Manned and Ready!

Okay, so, its been a while since my last post and a lots happened since the last one. Forgive me if this one is a little lengthy.

First off, the most important news of the day: I got accepted to graduate school at Vanguard University of Southern California! (on a silly note, this means I have a Bachelor's from USC, and I'll have a Masters from VUSC.) Anyway, this is a good thing, cause when I'm done, I'll have some sort of anchor in my life. And you never know, despite all my foot-dragging, I might actually like it! Just a thought.

What this means is that by next June, I'll have my teaching credential for Art and History, and I'll be able to teach in the state of California. If I continue on the second year, I'll have a Masters in Education. Whee!

Okay, the next bit is about my adventures in San Diego. Since I took the test 3 weeks ago and finally passed it, I was on this week's list for sailing on the Californian. I have to say, I did get quite the thrill hearing my name called on the list. Once we were called, we got sent of to the ship before the morning muster was over. Onboard, we spent about 40 minutes or so being introduced to the layout of the ship and safety procedures. Then a few of our number left (to return on the afternoon voyage) so that our numbers wouldn't be too obstructive during the sail. Then we got underway. The Californian can run under engine power as well as sail, so we putted away from the dock and off into the harbor. A relatively windless day contributed to a lack of chaos on board, but allowed us to have things explained without to much trouble (we were told that on a windy day, to do a revolution of tacking and wearing and such, things can get very crazy and the experienced crew preferred a lack of wind on a training day, with all of us newbies around).

Hauling on the halyard to raise one of the sails
The topsail and topgallant braced to catch the wind.
Lynn showing us how to do a balantyne coil.
A finished balantyne, ready to run free when needed.

We sailed till 11, when we had to be back at the dock. Thus ended my first training sail. I have to go on one more, then pass the "open-boat" pinrail exam (filling in a blank sheet with the correct lines and such) and I'll be allowed to volunteer for days when the Californian takes passengers out.

We mustered again before lunch, to divide up jobs that would continue on through the afternoon. Once we devoured Swanny's latest delicious concoctions, the work began. Those who didn't get to sail in the morning left, and the rest of us worked to move some barrels and chests to the Surprise, and then help raise, set and lower the fore upper topsail on the Star. I stayed long enough that afternoon to help move two very large piles of rusty standing rigging from the Surprise to dockside. Apparently, when Fox Studios purchased the Rose for their movie Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World they decided that the standing rigging wasn't good enough and replaced it with their own crap. Now we have to sort it all out and decide what to do with it all. I'm not sure yet what we are doing about replacing all the "fake" rigging Fox put up. Anyway, tired, sore and covered in rust, I decided to head home. So ended a long and wonderful day.

Ta!

old memories

So, a really good friend of mine told me the other day that she was moving to Wales, to go to school in Aberystwyth. She wanted to know what it was like there. That whole conversation brought back a flood of memories of a place that I will always hold dear to my heart. I started looking through my pictures from my trip to Wales and to England. I found this:


It was sitting in the little parking lot at the foot of Cader Idris in Northern Wales. Its a beautiful vintage Aero Morgan. This is a car that I would gladly own. But the chances that I will ever see a car like this again are very slim.

Ta!