Generations of my family have carried the torch of liberty. All, including myself, were volunteers that defended our nation from the very people that would take our rights and liberties away. My father and I were the lucky ones, we served but were never called to fight. Others fought in wars, both foreign and domestic. One of my distant relatives has likely been in every conflict of our great nation back to the beginning. My family, like many of yours, spans the history of this nation. English, German, Scottish, and Irish blood flow through my veins, but that blend is what makes me, and you, uniquely American.
Today, the very reasons that we fight are being challenged; not by some evil foreign power, but our own government. Tragedies and terror attacks are being used as an excuse to subjugate the people and remove the rights handed down by our forefathers; rights paid for and defended by the blood of our people.
Many people ask why we should be allowed to have military style weapons and not just hunting rifles. The answer is simple: The second amendment gives us the right to form militias and the weapons for that purpose. The founding fathers, having lived under the tyrannical rule of Briton, wanted to insure that we would have a method to protect ourselves from any such rule in the future.The militias are for the "people" to protect themselves from the tyranny of government; there is nothing about hunting in the constitution. The police in this country have become a military force, with armored vehicles and automatic weapons. Does it really take a military tactical response to protect us from one armed person barricaded in their own home?
A gun, just like a brick, is just a inanimate object until it is picked up and used by someone. If that someone has evil intentions, they can kill you with either one. It is true that the rate of fire and amount of ammunition of an assault rifle makes it easier for a crazed individual to kill more people more rapidly but the real issue is the crazed individual, not the tool he or her uses. When did we change from blaming the person responsible to the tools they used? Passing the blame is one of the fundamental problems in our society today.
I ask each and everyone of you to stand for your rights and ask your Representatives to protect the rights that our forefathers fought and died to protect. If enough peoples voices join the call, they will hear us.
Friday, December 21, 2012
Monday, November 26, 2012
Maybe the world should end.
I watched a debate this weekend between a Palestinian and a Israeli; during their exchange I realized that nothing will ever change in that part of the world. Watching the madness unfold in our own country, with Black Friday, and stores opening even sooner, until Thursday is the new Friday; the constant bickering of our elected officials, every religious group and organization trying to force their agenda down our throats; constant pharmaceutical company commercials trying to further medicate an already over medicated population. It all makes me sick. Makes me think this planet needs a good purge to flush out a good part of the population and get everyone to focus what is really important in life.
Christmas is a farce; a day that Jesus himself would loathe. He preached for people to turn away from greed and consumption; the very things we now embrace in his name. I am not a religious person, in fact, I dont believe in many of the things that the religious institutions of our world indoctrinate into us from birth. But I have read the Bible and even I can see that we are on a very different path than the authors intended.
A lot of people think the world will end on December 21st, 2012 because a Mayan calendar ends on that day. I say, if the Mayans were so smart, why did they make a calendar that included days five hundred years past their collapse. If they knew about the end of the world, wouldnt they also have known the end date of their own civilization?
Almost every prediction is proven false in the end. Just like the rapture a year ago: Some nutjob claims to have had a vision, everybody jumps aboard, and throws logic right out the window. The last time the world was supposed to end was in 2000, because the bible claims that Jesus said his reign would last a thousand years but not thousands before his return: Well its 2012 and he didnt show up. Most of the stuff in the new testament was made years after Jesus died and it would be really hard for something he said to be remembered verbatem after so long. I am sure like most of the Bible, it was embellished to add dramatic effect, after all, controlling the populus is its main function.
What I am trying to convey here is that people should use the one thing that we know came from God; our brain and our ability to reason. Dont be that guy or gal, pushing little kids out of the way to save a buck on something that good advertising made you think you have to have. Take a good look around you at what you do have that matters: Your health, your family (and their health), a home, food to eat because there are a lot of people in this world that have a lot less.
Christmas is a farce; a day that Jesus himself would loathe. He preached for people to turn away from greed and consumption; the very things we now embrace in his name. I am not a religious person, in fact, I dont believe in many of the things that the religious institutions of our world indoctrinate into us from birth. But I have read the Bible and even I can see that we are on a very different path than the authors intended.
A lot of people think the world will end on December 21st, 2012 because a Mayan calendar ends on that day. I say, if the Mayans were so smart, why did they make a calendar that included days five hundred years past their collapse. If they knew about the end of the world, wouldnt they also have known the end date of their own civilization?
Almost every prediction is proven false in the end. Just like the rapture a year ago: Some nutjob claims to have had a vision, everybody jumps aboard, and throws logic right out the window. The last time the world was supposed to end was in 2000, because the bible claims that Jesus said his reign would last a thousand years but not thousands before his return: Well its 2012 and he didnt show up. Most of the stuff in the new testament was made years after Jesus died and it would be really hard for something he said to be remembered verbatem after so long. I am sure like most of the Bible, it was embellished to add dramatic effect, after all, controlling the populus is its main function.
What I am trying to convey here is that people should use the one thing that we know came from God; our brain and our ability to reason. Dont be that guy or gal, pushing little kids out of the way to save a buck on something that good advertising made you think you have to have. Take a good look around you at what you do have that matters: Your health, your family (and their health), a home, food to eat because there are a lot of people in this world that have a lot less.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Division of a Nation
I know a lot of people will disagree with me when I say that the United States is about to change in a way that no one really likes. There is a rift between ideologies in this country and I am not sure compromise can be found. On one side are the living constitution crowd, liberals if you will, that feel that the constitution should change with the times. On the other side are the traditionalist, conservatives, that feel the founding fathers had it right, and the constitution should be taken literally, as written, and never changed.
Any time changes are made, there are repercussions that ripple out like a stone dropped in the water, and they get bigger with time. A good example is welfare: people that receive open ended assistance have no motivation to go back to work. That is why the number of people on welfare is at an all time high. What motivation do people have to go to work and pay for their own health care if the government is willing to provide it to them for free?
The liberals would argue that it works in European countries; why cant it work here? Well, the answer is simple. Europeans pay about half of their income in taxes and their health care system is government owned. Greece and Spain are on the edge of financial collapse right now and could pull the entire European Union down with them because their social programs, the same social programs that the liberals want to impose on our country, are draining their resources and crippling their economies.
Every Democratic country that has ever existed has ultimately failed because of entitlements. The ancient Greeks have seen this before. They were the founders of democracy and voted themselves into financial ruin by giving themselves entitlements. The Roman democracy ended when they could no longer find compromise and a dictatorship was established. Even the Roman emperors couldn't afford to keep the populous satisfied with free food and entertainment in the end, because when you start to give things to people, they always want more. They say that history repeats itself and maybe it does; if it does, we are in big trouble.
There are good arguments in both sides. Many liberal causes that protect individual rights and freedoms are a must, as well as keeping a watchful eye on government and business. Conservatives see themselves taking the moral high ground and that is good too, as long as they don't force their religious beliefs on others. We need both the fiscal responsibility, low tax, conservative stance of the right and the social, protectiveness of the left, in this country to be successful.
Right now each side has gathered behind their banners, pulled to the far side of their philosophy, and are prepared to do battle with each other. But the victims that fall in this battle will be all of us, the American people. We will pay that price in higher taxes, costly failed programs, higher debt, and a good possibility of another bad recession.
Any time changes are made, there are repercussions that ripple out like a stone dropped in the water, and they get bigger with time. A good example is welfare: people that receive open ended assistance have no motivation to go back to work. That is why the number of people on welfare is at an all time high. What motivation do people have to go to work and pay for their own health care if the government is willing to provide it to them for free?
The liberals would argue that it works in European countries; why cant it work here? Well, the answer is simple. Europeans pay about half of their income in taxes and their health care system is government owned. Greece and Spain are on the edge of financial collapse right now and could pull the entire European Union down with them because their social programs, the same social programs that the liberals want to impose on our country, are draining their resources and crippling their economies.
Every Democratic country that has ever existed has ultimately failed because of entitlements. The ancient Greeks have seen this before. They were the founders of democracy and voted themselves into financial ruin by giving themselves entitlements. The Roman democracy ended when they could no longer find compromise and a dictatorship was established. Even the Roman emperors couldn't afford to keep the populous satisfied with free food and entertainment in the end, because when you start to give things to people, they always want more. They say that history repeats itself and maybe it does; if it does, we are in big trouble.
There are good arguments in both sides. Many liberal causes that protect individual rights and freedoms are a must, as well as keeping a watchful eye on government and business. Conservatives see themselves taking the moral high ground and that is good too, as long as they don't force their religious beliefs on others. We need both the fiscal responsibility, low tax, conservative stance of the right and the social, protectiveness of the left, in this country to be successful.
Right now each side has gathered behind their banners, pulled to the far side of their philosophy, and are prepared to do battle with each other. But the victims that fall in this battle will be all of us, the American people. We will pay that price in higher taxes, costly failed programs, higher debt, and a good possibility of another bad recession.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Another year older and closer to my goal
As most of my readers already know, yesterday was my 49th Birthday and even though I am a year older, I don't feel any different. Outside of a few aches and pains and a lot of gray hair, I feel about the same as I did years ago. I guess the body ages but the mind remains the same, at least for some of us. I still have the same wants and needs, and like the same things, as I did when I was in my 20's, even though I have learned patience in getting them. Patience is one of the things I can attest to that gets better with age. When we are younger passion and emotion drive us far more strongly than knowledge and understanding; I am not saying that passion fades over time, just gets put into perspective with understanding.
My desire to buy a bigger boat falls into the passion vs. understanding struggle. One part of me want to sell everything I own, buy a bigger boat and sail off to warmer tropical pastures. When I was younger I would have jumped without much thought. Now that I am older, the passion is still there, but the older man experience plays in and tells me to cool my jets and think about the logistics of such an undertaking. How much money will we have after the boat is bought, equipped, and provisioned for an extended voyage. What costs do we incur in foreign ports for moorings, marina fees and taxes. What about costs to repair and maintain the boat in harsh ocean waters?All of these questions and a million more need to be asked and researched before we launch. The old man in me is asking those questions and keeping the young man in check; at least for the time being.
For now, the young man in me will dream, look at boats, and try to find a way to go as soon as possible, while the older man, studies and plans for the future, which as of yesterday, is a year closer.
My desire to buy a bigger boat falls into the passion vs. understanding struggle. One part of me want to sell everything I own, buy a bigger boat and sail off to warmer tropical pastures. When I was younger I would have jumped without much thought. Now that I am older, the passion is still there, but the older man experience plays in and tells me to cool my jets and think about the logistics of such an undertaking. How much money will we have after the boat is bought, equipped, and provisioned for an extended voyage. What costs do we incur in foreign ports for moorings, marina fees and taxes. What about costs to repair and maintain the boat in harsh ocean waters?All of these questions and a million more need to be asked and researched before we launch. The old man in me is asking those questions and keeping the young man in check; at least for the time being.
For now, the young man in me will dream, look at boats, and try to find a way to go as soon as possible, while the older man, studies and plans for the future, which as of yesterday, is a year closer.
Friday, October 26, 2012
A Judgement Call
This past weekend the Marina was a-buzz with activity. Sails were being pulled off, folded, and put in storage bags, boats were being pulled out and pressure washed for the winter. A saw a lot of sad faces and heard a few melancholy remarks about the end of the sailing season. With a cool fall wind and a dreary, overcast sky, the entire Marina had a dismal feeling to it.
We launched our boat and enjoyed one last short sail across the lake and back. It was good to feel the wind fill the sails and heel her over to starboard. We were quickly up to 5 knots on a close reach and Aquilon was digging in nicely. She is in her groove making 5 to 6 knots with the wind blowing around 6 to 10 knots. Its an amazing sensation to feel a 10,000 pound boat being propelled by the wind alone, its a graceful power, like an invisible hand pushing you along. Its not surprising to believe that the ancients thought that the god Poseidon was blowing their ships across the water.
We had a decision to make; should we pull the boat and lose the ability to sail on warmer winter days, or leave it in and hope that the lake doesn't freeze solid and potentially damage the hull. Ultimately, we decided to pull her out. After our Saturday sail, we pulled the sails off and started cleaning and organizing things for storage.
So now she is in her slip with bare poles waiting her turn to be lifted out and the weather forecast for Saturday is showing cool temps but great wind and I am wondering if we made the right decision. Alas, this could go back and forth all winter. Every warm weekend I am going to wish I had left her in the drink. The decision to pull her out was also made easier because I have some work to do over the winter that will be easier without the boat bobbing around in the water too. So, even though it sucks and there will be warm days and oh wells, it has to happen.
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
End of the Season
With a chill in the air and morning dew laying heavy on the grass, all we can do is pull our jackets tighter around our necks and prepare for the coming winter. Fall is one of my favorite times of the year, with cooler days and fresh breezes, the leaves turning color on the trees. It is a time to reflect on the ending year, to celebrate the harvest. A time when hunters fill the woods and the primal call to hunt give us an unbreakable link to our ancestors. The only down side for me is the end of the sailing season and unfortunately, pulling the boat out of the water
This coming weekend may be the last day to sail before the season comes to an end. The weather forecast is predicting winds around 5 to 7 mph and temperatures in the 50's; Jacket weather and light winds, but a solid day for a long lasting sail. I can already imagine myself behind the wheel, feeling the cool wind bite against my face, a warm drink in my hand, drawing as much satisfaction as I can from the end of season sail.
I have a lot of plans for my boat over the winter, weather permitting of course. I want to change my sail bag and Bimini covers: They are red right now, but we prefer blue. I also want to upgrade the plumbing and install lazy jacks for the main sail. After all the maintenance and upgrades are done and after her long winter sleep we should be able to launch and sail without delay in the spring. I just have to wait 4 long months until I am back in water.
Martina and I have learned a lot in the past year and our sailing skill has definitely improved. So, with several years to go, a live a board boat to buy and outfit, by the time we are ready to take to the sea we should be well skilled sailors.Over the winter the sailboat show comes to Chicago and we will almost certainly attend. We love Chicago, especially the food, and it gives us a chance to see larger boats up close and get a feel for how well we could live aboard one.
As sad as it is for me to see this season come to an end, I have next season to look forward to and that gives me something to smile about. So, for now, we will warm our spiced rum or spike our coffee and enjoy the camaraderie of the marina yacht club members who all sit and talk and wish the cold weather was already behind us.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Back behind the wheel
After a two week hiatus of being sick and family commitments, this weekend, I was finally back doing what I enjoy, sailing the boat with my family. This weekend was especially pleasing because I had my daughter and granddaughter on board. It was my granddaughters first time sailing and she seemed to enjoy it, even sleeping for part of our voyage.
While sailing and talking I couldn't help but think that this is how things are supposed to be. To have the undivided attention of those closest to you without the constant disruptions from T.V., cell phones and computers; time just seems slower and more enjoyable without those things.
The wind was light on Saturday and we were cruising at around 3 knots, so it was easy sailing. I could easily see myself living this way when retired; not a care in the world and no time tables. As with anything, time marches on, and we finally turned towards the marina. After docking the boat and securing her, making sure all the through hull valves were closed, because one boat at the marina was under water for reasons unknown, and we didn't want to to find ours in that condition.
So, reluctantly we left the marina knowing that fall is upon us and our sailing days for this year are numbered. Soon, we will have to pull her out for the winter, and the long wait till spring will be on again. But until then we will glide over the water at every opportunity and enjoy those lazy, relaxing days.
While sailing and talking I couldn't help but think that this is how things are supposed to be. To have the undivided attention of those closest to you without the constant disruptions from T.V., cell phones and computers; time just seems slower and more enjoyable without those things.
So, reluctantly we left the marina knowing that fall is upon us and our sailing days for this year are numbered. Soon, we will have to pull her out for the winter, and the long wait till spring will be on again. But until then we will glide over the water at every opportunity and enjoy those lazy, relaxing days.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Riding the Rails
When you ask someone about riding the rails, a train ride usually pops in their head. When I talk about riding the rails it takes on a whole new meaning. Imagine yourself on a boat, cruising along and suddenly the whole thing leans to one side, the lower side of the boat dipping into the water. Most people freak out when this happens and scramble to the high side of the boat. We sailors call them "rail meat", and they are used to add weight to the windward side of the boat to help counter the effect of the wind to capsize a sailboat.
Being rail meat can be exciting or frightening depending on your sense of adventure. I personally like sitting higher on the boat and often steer the boat from the high side, but nothing can help you overcome the fear of tipping except riding it out and gaining confidence in your boat and your ability to sail her.
In sail racing, people sitting on the rail, like the picture above, help flatten the boat and thus gain speed. It is a critical aspect of sail racing and adds to the excitement. I am sure for non sailors it is hard to imagine sail racing being exciting; I mean how fast do they go; 5 miles per hour? Let me assure you, if you ever participate in one, you will have a new respect for the sport. It is fast and exciting. Decisions have to be made very quickly and a slight change in the wind can throw your tactics right out the window.
Speed isn't the only factor in a race; but professional racing yachts do achieve some pretty amazing speeds. A French Trimaran recently circumnavigated the planet in 45 days, reaching speeds over 40 miles per hour, which is quite an achievement considering that a normal sloop takes 18-20 days just to cross the Atlantic ocean and Columbus took 3 months for reach the new world.
So, if you are up for adventure and want to experience sailing, ask a friend who sails if you can be "rail meat". They will probably smile or chuckle and invite you along.
Being rail meat can be exciting or frightening depending on your sense of adventure. I personally like sitting higher on the boat and often steer the boat from the high side, but nothing can help you overcome the fear of tipping except riding it out and gaining confidence in your boat and your ability to sail her.
In sail racing, people sitting on the rail, like the picture above, help flatten the boat and thus gain speed. It is a critical aspect of sail racing and adds to the excitement. I am sure for non sailors it is hard to imagine sail racing being exciting; I mean how fast do they go; 5 miles per hour? Let me assure you, if you ever participate in one, you will have a new respect for the sport. It is fast and exciting. Decisions have to be made very quickly and a slight change in the wind can throw your tactics right out the window.
Speed isn't the only factor in a race; but professional racing yachts do achieve some pretty amazing speeds. A French Trimaran recently circumnavigated the planet in 45 days, reaching speeds over 40 miles per hour, which is quite an achievement considering that a normal sloop takes 18-20 days just to cross the Atlantic ocean and Columbus took 3 months for reach the new world.
So, if you are up for adventure and want to experience sailing, ask a friend who sails if you can be "rail meat". They will probably smile or chuckle and invite you along.
Monday, September 10, 2012
When to Reef?
When we began our quest to sail, we took lessons with Bill Learn from St. Louis sailing. Bill is the type of sailor that you think of when you envision a sailboat in a storm, with waves crashing over the bow, and he is at the helm with a determined, satisfied look on his face; confident, but not arrogant.
It was under Bill's watchful eyes that I had my first true sailing experience, that experience included heavy, blowing rain and wind; lots of wind. The second day of our training it was 40 degrees and the waves were 3 to 4 feet high, with winds gusting over 30 mph. In that driving rain I sailed on a close reach for 3 hours to bring us back to the marina. I was cold, wet and sore from wrestling the tiller and lines, but I was a better sailor because of the experience.
One of the things I will never forget was when he asked our class "when was the best time to reef the sails"? (reefing is making your sails smaller). I have mentioned this before in my posts, and I am writing about it again because it is one of the most important questions you can ask yourself when sailing. The answer is: The first time you think about it.
This past weekend was one of those times. I checked and re-checked the wind forecast and knew the wind would be gusting close to 20 mph. Bill Learns question was on my mind, so I knew I needed to reef our sails before we headed out. Our boat didn't have the reefing points set up, so when I arrived at the marina, the first thing I did was prepare the points. I fashioned the ties and added the leech and luff lines to set the first reef.
With the sails tied down to the first reefing point, we headed out onto the lake. The wind was blowing a steady 10 mph and gusts were hitting 17mph when we raised the sails, which wasn't too bad, but within a few minutes the wind picked up, and I was glad I listened to Bill. We had the main and the jib reefed and we were still reaching speeds over 6 knots with a decent heel. It was an exciting sail, I even video taped part of it which is posted on my facebook site. We sailed the whole afternoon, never losing the wind, which will put a smile on any sailors face.
While sailing I looked across the lake and saw that most of the other sailors out that day also decided to reef their sails; it gave me a good feeling; a, I almost know what I am doing kind of feeling.
It was under Bill's watchful eyes that I had my first true sailing experience, that experience included heavy, blowing rain and wind; lots of wind. The second day of our training it was 40 degrees and the waves were 3 to 4 feet high, with winds gusting over 30 mph. In that driving rain I sailed on a close reach for 3 hours to bring us back to the marina. I was cold, wet and sore from wrestling the tiller and lines, but I was a better sailor because of the experience.
One of the things I will never forget was when he asked our class "when was the best time to reef the sails"? (reefing is making your sails smaller). I have mentioned this before in my posts, and I am writing about it again because it is one of the most important questions you can ask yourself when sailing. The answer is: The first time you think about it.
This past weekend was one of those times. I checked and re-checked the wind forecast and knew the wind would be gusting close to 20 mph. Bill Learns question was on my mind, so I knew I needed to reef our sails before we headed out. Our boat didn't have the reefing points set up, so when I arrived at the marina, the first thing I did was prepare the points. I fashioned the ties and added the leech and luff lines to set the first reef.
While sailing I looked across the lake and saw that most of the other sailors out that day also decided to reef their sails; it gave me a good feeling; a, I almost know what I am doing kind of feeling.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Crime on the High Seas
Safety while we are at sea has been in the back of my mind since Martina and I started our quest. I have always been a gun owner; I have federal and state licenses to collect and carry firearms and intended to be armed when we shove off, but, after reading a recent article about a British couple, released after being held captive in Somalia for 13 months, I was more sure about being armed than ever before, or so I thought.
The attack came in the middle of the night with the woman on watch. 10 men with assault rifles boarded their yacht and took them captive. Now I have seen a lot of Rambo movies and I am a pretty good shot, but even I don't have enough bravado to wake up and take on 10 men with assault rifles while rubbing the sleep out of my eyes. No one in their right mind would, although it would make a great Rambo movie. So the question is, would having a weapon have made a difference? Probably not, but there could be a time when it would.
When you read sailing blogs, and I read them often, you learn about all sorts of incidents all over the world, and it might be surprising to some, but U.S. inner cities are a whole lot more dangerous than the open sea.
Piracy on the open water is trending down with the presence of warships, and outside of a handful of incidents elsewhere in the world, most of the hijacking takes place in the Gulf of Aden. You are far less likely to be robbed abroad than in your own American towns and cities, and that's a shame.
There is a lot of sailing blog discussions about the pros and cons of carrying firearms while cruising abroad. Most countries outside of the U.S. don't allow weapons at all, so for me or anyone else having them aboard, you run the risk of fines or worse if they are found. There are alternatives to firearms too, like axes, flare guns, and harpoons, which are all common on boats, and can protect us from limited threats.
I still have many years to decide if carrying a gun at sea is worth the risk. For now, I will sharpen my axe and harpoon, enjoy sailing, and hope crime in my own back yard doesn't find me.
The attack came in the middle of the night with the woman on watch. 10 men with assault rifles boarded their yacht and took them captive. Now I have seen a lot of Rambo movies and I am a pretty good shot, but even I don't have enough bravado to wake up and take on 10 men with assault rifles while rubbing the sleep out of my eyes. No one in their right mind would, although it would make a great Rambo movie. So the question is, would having a weapon have made a difference? Probably not, but there could be a time when it would.
When you read sailing blogs, and I read them often, you learn about all sorts of incidents all over the world, and it might be surprising to some, but U.S. inner cities are a whole lot more dangerous than the open sea.
Piracy on the open water is trending down with the presence of warships, and outside of a handful of incidents elsewhere in the world, most of the hijacking takes place in the Gulf of Aden. You are far less likely to be robbed abroad than in your own American towns and cities, and that's a shame.
There is a lot of sailing blog discussions about the pros and cons of carrying firearms while cruising abroad. Most countries outside of the U.S. don't allow weapons at all, so for me or anyone else having them aboard, you run the risk of fines or worse if they are found. There are alternatives to firearms too, like axes, flare guns, and harpoons, which are all common on boats, and can protect us from limited threats.
I still have many years to decide if carrying a gun at sea is worth the risk. For now, I will sharpen my axe and harpoon, enjoy sailing, and hope crime in my own back yard doesn't find me.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
All that glitters is not Gold
When we watch the news at night or read it on the web, the decay; no the utter breakdown of our society is staring us right in the face. Every night there are robberies, shootings, and drug related crimes, and not just in the poor urban areas of our cities.
Some people like to blame guns, or poor economic opportunities, but it goes much deeper than that. It starts in our own communities, our homes, and our schools. The real reason is tolerance. We have passed so many laws, rules, and regulation to protect people that we have lost the ability to be appalled by crime.It desensitises us into accepting it as normal or everyday and that will be our undoing.
We idolize celebrities that change partners more often than most people change automobiles. Celebrities that steal, fight, take drugs, beat their partners, cheat, drive drunk. etc.etc. etc. We listen to music that glorifies street gangs, money, and degrades women. We watch sports that elevate gamblers, dopers, dog killers, hit and run drivers. The list goes on and on.
We shop at stores that offer the lowest guaranteed price, but to achieve that price, they ship American jobs over seas, and put Mom and Pop stores, that are the back bone of our country, out of business. We whore ourselves out to these corporations, standing in line and rioting for $200 tennis shoes that probably cost less than $5.00 to make. Buying the newest big screen or laptop just because some ad agency tells us its a must have.
We are our own worst enemy. Our government is one of the most corrupt of any first world nation and getting worse every day, pandering for campaign contributions and favor to the highest bidder. Our debt is out of control, out policies driving it higher everyday, to the point that our credit rating has already been down graded and we are on track to become a second or third rate country in a few years.
We have an election in a few months, but I don't think it matters who you vote for. President Obama, and Mitt Romney are both part of the problem; they are the established, bought and paid for crowd. The entire elected body, in my opinion needs to go. It is time for true blooded American citizens, of any color, creed, or distinction, to stand up and form a third party that can stand and win against the establishment. Nothing will ever change if we don't change it ourselves.
Its time to stop ranting about issues that government has to business deciding in the first place. Birth control, religion, abortion; these are all personal choices that need to be made by those affected. Our elected leaders use these personal choice arguments to build themselves up and cloud our vision from what they really do in Washington, and that is spend our tax dollars on whatever they can to elevate themselves in their respective parties.
America was once the golden dream and the envy of the world. Today we are laughed at because of our arrogance. The infrastructure in our cities is crumbling, crime and drugs filling the vacant houses. There is a divide in our country between liberal and conservative minded people and there seems to be no common ground or compromise. We are such a throw away society that we have forgot how to negotiate or compromise; no wonder so many marriages end in divorce with men and women following their own desires regardless of who they hurt in the process.
Each one of us has an obligation to fix this mess. We owe it to those that sacrificed so that we could have a life of plenty. I ask you to look past the rhetoric on both sides and consider what is truly best for our country before you vote in November. John F. Kennedy once asked "what we, as individuals, could do for our country?" We have forgotten or ignored that question. Its time to stop accepting what is wrong and take a stand against it.
United we stand and divided we fall is not just a slogan, it is the truth.
Some people like to blame guns, or poor economic opportunities, but it goes much deeper than that. It starts in our own communities, our homes, and our schools. The real reason is tolerance. We have passed so many laws, rules, and regulation to protect people that we have lost the ability to be appalled by crime.It desensitises us into accepting it as normal or everyday and that will be our undoing.
We idolize celebrities that change partners more often than most people change automobiles. Celebrities that steal, fight, take drugs, beat their partners, cheat, drive drunk. etc.etc. etc. We listen to music that glorifies street gangs, money, and degrades women. We watch sports that elevate gamblers, dopers, dog killers, hit and run drivers. The list goes on and on.
We shop at stores that offer the lowest guaranteed price, but to achieve that price, they ship American jobs over seas, and put Mom and Pop stores, that are the back bone of our country, out of business. We whore ourselves out to these corporations, standing in line and rioting for $200 tennis shoes that probably cost less than $5.00 to make. Buying the newest big screen or laptop just because some ad agency tells us its a must have.
We are our own worst enemy. Our government is one of the most corrupt of any first world nation and getting worse every day, pandering for campaign contributions and favor to the highest bidder. Our debt is out of control, out policies driving it higher everyday, to the point that our credit rating has already been down graded and we are on track to become a second or third rate country in a few years.
We have an election in a few months, but I don't think it matters who you vote for. President Obama, and Mitt Romney are both part of the problem; they are the established, bought and paid for crowd. The entire elected body, in my opinion needs to go. It is time for true blooded American citizens, of any color, creed, or distinction, to stand up and form a third party that can stand and win against the establishment. Nothing will ever change if we don't change it ourselves.
Its time to stop ranting about issues that government has to business deciding in the first place. Birth control, religion, abortion; these are all personal choices that need to be made by those affected. Our elected leaders use these personal choice arguments to build themselves up and cloud our vision from what they really do in Washington, and that is spend our tax dollars on whatever they can to elevate themselves in their respective parties.
America was once the golden dream and the envy of the world. Today we are laughed at because of our arrogance. The infrastructure in our cities is crumbling, crime and drugs filling the vacant houses. There is a divide in our country between liberal and conservative minded people and there seems to be no common ground or compromise. We are such a throw away society that we have forgot how to negotiate or compromise; no wonder so many marriages end in divorce with men and women following their own desires regardless of who they hurt in the process.
Each one of us has an obligation to fix this mess. We owe it to those that sacrificed so that we could have a life of plenty. I ask you to look past the rhetoric on both sides and consider what is truly best for our country before you vote in November. John F. Kennedy once asked "what we, as individuals, could do for our country?" We have forgotten or ignored that question. Its time to stop accepting what is wrong and take a stand against it.
United we stand and divided we fall is not just a slogan, it is the truth.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Put a spin on it.
I read today that the new book from a former Navy SEAL "No Easy Day", sheds a different light on how Osama Bin Laden was killed, rather than the White House spins doctors version. I don't think anyone is naive enough to believe everything that comes from the government.
What is sad about this story is that some people are upset that Bin Laden was killed while unarmed. I am sure that the families of the close to 3000 unarmed Americans that were killed in the terrorist attacks on 9-11 won't give a rats ass if he was armed or not.
I was against the former war in Iraq, and on-going war in Afghanistan; I don't think any of them are worth the life of one American. There is no way to win against a population that hates us, so why pump billions of dollars that would be better spent here at home? We are, however, over there, and until we leave, we need to let the military decide how to fight it best.
I am an Army veteran. I did not have to go into combat during my tour of duty, If I had, I would want and expect the support of the American people and I think the troops serving today deserve ours.
I applaud the SEAL's that took down Osama Bin Laden, and all the other service men and women serving our country.
Monday, August 27, 2012
"Not all those who wander are lost" J.R.R. Tolkien
The attached picture is a tattoo, (yes, I have them) done in Elvish script, (It is Tolkien after all). I believe so strongly in the concept of wandering that I had it inked on my arm in the script that Tolkien invented. (Not to mention that I just like the look of the script)
Wandering and sailboats go hand in hand. I can think of no other mode of transportation where you are at the whim of the wind and your direction can change with just a gust. America was likely discovered, by accident, by sailing Norseman hundreds of years before Columbus, and countless other Islands have been discovered in sailings colorful past.
I like to think that my forefathers stood on a distant shore, looking west and wondered, what lay over the horizon? If they didn't have Wanderlust, I may have never been. I have that wanderlust inside of me, raging, always pulling me towards somewhere new and untraveled.
Many people may wonder why we would want to sell most of the possessions that we have acquired over a lifetime, including our home, to live on a 40 foot boat (hopefully that large). The short answer is adventure, I have always been restless. I spent a summer in Germany when I was 16 and lived there again when I was in the Army (where I met my beautiful wife). I have travelled all over Europe, the U.S., the Bahamas, and Mexico, and I enjoy the diversity of cultures. The world is big and small at the same time. It is large- from a travel standpoint, but small enough to hold in your hands with an iPad. I think if more people travelled abroad, the world would be a more peaceful place.
I am also fortunate that my wife, Martina, shares my dream of travel and adventure. She may be more cautious than I, but that's a good thing; I need her caution to keep me in check. She is, understandably so, concerned about living and sailing on a boat, but I am very proud of her willingness to try. She agrees with me that to see all of the areas of the world that we want, sailing is the most economical way to achieve it. It is a scary thought to know that the only thing between you and eternity is a wire safety line.
So, we will continue to practise sailing, plan, and dream because "Not all those who wander are lost".
Friday, August 24, 2012
Tis' a fool who fears not the Ocean
In our quest to live aboard a sailboat, the thought of being alone, just the two of us, somewhere on the vast ocean is a little frightening. With the current news reporting tropical storm Issac just to the southeast of the U.S., in the prime sailing waters of the Caribbean, can make any sailor wonder what they would do if they were there and if they could make a protected cove or harbor before it hits.
I have sailed in the ocean twice so far and both times we have had fair winds and calm seas. I have no experience with rouge waves and unpredictable rollings seas, and yes I am afraid of them. Fear can do two things to a person; it can cause you to seize up, roll into a fetal position and pray for safety, or you can use it to your advantage and learn from it, push it down inside of you and soldier on. Respect for the ocean is a no brainer, there are too many lost souls under the waves not to have respect.
The most important thing, in my opinion, is to trust your training and judgement, the second is to trust your boat. Boats, properly maintained, can take a lot of abuse before they fail, but don't be over-confident. Confidence is a killer of men, and not just at sea. My first sailing instructor asked our class "when do you reef your sails?" (reefing is reducing the size of the sail) The answer was "the first time you think about it", and it makes sense. If the weather is turning and you have enough concern to think "reef"; its time to do it, before you have to stand on top of the boat and shorten sail on a pitching and rolling deck.
The ocean is very much like a mermaid; beautiful and mesmerizing in one instance, and just when you think she loves you, she turns into a demon, pulling you down into the abyss. The ocean floor is littered with countless wrecks of boats and ships from antiquity to today. If you hold the favor of the Gods of the seas you will have fair winds and calm seas.
Martina and I hope to be coastal cruisers and don't plan to sail the open ocean unless we have to get from one island to the next, but we will be prepared and carry the respect for the water that is due for:
Tis' a fool who fears not the Ocean.
I have sailed in the ocean twice so far and both times we have had fair winds and calm seas. I have no experience with rouge waves and unpredictable rollings seas, and yes I am afraid of them. Fear can do two things to a person; it can cause you to seize up, roll into a fetal position and pray for safety, or you can use it to your advantage and learn from it, push it down inside of you and soldier on. Respect for the ocean is a no brainer, there are too many lost souls under the waves not to have respect.
The most important thing, in my opinion, is to trust your training and judgement, the second is to trust your boat. Boats, properly maintained, can take a lot of abuse before they fail, but don't be over-confident. Confidence is a killer of men, and not just at sea. My first sailing instructor asked our class "when do you reef your sails?" (reefing is reducing the size of the sail) The answer was "the first time you think about it", and it makes sense. If the weather is turning and you have enough concern to think "reef"; its time to do it, before you have to stand on top of the boat and shorten sail on a pitching and rolling deck.
The ocean is very much like a mermaid; beautiful and mesmerizing in one instance, and just when you think she loves you, she turns into a demon, pulling you down into the abyss. The ocean floor is littered with countless wrecks of boats and ships from antiquity to today. If you hold the favor of the Gods of the seas you will have fair winds and calm seas.
Martina and I hope to be coastal cruisers and don't plan to sail the open ocean unless we have to get from one island to the next, but we will be prepared and carry the respect for the water that is due for:
Tis' a fool who fears not the Ocean.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
What is your serenity?
The smell of fresh brewed coffee in the morning, fresh baked bread, the light rise and chest fall of a sleeping loved one, a cool breeze, slowing down to listen to the sounds of everyday life. These are some of the things that give me that good serene feeling.
In today's age we are often too engrossed in our daily routines to stop and look around us at the reasons we do those routines. Earning a living, raising children, and all of the extra activities we do everyday gives us little time to enjoy why we do them in the first place.
Going to work to earn money to live is an easy one. It would be hard to function without money. In olden days the barter system worked well, but too few people today have the skill required to grow or make things, so that bartering could function.
Most people won't agree with me on this or wont admit it, but we are hard wired to procreate. Children are a blessing but also, sometimes, a curse. I think most people have children because 1. its in our genes and 2. its expected of us by our peers. I love my children and wouldn't give them up for any reason, but I wonder if I would do it again, knowing what I know today.
Extra activities are supposed to help us relax after a hard day at work or home taking care of the kids, but are they really relaxing? Going to the gym to work out when your body is already tired? Taking boxing or karate lessons? etc. etc. etc. Its seems that we run around from one activity to the next without a breather.
Try sitting in a park, close your eyes and take deep breaths of clean, fresh air and listen to nature. Listen to the squirrels scratching the ground to bury their acorns or the flutter of a birds wing as it takes flight. If you are near water, the ripple and splash as a fish jumps, the buzzing of bees. Relax and enjoy the moment. I would bet that for many people it would be very hard to do what I just suggested. We are so wound up in our lives that we have forgotten how to relax.
Serenity, or your vision of it, will be as different from one person to the next as the colors in nature. The goal is to find yours and force yourself to shed your objections to actually relaxing and let yourself go.
I have found mine, I started a blog about it. What is your serenity?
In today's age we are often too engrossed in our daily routines to stop and look around us at the reasons we do those routines. Earning a living, raising children, and all of the extra activities we do everyday gives us little time to enjoy why we do them in the first place.
Going to work to earn money to live is an easy one. It would be hard to function without money. In olden days the barter system worked well, but too few people today have the skill required to grow or make things, so that bartering could function.
Most people won't agree with me on this or wont admit it, but we are hard wired to procreate. Children are a blessing but also, sometimes, a curse. I think most people have children because 1. its in our genes and 2. its expected of us by our peers. I love my children and wouldn't give them up for any reason, but I wonder if I would do it again, knowing what I know today.
Extra activities are supposed to help us relax after a hard day at work or home taking care of the kids, but are they really relaxing? Going to the gym to work out when your body is already tired? Taking boxing or karate lessons? etc. etc. etc. Its seems that we run around from one activity to the next without a breather.
Try sitting in a park, close your eyes and take deep breaths of clean, fresh air and listen to nature. Listen to the squirrels scratching the ground to bury their acorns or the flutter of a birds wing as it takes flight. If you are near water, the ripple and splash as a fish jumps, the buzzing of bees. Relax and enjoy the moment. I would bet that for many people it would be very hard to do what I just suggested. We are so wound up in our lives that we have forgotten how to relax.
Serenity, or your vision of it, will be as different from one person to the next as the colors in nature. The goal is to find yours and force yourself to shed your objections to actually relaxing and let yourself go.
I have found mine, I started a blog about it. What is your serenity?
Monday, August 20, 2012
Discretion is the better part of valor
When you hear the words "sail racing" many people picture a turtle race, slowly bobbing boats trying to inch ahead of the competition. After competing in several sail races I can assure you that they can be fast and exciting. This weekend was no exception.
The winds were light this past weekend so it wasn't a full speed race. The light winds did, however, keep all of the boats close together and jockeying for position and all converging on the finish at the same time.
Sailboats cant sail into the wind. If the wind is blowing straight from your destination, you have to sail to one side or another of the headwind in order to go towards it. Tacking (zig-zagging) to either side of your destination is how this is achieved.
During the Saturday race, four boats converged at the finish line at the same time, including us. Two of the boats were on one tack and the other two on the opposite tack, which meant a collision course. The finish line in a sail race is between a committee boat ( basically a boat at anchor) and a floating round red ball. The gate, or opening is usually fifty feet or so, which sounds large until you consider that most of the boats converging were thirty feet long.
Our boat and a thirty footer were on a starboard tack ( leaning to the left) and neck and neck at the line when the thirty footer lost the wind and control and had to tack (turn) to the right. He turned into the path of another thirty footer coming in fast. They collided; The bow sprit of the turning boat hit the stern of the passing boat with an awful crunch. The anchor of the turning boat was lodged in the aft castle of the other boat, stopping both at the finish line.
Our boat was still making way towards the finish, barely holding speed, with the wind changing position towards our faces. Our sails started luffing but I thought we had enough momentum to carry us through when I saw a large thirty four footer coming charging in from our left side on a port tack (leaning right). He was going so fast with good wind over his port side that he could never turn away from us and miss us without blowing his chance of passing through the finish line.
He wasnt going to turn. I choose discretion over valor and turned my boat to the right to avoid a collision and let him pass before quickly turning back and passing the finish line.
I don't know where we placed in the race that day, and since I don't race to win, just to learn, I don't really care. What I do know, is that my boat and my family are much more important to me that bragging rights in the club house.
The winds were light this past weekend so it wasn't a full speed race. The light winds did, however, keep all of the boats close together and jockeying for position and all converging on the finish at the same time.
Sailboats cant sail into the wind. If the wind is blowing straight from your destination, you have to sail to one side or another of the headwind in order to go towards it. Tacking (zig-zagging) to either side of your destination is how this is achieved.
During the Saturday race, four boats converged at the finish line at the same time, including us. Two of the boats were on one tack and the other two on the opposite tack, which meant a collision course. The finish line in a sail race is between a committee boat ( basically a boat at anchor) and a floating round red ball. The gate, or opening is usually fifty feet or so, which sounds large until you consider that most of the boats converging were thirty feet long.
Our boat and a thirty footer were on a starboard tack ( leaning to the left) and neck and neck at the line when the thirty footer lost the wind and control and had to tack (turn) to the right. He turned into the path of another thirty footer coming in fast. They collided; The bow sprit of the turning boat hit the stern of the passing boat with an awful crunch. The anchor of the turning boat was lodged in the aft castle of the other boat, stopping both at the finish line.
Our boat was still making way towards the finish, barely holding speed, with the wind changing position towards our faces. Our sails started luffing but I thought we had enough momentum to carry us through when I saw a large thirty four footer coming charging in from our left side on a port tack (leaning right). He was going so fast with good wind over his port side that he could never turn away from us and miss us without blowing his chance of passing through the finish line.
He wasnt going to turn. I choose discretion over valor and turned my boat to the right to avoid a collision and let him pass before quickly turning back and passing the finish line.
I don't know where we placed in the race that day, and since I don't race to win, just to learn, I don't really care. What I do know, is that my boat and my family are much more important to me that bragging rights in the club house.
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Lost overboard
Its funny to read blogs about things lost over the side of a boat while on the water. I have read about hearing aids and false teeth (which is the funniest, I think) being dropped over board. The items dropped most often are tools, I am included in that category, so its not surprising that my car key ended up in the lake this past weekend.
My son being a playful teenager was, you guessed it, playing with my key on his way to get something from the car. While playing with said key, it launched itself out of his hand and dove in the water several feet from the dock. It was an accident and I wasn't too harsh on him, because he displayed the right amount of remorse right away, and I think he was a little shocked that he lost it too.
I drive an Audi, which uses a laser cut key/remote entry fob combo. If I didn't work in the automotive industry it would have set me back a couple hundred dollars to replace and program it. But luckily I have a friend that I used to work with that manages a local Audi service department and he helped me out. It still set me back, just not as bad as it could have been.
People often get mad or even irate when things like this happen; I was one of those people. But as we get older, these "little things" roll off our shoulders a little easier and we figure "what the hell, shit happens". What is important is that we were at the lake together as a family and enjoying each others company and I didn't let this accident spoil the moment.
The only casualty is this boo-boo was my sons savings account ;yes, I made him pay for his mistake, but he is young and has plenty of time to earn it back. Its one of those life lessons that he will remember and so will dad, that's why we are buying a floating key chain for the key.
My son being a playful teenager was, you guessed it, playing with my key on his way to get something from the car. While playing with said key, it launched itself out of his hand and dove in the water several feet from the dock. It was an accident and I wasn't too harsh on him, because he displayed the right amount of remorse right away, and I think he was a little shocked that he lost it too.
I drive an Audi, which uses a laser cut key/remote entry fob combo. If I didn't work in the automotive industry it would have set me back a couple hundred dollars to replace and program it. But luckily I have a friend that I used to work with that manages a local Audi service department and he helped me out. It still set me back, just not as bad as it could have been.
People often get mad or even irate when things like this happen; I was one of those people. But as we get older, these "little things" roll off our shoulders a little easier and we figure "what the hell, shit happens". What is important is that we were at the lake together as a family and enjoying each others company and I didn't let this accident spoil the moment.
The only casualty is this boo-boo was my sons savings account ;yes, I made him pay for his mistake, but he is young and has plenty of time to earn it back. Its one of those life lessons that he will remember and so will dad, that's why we are buying a floating key chain for the key.
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Steel headed fish
Friday evening was wonderful; my wife and I shared a bottle of red wine, talked with marina friends, listened to music, and enjoyed each others company while sitting on our boat under a starry sky. That night we enjoyed cool breezes and gentle water; that coupled with a full bottle of wine surely would mean good sleep, or would it?
About 3am in the morning I was startled awake by something banging against the side of the boat. Now, I don't know if all my readers have ever been inside of a boat, so let me explain. It is a hollow area closed in on all sides and reverberates sounds like a drum, so when something taps on the outside it is louder to the listener inside, sort of like sleeping in that drum.
This banging noise on the side of our boat sounded like gremlins with ball peen hammers trying to reshape the bottom of our hull. We have been in the marina for over a year and have heard stories of these mysterious banging noises before, especially from the former owner of our boat, but it was the first time we had heard it ourselves.
This noise, this incessant banging, early in the morning was caused by fish, yes, I said " fish". Carp to be exact; steel headed Carp, from the sound of it. It was as if the entire school of them, donning steel helmets, were ramming our boat in different areas at the same time. Every time I thought they were finished and was on the verge of sleep "Bang", and my eyes popped open.
According to other members of the yacht club, the Carp butt against the boat hulls to dislodge algae that they then eat, 3 to 4am must be their prime dinner time, "oh joy".
Now the only obstacle I need to overcome for a good nights sleep is how to devise an auto feeder mounted on the dock to feed them something other than my boat.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
The Rapture
Pain and suffering do we crave, our souls erupting in a fiery grave.
Ghosts of others pass us by, falling from the darkening sky.
Why do we seek such pain, did we live our lives in vain?
Spending time on our knees, does he really hear our pleas?
This question must I ask, do your eyes see such a narrow path, or is it others that give you task?
Everyone has free will, thoughts and memories they do fill.
Let me choose what I might and guide myself to the light.
What I share on this day, is the life that I have made.
To live and love and not to judge.
No one needs to be told, in which church they must go.
Not on a cross or inside a mosque; no temple must I reach, to listen to my God speak.
Alas, the rapture can not be, for God resides inside of me.
By: John Frederick
Ghosts of others pass us by, falling from the darkening sky.
Why do we seek such pain, did we live our lives in vain?
Spending time on our knees, does he really hear our pleas?
This question must I ask, do your eyes see such a narrow path, or is it others that give you task?
Everyone has free will, thoughts and memories they do fill.
Let me choose what I might and guide myself to the light.
What I share on this day, is the life that I have made.
To live and love and not to judge.
No one needs to be told, in which church they must go.
Not on a cross or inside a mosque; no temple must I reach, to listen to my God speak.
Alas, the rapture can not be, for God resides inside of me.
By: John Frederick
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
The call of the Sea
Vast, deep, and blue, the endless waves change in hue.
From white to blue to darkest green, to the horizon, nothing else can be seen.
On my bough the waves do break, schools of Dolphins lead my wake.
Towards the setting sun I seek, a strong wind to keep me meek.
Dreams of palm trees fill my head, a worthy thought of where I'll tread.
To feel the sand between my toes, how long it will take, no one knows.
It matters not the time, it's the journey the soul does bind.
Thus, forever I shall heed, the ageless beckon of the sea.
By: John Frederick
From white to blue to darkest green, to the horizon, nothing else can be seen.
On my bough the waves do break, schools of Dolphins lead my wake.
Towards the setting sun I seek, a strong wind to keep me meek.
Dreams of palm trees fill my head, a worthy thought of where I'll tread.
To feel the sand between my toes, how long it will take, no one knows.
It matters not the time, it's the journey the soul does bind.
Thus, forever I shall heed, the ageless beckon of the sea.
By: John Frederick
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
A sailor's poem
Every morning I wake and wonder
what the tide will bring asunder.
Travel to a wayward isle and listen to the ocean wild.
Lay my weary bones upon a beach and think of places I can reach.
Across the vast and gleaming seas I feel the rush inside of me.
As I leave worries in my wake, a gleam my eyes start to take,
of a sailor at the helm, my lifelong dream within reach, just across the ocean deep.
John Frederick
what the tide will bring asunder.
Travel to a wayward isle and listen to the ocean wild.
Lay my weary bones upon a beach and think of places I can reach.
Across the vast and gleaming seas I feel the rush inside of me.
As I leave worries in my wake, a gleam my eyes start to take,
of a sailor at the helm, my lifelong dream within reach, just across the ocean deep.
John Frederick
Monday, August 6, 2012
3 Boat Jam Session? Almost
Saturday night William and I joined one of our neighbors from the marina as crew for the night race. During the race we had a few slow tacks and fought a light wind that seemed to have a mind of its own, going away at just the wrong moment. It was one of those disappearing acts that left us with a dead stick and drifting into an oncoming boat on our starboard side and another larger boat closing to port. The wind finally came back, with just enough time and just enough force, for me to pull on the port jib sheet and get enough wind in the sail to steer clear of a imminent collision, that, however, pushed us towards the port side boat.
This happened while all three boats were trying to round the south marker in the dark. Talk about a "pucker moment", but for once, the wind had mercy on us and allowed all three of the boats, including the one we were on, to clear the marker and head north to the finish without further incident.
We ended the race ahead of two boats, but may end up last because of handicaps. What really matters is that four people, who hadn't raced together before, on a boat that was unfamiliar, and the boat owner who is a seasoned sailor, was the first time he had raced, all had a great time and will race/sail together again.
After the race the wind picked up with an incoming rain storm so we headed back down the lake to do some faster sailing before the conditions worsened then called it a night.
All in all, it was a great night of sailing with my son and our marina friends, as always, we learned a few things to help us better prepare for the next race and in the end make us better sailors.
This happened while all three boats were trying to round the south marker in the dark. Talk about a "pucker moment", but for once, the wind had mercy on us and allowed all three of the boats, including the one we were on, to clear the marker and head north to the finish without further incident.
We ended the race ahead of two boats, but may end up last because of handicaps. What really matters is that four people, who hadn't raced together before, on a boat that was unfamiliar, and the boat owner who is a seasoned sailor, was the first time he had raced, all had a great time and will race/sail together again.
After the race the wind picked up with an incoming rain storm so we headed back down the lake to do some faster sailing before the conditions worsened then called it a night.
All in all, it was a great night of sailing with my son and our marina friends, as always, we learned a few things to help us better prepare for the next race and in the end make us better sailors.
Friday, August 3, 2012
Liberalism
I find it ironic that the very people who call themselves Liberals, the same Liberals that expect everyone to be tolerant of their beliefs, want to boycott and stop a restaurant chain from opening in the cities they govern because they disagree with the restaurant owners beliefs.
I always thought that Liberal meant someone that stood for individual liberty for "'all" Americans. I guess somewhere along the way that definition changes and they forget to tell us all.
I am neither a Conservative nor a Liberal. I think that any stance too far in either direction is wrong. I think that people should respect the views and beliefs of others, even if they differ from our own.
We have enough problems that need real attention in this country without the constant distractions of politicians trying to one up each other on how right they are and how wrong the other guy is.
If we truly want change in our country we need to vote these people out of office and demand real checks and balances that are fool proof.
I always thought that Liberal meant someone that stood for individual liberty for "'all" Americans. I guess somewhere along the way that definition changes and they forget to tell us all.
I am neither a Conservative nor a Liberal. I think that any stance too far in either direction is wrong. I think that people should respect the views and beliefs of others, even if they differ from our own.
We have enough problems that need real attention in this country without the constant distractions of politicians trying to one up each other on how right they are and how wrong the other guy is.
If we truly want change in our country we need to vote these people out of office and demand real checks and balances that are fool proof.
Friday, July 27, 2012
Twenty eight years ago...
Twenty eight years ago on this date, also a Friday, I was a lonely twenty year old soldier in a foreign country. I had just returned from four weeks in the fields and forests of Germany, I was tired and feeling a little down. My buddies and I sat down at a table out side of the Hard Rock Cafe in Sachsenhausen, Frankfurt, and that's when my eyes met hers. She still has that look in her eyes today and I am very happy to still hold her gaze. Hoffentlich als acht und zwanzig mehr!
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Why choose Sailing?
Sailing has been defined as hours of boredom infused with moments of sheer terror and for some it probably is. It is confusing and frustrating and can make a normally easy going person cuss like a sailor (I think I know how that saying came about). But sailing can also be very rewarding especially if you are someone stubborn like me and love a challenge.
The confusion comes from the miles of rope and yards of sail on a sailboat. Its like attempting to fly two huge kites sideways with puppet strings while trying not to run around or hit another boat; but with training and practice it becomes easier and eventually second nature. I am currently between cussing like a sailor and easier, LOL.
At first, nothing on the boat makes sense; to begin with, the ropes aren't called ropes, they are sheets, lines, and halyards. Terms like heel, tack, jibe, starboard, and port seem like a foreign language that other sailors assume your are fluent in. And making the boat go in the direction you want, Ha ha, that's where the cussing starts, just make sure you have plenty of Rum on board.
I am sure by now you are wondering, and so do I from time to time, why I love sailing? To me, the answer is simple, it is in my blood. My ancestors where sailors and I feel a connection to them when I sail. I am always looking towards the horizon and want to go farther, unfortunately right now I am land locked on a inland lake. But I know, that my future will include crossing that horizon. I hope I do them proud and just maybe, someday, they will make a place for me at the feasting table.
The confusion comes from the miles of rope and yards of sail on a sailboat. Its like attempting to fly two huge kites sideways with puppet strings while trying not to run around or hit another boat; but with training and practice it becomes easier and eventually second nature. I am currently between cussing like a sailor and easier, LOL.
At first, nothing on the boat makes sense; to begin with, the ropes aren't called ropes, they are sheets, lines, and halyards. Terms like heel, tack, jibe, starboard, and port seem like a foreign language that other sailors assume your are fluent in. And making the boat go in the direction you want, Ha ha, that's where the cussing starts, just make sure you have plenty of Rum on board.
I am sure by now you are wondering, and so do I from time to time, why I love sailing? To me, the answer is simple, it is in my blood. My ancestors where sailors and I feel a connection to them when I sail. I am always looking towards the horizon and want to go farther, unfortunately right now I am land locked on a inland lake. But I know, that my future will include crossing that horizon. I hope I do them proud and just maybe, someday, they will make a place for me at the feasting table.
Gladiator - Theme Song
Lisa Gerrard has a song named Serenity, which I like, but given my love of history, I thought this one was more fitting. I also like this one better.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Our current sailboat
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Our first boat
Our first boat was found on Craigslist. The outboard motor didn't run and she needed a lot of TLC. What she did have was a very solid full keel hull and an excellent selection of sails. We named her Sentio Ventus
which is Latin for: Experience the Wind. We sailed her for a season on the Mississippi and then moved her to Lake Carlyle, Illinois. My son William and I cleaned and refinished all the teak and painted the inside of the boat. We had the bottom repainted and added all new sail bags before her launch at Carlyle. We sailed her for a season at Carlyle and then decided to purchase a larger boat, a 27ft Catalina.
It all started with a dream
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