Happy Hours...

Capt Paul has been missing his "happy hours".  And, now, while he will still miss Jim (see previous blog)...he will no longer be missing his happy hours.  

Yesterday, we moved the boat.

  Not far...just around the corner, never going outside the reef...but after a year...almost to the day at Fantasy Island...the Lady H has a new marina to call home.  

 I won't get into the specific's about the stowing and organizing for even just such a little trip as this (maximum five minutes versus the hours of preparation)...but as I prepared...I thought back to the days when I would be doing this very thing, very often as we readied the boat for a REAL passage and a new harbor.

Anyway, this new marina is a cruiser's dream...everything a cruiser could want or ask for!  It is owned and operated by a cruiser living on the island and, although it is small right now (maximum six or seven boats at the marina itself)...there are "plans" for expansion. 

 There is the thoughtfulness and organization for catering to the cruisers needs that are anchored out in French Harbor all at a minimum weekly "club" fee!

Capt Paul is very happy...he is back to his happy hours.  There is a chair that has been reserved just for him...one of the stronger ones (incidences remembered by caring others from FI happy hours).  And, one of those caring others is Roy...yes, he sailed back last week...and Capt Paul was so glad to see his happy hour buddy! 

So, yesterday too, I asked Capt Paul if when he has been cleared to dive (a longer story) we could take three or four days with "Suzie seas" weather and go to Cayo Cochinos for some diving.  It would be good for the Lady H...and it would be oh, so good for me...three or four days of MY KIND of happy hours...ha ha ha!!        

Merry Christmas!

I am thinking about going diving this Christmas morning as it seems the strong winds of last night have stopped.  I'm up early as I also have to make some banana bread to share at a cruisers Christmas party we are attending  later this afternoon!  Hope to have enough to share some with the dive shop as well!  This picture is from a couple of years ago when my kids came down to  Roatan to visit!  I guess we are all a little older now...and I...well, I think I'm a little less thin!  Ha ha ha!!  Last year when we were in the Seattle area for Christmas the weather was not conducive for us all to share Christmas together, and in prior recent years past, I have been "out of the country".  I'm not sure I can remember when we were all together as a family for Christmas...

it seems like it was such a long time ago!  This year my brother and sister-in-law are having Christmas dinner at their house.  And, it just so happens that all my children (the weather is cooperating) will be able to be there!  I am so excited for my mom, my children, sister, brother and extended family to share a day together...play ping pong...and enjoy!  Each one has their own Christmas Eve and Christmas Day traditions that have already begun...and then to share the day with all family too...well, I'm very proud of my kids!  I have asked that pictures be taken so I can share the day through photographs.  I know Christmas is just a "day"...but for whatever reason...today...this day...I will be missing them the most...the hugs...the laughter...the company...being together...the fun...the memories...and yes, the ping pong.  So, Merry Christmas all...I love you!  When the sun comes up here in an hour or so...I will decide if the weather is good enough...and if it is, then...I will go diving...

American History

Thur Dec 22 2011 1:55 pm

Monday morning early (8:30) Darren who runs the dive shop here at the resort knocked on the hull. Seems they needed Joyce to do her instructor thing for a few guests. The usual instructor had gone home for Christmas. So for the last 3 days Joyce has been a happy camper. The resort as usual is almost empty, few if any divers. I have been getting out daily for my walk or pool exercise.

Kevin is one of the boat drivers. With no or few divers they only need 1 boat out of 5, so Kevin and one of the other drivers take turns every other week. Kevin stops by every day to check on me and chat. He brings Joyce lemon grass for her tea, pepper sauce for me. I ordered him a new phone which Lori brought down a few weeks back. I have given Kevin most of my books...Clancy, Griffin etc. Even gave him one on the possible crash of the US financial system. We have our chats about obama and the left. You would be surprised on how much he knows about the United States. Of course he gets my rants on the left and how they are destroying the US. During one of these he asked "Why do Americans let this happen to their country" I showed his Stalin's quote " America is like a healthy body and its resistance is threefold:

its patriotism, its morality, and its spiritual life.

If we can undermine these three areas,

America will collapse from within.” – Joseph Stalin

I told him how America was when I grew up, pledge to the flag, Bible reading each morning in the public schools, etc....tody we can't even have the 10 Commandments in a public building, (attack on spirituality) nor we cannot pledge the flag in most public schools, condoms passed out in public schools,(attack our morality) the president does not even salute the flag at public functions (the crotch salute)

An Attack on our Patriotism by our own president

"THE CROTCH SALUTE" by the Commander in Chief the Ft Hood Memorial Service

I blamed this on the dumbing down of the American electorate. When I graduated from high school, we had the #1 educational system in the world. We studied government and how it worked as well as the Constitution. We were taught history Our economy was the strongest, we put a man on the moon. Now our government run union schools are rated 14th in the world. Washington , Lincoln and Jefferson and the founding fathers were subjects in our history textbooks. Today's textbooks have more references to ML King than Washington, Lincoln and Jefferson combined.

Kevin explained to me that in Honduras, when you get to the 6th grade, you must be able to recite the Honduran anthem, all 12 verses....and explain the meaning . Remember 2 yrs back when the Honduran Congress kicked their corrupt Chevez loving president out of the country. It was a legal move by the Honduran Government. Our oh so smart government and obama called it a coup. What a let down to a struggling democracy in our own neighborhood. Look at how obama is supporting this Arab Spring...which have connections to ACORN .

Long story short...Kevin has more knowledge and interest in the US government and economy than most of he American electorate. Why you say.....his income is directly related to how the American economy goes as is the rest of those on this island. There are 20-30 % cruisers down here.....their 401K's went down the crapped when obama and the Congress crashed the economy. This resort is empty...partly because of poor management and because Americans don't have 4 million to take Christmas vacation to Hawaii.

Yesterday Adigo came on the VHF. Seems the guy that runs a small Marina back behind us is going to have a Christmas Party at the Marina. Free food and beer....WoW !!!!!! So Christmas is planned.

Since I can down here..and be "Politically Correct." Merry Christmas

Another page in the cruising book

Friday Dec 12 2011 6:05 PM Fantasy Island Marina

The Office is closed. Well tomorrow AM we will see Jim and Norma off as they end their cruising career and move on to Land Cruising in a 5th wheel RV. For the last 3-4 months Jim and I have having our "business meetings" every evening at 4:30 at the "Office", a place on the lawn shaded from the afternoon sun. Our dinner schedule has been adapted for these important meetings. Tonight I made my bean dip xrtra hot for the last meeting. Since these meetings lasted till 6 pm...1 1/2 hours, I would make my Gin&Tonic in my 20 oz insulated hospital water cup with a top and a straw. Each night, when the office closed, Jim (worried about my ability to maneuver) would walk me to the boat to make sure I didn't go for a swim. Since I was barefoot, I would bitch about the rough gravel on the dock....followed by Jim saying ....why don't wear shoes.... Jim would hold my cup while I climbed aboard. Well, last night I had my usual escort back to the boat ending one of those traditions that one never forgets. We have told each other 1000's of stories,many the same with different facts and endings depending on how much rum in his insulated cup and gin in mine. It was a hoot...Thanks for the memories Jim.

Sat 10:00 AM We were up early to make sure we could say our goodbyes. In the cock pit were a pair of Crocks. Jim had suggested I get some.....well I now have a pair and walked on the rough gravel this am.....I will wear them out with pride. The truck was loaded goodbyes said ....And the page was turned.

As we see them make this transition,we wonder how we will adapt to our future . We have many scenarios facing us over the next 6 months. When does the boat sell...or if &%$#*&^$; Does Joyce get a 6 mo job....do we buy a trawler....when does Joyce' s Condo in Mexico sell, all the above ...so as we sit here today we ponder all these options. Jim and Norma's 2 year wait to sell the boat and make the transition ashore went so smooth. In the last month they were dealt the Royal Flush....First the boat, then finding the perfect RV, selling the car......it all came together for them... .We wish them ...well we would normally say "Fair winds and following seas" What do you say to a RVer??? " Cheap fuel and an empty spot at the Walmart to park for the night???? You will be missed out here on the water. Paul and Joyce

Patience and Perseverance...

You would think that I would have learned a lot of patience over the last four years living on a sail boat...well, heck, over my relatively short time of being alive (oh, that was fun to say and it was the word "relatively" that made it "work"...but I digress)! 

 Seven hours the first day in the water...that was perseverance...then when patience kicked in...well...sometimes the easiest things are the hardest and the hardest are the easiest...and, woooo hoooo as some people might say, my girlfriend is now an Open Water Scuba Diver!  And, yes, this is her woooo hoooo underwater!! 

 The weather co-operated with us for three days...the fourth day we went out on the dive boat for two drift type dives and an all you can eat lunch at Hole in the Wall of beef and LOBSTER...

  and finally the fifth day I caught a cold that she brought down with her!  Now that I'm getting better...only a slight inconvenience...I really have to thank her for such a wonderful visit!

   She helped to remind me that where I am and what I am doing is really pretty darn cool!  It's not that I forget...in fact since Capt Paul has his boat for sale...I've been waking up every morning enjoying the warmth, the surroundings, and the day! 

  Lately, with the Northerly's...it's been pretty wet too ...but I do love it here!  So, a proper thank you...to my newest Open Water Scuba Diver buddy...for your visit...for your time...for your friendship...for your perseverance...for your patience!  Abrazos girl!

Mizzen

I guess we haven't shared about Mizzen lately!  If you talk to Capt Paul about her...she is the most beautiful, smartest, character filled cat he has ever known.  Yes, she is ALL cat!!  The fact that she is not a "lap cat", or a lovey dovey  cat, he has grown to accept (well, sort-of).  We laugh at her every day as she walks around, very heavy footed and so arrogant.  Yet when we are gone from the boat she will wait near and then watch from the aft hatch as we get back on board...then run to greet us when we open the companionway hatch.

  When we pay attention to her and love on her (and let's just say she is a very spoiled cat), she will purr...but not loud enough for you to hear it unless you put your ear on her side! 

 Her newest "trick" as she has grown larger (much larger) is to fit herself into the smallest cupboard there is.  We cannot open one without her hearing, she comes running to see what we are doing, and then climbs into...not the two larger spaces...but the smallest space.  Then she turns around and looks so pleased with herself!  Early on in this "trick", when I hadn't seen her in awhile, I went searching for her.  There were no meow's...but I was worried that maybe she could have gotten off the boat (she has once and thank heaven Spencer was here to help me corral her)!  My search took me to the aft cabin...still no meow's...then finally since I kept calling her, she gave me her little "hmmmmm?".  Capt Paul had gotten some shorts out...did not pay attention as she crawled in...and he closed the door.  The good news is that it doesn't seem to have caused any long lasting damage to her...or, well, wait, maybe it did!  Maybe that is why she now goes into the smallest cubbie hole, ALWAYS sticks her head out, and looks so pleased with herself?  Yes, Capt Paul LOVES his 15 pound "kitty"!