIE<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
At one time or another we have all lied. Whether they were
just “little white lies”, a “wee bit of fibbery”, a “tiny bit of misdirection”,
or as we in the maritime industry know them to be, “sea stories”. At one time
or another we have all been on the wrong side of “the truth, the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth”.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sadly, I have been living a lie for a number of years.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Of course, I feel as though I must explain.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As a whole, the general population knows jack-all about the
maritime industry. With their information about boats gleaned from such reliable
sources as <a href="http://chroniclesofcrewchange.blogspot.com/2014/03/boats-is-boats-is-boats.html">Hollywood</a> and television, it is easy to see why people just don’t
understand what we do out here on the water at all. However, I too have been
complicit in spreading disinformation to the masses about my job and the
maritime world as a whole, all in the name of taking the path of least
resistance. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now the maritime industry runs counterclockwise to the rest
of the world. In your house you have floors, walls, ceilings, a bathroom,
bedroom, and a kitchen. But not out in the maritime fleet. Out there you have
decks, bulkheads, overheads, heads, bunk rooms, and a galley. Left is port,
right is starboard. You don’t go backwards, you go astern or aft. And if having
different names for things on boats separate from the same things on land wait
until you try to pronounce some things on boats the way they are spelled. Try
telling a mariner that you are going to the “forecastle” just the way it is
spelled and see if they don’t roll their eyes at you. (By the way: It’s
pronounced “fohk-suh l”). Of course it doesn’t stop there.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXvPWTJqZ8jACN2jIjqqahXZ8VVVLhNqje3xprYJfqsY3m3RW8FWOTuW1Cxculggeq5LxUm0iU6QxOcjDf-SPuJEtPWNS3SfA4ZRe_UBClXj2jL_-jg-QPN_3W3GSJjdo27cXKbxhN5qk/s1600/CRBP-_CHINOOK_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXvPWTJqZ8jACN2jIjqqahXZ8VVVLhNqje3xprYJfqsY3m3RW8FWOTuW1Cxculggeq5LxUm0iU6QxOcjDf-SPuJEtPWNS3SfA4ZRe_UBClXj2jL_-jg-QPN_3W3GSJjdo27cXKbxhN5qk/s200/CRBP-_CHINOOK_2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Pilot Boat. Not steered by a Pilot.</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the regular world, a Pilot is the person who flies a
plane. On ships, a Pilot is a seasoned mariner who has extensive knowledge of a
local waterway and is hired by the vessel to provide their expertise in
navigating a certain port or waterway. Easy, right? Not so much. There are
different kinds of pilots. You have Bar Pilots, Federal Pilots, State Pilots,
Docking Pilots, Harbor Pilots, River Pilots...etc. And it gets worse. If you
work on a push boat, generally on the Inland Waterways/Mississippi River/Western
Rivers, the person who steers the boat on the opposite watch as the Captain is
called a Pilot. Same name, completely different job from a Pilot. Confused yet?
Just wait.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMl4VQh-SANMQ1A57udvjhPCrBkkLEupEVreMgpU_tNvILSCZnfmb7LQvdHqJ1ZjxfFWE3h6JN-ZLpepmYRMoPgBzSIc8F7ZyNAwylFlQbNKxuPkEUMwglYdpZc8NSTgDKfhVx6BowBk/s1600/16ee6dceb3a58bdfc9d3f658e96dd692_XL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMl4VQh-SANMQ1A57udvjhPCrBkkLEupEVreMgpU_tNvILSCZnfmb7LQvdHqJ1ZjxfFWE3h6JN-ZLpepmYRMoPgBzSIc8F7ZyNAwylFlQbNKxuPkEUMwglYdpZc8NSTgDKfhVx6BowBk/s200/16ee6dceb3a58bdfc9d3f658e96dd692_XL.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>River Push Boat. a.k.a Square boat. Steered by a Pilot.</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now I mention the Pilot on push boats to highlight just how frustrating
titles in the maritime world can be.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The “Pilot” on push boats is usually called the “Mate” on
harbor and ocean going tugs. Exact same job, completely different name. Sometimes
on an ocean going tugs you also have a Second Mate. Then the Mate becomes a
Chief Mate. Exact same job as the Mate, but slightly fancier title. Of course,
even our own regulatory agency, the U.S. Coast Guard, has to get in to the act
and confuse people even more. To them, the “Mate” sometimes isn’t called the Mate;
they like to refer to them as the “Relief Captain”. Now, whether you call the guy
the Mate, Pilot, Relief Captain, Chief Mate, or whatever other name you want to
come up with, the fact remains, somebody has to work opposite of the Captain
and steer the boat while the Captain is off watch. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Which is where the BIG LIE comes into play.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Where I currently live it isn’t really a hot bed location
for maritime professionals to reside. Concurrently, the local population isn’t
really up on their knowledge of the maritime industry. (To my local friends: Don’t
feel as though I’m picking on you. When I lived in the northeast people didn’t
know bupkis about the maritime industry either.) Naturally, when I meet new
people and I (or more likely, <a href="http://therealvd.blogspot.com/">my wife</a>) tells them what I do for a living, I get
the standard questions and answers.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“So you work on tugboats? So you<a href="http://chroniclesofcrewchange.blogspot.com/2014/03/boats-is-boats-is-boats.html"> push the big ships around</a>?”
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“You work in New York? New York is so cool! Where do you
stay at night?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Where do you eat?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“You drive the boat? So you’re the Captain?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And there it is! That last question gets me to the BIG LIE.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve been sailing as Mate (Chief Mate/Relief Captain…whatever)
for more than a decade. I steer the boat when the Captain is off watch. To the
inexperienced, the Captain drives the boat. “Hooper drives the boat, Chief”.
(Jaws quote, <a href="http://chroniclesofcrewchange.blogspot.com/2012/09/switching-gears.html">I love that movie</a>.) To try to tell someone who knows nothing about
the Merchant Marine that, “Yes. I drive the boat. But, no. I’m not the Captain”,
just leads to confusion. To them, it is usually cut and dry. The Captain drives
the boat. End of story. Never mind the fact that at some point the Captain has
to sleep. When they ask, “What do you do at night?” it’s usually a pretty good
sign that they don’t realize that we work 24/7/365. We work, live, eat, sleep, everything
aboard the boat. To try to explain to them exactly what we do so that they have
a full grasp of my work life…well, no one has that kind of time. So, in order
to avoid a lengthy discussion detailing exactly what I do, sometimes I take the
easy way out.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Yes. I’m the Captain.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The BIG LIE.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Except now I don’t have to lie anymore. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After many long years. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And many different companies. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And after working for many <a href="http://chroniclesofcrewchange.blogspot.com/2015/03/dangerous-job.html">great Captains</a>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I can finally say, without lying to anyone…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“YES! I’m the Captain!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And to be honest, it feels pretty damn good!!!</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsAec30maVcsRp7hHbUbTAclK-s1bKQywvBgbqnZ41lSYJrNJZSevxJiXVVVTOZkdJNQ2VUGpf1R2UQgpnmc46KNAI1x6YHntTdYlPX-1hTCV3sFEV8DoFSEvOicmaOuiE6I68oasPvMA/s1600/81BZXp6HIVL._UX385_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsAec30maVcsRp7hHbUbTAclK-s1bKQywvBgbqnZ41lSYJrNJZSevxJiXVVVTOZkdJNQ2VUGpf1R2UQgpnmc46KNAI1x6YHntTdYlPX-1hTCV3sFEV8DoFSEvOicmaOuiE6I68oasPvMA/s320/81BZXp6HIVL._UX385_.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Because my wife is AWESOME! and a huge nerd. She got me this shirt.</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Chronicles of Crew Changehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08967137351121143522noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4019812888501008998.post-11804439401381127192015-08-16T19:28:00.001-07:002015-08-16T19:28:28.815-07:00Eight is Enough, Nine is..<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht5K2DbviNZN9EbzBcAF3nHUVuM4tyeSE6fzBdTE5IfdOsaqSzY2vw6l3Hdkn1aV_QJgQWHbZFJxnFqe2ZJ9uQ9Z1ldRourTdUDfPUI3urPeQyl4APk65tczeCtj8-PQUHljG3dzfK-sk/s1600/hell.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht5K2DbviNZN9EbzBcAF3nHUVuM4tyeSE6fzBdTE5IfdOsaqSzY2vw6l3Hdkn1aV_QJgQWHbZFJxnFqe2ZJ9uQ9Z1ldRourTdUDfPUI3urPeQyl4APk65tczeCtj8-PQUHljG3dzfK-sk/s320/hell.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Just going to step outside for a sec</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s summertime here in the Gulf (and everywhere else in the
Northern Hemisphere). So in addition to it being hot as Hades, it also means
that school is out. And not just for the little youngsters in grade school. The
Maritime Academies, the pipeline for fresh, young talent trying to muscle their
way into the Maritime industry, are also out for the summer. That means that it’s
“Cadet Season”. That time of year where the Academies send their best and
brightest talent (and some real dipshits, too) out into the United States Merchant
Marine fleet to get some real life maritime experience and rack up some of the
required “Sea Days” that they need in order<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to test for their U.S. Coast Guard licenses.<br />
Now
normally our boat runs with a crew of 7. Proportionally, we have 7 staterooms.
It’s a nice feature that everyone on the crew has their own room. Until the
cadet shows up. Eight people in seven staterooms makes for at least one unhappy
crew member. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
But wait, there’s more!<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My relief is currently out having surgery. That means unless
someone new shows up to replace me, I’m stuck on the boat. Thankfully, someone
new has shown up. However, in order to get familiarized with the inner workings
of this fine vessel he has to show up a couple of days before we get off the
boat so that we can show him all of the nuances of the boat before he gets
turned loose all by himself. Our crew of eight, just grew to nine. We still only
have seven rooms. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
So now we have two unhappy crew members who were used to
living in the lap of luxury in their private staterooms with roommates. It also
adds two crew members to an already cramped boat. Mealtimes have to be done in
shifts. Hallways are cramped. Somehow the grub manages to disappear at an
exponential rate. Plus, having only two heads (bathrooms, for the non-nautical)
makes for having to plan showers, shaves, and answering the call of nature into
a well-timed experience. Especially when one head happens to be giving the
Engineer fits and is not working properly.<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thankfully, “New Guy” (the cadet) and “New-New Guy” (my new
relief) both seem to be stand up guys. It also means I get to go home with my
regular crew at the regular time. So being a bit cramped isn’t really that bad.
Plus, I’m one of the people that doesn’t have to share my room. Which is nice.<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“New Guy” seems to be
going for some sort of record on how long he can stay on the boat before he
loses his mind. I fear he may be getting perilously close. The schools and the
U.S. Coast Guard require 120 days of Sea Time in order to sit for your license.
I’m not sure if he is trying to do it all at once or not. Truth be told, I’m
ready to go home after a mere 14 days. 120 days on a tugboat is pure torture.
He was going to break it up in 60 on/14 off/60 on. But we are well past the 60
days at this point. Good thing he is young. Us older guys would be sent to the
funny farm weeks ago. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinIOUAf21k4f5HaEV7yPMPFcHjgh-DPUUtnANh8YApbekhRBn4UEdRjdo5Yu-rLY1t_-xtqoHZ-CFWY2WpCd5S9RF7YrqelBEXZcVW9ZFE98FRkZT7CZd2zJCb3-4M1rJKsbY_B87LgQI/s1600/US_Navy_030121-N-6651N-003_using_a_needle_gun_to_removes_layers_of_paint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinIOUAf21k4f5HaEV7yPMPFcHjgh-DPUUtnANh8YApbekhRBn4UEdRjdo5Yu-rLY1t_-xtqoHZ-CFWY2WpCd5S9RF7YrqelBEXZcVW9ZFE98FRkZT7CZd2zJCb3-4M1rJKsbY_B87LgQI/s320/US_Navy_030121-N-6651N-003_using_a_needle_gun_to_removes_layers_of_paint.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>They always seem to leave this little activity out of the Maritime School brochures</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*Note to the schools- 60 days on a tug is a long time (On a
ship it’s a piece of cake. Size matters. So I’ve heard). If you want to turn
off young people from joining the Merchant Marine, this is definitely the way
to do it. I guess being young and not knowing any better has its perks.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
My relief, the spot being taken by “New-New Guy”, happens to
be his first steering job. He has risen through the ranks and gotten cleared by
numerous Captains in order to get where he is now. Based on what I saw during
our brief time on the boat together, he should do just fine.<br />
<br />
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I wish him the best of luck. <span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><br />
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Chronicles of Crew Changehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08967137351121143522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4019812888501008998.post-8940285009170345222015-08-06T15:51:00.004-07:002015-08-06T15:51:47.919-07:00A Break Because I Was Broken<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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If you noticed the lack of blog posts recently, #1. Thanks
for reading #2. You’re right.</div>
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<br /></div>
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It wasn’t by choice. It was by orders of my doctor. Okay, my
doctor didn’t specifically say, “You can’t write blog posts.” But since I was
bedridden for 6 weeks and just the act of moving was a painful experience, I
decided that banging on a keyboard wasn’t in my best interest.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I’m sure I’ve mentioned it before, but in case I haven’t,
I’m a moron. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have a particular set of skills. Skills that get me into
trouble. Skills that generally lead me to the hospital waiting room. Or
surgery. Or both. At a minimum, skills that get my insurance company in a tizzy
and me shelling out a co-pay.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My specialty is sprained ankles. Four times that diagnosis
has been made for me (Officially. I won’t count the numerous times that
crutches weren’t required.) Thankfully, I like to keep it even. Twice on each
leg. I’m an equal opportunity injurer (Is that a word?). </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, my back seems to think that it needs to catch up
with my ankles on the “take me to the hospital” scale. Which is what led to me
being incapacitated for the better part of two months.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Way back (get it?) in the day, in 2001, I hurt my back.
Badly. I believe I did it trying to move Jet-ski’s around. But it was one of
those times that you pull a muscle in your back, it hurts, it’s sore, but
eventually it goes away. This time it didn’t go away. It got worse. Much worse.
Probably going back to work after the injury didn’t help. By the time I got
home from my hitch on the boat, I was in excruciating pain. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In an effort to relieve the pain, I went to a Chiropractor.
Some of my friends swear by them. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I swear at them. Witch doctors!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m not saying that all Chiropractors are bad. I just had a
REALLY bad experience with my first one. After the fact, I learned that it
would have never made a difference what the Chiropractor did; he was never
going to be able to fix me. I found that out after going to a second Chiropractor.
One MUCH better than the first. One that actually made me not hate them as a
group as much. However, I still call them Witch Doctors. The second one at
least took some x-rays, ran some tests, and poked and prodded me before trying
any sort of adjustment. It was also when I learned that my medical history was
somewhat incomplete. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“When did you break you ribs?” Chiropractor #2 asked.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Uuhhmm. Never.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
replied, somewhat confused.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Ahahaha. Yeah. No. You broke your ribs.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m a danger to myself even when I don’t know it. I think I
remember when I did that on a boat. I just didn’t know it at the time. Hurt
like hell to breathe for a couple days. Apparently, that is what broken ribs feel
like. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyhGp9atM30YynLI2e-ddYTzURiZJXVYOcR5MqwbVvuuXp8IJJE5mfIbTXZcAH6gqfrCv1AsD2CGA2drxQQtJHwKgZP7fAHE0uNFvXmjPjG2ndVBlx-WVjRk1O_Vxaws6UaYr8WLYwuE0/s1600/7ia6bdyiA.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyhGp9atM30YynLI2e-ddYTzURiZJXVYOcR5MqwbVvuuXp8IJJE5mfIbTXZcAH6gqfrCv1AsD2CGA2drxQQtJHwKgZP7fAHE0uNFvXmjPjG2ndVBlx-WVjRk1O_Vxaws6UaYr8WLYwuE0/s200/7ia6bdyiA.gif" width="199" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Only a matter of time.</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Broken ribs notwithstanding, turns out I crushed the disc
between L4 and L5 in my lower back. I knew something was really wrong when the
doctor kept asking me to stand up straight as she tried to take an x-ray. My
reply was, “I am standing up straight.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Whereas, I got another, “Yeah. No.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Well this is the
best you’re gonna get. Take the picture so I can sit down before I pass out.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I spent Christmas that year lying on the floor at a friend’s
house as they, and <a href="http://therealvd.blogspot.com/">my wife</a>, ate Christmas dinner in the other room. The highlight
of my day being when I threw up in their driveway just as we pulled in. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A few weeks later, I had surgery to remove the cartilage
that was pressing on the nerve and causing the excruciating pain down my left
leg.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fast forward 13 years and I did it again.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Same problem. Same pain. Same issues. However, no throwing
up in the driveway this time. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I skipped the Chiropractor this time and went straight to
the back expert. When you’re an old pro at this sort of thing you can skip the
middle man. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was like déjà vu all over again. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Stand up straight when we take the x-ray.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I am. Trust me, this is all you’re gonna get. Can I sit
down now?”</div>
Just standing at the counter to get signed in at the
doctor’s office was torture. Initially, I said the pain this time wasn’t as bad
as the first time. I was wrong. Way wrong. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_fl0CMMGnk8qvWqNfA8WOlC-d71rk3snKliF4RE9lAHSvJKhPnSio4TDNOWuHWWB_qD_T3cWAnxvB-yAcOdfN2ubPgl-axA8C_c9HBLg3S6P4x4D4FAA7p8HDlHhVxEA2-mQPNKm3rdw/s1600/back+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_fl0CMMGnk8qvWqNfA8WOlC-d71rk3snKliF4RE9lAHSvJKhPnSio4TDNOWuHWWB_qD_T3cWAnxvB-yAcOdfN2ubPgl-axA8C_c9HBLg3S6P4x4D4FAA7p8HDlHhVxEA2-mQPNKm3rdw/s320/back+2.jpg" width="306" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Can you spot the problem?</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
X-rays, MRIs, minor outpatient surgery to try pain relieving
shots, and a multitude of doctors’ appointments later, I was back (did it
again) in surgery.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Two and half weeks after surgery, I was back (I can’t help
it) at work. Which is a REALLY short amount of recovery time. Too short. But
that is another blog post. Hopefully, sooner rather than later.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So my back is back. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m back to work. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The recovery is going slow but smooth. I still have trouble
knowing where my limits are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But my
newly repaired back is more than willing to let me know when I cross those
limits. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fingers crossed I can make it another 13 years before I do
something stupid again. At least as far as my back is concerned.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Although I wouldn’t put any money down on it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is where I profess my undying love for <a href="http://therealvd.blogspot.com/">my wife</a> and all
the support she has given me over the years. At one point during this back
injury adventure she was forced to sleep on a bench upstairs (I say bench, but
it is really a twin sized 12-inch memory foam mattress reading bench that I
built to fit under the upstairs window). Every time I found a comfortable spot
where the pain was somewhat tolerable, one of us would move, and the ‘happy
spot of little pain’ would be gone. Since I was in no shape to go upstairs (I
did it once. Stayed there for 2 days) she volunteered to abandon our comfy bed
for the (equally comfy) bench seat/bed. After surgery, she dragged a mattress
downstairs and put it in the corner to sleep back in our room. The first night
it took me 45 minutes to get out of bed to go to the bathroom. Turns out, even
though I love our memory foam mattress because it cradles and conforms to your
body, after back surgery, sleeping on a memory foam mattress is like sleeping
in quicksand. Because it cradles and conforms to your body, when your back
muscles have been ripped apart and twisting and moving are impossibility, you
yearn for a bed made out of a sheet of plywood. She figured at least she could
be closer so that when nature calls, at least she could be within earshot so
that she could be my leaning post as I shuffled around. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My family puts up with enough just based on my work schedule
alone. They really were my rock during this whole ordeal. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Chronicles of Crew Changehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08967137351121143522noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4019812888501008998.post-17317004711868715722015-03-17T13:09:00.000-07:002015-03-17T13:09:54.620-07:00Dangerous Job<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
A few years ago, back when the TV show ‘Deadliest Catch’ was
the <a href="http://chroniclesofcrewchange.blogspot.com/2014/03/boats-is-boats-is-boats.html">go-to reference for everything nautical</a>, my <a href="http://therealvd.blogspot.com/">wife</a> and one of her friends
were discussing how dangerous the maritime industry seemed to be. Of course,
all information about the maritime world was obtained from watching Alaskan
fishermen battle with Mother Nature in their quest to line their pockets in the
shortest amount of time humanly possible. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Fqz3xctskQ0b4EEyozb4slWBFoP1k7bbnq7XXwy5nwjmYQpNJmAW6FgjeLTXUN28wmHQo-qgyZ9kQJHa5QXLIUHR4Sok11Js-Zfw-HlQVgW6FaPI9YdkT0IEVeMKOA4LKjSZQy2lcK4/s1600/Time-Bandit-Deadliest-Catch-Bering-Sea-ice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Fqz3xctskQ0b4EEyozb4slWBFoP1k7bbnq7XXwy5nwjmYQpNJmAW6FgjeLTXUN28wmHQo-qgyZ9kQJHa5QXLIUHR4Sok11Js-Zfw-HlQVgW6FaPI9YdkT0IEVeMKOA4LKjSZQy2lcK4/s1600/Time-Bandit-Deadliest-Catch-Bering-Sea-ice.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Dangerous and cold</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dangerous? No doubt. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In way of comparison,
tugboating seemed, and for the most part is, pretty tame. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Granted, mistakes still happen. We are, in fact, all human.
Humans make mistakes. And machinery and Mother Nature could care less one way
or another. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As it were, during the particular time that my <a href="http://therealvd.blogspot.com/">wife</a> was
insisting that tugboating is relatively safe compared to Alaskan crab fishing,
three incidents happened in less than two weeks that glaringly reinforced to me
that my profession is, in fact, a dangerous job.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To start with, one of the companies that I had previously
worked for had a tug sink off of Cape Hatteras. This particular tug had a
classmate of mine serving as the Chief Engineer, who fortunately happened to be
on his time off. Three men died.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Later in the week, a tug that I had served aboard as a
deckhand not too long before, was maneuvering with a barge. The tow wire connecting
the two swung across the stern of the tug striking the deckhand and throwing
him over the side into the water. As far as I know, they never found the body.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The third incident, in less than ten days, happened even
closer to home. The company I worked for at the time had two tugs. We were
working in New York harbor and our sister tug was moving barges up in the
Hudson River. They were shifting a couple of barges off of a dock when one of
the crew members slipped on the deck and fell into a gap between the two
barges. He had a portable radio with him and called back to the tug to relay
what had happened. Seconds later, the barges came together with him being
trapped between them.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In less than two weeks, 5 good men were lost in incidents on
boats and for companies that I was all too familiar with. It was going to be a
tough sell trying to explain to outsiders that my job was not a dangerous one.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Personally, I’ve been very lucky. I’ve sprained my ankle
(twice) at work. Gotten a sliver of metal in my eye while installing new radar.
Sidebar: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do not recommend driving
yourself to the hospital with a metal shaving in your eye. It causes your eyes to
water and makes you want to close your eyes as well. Two conditions that make
driving down the highway at 65 miles per hour a very sketchy endeavor. I’ve
also been on boats that have had minor fires aboard. Although, in retrospect,
there is no such thing as a MINOR fire aboard a boat. I’ve had to put on SCBA
in order to go down into the engine room to shut down a generator that had
filled the entire boat with smoke. Had to extinguish a stack fire after a
shipyard worker left some wood cribbing next to the hot exhaust pipes. Little
stuff. Stuff that (hopefully) your years of training and experience help to mitigate
before the situation becomes unmanageable. Little stuff after which, life just continues on the
way it was before.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The other day, we were gathered on the upper deck of the
boat, mustered at our lifeboat station conducting a Man Overboard / Abandon
Ship drill. All of us were looking very motley as we donned our Survival Suits (‘Gumby Suits’ as they
are known throughout the industry) and
inspected the accompanying safety gear. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR6X3rYeNcHPdNTNfmxaVeSnZojYGGEjhwd9RzIs7_jbU0kpLC4HdgDO5p8FpiH7F0zsPlZZogCe6iGptcHFSc5_Ni-ST6kRThv0Yhu5NeY420Y8youyWJrnQvIVdQufTB5G_jhswT_Fk/s1600/immersion_suit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR6X3rYeNcHPdNTNfmxaVeSnZojYGGEjhwd9RzIs7_jbU0kpLC4HdgDO5p8FpiH7F0zsPlZZogCe6iGptcHFSc5_Ni-ST6kRThv0Yhu5NeY420Y8youyWJrnQvIVdQufTB5G_jhswT_Fk/s1600/immersion_suit.jpg" height="320" width="234" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Easy to see why they are called "Gumby Suits"</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Unknown to us, 1200 miles away, off the
coast of Long Island, New York, the exact emergency, the one that we were at
that very moment training for, had just taken place.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Tug Sea Bear was heading back to New York harbor from a
dredging job that it had been working on out in Long Island. Something
happened. I don’t know the exact details and perhaps never will. However, for
some reason, the boat started taking on water. Undoubtedly, the Captain ordered
his crew to don their survival suits. As the situation worsened, it surely became
clear that the tug couldn’t be saved. At which point the ‘Abandon Ship’ order
was given. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the warm weather and the calm waters of the Mississippi
River near New Orleans, our ongoing drill was nonchalant and relaxed. In New
York, the water wasn’t calm. And it wasn’t warm. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At some point, the four man crew of the Sea Bear was forced
into the stormy, 30-something degree water of the Atlantic Ocean. Three of the
four men were wearing their life saving Survival Suits. A thick layer of orange neoprene designed to
insulate your body against the bone chilling cold water. Without one, your
chances of surviving being in the cold North Atlantic waters are almost zero.
The Captain wasn’t wearing one.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Why wasn’t he wearing one? I have no idea. It wasn’t like he
was new to the industry. He was a seasoned mariner. I happen to know this first
hand.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Captain was Don Maloney.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was his Mate at that two boat company in New York. </div>
<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
I still have his phone number saved in my cell phone to this
day. We had kept in touch after that small two tugboat company went by the
wayside. I would have sailed with him any day of the week. He was a great
Captain, a fine man, and to this day I can still hear his greeting to me…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Hey, Scotty-boy.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve been contemplating for two days on how to end this blog
post with something refined and eloquent. How to say, “Fair winds and following
seas…” in my own special way without it seeming like the standard canned
response to someone’s loss. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Two days I’ve thought about how to say that I’ll miss Captain
Don Maloney.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The only thing I’ve been able to come up with is…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
FUCK!!!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Chronicles of Crew Changehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08967137351121143522noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4019812888501008998.post-77901215638676298052015-03-14T15:41:00.000-07:002015-03-14T15:41:43.973-07:00Win - WinBecause I'm the greatest husband. EVER. I decided to give <a href="http://therealvd.blogspot.com/">my wife</a> my brand new, never used, straight out of the box, never opened, cell phone.<br />
<br />
Which really does make it sound like I really am the greatest husband. EVER.<br />
<br />
In reality, what happened was my brand new, never used, straight out of the box, never opened, cell phone wasn't supposed to be delivered to our house until AFTER I had to go back to the boat.<br />
Typical.<br />
So my loving wife gave me her phone to use temporarily until I got back home. Figuring that she could use my brand new, never used, straight out of the box, never opened, cell phone temporarily until I got back home whereas we could make the switch back to me having a brand new, never used, straight out of the box, never opened, cell phone and she could have her relatively new, not even a year old, cell phone back.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc_br-Bagn2Hy5UC-rgtMLt1ylDYeKQ-OmG28nk65RDENo44SF8IrzHQ-2xvUoEQlJS1vSlxVy9ALCd0xLEkQKbRl-KMZJLogQjgyZ51rRZL-8QC-YZ8zWlzW-uUxFWonLp1yMONC77h8/s1600/Samsung-Galaxy-S5-vs-Samsung-Galaxy-S4-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc_br-Bagn2Hy5UC-rgtMLt1ylDYeKQ-OmG28nk65RDENo44SF8IrzHQ-2xvUoEQlJS1vSlxVy9ALCd0xLEkQKbRl-KMZJLogQjgyZ51rRZL-8QC-YZ8zWlzW-uUxFWonLp1yMONC77h8/s1600/Samsung-Galaxy-S5-vs-Samsung-Galaxy-S4-01.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Guess who gets the bigger more powerful one?</i></b> <b><i>Not me.</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
But, because I'm the greatest husband. EVER. I decided that instead of switching things around, deleting apps, syncing up emails, phone numbers, pictures, etc. time and time again, I would just GIVE her the brand new, never used, straight out of the box, never opened, cell phone and I would keep the relatively new, not even a year old, cell phone instead.<br />
<br />
Greatest husband. EVER. Right?<br />
<br />
Or, I may have an issue with playing around with electronics and never being satisfied with anything stock.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Bptj2H3vWu7Pp8whBJ8wH02Jj3Hf28mFugtTKZqUnSy3gkW_2j-uVProvT4OZqczQriNTBFsW5pMd7eJu5APFxS979u4ziopYWYAEdoqMLxgCPp3g-Vse4_cAbMmjWazMhyLsNaipYo/s1600/f4587be41f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Bptj2H3vWu7Pp8whBJ8wH02Jj3Hf28mFugtTKZqUnSy3gkW_2j-uVProvT4OZqczQriNTBFsW5pMd7eJu5APFxS979u4ziopYWYAEdoqMLxgCPp3g-Vse4_cAbMmjWazMhyLsNaipYo/s1600/f4587be41f.jpg" height="220" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>I do love me some Jeremy Clarkson</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4uNbK8m3SnRaHgWJDRpOJuoi0wCfQBiIA-thACdDokYDKGsdssCdGEmoeyoRz2a9mVZ8VRZoz4QqkwN1gyXPTPd0GaqaQsfvzyRORTuvHUB2kU5gYSUcYlfT-QYgFWLGixmwJqbRe4Ss/s1600/morepower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4uNbK8m3SnRaHgWJDRpOJuoi0wCfQBiIA-thACdDokYDKGsdssCdGEmoeyoRz2a9mVZ8VRZoz4QqkwN1gyXPTPd0GaqaQsfvzyRORTuvHUB2kU5gYSUcYlfT-QYgFWLGixmwJqbRe4Ss/s1600/morepower.jpg" height="154" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Or we can go old school</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I kept the relatively new, not even a year old, phone in the knowledge that I could change things around, update the ROM, download tons of apps, get root access to the operating system, etc. etc. Fun stuff like that.<br />
<br />
I wasn't going to be able to do that with the brand new, never used, straight out of the box, never opened, cell phone because we decided to do a 2 year lease on it. No messing with the fun stuff inside if you have to give it back.<br />
<br />
So I look like the greatest husband. EVER. And I still get to play with electronics and attempt to turn my phone into an expensive paper weight by messing with it.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8_ET5rrhmdq2s75IYeedturUa1txSIlGBKdggE52R-8oqVBcrcnlWrq2NEU1lLALaa6GifqyUEMDb7J-DhZMNu9spGoQkUs49QdwLbLFPAXPMb3KxkAsEIuGe4DuhyphenhyphendHFvl4gbc_Ytw/s1600/shutterstock_755319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8_ET5rrhmdq2s75IYeedturUa1txSIlGBKdggE52R-8oqVBcrcnlWrq2NEU1lLALaa6GifqyUEMDb7J-DhZMNu9spGoQkUs49QdwLbLFPAXPMb3KxkAsEIuGe4DuhyphenhyphendHFvl4gbc_Ytw/s1600/shutterstock_755319.jpg" height="175" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>A real possibility</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Win-Win. <br />
<br />
Plus, chances are very good that I might just leave the phone on the boat anyway. <a href="http://chroniclesofcrewchange.blogspot.com/2013/11/time-to-go-shopping.html">It's not like it hasn't happened before.</a><br />
<br />Chronicles of Crew Changehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08967137351121143522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4019812888501008998.post-6430031738904233332015-02-17T03:16:00.002-08:002015-02-17T03:20:24.544-08:00Time OffI really shouldn't call it "time off". "Not on the boat" might be a better description. When I'm at home there really isn't "time off". Catching up on paying the bills, catching up on the yard work, catching up on all of the family things that have happened while I was at work, etc. Of course, there is also the foray into some<a href="http://chroniclesofcrewchange.blogspot.com/2014/05/arts-and-crafts.html"> slap-stick carpentry</a> work as well. <br />
You would think all of those things would take up just about all of my free time. And you would be right. But I have one remaining activity that I like to dabble in when I'm on my "time off". I like to play Semi-Pro Firefighter as well.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYiKWaAOWAiWMfRBAF9F-xIRyzgQgY2ucm0iW-sc4dLO-UXf1Ln22CvDUUf43Wkadti_lZLA-pcMl_qRULsFyS97HXv4t3uxSNjNMYlsO_pRA4JfpohjafIHe-1xvKg-DNtE0safxkAs4/s1600/TroutmanLDR1-M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYiKWaAOWAiWMfRBAF9F-xIRyzgQgY2ucm0iW-sc4dLO-UXf1Ln22CvDUUf43Wkadti_lZLA-pcMl_qRULsFyS97HXv4t3uxSNjNMYlsO_pRA4JfpohjafIHe-1xvKg-DNtE0safxkAs4/s1600/TroutmanLDR1-M.jpg" height="156" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Ladder 1. "Big Sexy" as she is affectionately called.</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This last time home was no exception. I got to build stuff.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQbxCaDC2fkXqJ4Zhd2T8SOlahYTQMbvG58sz4w_MvjesaTpv3Bfi06kBGKxSS24gaFrCalpJbdArBHEeI-ymW8XppAYqqJeyVH-uXu6qM4Ek8pirqHqSTQQXJ9RbwYFwycY8UzD8AYc/s1600/10649925_10205815062432602_3830956347683637785_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQbxCaDC2fkXqJ4Zhd2T8SOlahYTQMbvG58sz4w_MvjesaTpv3Bfi06kBGKxSS24gaFrCalpJbdArBHEeI-ymW8XppAYqqJeyVH-uXu6qM4Ek8pirqHqSTQQXJ9RbwYFwycY8UzD8AYc/s1600/10649925_10205815062432602_3830956347683637785_n.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>My latest project. </i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Tried to get my tax returns somewhat organized. Watched my beloved New England Patriots win the Super Bowl. Probably scarring my children for life with my over exuberant celebration at the end of the game.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUKyXU_S0Jw5Fhm1RmOzEWjpkBf3m-yf9bFBXoO4xwclJrc5XLTyX-onzKc6AiAHVFIzdgKZ3Bi8DTgWTucu5K41zjHSd4OGZbHaa7HURT0DtX64W4GaZTe6qeiMnvxeBK1HV3ZXCyYAI/s1600/new-england-intercepts-seattle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUKyXU_S0Jw5Fhm1RmOzEWjpkBf3m-yf9bFBXoO4xwclJrc5XLTyX-onzKc6AiAHVFIzdgKZ3Bi8DTgWTucu5K41zjHSd4OGZbHaa7HURT0DtX64W4GaZTe6qeiMnvxeBK1HV3ZXCyYAI/s1600/new-england-intercepts-seattle.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Yeah, I was excited.</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Managed to wrestle out the tall ladder to get the last remaining Christmas lights off the peak of the house, etc. But the highlight of my "time off" had to come on an early, crisp Saturday morning.<br />
<br />
Someone had decided that their house wasn't tenable anymore. The exact reasoning is unbeknown to me. All I do know is that they donated their house to my fire department in order to use it for training. Normally, anything fun, exciting, noteworthy, etc. that happens at home happens when I'm at work. <a href="http://chroniclesofcrewchange.blogspot.com/2014/08/time-flies.html">Birth of my son</a>, <a href="http://chroniclesofcrewchange.blogspot.com/2013/01/happy-little-trees-normal-0-false-false.html">my daughter getting her appendix out</a>, birthdays, <a href="http://chroniclesofcrewchange.blogspot.com/2013/03/happy-anniversaryies.html">anniversaries</a>, that sort of thing. This usually rings true for fun and exciting fire department related things as well. In the last 2 years we have had at least 4 different opportunities to do live burns in donated structures. I have been home for exactly one of them.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQStuYDxUMeYg8va7LPFggVku53hlZjpKsLSIE1yMuzqjUqH0JieWadHVhNRK-d0u93ouLf6iBr0ZMYP-2XdrLt2MXQplsPZeirKiCM0b1TbRNUzq-7bKMVQ5sTodScrLuLtY7xtcBoGc/s1600/TroutmanENG2-M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQStuYDxUMeYg8va7LPFggVku53hlZjpKsLSIE1yMuzqjUqH0JieWadHVhNRK-d0u93ouLf6iBr0ZMYP-2XdrLt2MXQplsPZeirKiCM0b1TbRNUzq-7bKMVQ5sTodScrLuLtY7xtcBoGc/s1600/TroutmanENG2-M.jpg" height="148" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Engine 2. Black over red, the best combination out there.</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Make that two. The planets aligned, the stars shone brightly, and I was actually around for a training burn. <br />
The following videos are of us honing our craft and refining our skills.<br />
Did I mention that firefighting is a ridiculous amount of fun?<br />
<br />
Did I also mention that I do it for free?<br />
<a href="http://therealvd.blogspot.com/">My wife</a> says that 'technically' it's not a job because I don't get paid. <br />
<br />
At least I get paid to work on boats. So I got that going for me. Which is nice.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div>
Chronicles of Crew Changehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08967137351121143522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4019812888501008998.post-53598614381698296672015-01-20T00:46:00.000-08:002016-05-27T11:25:37.137-07:00It's a BIG Ocean<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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The Earth’s surface is approximately 71% water. Of that, 97%
of that water surface is made up of the oceans. While at I’m at work I only
need just a minuscule percentage of that in order to operate the boat safely.
<a href="http://chroniclesofcrewchange.blogspot.com/2014/06/excrement-happens.html">As we have shown before</a>, bad things happen when two vessels try to occupy the
exact same parcel of water at the exact same moment in time. It gets expense.
Something that all true professional mariners strive to avoid at all times. This
is exactly why I get so annoyed when someone wants to try to invade my
particular tiny piece of water that I already occupy. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have a t-shirt that I made at home that says, “I hate
sailboats”. That’s all it says. No fancy graphics. No high tech fonts. Just a
simple statement of fact. I hate sailboats. Wearing a shirt like that also
happens to invoke random strangers at the airport to query the meaning of my
shirt. It’s a conversation starter. When I explain to them that I work on
tugboats, an almost sudden realization of the meaning hits them and all becomes
instantly clear. It is as if there is a worldwide understanding that people on
sailboats are indeed a scourge to waterways.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs2qjZoVv00tjF-OazwDUhITcf3Ttfuwp1NFhKIBXDrfQKvn-zm2QSBNXVF2mL-d2_CUrQTm9YUYhEk477q3VRyqPjE-f1qJLAUFJKvY-F6NF_HjpWEWS-G_tea1P3FtR91BRbDyjDkcA/s1600/sailboat+shirt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs2qjZoVv00tjF-OazwDUhITcf3Ttfuwp1NFhKIBXDrfQKvn-zm2QSBNXVF2mL-d2_CUrQTm9YUYhEk477q3VRyqPjE-f1qJLAUFJKvY-F6NF_HjpWEWS-G_tea1P3FtR91BRbDyjDkcA/s1600/sailboat+shirt.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>The offending shirt. Simple. Classy. Okay, simple.</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anyone who has ever sailed the Ocean Blue, the Deep Muddy,
the Inland Rivers, back bays, Sounds, rivers, harbors, etc. has at one point in
time come across the ever-despised WAFI. In case you weren't aware, a WAFI, is a Wind Assisted Fucking
Idiot. Not to be confused with a MAFI, a Motor Assisted Fucking Idiot. A WAFI,
in its more accepted term, is a sailboat. And I hate them.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For some reason, sailboaters are under the impression that
the Rules of the Road just don’t apply to them. Or they are just idiots. I
happen to lean more towards the side that they happen to be ‘Stupid to the
Highest Degree (squared)’. On more than one occasion, I have had sailboats try
to cut between the tugboat and the barge that I was towing. Never mind that
there happens to be either a giant rope hawser, or a large steel wire trailing
behind the tug connecting us the barge. It is, in fact, the exact way that we
TOW a barge. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No amount of sound signals,
radio calls, or brightly shining spot lights directed at the WAFI should dissuade
them to alter their course away from impend danger and/or death. The same can
be said for sailboats crossing your bow, impeding you in a confined channel, or
any other numerous situations where you just shake your head and silently ask
yourself, “Can someone really be this stupid?” The answer is ‘YES’. Yes, they
can. And if you were to survey 100 tugboaters and ask them if they had ever experienced
a similar situation, 105 of them would answer in the affirmative. It’s going to
happen. It’s a fact of life out here on the water. WAFI’s have earned their
reputation as a plague upon the nations waterways (as have most MAFI’s). </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAhXs42PVe6AarTzEO9eo5u8IkTgqSFbYwFesIDjtQkJXDcxRzUivDXIGaLDkqcmqEQ3xM3SuEp-aVPYKeJTshL6MOAqtUwETfCLN4Xkuev3OfEv01IVuejGNpw9L4lX0GT_FEEjvTSbQ/s1600/Hanne-Knutsen_2547086b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAhXs42PVe6AarTzEO9eo5u8IkTgqSFbYwFesIDjtQkJXDcxRzUivDXIGaLDkqcmqEQ3xM3SuEp-aVPYKeJTshL6MOAqtUwETfCLN4Xkuev3OfEv01IVuejGNpw9L4lX0GT_FEEjvTSbQ/s1600/Hanne-Knutsen_2547086b.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>"I swear I didn't see the GIANT orange ship"</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Full disclosure: I don’t hate sailboats. A sailboat with
beautiful lines that hearkens back to a time gone past is a pleasing sight. The
quiet of being propelled by Mother Nature with the only sound being the hull
gliding through the water and the wind in your face is something to embrace.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I just hate the people that run them. Poorly. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you work up in the waters of the northeastern United
States, spring time signals the start of WAFI season. We also refer to the
sudden emergence of this group of waterborne locusts as the beginning of the ‘Weekend
Warriors’. A conglomeration of 9 to 5ers whose expertise of the water doesn’t
extend much past the fact that water is wet. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Being that we are currently assigned to the Gulf of Mexico,
I was hoping that the year round pleasant boating weather would increase the
odds that the water bound populace would be more skilled in the areas of following
the Rules of the Road and just general seamanship. And for the most part, not
having to cram a whole year’s worth of pleasure boating into 3 months and then
forgetting about the water for the other 9, has indeed seemed to have an
effect. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Alas, our focus has merely shifted from the relatively well
behaved southern Weekend Warriors, to a different group of glaring floating pestilence.
Shrimp boats. The WAFI’s of the Gulf of Mexico.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was of the impression that the shrimp boats, staffed with
seasoned mariners such as ourselves, would have more of a grasp of proper
water-going etiquette, a mutual respect for those who make a living by plying
the seas. I was wrong. Very wrong.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Might as well throw them into the MAFI category. But worse. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least the assorted _AFI’s would sometimes
realize that a tiny fiberglass boat versus a hulking steel barge would lead to
a very quick demise. But the shrimp boats could care less. I guess their theory
is that their boat would fare better than a sailboat. I would venture that they
might do a bit more than scratch our paint, but I’m fairly sure that the end
result would be the same. But you can’t even tell that to them because they are
either- 1.) Not monitoring their radio to hear our calls that they are heading
for danger, or 2.) Their command of the spoken English language is not up to
par as to understand that they are acting rather foolishly (cleaned up here for
NSFW language). </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJDG-vInDG50_79yDnszCjz_lt24psvcfkGp76Czai5mZXNnd9Xyd4kVi7VXSXbI1WLcZ0aThOXWHosP_MMX7dqSTRsnAjzzJRd8REIUTCikpl9FF6kdvZ60BBQSrZVLAgEaBq0lJgaM/s1600/kadr17365gl2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJDG-vInDG50_79yDnszCjz_lt24psvcfkGp76Czai5mZXNnd9Xyd4kVi7VXSXbI1WLcZ0aThOXWHosP_MMX7dqSTRsnAjzzJRd8REIUTCikpl9FF6kdvZ60BBQSrZVLAgEaBq0lJgaM/s1600/kadr17365gl2.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Shrimp boat Captain? (What is it with this blog and Tom Hanks?)</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Either way, the number of WTF! moments are starting to pile
up. Nothing that requires paperwork (or worse), but just enough to get your heart
pumping a little faster, your blood pressure to rise, and your focus to narrow.
It’s the Gulf’s version of WAFI season. And with the coming of the springtime
fog season, which just adds another variable to the equation, it makes we
wonder if 3 months of Weekend Warriors isn’t such a bad deal at all.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I just want a tiny, little, itty-bitty, piece of water borne
real estate in order to affect my craft. Is it so unreasonable to want to have
everyone else do the same?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I guess that I now need a t-shirt that says, “I hate shrimp
boats”. And I know that plenty of professional mariners here in the Gulf happen
to agree with me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At a minimum it will spark more random discussions in the
airport.</div>
Chronicles of Crew Changehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08967137351121143522noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4019812888501008998.post-1659869790813902622014-12-09T12:45:00.000-08:002014-12-09T12:57:08.789-08:00Product PlacementHave you noticed on TV lately that the placement of certain products in the background of a scene have just become blatant endorsements? I'm just waiting for the dialogue to begin to reflect this as well.<br />
<br />
"Come on, Jennifer. If we don't get into our 2014 Hyundai Elantra with a six speed variable transmission soon. We'll never make it to Pepsi-co Field on time to stop the terrorists. Even with our stylish Hyundai Elantra getting 38 miles per gallon highway and going from 0 to 60 in 6.8 seconds, not even it's 5 star crash safety rating could save us then."<br />
<br />
Yeah, it's starting to get that bad.<br />
<br />
But what does Jennifer and stopping terrorists have to do with tugboats?<br />
<br />
Nothing.<br />
<br />
But I'm about to do a shameless product endorsement and I had to lead with something.<br />
<br />
We have been in shipyard for the last couple of weeks.<br />
Hence the complete lack of new, funny, and hip stories on this here blog. Aside from the normal "shave and a haircut" for the boat, Mongo and I were tasked with forming our own construction company in order to rebuild the galley. "Two Morons Construction Company" was founded and most of our time was invested on destroying and then rebuilding the galley to our exacting tolerances. Banging on a computer keyboard at night to relay our tales of joy just was not in the cards.<br />
<br />
But now I'm on my time off. The Christmas lights have been strung around the house, the mud room cabinets that I promised to build <a href="http://therealvd.blogspot.com/">the wife</a> have been built, and mandatory tugboat training has been accomplished. So between getting online Christmas shopping done and playing semi-pro firefighter this week, I finally had time to put zeros and ones out into cyberspace.<br />
<br />
Oh yeah, product placement. Right.<br />
<br />
During shipyard you get dirty. Depending on what project you are doing (i.e. toilet blowing up in your face) you can get REALLY dirty. After getting dirty, you need to get clean. Which sometimes is an issue when the water pipes to the boat are laying in pieces on the deck of the engine room.<br />
For years the old standby for getting you hands clean has been to use "GoJo", the "Natural Orange Pumice Hand Cleaner". <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHr2yvgRPiP-a6BcaFSfO4mG1aj3mAIOOBsfmAGPVeV2O7hl9dHUGtFBeIZuGSYFP8cwVyNuhvCzbqYmm2PIcKYP1GF-PUCDSv5KKgrWepbyQgPge9axqVO_mE-lu4GyTMl-KjdPXrQjY/s1600/gojo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHr2yvgRPiP-a6BcaFSfO4mG1aj3mAIOOBsfmAGPVeV2O7hl9dHUGtFBeIZuGSYFP8cwVyNuhvCzbqYmm2PIcKYP1GF-PUCDSv5KKgrWepbyQgPge9axqVO_mE-lu4GyTMl-KjdPXrQjY/s1600/gojo.jpg" height="320" width="283" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Smells like oranges. Doesn't taste like them.</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
That was, of course, until this shipyard period.<br />
After one such day of getting way too dirty, there was a new bottle of hand cleaner in the engine room sink. I had already washed my hands with the old standby GoJo, but was less than pleased with the results. I figured that I would try out some of this new stuff and see if my results were any closer to being actually clean.<br />
<br />
Enter... CODE RED. I had neither seen nor heard of it before. But, nothing ventured, nothing gained. It smelled of cherries. I passed on the taste testing part. It had a smidgen of pumice similar to the old go-to GoJo. But immediately upon rubbing it into my previously GoJo cleaned hands, it whisked away any of the remaining dirty, grime, wood glue, sandblasting grit, paint, and whatever else was plastered on my hands. I was thoroughly pleased. This stuff was good. For the rest of the time we were on the boat anytime my hands got too dirty to tell that they were still hands, I went with the Code Red. It never failed to get my hands clean from whatever happened to be ground into them. GoJo had to go. It's Code Red for me from now on.<br />
<br />
Now that I'm home, where the Honey-Do list never seems to get smaller, and my hands get just as dirty as in the shipyard, I realized that I MUST get some Code Red. Trouble is, I can't find any. Even my online searches have come up empty on when to find a local retailer. I found where to buy a <a href="http://chroniclesofcrewchange.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-internet-is-dangerous-place_17.html">Main Battle Tank online</a>! You would think I could find hand cleaner!<br />
Alas, the search continues. So if anyone happens to know where I can find it, send me a link. Or a sample. Or a bottle. Or a 55-gallon drum of it. The same holds true for anyone who works for the company that makes Code Red. This is good advertising.<br />
<br />
"Jennifer, my hands are so clean from using Code Red hand cleanser I know that we can fool the finger print scanner and stop the terrorists."<br />
<br />
You know, product placement. <br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Chronicles of Crew Changehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08967137351121143522noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4019812888501008998.post-8196830657065092782014-09-27T15:01:00.000-07:002014-09-27T15:01:56.408-07:00The Captain<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Generally, when reading about a post on a blog that concerns
the maritime world you would suspect that a post called “The Captain” would be
about the head honcho onboard boats. Generally, you would be correct. Today,
you’re wrong.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“The Captain” in question happens to be the captain of
the New York Yankees, Derek Jeter. If you happen to follow baseball you are
well aware that this is Derek Jeter’s last season in the majors. Even if you
don’t follow baseball you are still probably well aware that it his last
season. Every stadium that the Yankees have played in this year has been
essentially turned into a traveling tribute to one of the classiest guys to
ever play the game. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZP4uVRHcFv7_PXmP0T-s86gSbByPTLZV-g2oWd1hlJALIFIK7hRRz1Pu160q4MpGUhGDazSaLbfreauMCsJX-6Ij8LcEjrL7FZpiDOFJ0Cw6wznMH0BH1yEoLQP1EvILd1chTEd3gh_A/s1600/618_348_the-derek-jeter-gift-guide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZP4uVRHcFv7_PXmP0T-s86gSbByPTLZV-g2oWd1hlJALIFIK7hRRz1Pu160q4MpGUhGDazSaLbfreauMCsJX-6Ij8LcEjrL7FZpiDOFJ0Cw6wznMH0BH1yEoLQP1EvILd1chTEd3gh_A/s1600/618_348_the-derek-jeter-gift-guide.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
My <a href="http://therealvd.blogspot.com/2014/09/derek-jeter.html">wife is a Yankees fan</a>, through and through. I happen
to be a member of the <a href="http://chroniclesofcrewchange.blogspot.com/2013/04/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-x-none.html">Red Sox Nation</a>. As she likes to say, “No one is perfect.”
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Which is true. We all have our own faults. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
However, throughout a storied 20 year career, Jeter has
managed to not just play the game with skill and prowess but just as
importantly (maybe even more so), managed to keep his name free and clear by
not engaging in any bad behavior which so seems to dominate professional
sports. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
There aren’t many people in professional sports that I
would consider to be a role model, both professionally and personally.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
For me, Derek Jeter is at the top of that very select
group. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Which is pretty high praise coming from a Red Sox fan.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiu_n7h9ZfYVLX2EGYxfc1iIFH41yhoghuAhFivf2zd5q_hiMaBgLtMhP0S9lQyhCSxqLlM3A2BDfHrXBqMpJgRiPNFSD7DOPxpY-V3FuOH-Uv6HdHkGiJxTw2_lJp4-50Uz0qDqYgv24/s1600/Boston-Strong.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiu_n7h9ZfYVLX2EGYxfc1iIFH41yhoghuAhFivf2zd5q_hiMaBgLtMhP0S9lQyhCSxqLlM3A2BDfHrXBqMpJgRiPNFSD7DOPxpY-V3FuOH-Uv6HdHkGiJxTw2_lJp4-50Uz0qDqYgv24/s1600/Boston-Strong.jpg" height="260" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The other night, Jeter played his last game in the
hallowed halls of Yankees Stadium. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I was going to try to describe it in my own words, however I think this video captures the moment better than I ever could.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/zYFNXHQaCBA?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
To say that it
couldn’t have been written by a Hollywood movie maker any more perfectly than
it did would be the understatement of the decade. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Alas, the season isn’t over. The Yankees traveled to
Boston to play out the final 3 games of their season. The Hollywood version
would have had Jeter hitting a home run in the bottom of the 9<sup>th</sup> in
Game 7 of the World Series to win the title. Sadly, for both Sox and Yankees
fans, neither team is headed for the playoffs this year. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The silver lining in this story is that the New York Yankees
are finishing the season against the hated Boston Red Sox. If there is one team,
one group of fans, that respect Derek Jeter as much as Yankees fan do, it would
have to be the members of Red Sox Nation. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Boston fans are rabid about their sports teams. They are knowledgeable,
dedicated, no holds barred, supporters of their teams. They will let their
players know when they are playing well. They will let their players know when
they are playing poorly. They will especially let their players know when they
downright suck. Boston fans aren’t just fans of their own teams, but also fans
of the game itself. They appreciate a good play just as much as anyone. Even if
it was against their beloved home team. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If there were ever a group of fans that appreciate all
that Derek Jeter has done for the game of baseball (other than Yankees fans) it
would have to be the ones from Boston. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Jeter may not get the sendoff that he received in New
York, but knowing Boston fans, it will probably be pretty close. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And it is well deserved.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Now I would be remiss if there wasn’t at least one way
for me to integrate the maritime world into this baseball post. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So here it is…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Talking with two separate pilots that we had onboard this
week concerning Derek Jeter’s upcoming retirement led to the discovery that not
just one, but both of them, were planning on attending baseball games this
week. One of them was traveling up to New York to attend Derek Jeter’s final
game at home. The other one was going up to Boston to attend Derek Jeter’s
final game, ever. To say that I was jealous would also be an understatement of
the decade. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Bribes were considered.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Instead, we are stuck with watching the final games of
Derek Jeter’s career on the boat on TV. Not quite the same as being in the
crowd, but we’ll take it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Congratulations, Derek Jeter! </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Enjoy your retirement.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I was a pleasure to watch you play the game as well as
you did for as long as you did.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
RE2PECT.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikGCcG6MWO-JWpoJ5oQJHDz0rtVdpIwjmMELF5khBVD53CGe3aENA6RpagHR-8hM2cUl9qtg4snOEBfb5lo023HVypYhM1kysvnEpptCxpwq5cqVjSm5eZyb6PyB1AjuNuQyNrr8tvrmE/s1600/1600x700q80.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikGCcG6MWO-JWpoJ5oQJHDz0rtVdpIwjmMELF5khBVD53CGe3aENA6RpagHR-8hM2cUl9qtg4snOEBfb5lo023HVypYhM1kysvnEpptCxpwq5cqVjSm5eZyb6PyB1AjuNuQyNrr8tvrmE/s1600/1600x700q80.jpeg" height="140" width="320" /></a></div>
Chronicles of Crew Changehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08967137351121143522noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4019812888501008998.post-74932674699978679092014-09-20T02:35:00.000-07:002014-09-20T02:51:53.301-07:00It's A Small World<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjX1vVLYpB0mXm5Obtbx5drht5dU0vxNNXQdQTX7H2nDMM6Sz9XthYHlyc83FKInuTAUAqbtVR0XgKk9toBQ7EaVKV_G1WGt2a8G42OSDI3ycwnoKE1qxE2rcZgdRrDb1cegD85hex73Q/s1600/IMAG1606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Headed up the Mississippi River the other day we were
just getting ready to pass a ship that was moored at one of the coal piers that line
the river. The ship’s self-unloading boom was extended out over the river and both
I and the pilot onboard agreed that passing under the boom would be a poor
navigational choice. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjX1vVLYpB0mXm5Obtbx5drht5dU0vxNNXQdQTX7H2nDMM6Sz9XthYHlyc83FKInuTAUAqbtVR0XgKk9toBQ7EaVKV_G1WGt2a8G42OSDI3ycwnoKE1qxE2rcZgdRrDb1cegD85hex73Q/s1600/IMAG1606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjX1vVLYpB0mXm5Obtbx5drht5dU0vxNNXQdQTX7H2nDMM6Sz9XthYHlyc83FKInuTAUAqbtVR0XgKk9toBQ7EaVKV_G1WGt2a8G42OSDI3ycwnoKE1qxE2rcZgdRrDb1cegD85hex73Q/s1600/IMAG1606.jpg" height="191" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>The ship in question</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Our conversation then shifted to discussing the ship’s
particulars and how the pilot had also been onboard that ship for a trip or two
on the river.<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“It’s a coal fired steam ship. Should the Zombie Apocalypse ever
happen they can run the ship with their cargo for like 10 years”, remarked the
pilot, “It also has a steam line running from the engine room up to the bridge.
The captain has an old-time hot dog steamer up there. He loves hot dogs. In fact,
you can’t do a trip onboard without being offered one. Or two. Or ten. They
even steam the buns.”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Which I thought was an interesting tidbit of peculiar
shipboard engineering. I remarked that a dedicated steam line from the engine room to
the bridge definitely showed how different tugs and ships are. Tugboat hotdog
preparation methods are slightly less refined.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdIFhaAtnP8Z67lbon78BJZEAZIHBaTHKQtfOINc8JRjNOFFETEUAhYdh1GjJA5c-RbtiT6n5jjGQmCkOEv8-0gHSgHjAwxBqSGLmn5FgjtDS-mlLfSETZai0hy7p-j763I24sapnj14Q/s1600/Hot+Dog+Coffee+Pot.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdIFhaAtnP8Z67lbon78BJZEAZIHBaTHKQtfOINc8JRjNOFFETEUAhYdh1GjJA5c-RbtiT6n5jjGQmCkOEv8-0gHSgHjAwxBqSGLmn5FgjtDS-mlLfSETZai0hy7p-j763I24sapnj14Q/s1600/Hot+Dog+Coffee+Pot.jpeg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Complete with bun warmer.</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We then shifted our comments from hot dogs to the affore
mentioned hot dog obsessed Captain. “He was my roommate at the Academy.”
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Turns out, the pilot was a graduate of the Massachusetts
Maritime Academy. Hence, the Captain of the ship was a MMA graduate as well. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
As
am I. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And so is my <a href="http://therealvd.blogspot.com/">wife</a>. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Graduation years were discussed and it was determined
that I had “escaped” (please note that both the pilot and I used the term
“escaped” from the Academy when referring to graduating) a few years before he
and the ship’s Captain had arrived. However, my wife was in her senior year
when the two of them had started school. Consequently, the pilot knew who my wife was. She
had made him do pushups and “get in the half” on more than one occasion. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtUVUsCpmOT8l_BxvZ_rUw6E-6ARvn6YGqEluilGhMAkkFsP8TlqIYC99vn7ykb93TluxfkJNNsBup-j5X-FAWSJDbufsL8rpHCPvMPNo0YzwMoNPkU56lfWou1UU97ED2wEnngNUeEtg/s1600/article-new-thumbnail-ehow-images-a05-2r-c9-proper-pushup-techniques-800x800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtUVUsCpmOT8l_BxvZ_rUw6E-6ARvn6YGqEluilGhMAkkFsP8TlqIYC99vn7ykb93TluxfkJNNsBup-j5X-FAWSJDbufsL8rpHCPvMPNo0YzwMoNPkU56lfWou1UU97ED2wEnngNUeEtg/s1600/article-new-thumbnail-ehow-images-a05-2r-c9-proper-pushup-techniques-800x800.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>"The Half" Stay there until your arms fall off.</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Based
on this information, it was also determined that my wife probably knew the
pilot’s roommate as well. Innocently enough I asked, “What was your room mates
name?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Shane Murphy.”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
For those that aren’t familiar with the name, a quick
read of this <a href="http://chroniclesofcrewchange.blogspot.com/2014/03/boats-is-boats-is-boats.html">blog post</a> might refresh your memory (selfless promotion). </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
For those of you who prefer the Cliffs Notes version…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
(Now) Captain Shane Murphy, was previously the Chief Mate
on a once little known ship, the Maersk Alabama. Perhaps you are familiar with the book, or the movie starring
Tom Hanks, concerning said ship. It featured Captain Richard Phillips (also a MMA graduate) and
the takeover of the ship by Somali pirates. The exact same ship that Shane was
serving aboard as Chief Mate, at the exact time that the pirates decided to take the ship’s
lifeboat and it's captain on a brief joy ride. A joy ride that ended with
the Somali pirates meeting up with the sharp end of the Navy SEALs broad
reaching sword. Long reaching rifles, in all actuality.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR3pfLtojMCzUwAAp7hLnDHzdaLDtbaXelLEp8gNavzq_iX2EpIPuP9tEbO-Fib0uoEplF9vOgCpm5hSlg-WJTbYrczcQCeVZlU5C9J9KMvvUEPf1DDTZSIaN2S5zoHkiiOEKbMraILgw/s1600/pirate+hat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR3pfLtojMCzUwAAp7hLnDHzdaLDtbaXelLEp8gNavzq_iX2EpIPuP9tEbO-Fib0uoEplF9vOgCpm5hSlg-WJTbYrczcQCeVZlU5C9J9KMvvUEPf1DDTZSIaN2S5zoHkiiOEKbMraILgw/s1600/pirate+hat.jpg" height="262" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Note to pirates.</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So while Captain Phillips was out in the lifeboat with the pirates on a
3-hour tour (It's okay to sing the song. You know you want to). Chief Mate Shane Murphy
was therefore unceremoniously promoted to Captain in the previous Captain’s
absence. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxM5HHHp7CxudK9J49laCPZQB7sbq8w6f05rJDiTiSCAkptHw5GvOfeBlAwZJuObLKsSTNaen0ukr2fRXfdomlgUhIPwLMgZNz92bzRRN2c5AaW_Rp20jGr2SpHPBHZN5-Xpfsx2gi2ek/s1600/Captain_Phillips_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxM5HHHp7CxudK9J49laCPZQB7sbq8w6f05rJDiTiSCAkptHw5GvOfeBlAwZJuObLKsSTNaen0ukr2fRXfdomlgUhIPwLMgZNz92bzRRN2c5AaW_Rp20jGr2SpHPBHZN5-Xpfsx2gi2ek/s1600/Captain_Phillips_2.jpg" height="320" width="215" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Shane did not take over for Tom Hanks.</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Now Shane has his own ship to command. A ship that is
totally zombie proof. Which is good to know. That has a hot dog steamer on the
bridge. Also, good to know.
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This brings us back to the title. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s a small world. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
You
never know who you are going to meet out here. The maritime community is a
small place to begin with. Just how small, happened to be highlighted quite
nicely this week. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Besides, it’s nice to know that if I ever want to work on
a certain ship I know the Captain’s weaknesses. Hot dogs and the fact that my
wife made him do pushups while he was in school.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
All good things to know. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">It really is a small world.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOKbhEql7zfXNhMB-K5AGWpO4rD0TrTnaiYQd0Q7NLxBQV_u9CJYBokV3E1vITe2hSM6mKWfvK2flOWnKP1nnFWYyWFK64xkQiY005LyooYpZXIZuBo_FG1SipqeDb3_z0uo3o6HHn0ZM/s1600/small-world-holland-320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOKbhEql7zfXNhMB-K5AGWpO4rD0TrTnaiYQd0Q7NLxBQV_u9CJYBokV3E1vITe2hSM6mKWfvK2flOWnKP1nnFWYyWFK64xkQiY005LyooYpZXIZuBo_FG1SipqeDb3_z0uo3o6HHn0ZM/s1600/small-world-holland-320.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Feel free to sing this song as well. </i></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>***Those
dolls are creepy. Why has no one made a movie with these dolls coming
to life and going on a murderous rampage? Perfect, right? If anyone does
make a movie I want partial credit. You saw it here first.</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
Chronicles of Crew Changehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08967137351121143522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4019812888501008998.post-75811891081031811892014-08-19T15:23:00.000-07:002014-08-19T15:23:47.239-07:00Folding Paper<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Seems simple enough.<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Heck, even the Origami stuff looks relatively easy. But we aren't talking about Origami or making paper airplanes. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We are talking about trying to fold brand spankin’ new nautical
charts. Which sucks. And isn't easy. And isn't simple. Did I mention it sucks?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg07rwSeSJ_IRoM5NOrPvBGz9w1aynq9XUF6WHVsqMKCBkptdgUp-Z_PK0j_So9s0ZSsZciJ9u-XGb2Kbfrt1SDaQqPXffspin6MAxrYOtiY9VnItNyOvDPWcNK2NH3GlprmUfB8isM2r8/s1600/11309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg07rwSeSJ_IRoM5NOrPvBGz9w1aynq9XUF6WHVsqMKCBkptdgUp-Z_PK0j_So9s0ZSsZciJ9u-XGb2Kbfrt1SDaQqPXffspin6MAxrYOtiY9VnItNyOvDPWcNK2NH3GlprmUfB8isM2r8/s1600/11309.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Chart #11309 Corpus Christi Bay</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
For the less than nautically inclined, nautical charts are maps of the ocean. But they aren't maps. They are charts. They are the same thing. Except that they aren't. Maps are for roads, charts are
for the water. See, in the maritime world we have a lot of different names for things that already have names. Keeps the non
mariners from really understanding what is really going on. Walls are bulkheads, floors are decks, ceiling are overheads, port is left, and starboard is right. The list goes on and on. So, maps are charts and new ones suck.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
As a general rule, I have no issue with charts. It's just the new ones that are the subject of my ire. Every week the Feds come out with a list of corrections we have to do our to our chart portfolio. Buoys get moved. New navigation lights get put up or taken down. Changes in the hydrography. And of course, <a href="http://chroniclesofcrewchange.blogspot.com/2014/06/excrement-happens.html">wrecks happen</a>. And all the changes have to get put down on the chart in order to make sure the information is as current and as accurate as possible. So every week we get to do "<a href="http://chroniclesofcrewchange.blogspot.com/2014/05/arts-and-crafts.html">Arts and Crafts</a>" on the boat. We get to use markers, colored pencils, tape, scissors, rub on transfer sheets, and stickers. It's all very<a href="http://therealvd.blogspot.com/"> preschool</a>. But every now and then there are enough changes over the years to a particular area that a new chart is issued. Now you would think that a brand new chart would be nice. You would be wrong.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgumL6UBYUN3m0hqBJEcSiXuDERaIu2PLF9_8gJnA5wbHx750GVmQp5bQwkxbbTPF0ydKiRVP7s6P8doWcz77XPvlAJ-K94zKZGMasFI3GvyaQZujA_9PfeJsBn6rUSEu2gtw1UlMbBpss/s1600/414108_10150586452966310_122755932_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgumL6UBYUN3m0hqBJEcSiXuDERaIu2PLF9_8gJnA5wbHx750GVmQp5bQwkxbbTPF0ydKiRVP7s6P8doWcz77XPvlAJ-K94zKZGMasFI3GvyaQZujA_9PfeJsBn6rUSEu2gtw1UlMbBpss/s1600/414108_10150586452966310_122755932_o.jpg" height="191" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Arts and Crafts. Nautical version.</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I hate new charts. Hate them. Not as much as I hate
<a href="http://chroniclesofcrewchange.blogspot.com/2014/07/mortal-enemies.html">Corpus Christi, TX</a>. But it’s definitely right up there.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
To begin with, your old tired beat up chart had all of your courses laid out. It had all of your distances and average speeds put down. You had all kinds of notes and hints and local knowledge of the area written in the margins. Areas to avoid and good holding anchorage spots were meticulously maintained on that old chart. A new chart has none of that. And the only way to keep that information updated is to break out the pens, colored pencils, and highlighters and transfer it all onto the new chart. But that isn't really my biggest gripe. The thing that irks me the most about brand new nautical charts is folding them. How could folding a piece of paper into a couple of
squares be so difficult? First of all, have you ever tried folding a circle into a
square? Yeah, not so easy.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Our new charts come to the boat all rolled up in the
tightest cylinder ever made possible by machines.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Then the charts sit in this nice tight cylindrical form
for about 2 months so the paper builds up a very nice memory of its current
shape. The mere act of trying to get this paper from a circle to a square is where the paper and I
no longer are friends. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqlbcYVoZx70g-ODqZMkahinucY4Ocv0oyD2kPYN0NswXgC1DscOlXFhsqXo0sRcbM9it1o1yG5zk5V5wo6-T8TtPhoA-H9HMuXsphX7Lq9fakTeED5DN1dL6cJKU1G9fAgYodfvZlHU/s1600/IMAG1587.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqlbcYVoZx70g-ODqZMkahinucY4Ocv0oyD2kPYN0NswXgC1DscOlXFhsqXo0sRcbM9it1o1yG5zk5V5wo6-T8TtPhoA-H9HMuXsphX7Lq9fakTeED5DN1dL6cJKU1G9fAgYodfvZlHU/s1600/IMAG1587.jpg" height="200" width="119" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Six charts. Rolled up nice and tight.</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The more I try to unroll the chart and make it lay flat, the more it rolls itself back up and mocks me. I've tried rolling it up the opposite direction. I've tried leaving it alone unrolled for a week in high humidity. I've let them hang over the wheelhouse railings to let gravity do some of the work. I've tried leaning both of my arms on it, putting books at the corners, using a ruler to straighten out the edges. I think I've tried just about every method ever known to mariners. I even contemplated just leaving them for the other crew. And since they are paper, where would you be without the mandatory paper cut somewhere along the way. Needless to say, new charts and I just don't get along.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKD24ppf8QXr6kqha5hepL_65xiF7Gzb-3nVI-EKqU7hMhV3ee4rWQ_gHsSDZOddGBlRgwDTOt23GfuvchZAyxD71mtHu2ErM-rjcWy7IgBjAK-xyW2sZKYNpZlQODP2az6VMHleB30gw/s1600/IMAG1589.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKD24ppf8QXr6kqha5hepL_65xiF7Gzb-3nVI-EKqU7hMhV3ee4rWQ_gHsSDZOddGBlRgwDTOt23GfuvchZAyxD71mtHu2ErM-rjcWy7IgBjAK-xyW2sZKYNpZlQODP2az6VMHleB30gw/s1600/IMAG1589.jpg" height="320" width="191" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Unrolled. And rolled right back up again.</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguxq7JxLwSSinywrBkC8wsZIo4hd4okjNGu-uCd03QDGHmrnPWMipZD2TAQLzPb96641eB_RqNJUSjUIFDVD1ayAFQX_UL0RhJ0j6-qWhkPYmctlBbFFSAxnGlds02QOT8hEOwcCcXxyk/s1600/IMAG1586.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguxq7JxLwSSinywrBkC8wsZIo4hd4okjNGu-uCd03QDGHmrnPWMipZD2TAQLzPb96641eB_RqNJUSjUIFDVD1ayAFQX_UL0RhJ0j6-qWhkPYmctlBbFFSAxnGlds02QOT8hEOwcCcXxyk/s1600/IMAG1586.jpg" height="320" width="190" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Perfect!</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
After a tirade infused 15 minutes of fighting with a piece of paper, it’s one chart down, 12 more to go.
It’s going to be a long afternoon.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1RlyavbGEHG4oFoYjUOZNFb_LGfhoa_AUIcvSN0OkAM90bl9H-L7W4XqdDhBBWsAlHICBwiak8jELuFeESLIWQR7xf87y_wHJSPN2d0yh9HcX5yZ5M2DxS30zRXsNee_pKO9Ldn5Kko4/s1600/IMAG1590.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1RlyavbGEHG4oFoYjUOZNFb_LGfhoa_AUIcvSN0OkAM90bl9H-L7W4XqdDhBBWsAlHICBwiak8jELuFeESLIWQR7xf87y_wHJSPN2d0yh9HcX5yZ5M2DxS30zRXsNee_pKO9Ldn5Kko4/s1600/IMAG1590.jpg" height="320" width="191" /></a></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><br /></i></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>I WILL CRUSH YOU !!! Put
the new charts under a giant stack of old charts and let them sit and
think about what they have done for a week before even thinking about
touching them again.</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
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Chronicles of Crew Changehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08967137351121143522noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4019812888501008998.post-28544168131695571222014-08-09T00:07:00.000-07:002014-08-09T00:07:19.158-07:00Time Flies<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb0m-QUzAG6e2rCZAau7Hr-sETmAvWxuF9N-KGWAJH_LPe_x-deS5DSUzzJ4cGallAXs7zDjkfr4mykwJ7GlIgLxhZ7GdOtuC9wt0wJahOLmgqeIOQcenlniM5H-F0uSmexvsNhaeTMDg/s1600/225202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb0m-QUzAG6e2rCZAau7Hr-sETmAvWxuF9N-KGWAJH_LPe_x-deS5DSUzzJ4cGallAXs7zDjkfr4mykwJ7GlIgLxhZ7GdOtuC9wt0wJahOLmgqeIOQcenlniM5H-F0uSmexvsNhaeTMDg/s1600/225202.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Many, many tides ago</b></i>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ten years ago I was working for a different tugboat
company moving aggregate (which is just a fancy way of saying ‘rocks and dirt’)
all around the Northeast. We were headed up the Hudson River with a couple of
empty barges to meet up with another tug. They were coming down the river with
a couple of loaded barges. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Somewhere
along the line we were going to meet up so that we could swap out the light
barges for the loaded barges and then turn around and head back in our
respective directions from hence we had come from.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It was 1:30 in the morning, I was steering the boat and
had just passed under the Bear Mountain Bridge, when my cell phone rang.
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Now we all know that nothing good can ever come from a
phone call after 9PM. No one from Publisher’s Clearing House ever wakes you up
at Zero Dark Thirty to tell you that you had just won $1 million a year for life. Ever.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
However, <a href="http://therealvd.blogspot.com/">my wife</a> was expecting our first child at the
time. And even though we had just gone to the doctor’s the day before, where he
assured us that it was safe for me to go back to work because it didn’t look as
though our child was ready to join us quite yet, I had a feeling that this
phone call was to inform me that that wasn’t the case. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was hoping that my wife was just calling to
see how things we going because she had woken up and couldn’t fall back to
sleep. I was wrong. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“My water just broke.” </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Bam! </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
There it is folks. Straight to the point.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Now even though this was our first child. And even though
I didn’t attend medical school. And even though I didn’t stay at a Holiday Inn
Express. I knew that when the levy breaks, the kid is coming. Whether you
happen to be away from home working on a tugboat, or not.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Don’t worry. I talked to the doctor and he said we have
plenty of time and that everything is fine. I’m just going to pack up some
things and head down to the hospital. When can you get off the boat?”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
First thing, the doctor (who had said the day before we
had plenty of time) was now assuring us we had plenty of time. Again.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Secondly, it’s 1:30 in the morning. I’m headed up the
Hudson River. I just can’t hope off the boat and drive home. No one is in the
office to find me a relief. No one will even be in the office for at least another
6 hours. Logistically speaking, I’m going to need plenty of time. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Unfortunately, I had plenty of time. To sit there and try
and figure out how I was going to be able to make this work. It was a LONG
night of standing watch. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Just before 0600 the Captain came up to relieve me. I
needed to be relieved. Even another phone call from my wife saying she was at
the hospital, everything was good, and she was going to take a nap wasn’t a
relief.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“We gotta get you out of here”, was the Captain’s first
words after relaying the tale of my stress filled night to him. Which was sweet
music to my ears and, finally, a bit of a relief.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
As soon as the Port Captain was in the office, the boat
Captain was on the phone with him. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
They arranged that someone from the office was going to
drive up to wherever the boat happened to be to pick me up and take me back so
I could pick up my car and head to the hospital. Problem #1 solved. Problem #2
was a bit more complicated. How was I going to get off the boat? The Hudson
River doesn’t have a lot of options as far as just showing up with a couple of
barges and landing at someone’s dock. Luckily, we just happened to be located
just off one of the stone (aggregate) terminals. At this particular terminal the
barges are moored offshore. Then a small shifting tug comes out to pick up an
empty barge and brings it into the terminal to be loaded. Once loaded, the
shifting tug takes the loaded barge back out to the mooring in the river, where
a larger tug takes the tow of multiple barges down river to their final
destination. As it were, the shifting tug was just starting the day’s work. A
quick call over the VHF radio and the guys on the small tug were more than
willing to give a desperate guy like me a quick ride into the dock. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
A BIG ‘Thank You’ goes out to those guys. I really
appreciated it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
They even sent a truck down to the dock to pick me up and
take me back to the terminal’s office to await my ride.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
That is where things kind of fell apart.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I phoned the
office to let them know that I had made it off the boat and was awaiting my
ride at the office of the stone dock. It was then that I learned that my ride
had taken a detour on the way to pick me up. A delivery had to be made in The
City. New York City, that is. Anyone that is familiar with The City knows that first
thing in the morning traffic is a complete and total disaster. My ride was
nowhere to be found. And wouldn’t be anywhere to be found for quite some time. My
once solved Problem #1 was once again a Problem. And a HUGE one at that.
Especially when I called my wife’s phone at the hospital and my neighbor (who
had accompanied my wife to the hospital in my absence) answered with, “Where
are you?!” Judging by her tone, my “plenty of time” was running out. Quickly. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Once again, the people at the stone dock were more than
willing to help. Back into the truck we went and off to the nearest car rental
office we sped.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
As we pulled into the local Enterprise Rent-a-Car office,
a sales person had just finished checking in a dropped off car. As I jumped out
of the still moving truck he astutely asked, “Can I help you, sir?”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“I need a car. I need it now. I don’t care what kind of
car it is or how much it costs. I need one NOW.”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Umm. Okay. Is there a problem?”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“My wife is having our first baby and I would kind of
like to be there for it.”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I can only assume that the initially very confused sales
person also happened to be a father himself. Because all of a sudden he shifted
into high gear and he couldn’t do things fast enough even for his own liking. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Tommy (or whatever the name of the guy working there
was)! Get that car we just checked in back out in front! Now! “</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Do you want the insurance?”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Honestly, I don’t care. But I’m going to go with ‘yes’
since I’m going to beat the shit out of this car trying to get to the hospital
in time,” was my reply.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Noted. Generally we do a walk around to make sure
everything is okay before you rent a car. But you need to get out of here. So
everything is fine. Here are the keys. Good luck.”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And with a quick nod and a firm hand shake, I peeled out
of the car rental parking lot laying down a patch of rubber that would make the
employees of the Goodyear Tire Company smile.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I terrorized the back roads of New York State. I found
the entrance to the highway and floored it. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Fun Fact: A 2004 Chevy Aveo rental car can do in excess
of 115 miles per hour. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Another fun fact: Said Chevy Aveo also has very good
brakes. As when you are doing 115 mph and see a NY State Trooper on the side of
the road it is best not to go by him doing triple digits.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBqIZZtjCoIoCDVDx6Bbp59spYS-q38t5eLw7N8Te5eoLW3S25fqBqkAZoQ95sLtLmUGm8tyLJ79Y8XD7gTqdorx90IsXphMAwOsLh4dU7b8XTo_qJt1LVm_jbXua1a-rZJXQAsfctER4/s1600/2004-chevy_Aveo_manu-034-1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBqIZZtjCoIoCDVDx6Bbp59spYS-q38t5eLw7N8Te5eoLW3S25fqBqkAZoQ95sLtLmUGm8tyLJ79Y8XD7gTqdorx90IsXphMAwOsLh4dU7b8XTo_qJt1LVm_jbXua1a-rZJXQAsfctER4/s1600/2004-chevy_Aveo_manu-034-1280.jpg" height="216" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>The 1.6 Liter, 103 hp Monster of the Road!</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I exited NY and screamed in NJ. I was making good time.
Then the phone rang.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Where are you?” was my neighbors query, in a much more
subdued tone than our previous conversation.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“I’m 15 minutes out!”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Slow down. Your son is adorable.”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So slow down I did. To 100 mph.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I pulled into the hospital parking lot 14 ½ minutes
later. For some reason the entire lot was full. Not a space to be found.
Anywhere. So I pulled the car rather haphazardly into the only kind-of sort-of
open space that was available. Up onto the grass median strip it went, where I
unceremoniously left it. It was, after all, a rental car.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkicuKoyQsKw0koJykQFLxkI_64QeW-wbH68ZHjFM0Od5tSnESs3tMAovThw6_WsEqKnU15Au1WOLv3Q-ejK3bWTOSOfVaj7Px7rD5ojbzXDcQyB7CHLcRmFFw9DPlhuAffQro-fxYWnQ/s1600/bad-parking-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkicuKoyQsKw0koJykQFLxkI_64QeW-wbH68ZHjFM0Od5tSnESs3tMAovThw6_WsEqKnU15Au1WOLv3Q-ejK3bWTOSOfVaj7Px7rD5ojbzXDcQyB7CHLcRmFFw9DPlhuAffQro-fxYWnQ/s1600/bad-parking-7.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>To be honest, this isn't that far from the truth.</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I sprinted across the parking lot and into the hospital
lobby, where there was a very nice group of 3 elderly ladies at the front desk.
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Can I help you, sir?” asked one of them.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Yes. I just missed the birth of my son. Could you please
direct me to which floor they would be on.”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And with that one statement, I’m fairly sure I ruined
every single one of those very nice ladies day. Inadvertently, of course. You
could just see the disappointment in their faces. I felt kind of bad.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
They directed me around the corner to a bank of elevators
and off I went.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
My neighbor was right. My son was adorable.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The hospital gives you a small blue and white button
inscribed with “It’s a boy!” Which, I dutifully wore around the hospital for
the following days.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It seemed to help to spark conversation among the staff
and some of the new parents. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
However, while answering certain questions about my newborn
son, when I happened to mention that I had missed his birth, people’s eyes
would light up and they would point and declare, “You’re the tugboat guy!” </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And so it went for the next two days.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I was “The Tugboat Guy” to everyone. Including, complete
strangers who had been told the tale by someone in the hospital. Probably those
poor nice old ladies whose day I had ruined at the front desk.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Later on, after all the dust had settled, I just happened
to check the paperwork for the car rental. As it were, I completed the
paperwork at 09:59. My son was born at 09:57. I was standing at a car rental
counter in Haverstraw, NY when my son was born. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
My son just turned 10 the other day. I was home for his
birthday. I would have preferred to be home for his birth. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’m not sure if it qualifies me for “<a href="http://chroniclesofcrewchange.blogspot.com/2013/01/happy-little-trees-normal-0-false-false.html">Dad of the Year</a>”
status. But it sure makes for an interesting story. </div>
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Such is the life of a mariner.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Either way…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Happy Birthday to my Lil’ Binky Booter! </div>
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Time sure does fly by.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtNiSFMRUZAw4xkDoLTN6tmXRaMvxHn38Jc0XysOLJ4dqec0rj91jTrurje8Xr-WINmo7JVnTuNAMpLc4Whe9m8grKRHxqvtf-guRFrGr414Hf9Tv5Y_vNbOs2gNujV2XJGaTshboiK0c/s1600/DSC02086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtNiSFMRUZAw4xkDoLTN6tmXRaMvxHn38Jc0XysOLJ4dqec0rj91jTrurje8Xr-WINmo7JVnTuNAMpLc4Whe9m8grKRHxqvtf-guRFrGr414Hf9Tv5Y_vNbOs2gNujV2XJGaTshboiK0c/s1600/DSC02086.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Just before his 1st Birthday.</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU99GqivxLj_dTHMSJRYB5Xm-bpHHy1kX-StHdnULMw-L3n0WTi1-VeDODfVZV3BNPhq2LjfkFjTs-96_lw4DzBGmxrC9xjvSsZE04jvQcqMXhN8PUyo9rSxMM5qZxeQcySfvDd40scNU/s1600/427221_4407285497131_163264627_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU99GqivxLj_dTHMSJRYB5Xm-bpHHy1kX-StHdnULMw-L3n0WTi1-VeDODfVZV3BNPhq2LjfkFjTs-96_lw4DzBGmxrC9xjvSsZE04jvQcqMXhN8PUyo9rSxMM5qZxeQcySfvDd40scNU/s1600/427221_4407285497131_163264627_n.jpg" height="400" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Handsome young man.</i></b></td></tr>
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<br /></div>
Chronicles of Crew Changehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08967137351121143522noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4019812888501008998.post-2301495976353897682014-07-14T14:19:00.000-07:002014-07-14T14:19:07.130-07:00Mortal Enemies<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Superman had Lex Luther.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Optimus Prime had Megatron (because the latest movie installment
is currently in theaters, so it’s topical).</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Aquaman had Black Manta (because it’s nautical, so it’s
always topical).</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
For me, it’s Corpus Christi, TX.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s like a broken record.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Or deja vu.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Perhaps you have heard, I don’t like <a href="http://chroniclesofcrewchange.blogspot.com/2012/07/christmas-in-july.html">Corpus Christi</a>.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We have become mortal enemies. Arch nemesis. Arch
enemies. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We just don’t get along.</div>
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At all.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Crew change was rapidly approaching. We were just
wrapping up another job and were more than content with a quick trip to Port
Arthur, TX. Or just heading out to anchor and sitting there until the launch
boat approached with our reliefs.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Then the phone rang. Stupid phone.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Off to Corpus we go for the next job. Wave goodbye to a
nice ride to one of the Houston airports for a direct flight home. Nothing
flies direct to CRP. And that is where our problems began.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We had done everything in our power to make crew change
go smooth. We had arrived at the sea buoy with plenty of time to spare. Made it
up the channel and safely into our loading berth with just the right amount of
time to go. Not too early, not too late. But just right.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV7wyt84TCp7pNE7s52VEAuijYbkLDU04WXl3gOfSplZpOC0eXmya-Jj0ZulETdtU8MBtkm75KuvIfw1Ci8o0l52-RdEtcZdAhieCGwNJuChGCMrsmFTIszXpUgjx2FE3NwomtDW74uVU/s1600/personaggio-tre-bears.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV7wyt84TCp7pNE7s52VEAuijYbkLDU04WXl3gOfSplZpOC0eXmya-Jj0ZulETdtU8MBtkm75KuvIfw1Ci8o0l52-RdEtcZdAhieCGwNJuChGCMrsmFTIszXpUgjx2FE3NwomtDW74uVU/s1600/personaggio-tre-bears.png" height="188" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Not a bad representation.</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
A quick nap. A quick clean up. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A quick shower. And we would be on our way to
the always-closed <a href="http://chroniclesofcrewchange.blogspot.com/2014/04/c-orpus-r-egional-ir-p-ort.html">Corpus Christi Airport</a> to await our early morning flights
home. But, this is Corpus. Even when things are going perfectly, they aren’t
going perfectly. Enter the non-direct flights to Corpus.
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Corpus is a tiny airport. Therefore, only tiny planes fly
into Corpus. The big airlines use tiny planes to shuttle people from their big hub
airports to the tiny airports. So, you need to fly to a hub airport and then on
to your tiny destination in the tiny plane. Essentially, more steps lead to
more chances of things getting screwed up. And since this IS Corpus we are
talking about, any chance to get crew change screwed up is a bad thing.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Enter Dallas/Fort Worth airport. The hub that I now love
to hate.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The oncoming crew (part of it) got stuck in Dallas.
Pretty sure it was weather delays. Honestly, it doesn’t matter. It could have
been that the airport was under attack from flying monkeys with laser beams on
their heads. Point being, more than half of the oncoming crew was stuck in
Dallas and we were stuck in Corpus. And we weren’t going anywhere until our
reliefs were on the boat in Corpus. Salty swear words were thrown about.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So the other half of the crew (the ones whose reliefs actually
made it to crew change) waved goodbye. I didn’t wave back. For one, I was
pissed that we were stuck on the boat. Again. Another reason for the lack of
waving is that I was too busy making phone calls in order to get everyone in
and out through port security. Claims of not having the required list of the
crew members going on/off (a.k.a. Gate List) was holding up the oncoming crew.
So they asked if I could fax them a list. Fax? Really? Do I look like I have a
Delorean powered by 1.21 Gigawatts of power on the stern of the boat? Is this
1985? How about an email? </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgfUioOiBxt0t6lZEDagDZ__VwrJ941ocQAfiWjXlvMXsBD5DbiSxlRKdsUQgD6ceQyvSm2NzJnKn7FcMysC0zHw5xu4H-pqMVwH8VKcduiqbTjvGJ92nOnCd6_Wnksu9KQf2HRKxxans/s1600/91mRbaBaGML._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgfUioOiBxt0t6lZEDagDZ__VwrJ941ocQAfiWjXlvMXsBD5DbiSxlRKdsUQgD6ceQyvSm2NzJnKn7FcMysC0zHw5xu4H-pqMVwH8VKcduiqbTjvGJ92nOnCd6_Wnksu9KQf2HRKxxans/s1600/91mRbaBaGML._SL1500_.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>October 26, 1985 to be exact.</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Then the driver said he didn’t have any orders to take
the off going crew members to the airport. For some reason he was under the
impression that a ‘crew change’ just means that new people show up and we
discard the old crew members with the trash. Or something as equally as stupid
as that. So I got to wake up some more people with phone calls at midnight and
ruin their day just as much as mine had been. Then, to add insult to injury,
port security then said they didn’t have a gate list of the off going crew
members. Which is odd, considering that the list that I had just <s>faxed </s>emailed
to security had a list of BOTH oncoming and off-going crew names. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Apparently, all is well that ends well, because a few
hours later I got a picture of one of the recent escapees sampling a beverage
at the now open CRP airport. Bastards!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Now remember the part where we had arrived with just the
right amount of time? Not too little, not too much? Well when the other crew is
going to arrive at the boat 12 hours late and it takes less time than that for
the barge to get loaded and ready to sail we have a new set of issues. It was a
real possibility that we would be gone and the other crew would still be on
their way from Dallas. Crew change isn’t good for your blood pressure.
Amazingly, the terminal said we could stay until our reliefs showed up.
Amazingly, our company said we could stay until our reliefs showed up.
Amazingly, our charterer said we could stay until our reliefs showed up. It was
a trifecta of relief, literally and figuratively. Or maybe it’s just that people
will agree to just about anything when you wake them up at midnight. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Twelve hours late, we finally headed to our least
favorite airport. Where we had to wait another 4 hours for our first flight of
the day. At least we got to watch the US Men’s National Team in the World Cup.
Which none of us could care less about. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGwhm8zZClaofs5UJNXTJkeQ_s87bsY-JwlnxjrNFQvmcj05Vbvx42dMKgP-Oupq5_KmQbPcrcY2Sx1i7cooeevnoqtYTIBdmRVrcBl5U2i7PkBBMycIbYek0VI-oytR6RHAB-wcn-ImA/s1600/No+Soccer+For+Me_9947f3_5185975.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGwhm8zZClaofs5UJNXTJkeQ_s87bsY-JwlnxjrNFQvmcj05Vbvx42dMKgP-Oupq5_KmQbPcrcY2Sx1i7cooeevnoqtYTIBdmRVrcBl5U2i7PkBBMycIbYek0VI-oytR6RHAB-wcn-ImA/s1600/No+Soccer+For+Me_9947f3_5185975.png" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>True story.</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Full disclosure: I played soccer all through high school
and in college. I still enjoy playing soccer to this day. However, I can’t
stand watching the professional game. There is not enough offense and the
dramatic faking of injuries is abysmal. I have absolutely no patience for it. I
feel like I should care more about it. But I don’t.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsfLvZHsOfac2rImy86PN40qDJmtbJkHbXxWJhMUY8FpBVh4PGOnBMa9zQsu6cfwZ_Vnaokx6eE0J2s_c5yQzNy8QCryxwLpGxgdNoCPiWU-u0s8N4ktOCcTqq2cZjCWFJi4e-aDsFpDc/s1600/LL2pPOx.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsfLvZHsOfac2rImy86PN40qDJmtbJkHbXxWJhMUY8FpBVh4PGOnBMa9zQsu6cfwZ_Vnaokx6eE0J2s_c5yQzNy8QCryxwLpGxgdNoCPiWU-u0s8N4ktOCcTqq2cZjCWFJi4e-aDsFpDc/s1600/LL2pPOx.jpg" height="236" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>More my speed.</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So we watched (kind of) the game. But, in fairness, the
bartender was more fun to look at than futbol match. We had lunch. A beverage
or two. Or more. And waited for our flights. Then we waited some more at the
next airport (remember, no direct flights from CRP). Had dinner. A beverage or
two. Or more. Watched the highlight/lowlights of the soccer game. And then
headed for home.
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVTs1HkESWivkdA4wZZGRqTtecssUZFN1RmvdDXsgUTfxgPvOXMu-DQ9y9HSMk3V4rBZuD22JrEg7CvwVvuKBRNwnJVLRljWcedJNoVsC4IRiywkRm38wZwrsoqaD44j08f7v_8MqsU8Q/s1600/LL2pPOx.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I got home just before midnight. 24 hours from the time
that I was supposed to be off the boat. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Corpus Christi is my mortal enemy.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If this keeps up, I’ll need to design a superhero suit.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
No capes!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjELYr1apx192-cAClXNayd5fybxUJ1HqwVYvwSxAQyDcCmMxvn00MDhIJQEpDQoHNCcCUne_KiFpyvo9L41m8yt0jkk3_KaS7MMQekSewVrDvNGAlPjkYXocmo6DCkB-YhwXlYF8RvYWQ/s1600/2032275917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjELYr1apx192-cAClXNayd5fybxUJ1HqwVYvwSxAQyDcCmMxvn00MDhIJQEpDQoHNCcCUne_KiFpyvo9L41m8yt0jkk3_KaS7MMQekSewVrDvNGAlPjkYXocmo6DCkB-YhwXlYF8RvYWQ/s1600/2032275917.jpg" height="200" width="176" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
Chronicles of Crew Changehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08967137351121143522noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4019812888501008998.post-16306043141721594162014-06-24T02:57:00.002-07:002014-06-24T02:57:41.354-07:00Excrement Happens<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Previously in this blog we discussed the <a href="http://chroniclesofcrewchange.blogspot.com/2012/08/thems-rulez.html">Rules ofTugboats</a>. Mysteriously (mysterious mainly due to the fact that I was the one
who came up with the list of the rules) not included were two rules which I feel
are quite important.
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>“Never let your maximum draft exceed the minimum
depth of water.” </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Which is really just a fancy way of saying, “Don’t run
aground.”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Also left off the list was, </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>“Never occupy the exact same space at the exact
same time as another vessel.” </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
More simplistically stated, “Don’t hit anyone.”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
That’s just <a href="http://chroniclesofcrewchange.blogspot.com/2014/02/dont-text-and-drive.html">good advice</a>. On both accounts.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Unfortunately, sometimes… </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ74gi5r2cAIuPEtopjAMpy9BdT-gbQdr8wGn3uFp_PHdE_3sisrpkU_pw4rU3SeDaJz1-FDczuAlTvyIeO2c6JQf3iWXOtPiOqCkNoOfYbnU1-grLkLalS1iR0YlYZfENmmf5LofNdJw/s1600/1361044325299-1021681864.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ74gi5r2cAIuPEtopjAMpy9BdT-gbQdr8wGn3uFp_PHdE_3sisrpkU_pw4rU3SeDaJz1-FDczuAlTvyIeO2c6JQf3iWXOtPiOqCkNoOfYbnU1-grLkLalS1iR0YlYZfENmmf5LofNdJw/s1600/1361044325299-1021681864.jpeg" height="275" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Shit happens!</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Our current assignment has us traveling in and out of
<a href="http://chroniclesofcrewchange.blogspot.com/2013/11/we-have-new-1.html">Lake Charles, Louisiana</a>. For the last few years there has been a ship moored
alongside the channel that didn’t follow the rules. More specifically, it didn’t
follow the, “Don’t hit anyone” rule. The effects of not following that
particular rule are quite apparent. And not good.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Here is the story as told by one of the maritime trade
websites:</div>
<em>“A general cargo ship was severely damaged early Saturday after being
involved in a major collision with a reefer ship in the Caribbean Sea. The
collision occurred early Saturday between the 557-foot U.K-flagged M/V
Seagate (pictured) and the 492-foot Liberian-flagged M/V Timor Stream
off the northeast coast of Tortuga, Haiti.”</em><br />
And here is the crazy part…<br />
<i>“Amazingly, no one was injured.”</i><br />
Amazing would be an understatement. As the pictures clearly show.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXXHDLIMrGPzUkTNLBhXl-reG3LYesnMmN6nod4oNfwL8aWzbspWDl7zrzflboy9AvjrenpNqwHYxtqZLW5J87efq9T-aU4vpX9V3ZW_eNIBTZlMSU_iuzD26fD70aKQsU8Cg9t3jdfLE/s1600/445899.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXXHDLIMrGPzUkTNLBhXl-reG3LYesnMmN6nod4oNfwL8aWzbspWDl7zrzflboy9AvjrenpNqwHYxtqZLW5J87efq9T-aU4vpX9V3ZW_eNIBTZlMSU_iuzD26fD70aKQsU8Cg9t3jdfLE/s1600/445899.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Almost missed. Almost.</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp1kPmA9XLSeAqRKkuUqwmNJOx4s0d6hBMUzQynMz2Myuei9NlC4cnREHfS47wTgd99RaaGsXs075ykqFBFaokNwzUgRxRf6BDY5jpT4Kd0hiD3ZwjAYlwOZKrLROaz2UrIS25AkMz5FI/s1600/445903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp1kPmA9XLSeAqRKkuUqwmNJOx4s0d6hBMUzQynMz2Myuei9NlC4cnREHfS47wTgd99RaaGsXs075ykqFBFaokNwzUgRxRf6BDY5jpT4Kd0hiD3ZwjAYlwOZKrLROaz2UrIS25AkMz5FI/s1600/445903.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>A perfect impression of another ship's bow.</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Now for my pictures<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7_ouSRfK9N487phjRM3MQyuhYTJbT2N1pHR3v-ugM7VHblRd2JAPoGI-Dg7P-jIchpRWLTElmh8EDfE7-3JT4zad9ARCALb2EqB-Bpnw1TiBXJEB9uT24FV0LtJcA4bBHWVYR9qnfT-c/s1600/IMAG0407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7_ouSRfK9N487phjRM3MQyuhYTJbT2N1pHR3v-ugM7VHblRd2JAPoGI-Dg7P-jIchpRWLTElmh8EDfE7-3JT4zad9ARCALb2EqB-Bpnw1TiBXJEB9uT24FV0LtJcA4bBHWVYR9qnfT-c/s1600/IMAG0407.jpg" height="238" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>As she looked about a year ago</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoWXcu2gafLYBhGHERJJclR8yCtaP7Y4l_wLqsMTGxUsmkHdIGWXJGkwQnbJxzmTuSvhrVtrT7yMxfm_qLDdg4-7vEv6vTNlzcGXfYH1b8VoTdbcEvtCeeQZCIPYwtKtI9YEKcG54l5zE/s1600/IMAG0408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoWXcu2gafLYBhGHERJJclR8yCtaP7Y4l_wLqsMTGxUsmkHdIGWXJGkwQnbJxzmTuSvhrVtrT7yMxfm_qLDdg4-7vEv6vTNlzcGXfYH1b8VoTdbcEvtCeeQZCIPYwtKtI9YEKcG54l5zE/s1600/IMAG0408.jpg" height="238" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>That's a BIG hole.</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY5G0y4TDNnDB_0B87K0s2viRrC7P2nU0yhiv2ZEnj0rQ11GxsMQRfxNm7qWkp7bKGv6S44rrIJlB7Rwy_SqI9qp1KEWfjFcaquaLMbdRPoq1Lw0iKCv0z-y2Sa4zpZCX1rHDiq3OPtRA/s1600/IMAG0409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY5G0y4TDNnDB_0B87K0s2viRrC7P2nU0yhiv2ZEnj0rQ11GxsMQRfxNm7qWkp7bKGv6S44rrIJlB7Rwy_SqI9qp1KEWfjFcaquaLMbdRPoq1Lw0iKCv0z-y2Sa4zpZCX1rHDiq3OPtRA/s1600/IMAG0409.jpg" height="400" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>A little bit of elbow grease and that will buff right out.</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-i42EuadgrS9VwkT1zS2m4daHWTNUqF1C5DhDj064d9NqRD8azf9ufk3m6btol5capwDY5E3lJMEJx6OP1yxs76qnmX0AILlSf1DhG8yVrq1iIASxDE-kCA4EaqYju2rg46_8LtkcXWM/s1600/IMAG0410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-i42EuadgrS9VwkT1zS2m4daHWTNUqF1C5DhDj064d9NqRD8azf9ufk3m6btol5capwDY5E3lJMEJx6OP1yxs76qnmX0AILlSf1DhG8yVrq1iIASxDE-kCA4EaqYju2rg46_8LtkcXWM/s1600/IMAG0410.jpg" height="400" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Physics and momentum at work.</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
As you can imagine, that type of damage is not an easy fix. In fact, there
is to be no fix to this ship at all. Our recent trips in and out of Lake Charles
have shown us what happens to a ship that has been totaled by the insurance company.
It started with the cargo gear. Then moved back to the super structure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now the hull is quickly disappearing before
our eyes every time we pass by. Pretty soon the M/V Seagate will be no more.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis0TL4Cos8gRCJsHenthVgG1YVh33QpcNgCwF6MEk3qnfYD6BriSqWX-yplcB1OBp9ThL2nWD8tCspomxFZ-1INTVkb6pxfNydaG1WcjJTp95K5LPclXAVARZ-o-NaMMRLoSgubQOv5MY/s1600/IMAG1517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis0TL4Cos8gRCJsHenthVgG1YVh33QpcNgCwF6MEk3qnfYD6BriSqWX-yplcB1OBp9ThL2nWD8tCspomxFZ-1INTVkb6pxfNydaG1WcjJTp95K5LPclXAVARZ-o-NaMMRLoSgubQOv5MY/s1600/IMAG1517.jpg" height="238" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Starting its new life as a washing machine or refrigerator.</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Still a BIG hole in it.</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Little shorter than it used to be.</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It’s not all bad news. Like we said before, no one was injured.<br />
And in short
time the Gillette Company will be producing their newest shaving implement.<br />
Most likely
completed with razors made out of the steel from the former M/V Seagate. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
Chronicles of Crew Changehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08967137351121143522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4019812888501008998.post-14760948729430881742014-05-22T13:57:00.000-07:002014-05-22T13:57:06.686-07:00Wahooooooo!!!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
We suck at fishing. That’s not just a statement. That is a
FACT. We suck at fishing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s not always go-go-go onboard a tugboat. There are
weather delays. Berthing delays. Cargo supply delays. And sometimes they just
don’t have anything for us to do. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So in order to pass the time when we are at anchor, we
sometimes throw a hook into the water and see what happens to bite it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Most of the time, it’s nothing. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Redneck</b>
happens to have his own personal fishing rod and reel aboard the boat. Strike
that…HAD his own personal fishing rod and reel aboard the boat. Right now it is
somewhere at the bottom of the ocean attached to some unsuspecting fish who was
just looking for a quick bite to eat.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Turns out, you should actually pay attention to what you are
doing when you are fishing and have a line in the water. Even though we suck at
fishing, even the blind mouse sometimes finds the cheese. Or if you prefer a
furry tailed rodent, even a blind squirrel finds a nut every now and then. Case
in point, even this motley crew of idiots can catch an unsuspecting fish every once
and a while. Problem is, when you catch a fish and it takes off with the hook
in it’s mouth, you really should be holding onto the fishing rod. Otherwise,
said fish, will take the whole rod/reel/line/hook/bait straight down to the
bottom of the ocean with him if you don’t provide some sort of resistance.
Which is exactly what happened. When fishing, you are supposed to be relaxed,
at one with nature, kicking back and enjoying life and some downtime. Not
screwing around on your misnamed <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">smart</i>
phone. So last hitch we were down one fishing pole.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This trip, coming in for crew change, our misguided and
easily distracted fisherman, purchased the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Redneck</b>
a new fishing pole. Apparently, along with the new fishing pole came not just
an extended warranty, but a bit of good luck. Seems you have to sacrifice a
random fishing pole to the depths of Davey Jones’s Locker every now and then in
order to catch fish.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our orders were to sail from Corpus and head over to The
River. For those unfamiliar, much like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
City</i> refers to New York City, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
River</i> refers to the mighty Mississippi River. Even if you live near a city
or near a river, just saying, “Let’s go to the city” or “Let’s go down to the
river” just doesn’t mean the same thing. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
City</i> is the Big Apple. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The River</i>
is Big Muddy. It just is. Deal with it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anyways, so we were headed to The River. The trip takes
approximately 2 days to go from Point A to Point B. Once again, we thought that
we should once again try our luck and to throw out a line with a hook tied to
it to see if we could catch something/anything with scales on it. When you suck
at fishing, you aren’t too picky.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Midway into the second day of the trip, the phone in the
wheelhouse rang. Naturally, I answered it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“FISH ON!” Screamed the overly excited voice on the other
end of the phone.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wait?...What?!... “Fish on”? Never have those words ever
been announced on this boat.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
A quick spin around to look out the aft windows of the
wheelhouse indeed confirmed the excited announcement. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
We had actually caught a
fish!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7e0L2Uq1uNHXyS1MQU-4iBVn4jQ1fXSvkgqFNQ36-mbScoa_uA53NwdWAf77ReS1NUrAF0-m4UrrRVlGP5VkRMk2tKSWTM1gn2WOBg3eGONNw38vjWnNa2z2HZZqwMpLzGE2ia51HoKk/s1600/att_1400790628854172.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7e0L2Uq1uNHXyS1MQU-4iBVn4jQ1fXSvkgqFNQ36-mbScoa_uA53NwdWAf77ReS1NUrAF0-m4UrrRVlGP5VkRMk2tKSWTM1gn2WOBg3eGONNw38vjWnNa2z2HZZqwMpLzGE2ia51HoKk/s1600/att_1400790628854172.jpeg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Mongo. For the ladies.</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYzN4QlzEhqC-cEOHa0b312h2Vya4PwQ72Npjbv1NruY5vb7yMGPlH1GJt1IM1vvcGRdu0Q_-TpQgHl5hB2medF_6i_OEwQ9yvrIgVgxChIDIpiB5lb-p6ERlsaxoLol-a3CHoMsja4aY/s1600/att_1400790726323129.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYzN4QlzEhqC-cEOHa0b312h2Vya4PwQ72Npjbv1NruY5vb7yMGPlH1GJt1IM1vvcGRdu0Q_-TpQgHl5hB2medF_6i_OEwQ9yvrIgVgxChIDIpiB5lb-p6ERlsaxoLol-a3CHoMsja4aY/s1600/att_1400790726323129.jpeg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>So pretty. And delicious.</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have no idea how long the fish happened to be on the line
before it was discovered. All I know is that it didn’t put up much of a fight
when it was getting pulled in. Who cares! We had caught a fish!</div>
<br />
A nice one too.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A second call to the wheelhouse confirmed exactly what we
all had waited these many long years to hear, “We aren’t having pork chops
tonight!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I suggested that we write on the chalkboard something along
the lines of, “Today’s Fresh Catch of the Day”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We were like giddy little school girls. We had caught a
fish!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Two hours later, the fish had gone “from bait, to plate”
(Nice, right? Feel free to use that one)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So called, “fresh” fish, at the supermarket had nothing on
this one. Even “fresh” fish that you can buy down at the fishing piers had
nothing on this one.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
THIS was FRESH fish.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was like angels frolicking on your taste buds.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was the best “Fish Friday” we had ever had on the boat.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once again, we are headed out to sea. Once again, we are
headed through the area where we FINALLY caught a fish. Once again, we will
have our lines out in the hopes that something with scales takes the bait. We
all have our fingers crossed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If we don’t catch anything, I’m planning on throwing a rod
and reel overboard.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hey, it worked once already. </div>
Chronicles of Crew Changehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08967137351121143522noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4019812888501008998.post-76600265942507157782014-05-19T14:28:00.001-07:002014-05-19T14:28:25.682-07:00Arts and Crafts<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It took a while to write this post because I couldn’t
move my hands. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s usually a cold day in hell when people declare, “I’m
ready to go back to work.”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But that is exactly what I proclaimed the other day. (I
would immediately regret that statement as soon as we crew changed in Corpus
Christi. HUGELY regret it.)</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
My wife likes to do art and crafts type stuff. So much so
that she likes to write <a href="http://therealvd.blogspot.com/2014/03/pinterest-is-enabler.html">blog posts about it</a>. Who knew?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s also topical, because we refer to our mandatory
weekly chart corrections on the boat as “arts and crafts”. The more you know…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Sometimes her arts and crafts projects get me involved.
Which is just a really nice way of saying that she makes me do arts and crafts
type stuff. Which usually involves me designing and printing a t-shirt for her
and her friends. Usually at the absolute very last minute. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I would have gladly designed a t-shirt for her this time
home had I know what kind of arts and crafts she had planned for me this time
home.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
In reality, it wasn’t artsy. Or crafty. It was a full on
construction project. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It started with a picture on Pinterest. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Helpful tip: If your wives/girlfriends/significant others
haven’t discovered<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pinterest yet, now
would be a REALLY good time to block access to that particular website. It’s
empowering. It’s dangerous. It will lead to people trying things that they have
absolutely no business trying to do. It will drain your bank account. It will
lead to frustration. And in my case, it will lead to wanting to invest in Advil
(Again. Still).</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
There was a picture of a very simple pergola on a free
standing deck. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG0QmlCBW0UwAaVqgCQgf-qRMuH440ytLefWWGyF0n9S2uwAiLk_hPU6Yp4q4Sd986KpfBCcjGMD_wNNybSsjKIwaCy0hiBNc-2sIv5WS-rygGJ8w5baTazBIgw7dEz9yuhwcsVQ7v6Zo/s1600/c37d7fbdf78a812e8e2516061e325fd7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG0QmlCBW0UwAaVqgCQgf-qRMuH440ytLefWWGyF0n9S2uwAiLk_hPU6Yp4q4Sd986KpfBCcjGMD_wNNybSsjKIwaCy0hiBNc-2sIv5WS-rygGJ8w5baTazBIgw7dEz9yuhwcsVQ7v6Zo/s1600/c37d7fbdf78a812e8e2516061e325fd7.jpg" height="208" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>The offending picture.</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Simple. Classy. Easy.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
You may now insert maniacal laughter and calls of,
“Don’t do it, stupid!”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Alas, you would be too late.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I don’t do simple.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Big. Better. Faster. Jeremy Clarkson screaming, “More
power!” is my kind of project.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s also going to lead to my downfall. Or, at the very
least, reliance on pain pills.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I was at work, so on my down time, I naturally took a
simple design and made it all mine.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Sketches were sketched. Lists were compiled. Designs were
laid out. Lumber and fasteners were priced out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Locations and dimensions were all planned out. It was all very OCD. It
was my kind of plan. I<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>preplanned
everything so that when I got home I would be ready to rock and roll with my
arts and crafts.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And then my plan fell apart.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Somewhere along the line(and I’m not sure where this
happened) my plan for doing a very nice free standing pergola in the backyard
turned into doing TWO pergola’s in the backyard. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
When they built our new house, they poured a very plain,
very boring, concrete patio in the backyard. It wasn’t inviting. It wasn’t
functional. It was a concrete pad. It needed to be changed. It needed arts and
crafts. It needed construction. It needed a pergola.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But that’s not the pergola I had preplanned. It wasn’t
the one I had drawn up plans for. Or the one I had cleared the woods in the
backyard weeks before. That pergola happened to be a completely separate and completely
different one.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So my pergola <b><i>project</i></b>, turned into pergola <i><b>projects</b></i>. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Obviously, more preplanning was going to be needed. So back to the
drawing board I went.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I now had plans for two pergolas. I had twice as much
wood. Twice as many nails, screws, lag bolts, washers, and assorted fasteners.
Twice as many posts, stringers, headers, footers, and other construction type
names for all my assorted wood products.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I also had 1200 pounds of concrete. The problem was (one of many), I had
no way to get it to my house without 3,682 trips to the store.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Enter the nice people at the Lowe's Corporation. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
For a mere $59 they would deliver everything that I
needed to complete my pergola (now pergolas) project right to my front door.
SEND IT! And when I happened to forget a few things (82 pieces of decking,
actually)and called back very early the next morning to try to add it to my order,
they had no problem helping me out. In less than 2 days, Lowe's took my order,
fixed my order, gave me a discount, and delivered all of my arts and crafts
supplies straight to my driveway. On a Sunday, no less. And earlier than they
had expected. All in all, a well spent $59. Well done, Lowe's. Well done. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Sidebar: Lowe's Home Improvement World Headquarters is
located in my town. Just a hop skip and a jump down the road. I think they were
just nice to me just knowing that a 5 minute car ride would put me right on
their front door. Instead, I may just visit them and tell them what an
outstanding job they had done.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL_1akTyuIRXueNVUY2Tfx0bj-EDbDWhLnuluoBBVDfC92PPFWdx0Vc5Ob17SSrj6uhbJoNzbNgFZAdWfH4Kl1nzUc7ZVEZGJUvXqtL41NsY-EuTDhBott1r_jVpLuzfvwGHZdjptQW-s/s1600/att_140052878645284.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL_1akTyuIRXueNVUY2Tfx0bj-EDbDWhLnuluoBBVDfC92PPFWdx0Vc5Ob17SSrj6uhbJoNzbNgFZAdWfH4Kl1nzUc7ZVEZGJUvXqtL41NsY-EuTDhBott1r_jVpLuzfvwGHZdjptQW-s/s1600/att_140052878645284.jpeg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Lumber staging area</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So I had wood. Lots of wood. And a plan. Two plans, actually. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The only thing I needed now to make this project even better was unseasonably hot
temperatures to work in. Which I got. All week. I didn’t even have to pay extra for that. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Another helpful tip: Buy sunblock. A lot of it. And actually use it. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It took me 3 days to build the first pergola on the
concrete patio. It took another 2 days just to paint the thing.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnG6cPc3LzzCxa7YwxtH7nDkUEseXWeRMWM4lxrYpMDDboJPsf1X6mfIuXk_To0bmTy7A69QnIlnAthgdUzRtOgSr8YQs5zxjsZVBT89prHUN6cfcJ5GfFY6J2a2IrxMYdweL78tx9jvg/s1600/att_140052878643621.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnG6cPc3LzzCxa7YwxtH7nDkUEseXWeRMWM4lxrYpMDDboJPsf1X6mfIuXk_To0bmTy7A69QnIlnAthgdUzRtOgSr8YQs5zxjsZVBT89prHUN6cfcJ5GfFY6J2a2IrxMYdweL78tx9jvg/s1600/att_140052878643621.jpeg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-4patFByWhFZdgVRA7U7xiLLIFYoqtS7Mkn72wzw6J7nWeM1W4xGYLutM6GVjWQKf_yV9FZNO9KqzKb_hxvh04m66LsbKcBPJVpfyp_R0-1Z4j59CA2P3VwHD6x52CngwtzcqivFd9ec/s1600/att_1400528786462198.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-4patFByWhFZdgVRA7U7xiLLIFYoqtS7Mkn72wzw6J7nWeM1W4xGYLutM6GVjWQKf_yV9FZNO9KqzKb_hxvh04m66LsbKcBPJVpfyp_R0-1Z4j59CA2P3VwHD6x52CngwtzcqivFd9ec/s1600/att_1400528786462198.jpeg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Work in progress on pergola #1</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Then I started on pergola #2. It took a while to get the
posts set in concrete just the way I wanted them. Then more time to get
everything level and just right. I was shooting to have pergola #2 be 24 feet
long from end post to end post. It was 24 feet and 1/8 of an inch. Good enough
for Government work!</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc13ZSAfbBIS2LSwIEimgcaKgCoELuRiveNRHCSl-jpvWFg3qPMTvvtmloih6TIml7pXeDv8lDnjN5bPX94pEJENc3ktwJ-WorJZCcgbJ5doyIcHhPvUzA0_ZMcF2K_leyRV5zYVwMhA0/s1600/att_140052875553531.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc13ZSAfbBIS2LSwIEimgcaKgCoELuRiveNRHCSl-jpvWFg3qPMTvvtmloih6TIml7pXeDv8lDnjN5bPX94pEJENc3ktwJ-WorJZCcgbJ5doyIcHhPvUzA0_ZMcF2K_leyRV5zYVwMhA0/s1600/att_140052875553531.jpeg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Nice and straight</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I wasn’t able to complete pergola #2. I still have to
pour some more concrete and construct the built-in fire pit. But I made pretty
good progress. Especially considering how difficult digging the post holes in
stubbornly hard Carolina red clay is. And how bruised my shoulders are. And how
scratched up my arms and legs are. And the fact that I couldn’t fully close my
hands for 3 days. And the toll that working in 90 degree temperatures all week took.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Advil and ice water were my best friends. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And then I did something incredibly stupid. Even stupider than trying to build two pergolas on my time off. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I said that I was ready to go back to work.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Now that I'm at work, I want to go back home again. And build a pergola. I'll even do it in 100 degree temperatures. I'll even build one for my wife's friends. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Or did I just say something really stupid again?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I think I'm detecting a pattern. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Now that I look at it, that pergola looks NOTHING like
the Pinterest picture. Oh well.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMwxe02m3Sn18yk6o6Zah-FMy-vBqD7OpVDfuAbtJ2vo0-7EkbXRMbZKSfu_fIdPfWFSSV7FlsXDQFM8zZyCpHUhLSMBrMk_lEotP4N3v2QDBgxaXpyrzz7_aG0zp5L3B0Z06wqcpq7gk/s1600/att_1400528774260107.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMwxe02m3Sn18yk6o6Zah-FMy-vBqD7OpVDfuAbtJ2vo0-7EkbXRMbZKSfu_fIdPfWFSSV7FlsXDQFM8zZyCpHUhLSMBrMk_lEotP4N3v2QDBgxaXpyrzz7_aG0zp5L3B0Z06wqcpq7gk/s1600/att_1400528774260107.jpeg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Pergola #1. The finished project.</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
</div>
Chronicles of Crew Changehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08967137351121143522noreply@blogger.com3