price paid for fun

I bruise somewhat easily being so fair but during the summer I seem to have bruises everywhere. I call them boating bruises. It seems the more time we spend on the boat the more bruises and scrapes I have. I don't think I am super clumsy but at the end of a boating weekend I can guarantee I will have picked up some lovely new shades of yellow, blue, and purple in a few spots.

Sam will take a look at an especially large bruise and ask what happened. Most of the time I have no idea how it happened and won't even know I did anything until I see the evidence in the form of another bruise. It would be nice to point out that this one happened while having to jump 10 feet to the dock or another happened when I went through the locks solo. A good story would be so much more interesting than a shrug.

One would think I would possibly get them in the same places but nope they can appear anywhere. Personally I blame it on being the deckhand. After all Skipper Sam doesn't accumulate them the same way I do. So it must be all the scrambling around on the deck pulling in bumpers and then putting them back out again. Not to mention all the lines or even trying to reach it all in the hatch after they are stored. I am doing all that manual labor while he directs from behind the wheel after attaching a single rope to the back cleat.

It is almost like someone can figure out how much time I have been spending on the boat just by looking at the bruises on my arms and legs. So now that warmer weather has arrived and most all our weekends will be spent on the boat be ready - my body will show the physical evidence of all the good times spent under way.

I guess I could try and prevent a few by having Sam have his had at being the deckhand but that would mean I would have to dock probably. Instead I will just go with the bruised look and know each one represents another good boating memory even if I don't know exactly which one. Guess I am a hard core sailor after all sacrificing my body and all just to be out on the boat.

boating mechanic?

Friday evening Sam and I headed down south to the Dock Street Marina in Tacoma. It was actually the furthest south we had been on our boat. For the most part we head north but since it was a yacht club outing it got us to try somewhere new.

I was a bit surprised Sam was up for a Tacoma trip since our last few visits there haven't been something we care to repeat. Last time we visited Tacoma our truck was broken into and our computers stolen and the time before we were in the mall during a shooting. With those 2 incidents one can understand why Tacoma isn't high on Sam's list of places to visit.

Guess since we would be there by boat it changed the whole perspective and he was willing to give it a shot. Though he did lock up the boat every time we left it for some odd reason.

Saturday Sam decided to lower the dinghy and take us for a cruise around the harbor. Unfortunately our throttle only one 1 speed - fast! Luckily he had taken it out for a quick spin by himself since we hadn't used the dinghy for a few months and I wasn't aboard when he found out by having the dinghy point skyward when he hit the throttle. He quickly made it back to the boat and started to try and figure out what was wrong.

I headed below deck since usually the best assistance I can provide is to stay out of his way. About an hour in I suddenly hear my name being yelled and cautiously come up and see what is so urgent, wishing I had chosen to take my book someplace else. Turns out my mechanical skills are desperately needed - actually it is my smaller hands that would be the most assistance.

I am not very mechanically inclined or at least acknowledge no mechanical ability whatsoever. A boat engine is not something I care to place my hands into but I do really want a dinghy that works so I was willing to try. Sam had the cover off and my job was to try and attach a piece back on and then put a cotter pin back in place. Easier said than done.

I got the piece reattached in pretty short order but the cotter pin was an entirely different story. I dropped 2 into the depths of the motor and couldn't see them to try and retrieve them. Sam went to grab a flashlight to help out but that suddenly disappeared into the depths overboard as I tried to use it. Hey he was just lucky he was holding on to me and I stayed on board.

Hard to keep good help if they get wet unintentionally. I finally got the cotter pin back on after many efforts and the loss of a flashlight. Sam was pretty impressed though I was hoping my mechanic career was over. Especially since laying on the seat of a dinghy hunched over an engine with my butt in the air with Sam holding on to me isn't really the most graceful or dignified position. I was pretty happy we were a bit by ourselves on the dock for this show.

Unfortunately the throttle was still suck. But Sam realized I had put in enough time and effort and he stopped by Lowe's on the way home Sunday night to pick up a smaller set of tools. Pretty sure he figured out he had gotten all the mechanical assistance he would from me and he was on his own. If you see anyone driving around in a dinghy that goes just one speed - fast and is pointing skyward guess it still isn't fixed.

walking not running

On Saturday I walked a 10K. Yep you read that correctly - walked a 10K. Turns out that people actually can sign up to walk a 10K, 1/2 marathon, or even a full marathon though that begs the question of why someone would choose to walk 26 miles. I think it also covers those who think running sounds good initially and then they forget to actually start the training prgram.

My sister Tanya was going to run her first 10K and wanted me to participate with her. Knowing that the likelihood of me running a 10K was pretty much nil she told me I could sign up to walk. I really thought it sounded pretty boring by myself but luckily she had 2 friends who were willing to do it with me. Walking by myself for 6 miles - boring, talking for 6 miles - sign me up.

Showing up Saturday morning we saw people running before the race even started. Now those people must really be in shape if they would run before the start - we both thought they were crazy. But Tanya thought I was a bit crazy too when I insisted on taking a few more swigs of my diet coke before exiting the car. Turns out maybe runners don't consider a DC in the morning the best way to start off a race.

After watching all these in shape people run by us on the path it actually made me want to start running again. I started to believe maybe I could run a 10K as well. After all if I started slow and ran a few times a week in a few months I could probably be out there with everyone else.

It really seemed like an excellent idea. In fact I even started thinking about how far I should run on Monday morning. Monday morning came and I had a bit of a cold so decided to work out inside. Tuesday morning the weather was beautiful but maybe doing my workout inside was a better idea since I could finish in 30 minutes and not have to put on my tennis shoes. Wednesday morning I had an early appt so really working out wasn't an option unless I wanted to get up 1/2 hour earlier - nope sleep was a better choice.

I bet at this rate by Friday I will have forgotten all my plans to run again. Which really isn't such a bad thing. Walking a 10K is much more enjoyable. You get to chat with friends, take in the scenery, have the energy to cheer loudly when you see others running (no way could I cheer and run at the same time), no need to wear a sports bra that takes 10 minutes to get positioned for optimum support, and best of all not have my face turn bright read from exhaustion. Really it is a good thing I procrastinated - it seems I am much more suited for walking than running.

So if anyone needs someone to walk a 5K or 10K with them sign me up, as long as we go out for food afterwards.

tax day on the 14th instead

I am not sure what happened this year but our taxes were filed a day ahead of schedule. I didn't even get my days messed up and think it was somehow the 15th - nope I actually got it done before the deadline. I think this might be the first year ever. That meant I didn't have the adrenaline rush I get on the 15th trying to race down to the tax advisor or making a panicked phone call to Sam reminding him to stop by and sign before midnight.

Actually it was a bit of a letdown that on the 15th I was already done. No moaning or frantic rush - instead just another Wednesday.

At the tax place when people mentioned waiting to the last minute on Tuesday I spoke up and said I was way ahead of schedule - about 30 hours in fact. Though it didn't seem anyone was all that impressed with my accomplishment.
When others talked about filing extensions or hurrying home to meet the deadline I had nothing to share or commiserate about - I was done already. Don't worry Sam I think next year I will wait until the 15th - it just makes it all that more exciting and really they don't need my money a day earlier.

a wet Easter Sunday

Most people when they go to visit family go via car or plane. Not us we go via boat. Well at least we try to if it is at all possible. Luckily one of my sisters lives near a marina so when we decided to visit our newest nephew Sam saw it as an opportunity to get out on the boat.

Actually I was the one who suggested it but when I saw the forecast for a high of 50 and heavy rain I was started to back out. No such luck - Sam had already decided a wet boat ride beat a wet car ride any day in his mind.

Friday night was actually pretty nice - with a glimpse of sun even and smooth seas. By Saturday night though the rain had set it. Heavy downpours that showed no sign of relenting. After a Easter Sunday meal with all of my sisters and all of my nephews we decided it might be best to head out.

The rain only seemed to be getting heavier and the wind was picking up. On went the foul weather gear and gloves and off we set. My gear only stayed on long enough to leave the dock and get the fenders and lines securely stowed before I headed downstairs to heat and my Kindle.

Sam hung out on deck with his good friend Otto (Auto Pilot). Both of us were happy though I was much drier and warmer down below. The wind kept picking up and we got some good sized chop in the Sound but I must be getting better at this boating thing since all I asked was that Otto be turned off and Sam drive himself. He was wise enough not to ever mention putting up the sails as we motored along.

Unfortunately the wind didn't die much at the dock and it was blowing over 20 when we were heading down the row towards our slip. Fortunately Sam gave it some power and we slid right into the slip with me only having to jump a couple of feet away from the dock.

I do think Sam was a bit happy though to get off his fowl weather gear (but maybe that had something to do with how quickly he slid down the stairs to the head). Hey I figure the weather should only improve from this point and I might actually keep Sam company on deck.

If you would like us to show up for a visit just live close to a marina within a few hours sail or motor of Elliott Bay and chances are you will see us soon. We even come with our own bed and galley. Sam might not be much for driving places more than a couple of hours away but he is always up for a sail, even in a rain squall.

a big swing and a miss

After once again telling ourselves we would get out to the driving range on a regular basis this winter our clubs were for all intents and purposes in storage. Tuesday night we finally brushed off the cobwebs, literally unfortunately, dusted our shoes and headed up to the range.

Weather dictated a covered facility with heaters. We met after work and Sam thought it seemed very wrong on the drive up to the range his car said to be watch out for ice on the last day in March.

After a few big swings and misses (practice shots really) I made contact and send that white ball all the way to the first green. Which would have been fine but I was using my driver. Finally I got a bit more in the groove and had some decent shots. In fact by the end of my 100 or so balls I was doing pretty well, for me at least.

Which really is my big issue with a driving range. I can be hitting the ball well and feeling good but when I am on the actual course it doesn't go quite as well. I wonder if I can drag around a green mat with me. It would definitely help my game - a flat service and no rough no matter where my ball ends up.

That fake green grass mat really makes me feel like I am a better golfer than I really am. Maybe what I am really looking for is an entire golf course made out of green AstroTurf. It would be environmentally friendly - no water needed. Since that probably isn't likely anytime soon I just need to find a driving range with real grass but with our weather lately it does need to come with a heater as well.

In the meantime if I do make it on a golf course anytime soon I am going to assign some of the blame for any lousy holes to green AstroTurf.