dodging it

One of my favorite items on our boat is our dodger. When we went to look at our boat for the first time in Canada I saw a hard top dodger on another newly delivered boat and fell in love. Suddenly I had to have one on our boat. I think Sam was happy I was taking such an interest and would have agreed to about anything that would make me want to spend more time on the boat.

I went on this other boat to check it out and realized a canvas dodger would no longer cut it especially once I saw the lights built right in. Unfortunately it was about 5 months later before I would actually have it installed on my boat and about a year before I would actually use it since our boat was in the yard.

Since I am a bit vertically challenged (okay short) I have never really had to duck under things much in my life. Because of this the dodger had to be tall enough I could walk under it without ducking. This made the process of ordering it a bit more challenging and we were questioned about it being too tall but I was firm (read stubborn here) and wouldn't change my mind. After all some things need to be about me and this was one of those things.

When I finally got my dodger and had the first chance to use it I was thrilled. Suddenly our cockpit was much warmer since it blocked the wind and I had a dry place to sit. With the lights I could even read at night in the cockpit snuggled up with a blanket.

This past weekend when the weatherperson was right for once - unfortunately in this case, I was once again able to appreciate my dodger. While Sam was dressed in his foul weather gear driving the boat I was in my tshirt and shorts sitting under the dodger. What a beautiful thing it was. I was dry, reasonably warm (it is Seattle), and happy while Sam was soaking wet. This seemed to be perfect.

Sam got to be on his sailboat while I got to feel like I was on a powerboat almost - okay I won't mention how slow we were going but that meant he just got to spend more time in the rain. At that moment I realized I might not have gotten exactly the type of boat I would have chosen but I had my dodger. Sam on the other hand got to truly experience the joy of an open cockpit in a rainstorm. Wow - occasionally life is really in balance.

back to school

There are a few things I miss about being a kid - eating whatever I wanted, having very few responsibilities, thinking an ice cream cone cured everything, endless summer vacations, and going back to school.

I loved summer vacation but towards the end I was ready to go back to school. The process was great. Getting new clothes (still a favorite I must admit), purchasing new school supplies, and wondering who my teacher would me and who would be in class with me. To this day everytime I see a new box of crayons nostalgia hits me and I wonder if I will ever experience the pure simple joy of using new crayons again.

Never mind that those crayons never created an artist or suddenly drew fabulous artwork just having brand new crayons made me think this time it would be a masterpiece. Well my mom thought maybe I was a Picasso in the making but by about 7 I am pretty sure even the "mom blinders" had come off. Okay I know now even my mom didn't think that but she sure made it sound like she believed. It must be a mom ability to keep encouraging your child even though your fridge door will never be bare again and you don't need the 100th picture of a house with stick figures and a sun. Another reason to love stainless appliances - no artwork has to be displayed!

A new school year would be filled with possibilities - new friends, learning new things, knowing I would be 1 grade higher in the hierarchy, and plenty of holidays in which to take a well earned break. It was like being given a do-over really. You got to start all over pretty much and forget anything that had happened last year. I wish I still got a do-over - wouldn't it be great have a few months off and then go back with a very cute outfit, new crayons, possibility of new friends and more holidays than you can up with reasons for.

So when I see the bus once again roll up in my neighborhood a part of me will be wishing I could get on it. Instead I will have to find out if an ice cream cone still makes everything better.

water and sunshine

Ever drive by someplace or go somewhere and see people doing something you wish you could be doing? On the Columbia River by Entiat there is a place called Lake Entiat. I can't tell you how many times I have driven past there on the way to and from Lake Chelan, since it is clearly visible from the freeway, and wished I was the one out in the water. During hot summer days numerous boats are anchored or floating and people sitting or wading by their boats. It pretty much reminds me of the Redneck Yacht Club song. About 100 - 150 yards from the shore the water is about 1-3 feet deep depending on what is happening with the dam.

On a hot day not much looks better than standing or sitting in water next to your boat cooling off and hanging out with friends, especially as you drive by in your hot car with only recycled air to cool you off instead of water and a breeze. I would always look out the car window to see how many boats were out there.

Finally it was our turn. We decided we had enough wishing it was us hanging out in the water and we launched the boat and headed over to check it out.

Sometimes things we want to do don't live up to the hype and I had pretty much hyped this up in my mind so chances were that it wouldn't be as great as I had made it out to be in my mind. This time though it was everything I hoped for and more. Perfect weather, Tanya remembered chairs, a river temp of about 70, a record setting 104 degrees outside, 2 nephews to entertain us, an excellent book, plenty of good snacks, and ice cold drinks - what a way to waste an afternoon.

Even better cars were driving by us and I knew what they were thinking since so often it had been me driving by - "wish we were there in the river hanging out." Yep I do have to admit we were watching the cars laughing as they drove by knowing they were wishing they could be out there with us. Of course the next time I am the one driving by I will really know how much I am missing out on so in the end the laugh will be on me at least until I am able to spend another lazy afternoon hanging out in the river.

trying to watch the olympics

I love the Olympics. Normally I don't watch much swimming, track and field, diving, or beach volleyball but during the Olympics I am glued to the tv set. Well not really - I would like to be glued to the tv during this time but unfortunately our U.S. stations seem to want to try and make the Olympics a mini-series. News flash - the Olympics is a sporting event not a made for tv movie.

If you watched NBC prime time it would seem that the actual athletic event was a far second to the drama of the athletes lives and their struggles to make it to the Olympics. I think even NBC could make my life a huge sob story and a fascination piece on how I pulled myself out of my middle class Wenatchee upbringing and made it to living in the big city, having a job, and even being able to purchase a few toys. Only by sheer determination and will power was I able to make the move 2 1/2 hours away from my family, go to college, get a job, and support myself. What an accomplishment given my early upbringing and struggles. Cue up the music while we all shed a tear about how hard I had to work.

I know there have been struggles and athletes have worked tremendously hard to get there but come one can we just watch the actual sporting event so I can see them in action. If I wanted all the sob stories and drama I would watch a talk show not a sporting event. Instead I have to tune in Canadian programming to watch the events. Unlike U.S. programming there are other athletes in the games and not all the programming revolves around the U.S. getting a medal. Well unless Michael Phelps is swimming then all programming revolves around the U.S. getting another gold medal. While I definitely want the U.S. to win and try and get more medals than anyone else I also want to hear about India getting their first gold medal ever even if it is in air rifle event.

Now gymnastics is wonderful but honestly 3 nights so far of coverage is too much and we still have more tonight. They are cute and all but come on these people must really be midgets or smurfs. And I do have to say I don't think there is any way that one Chinese girl is really 16. I know I am somewhat height challenged but they make me seem like an Amazon. But then I guess the swimmers make me seem short - mom and dad thanks for helping me out in the genetics dept. Too tall for gymnastics, way too short for beach volleyball and swimming, and too top heavy for running, not to even mention my lack of athletic prowess and my desire not to break a sweat. Guess it is a good thing I was able to overcome all obstacles and get a job in spite of my challenges. I can hear the music starting right now as come to think of it I really have overcome quite a bit and need my own segment on NBC.

But maybe the real reason I don't like all the human interest stories is that it takes away from showing more of the male swimmers on the blocks and getting ready for their heats. They don't show them in their suits for the human interest pieces and I much prefer seeing them ready for their event. After all they have spent years getting ready and I should be able to enjoy their hard work.

we finished this year!

Shocking but true Sam actually convinced me to once again enter our boat into the Shaw Island Race. On Saturday (the 2nd to last day of our vacation) we participated for the 2nd year in the Shaw Island Race. Unlike last year this year we we finished . . . barely.

Shaw Island is a race from Friday Harbor around Shaw Island and back. Unlike most races boats (well the captain really) choose which way to go around. Last year we (Sam) picked the wrong way as it turns out the tide flows in the opposite direction around Shaw than the tide charts show, oops! We never finished and really didn't even make the 1/2 way mark. After sitting in front of and drifting by the same dock more times in a 4 hour period than I care to remember my mom felt we should have squatters or in our case drifters rights on the dock. Anytime you have to put out fenders during the middle of the race to protect the boat from drifting boats you aren't making progress. We would float by the dock think we were making progress and then the current would push us back right in front of the dock again and again.

Numerous boats started their engines but we refused. Well I was actually wishing we would but 3 stubborner minds than I prevailed and so we drifted and drifted and eventually missed making it even to the halfway mark had to declare a DNF (did not finish).

This year seemed to start better as there was some wind out past the harbor but 20 minutes before the start we started to get ourselves in position and the wind died. We used the motor until the last legal minute but then we started to drift without steerage. Unfortunately we weren't the only boat without much steerage and no momentum so it became a large fleet of boats drifting into each other and trying to fend off. Way too much excitement for me especially when Sam starts to get a bit excited. I am the only one allowed to get excited and nervous on the boat so that doesn't do much for my comfort level.

Luckily we made it through unscathed due to my incredibly quick thinking and push off skills. Well not really but we did make it through unscathed other than my shortened lifespan and something about me yelling this would be the last race we would ever compete in. We then finally found wind and started the big lean. Unfortunately it didn't last long and once again we were in a race with very light wind. Fortunately Sam didn't criticize my decision to be in the cruising class and not use the spinnaker too much but even I was saying maybe next year we could use it. That should give an idea of how light the winds were when I am willing to offer up the spinnaker in a race no less.

Finally after much lazy drifting, sail tuning, holding the sails, wishing for wind, Dave testing out all the knots he knew, and many pages read in books Friday Harbor came into view. Luckily the last 10 minutes we finally got enough speed to finish the race with a whole 44 minutes to spare. We were a lot disappointed though since we were hoping to beat a boat with a better rating than we had but by our calculations even with the time we were owed we were about 1 minute too late.

Right during the last few minutes before we finished we got our wind due to a sudden downpour of rain. Suffice it to say that we were soaked and it wasn't our gentle NW drip it was a squall. It just added a bit more excitement to our finish. If you have ever tried to dry out 3 1/2 sets of foulies, gloves, and other misc items on a boat you can understand what the boat looked like after we changed. I am not sure the head will ever be the same. Of course it must have been worth it to finish since if we hadn't there would have been much more complaining from my quarter about the sorry shape and smell of our boat.

During the awards ceremony the boat we thought beat us was awarded 3rd place so we thought we were a disappointing 4th. Much to our surprise we got 2nd - not sure how the calculation worked but we took it gratefully and with much celebration. A few minutes later they announced an error and we were sure our plaque was going to be repossessed but our luck held and we still have 2nd place.

I think I will even be up for our 3rd entry into the Shaw Island race for next year provided I can join the boat after the start. I don't see anything against that in the rules about adding passengers and I could skip the exciting part and just go for a cruise or a tide drift. Hmmm - something to ponder before the next race - how can I get on the boat after the start?

getting ready to relax

Sam and I are leaving for vacation Friday evening and I have started wondering why there is so much time and energy spent getting ready to relax. Fortunately we don't have to fly anywhere since it is just a 2 hour car ride away. Even so the list of things to get done and pack seems to grow each year. I dread thinking about how much time and energy it will take me in 20 years - by that time I will need to be retired just so I can have the time to go anywhere.

I am not sure why we make it seem so complicated. Rarely am I going somewhere that won't have the basic necessities available if I do forget something. I mean it is not like I am going to the moon or even to a third world country. Most of my destinations have all the basics and often many of the creature comforts available which is why I am going there in the first place. But still I seem to think I have to bring it all with me.

Shoes seem to be something I significantly over pack on. I mean really how many pairs do you need for a week but somehow I think I might need a different pair each day and then I definitely need a different pair for the evening. Going on the boat has simplified this somewhat as even I have to wear flats but then I need flip flops, hiking shoes, boat shoes and the list goes on. After all I want everyone to be able to see the cute pair of shoes I just purchased since a vacation practically demands at least one pair of new shoes.

I also tend to believe that if my suitcase or bag has any room left at all I have forgotten something. I need to fill up this space immediately so then I over pack. If 2 black shirts are needed then I really need to add at least 1 more just in case.

When I need to pack food then I really go overboard. I must think I could starve or we could be stranded and I need to bring enough just in case I suddenly host a large party of teenage boys. If I need food for 3 meals I bring enough for at least 6 just in case. I don't think I have ever run out of food but I certainly don't want to make this the first time. My motto seems to be if I think I will need it bring double the amount.

Sometimes I think less preparation and planning has taken place to invade a country than for me to go vacation. I came by it honestly though since my mom is the ultimate planner. She made a list for everything - food, grocery list, what to pack, list of things to do before vacation, etc. Nothing was left to chance and it seemed that we were always prepared. The boy scouts had nothing on her.

In spite of all my planning and preparation I still always forget something. One time I forgot my packed bag, another time the camera, left 1 shoe behind, forgot the tortillas when making fajitas but I have never forgotten the cooler. Guess that shows where my priorities lay.