Friday, April 27, 2007

New Blog New Blog New Blog New Blog New Blog

New Blog New Blog New Blog New Blog New Blog New Blog New Blog New Blog

Hiya folks,

I've started a new blog, with a title that I like much better and I think fits me better too. I think I'm going to just continue posting as usual, but on the new blog. So, if you don't see anything new here for a while, check the new blog. That's where all the action is.

NEW BLOG!!!! "Knot Proficient"

http://knotproficient.blogspot.com

Come visit me there!

Cheers!

New Blog New Blog New Blog New Blog New Blog New Blog New Blog New Blog

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Surprise Returns!

I woke up late last Sunday morning. This caused me to make a mad rush to get ready, and head down to San Diego. I drove way too fast to get down there on time, because I was worried that if I missed muster or was late, I wouldn't get a chance to head down to the shipyard to sail the Surprise back to the museum. Turns out I rushed for nothing. I was stopped short during my power walk from the parking lot to the Star by the sighting of a beautiful tallship coming around the back of one of the cruise ships. It was she! Oh beautiful ship of the sea!

Muster was thus a little disorganized, because as we usually give Jim Davis our undivided attention, too many of us kept sneaking looks over the bulwark at the Surprise as she maneuvered in the bay to get into better position for approaching the docks. Eventually Jim let us go, and there was quite a crowd that headed over to the dock where the Surprise was coming in.


She came in a bit of a wonky angle, and attempted to take out the aluminum walkway with her whisker boom, but eventually with the help of the Pilot and a line to the Star, we brought her home. After the gangway was fixed to her ramp, we piled on and began the long process of clearing her decks of the all the detritus of the weeks in dry dock. Tools went back to the Berkeley, junk was swept up, etc. I eventually headed below, and found an even bigger mess. A bunch of us began cleaning up the partial gun deck, and since all the gun barrels had been removed from their cradles, we proceeded to put them back to rights. I'm still sore from all the heavy lifting and maneuvering in tight, cramped spaces, but it was fun nonetheless.

After a few hours of cleaning up, sweeping, moving heavy objects, and putting all the parts of the unstepped mizzen mast on the poop deck, it was time to call it a day. Unfortunately (well, I guess fortunately really) the museum has decided to replace all the shrouds on the mizzen mast, which means months more work, and little chance that we (the Surprise crew) will get our long awaited chance to sail on her till probably the end of summer. *sigh*

Cheers!

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Pictures!

Here are some pictures, courtesy of one of my esteemed crewmates, Bert Creighton.

That's me, over on the right, in the green shirt and white sleeves.


This is me, back in August, splicing new ratlines as part of my contribution to the refitting of the Surprise. That splice I'm working on is now up on the Mizzen.


The Surprise, gone on holiday. She's waiting to be taken in the shipyard, so this was a few days ago. I can't wait till she comes back home. Then we'll be able to take her out for a bit of a sail!

Thanks for the pictures, Bert!
L.

On Submarines, Jackets, and Stupid Tests

This weekend saw a break in my mad rush of student teaching, and was a wonderful opening to what is so far turning out to be a nice relaxing week off from school. Sunday started off cloudy and warm from the storms and Santa Ana winds, even in San Diego. Even though during crew muster I didn't get picked to go down to the shipyards and work on the Surprise, I did get selected to work on the submarine. This is normally a dubious honor, but it beats getting stuck down in the engine room of the Medea, cleaning...as it turned out, it was quite lovely. I stood out on the tail of the sub, painting black over all the bird shit that had accumulated, making the sub look even worse (if that's possible) than usual.

We at the Maritime Museum have a kind of loathing for this big, black hunk of junk. We are constantly joking about ways to sink it without having a negative effect on the harbor. Yet there is still floats (barely) by the Berkeley, taking up valuable space. I guess it gives the tourists who visit our museum a thrill to force themselves through the cramped little spaces and hatches in that crappy Russian contraption. Looking at subs like that, I can only wonder why we considered the Russians such a threat for so long.

Anyway, standing on the tail end was quite pleasant because the weather had cleared, a nice warm breeze blew around me, and I had wonderful salt water all around me. Second great thing that happened was we got our jackets. The crew at the museum wear these nice, tough canvas Carhartt jackets, embroidered with the museum's logo and crew on it. We got to order some last month, and they finally came. Those of us who are new enough to the crew to not have our own jackets were overjoyed. Some of us even joked about sleeping in our jackets when we got home (not that I...would do such...a thing.....). So now I've been thoroughly enjoying my very warm, comfy jacket that marks me as a full fledged crew member of the Maritime Museum wherever I go. Yay!

Finally the best news, I passed the last part of the state test that allows me to get my teaching certification in June. This was a HUGE relief because if I hadn't passed it, I would have had to stop student teaching and waited till the fall of this year to start over, once I had passed it. I just have to say though, that I didn't study for this test. I didn't study for either of the two parts of the test (which is all about art, techniques and history). I mean, I know I should have studied...but just the fact that I didn't and still passed it....well. That just tells me how far the state has to go before they take Art Teachers seriously. And it tells me that I think I'm going to devote a significant portion of my future career in developing appropriate art education for California public schools. I just want people to take art seriously!

That's all for now! Ta!
L.

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Valentine's Day SUCKS...sort of...

Okay, so I have always hated Valentine's Day. ALWAYS. It has something to do with not having any form of a significant other in my life... I really appreciate the fact that my wonderful stepdad always manages to do something nice for me on V-Day, but still. Today was a little different, however. For the first time in my life, I was approached by several cute little middle schoolers, wished a Happy Valentine's Day, and given candy.

Funny, how most of the other teachers I have met and talked to at my school say that middle schoolers are little monsters, but I kinda like them. Yes, there are 42 of them, last period of the day, and they have access to clay which is very easy to throw...but still. They all love to make things with clay. This is the second week I've been teaching them, and I am constantly surprised. They will probably never know or realize how cool I think they are. Hopefully I will not regret saying that before June 22....

Anyway, here's to a not so terrible Valentine's Day, thanks to a bunch of rather thoughtful 12 and 13 year olds.

Ta!
L.

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

The Dying Moon


The Moon, setting behind an oil rig on the horizon.



Monday, January 08, 2007

GO GATORS!!!

Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the 2007 National Champions - the Florida Gators!




Tuesday, January 02, 2007

All Hail The Victors of the West!

It is sort of ridiculous how Michigan fans call themselves "the Victors of the West." I guess when that song was written when Michigan was considered the West...but now it seems kind of inappropriate. Especially since yesterday, once again, USC beat Michigan at the Rose Bowl. I almost feel sorry for Michigan. This is the fourth time in a row that Michigan has gone to the Rose Bowl, and been beaten. Maybe they'll get the hint and stop coming!

Funny watching these guys at the game, without a tv!


This is hard to see, but there, walking towards the middle of the field is the Man and his henchman, Darth Vader.


The Men of Troy.


Whoohoo! Beat the Wolverines! (again)


We beat Michigan! We beat Michigan! (again)


St. Shannon (for getting the tickets), in the middle, Billy, and Chris.


Who knows what will happen next year? Maybe we will see Michigan again! And beat them! Again! Happy New Year!