stormy weather

We got through the storm last night just fine. I think this is the first one to come through and blow hard enough to have us set the anchor alarm...although we didn't..haha. Actually I was more concerned about some neighboring boats that got a little too close to comfort. Out of the say 10 boats maybe all but 3 dragged anchor. One of them was about 10 feet or less off our bow, but no touchdown...thank goodness!

There is much to be said about knowing your vessel and knowing when she is hooked or not. The last big storm we had over on A9 anchorage, Neil and Stew went out and tied off one of our smaller anchors to a vessel who's owner was out of town, keeping her off the shoreline. Later after the wave of wind was over we repositioned him further out.

Last week when we were in the police dock for a few days we ran into him and got to tell him the story..he knew someone had done it, but who? Well he repayed us the favor of saving his "beloved" by giving us electronic charts he had gotten from a friend...they are worldwide charts and the cost to get these ourselves....well more than we care to say right now...what a wonderful thing. We weren't doing it for a reward, just did what we would want done. I guess he had been looking for  "that little blue boat with all the canvas" and low and behold, he pulled in next to us on the docks..funny isn't it?

Well thank the Lord for Neil's visit to the doctor. He is finally able to sleep well through the night and is feeling closer to his old self again. We have less than a week till L.A. and are anxious. He has a great doctor here so as we spend the rest of winter here he will be able to frequent the doctor's office and hopefully see a huge improvement. Yeah!

Now if we could just get that warm weather back, I mean, it is nearly 50 here people!! That is too cold! haha!

week end update

Well Neil's visit with the doctor went very well. He finally got to see a specilalist and they are going to be going over his condition with a fine tooth comb. He now has medication, a plan for physical therapy and ongoing consultations. This next week he is to have a bunch more testing done to see how he is now as opposed to his previous tests. The underlying facts are that he has indeed gotten worse in the last year and a half, almost 2. However, with treatment, medication, rehabilitation, and other, he may in fact improve enough to make it bearable. He will not ever be able to return to his old line of work, however..that being said we feel this is progress. He will have his deposition next Friday in Los Angeles...this is where we will need the most prayer as this will determine a LOT of his future treatment and recovery. Now on to the next subject...

We have chosen to take a mooring ball. With all the news from the doctor it looks as if we need to stick around for at least 2 months...so next week we will pull into a mooring close to the city front, but also close to the beach..Yeah! There is a community center nearby with a pool, gym and jacuzzi...if you need me...i will be in one of the three above sugested places! haha...

Other than that all is well in the Rife family home. The poor pupps and momma will be  getting into the "fixed" category within the next few weeks..no more tagalongs for us....at least for now... and we hope to have a very good start to the month of March, if you can believe that it's already here...I know I can't...time flys when you have no schedule that's for sure...anyway thank yo for your support, and prayers...and keep em up, and I will keep you posted.  :0)~

hand full video revisited

An oldy but a goody....

Back on Anchorage

After spending 4 days at the police dock to thoroughly scrub the salt and sand off the boat we are now back in anchorage for a few more permitted days. It was a very odd feeling being tied off to the docks and not hearing the generator run while we were running our electronics. The dogs were a bit of a problem at first as they did not understand that they couldn’t bark at everyone nor jump on their boats. (the two little ones). There were boats with lots of big dogs and the first two days we were all like, “Sorry..sorry..sorry” but they all calmed down and everyone was doing well with the adjustment. Today when we anchored, they went back into protection mode and seemed relieved to be away from all those other boats! Funny.


We are tossing the idea of a mooring ball versus free anchorage mixed with transient days…It would be nice to have a permanent spot to park and not worry about being hassled by the harbor cops for permits. We will make our decision after the holiday weekend.

GOOD NEWS: Neil has an appointment to go see a specialist on Tuesday! Hooray! We have been waiting a very long time for this and with his hearing coming up at the first week of March we are happy to have him in to see someone..Coincidence? Perhaps, but we’ll take it! Again, HOOOORRRAAAAYYY!

Neil has gone a little more than a little while without medicine or treatment for his pain. He felt a little better last week when he basically floated in the salt water taking a bit of pressure off his spine. I am glad we found that little cove and plan on spending more time next week going there for some more “floating.” That, and I had a great time being in the water myself. If the conditions are right, I am a complete water bug!

We have a forecast of rain for the next few days. Yuck. So we will have to get out the Spanish CD’s and the games and enjoy ourselves below decks. I guess it can’t all be sunshine! Ha ha. (to our family and friends braving the cold..we too are suffering). :0)~

And now for the picture story

Our trip up to Mission Bay was absolutely what the doctor ordered. This was the first time that Neil and I have felt like we were on vacation. We had grand plans on going quite a bit further but we had to return early for a dental visit for the kids. Either way we packed as much fun as we could into a 3 day weekend. This little anchorage was neat in the respect that you are literally a few blocks from the ocean and you are in a sheltered little cove with clean water and lot's of beach all around. The sand here was unlike any I have walked through in a while. I am not sure what was going on with it, but it was like "butter."  Ther were plenty of gorgeous sea shells to collect (my favorite thing to do besides play in the water) and lots of open beach front. This was the first time we have taken the puppies to shore to play in the sand. Before we would walk them around the city on the asphalt jungle, but this was a whole new experience for them.

They went nuts! They ran around like little crazy wild things. Foster got so excited that he kept accidentally knocking over Winnie and hopping over Daisy! They ran non stop and Daisy wore herself out chasing her ball. The other two wouldn't chase the ball, but they would chase Daisy. It was quite a funny sight. Everyime the skiff enging would start, 3 dogs would run to the edge and look at you like, "I am ready to go!"

The weekend was a nice and hot one. We ended up having to jump in the last day. I finally got to go snorkeling in fairly warm water. It was amazing. I saw the following: Giant sea slugs that were brightly colored blue and yellow, tons of hermit crabs, lots of blue and yellow striped fish(perch maybe?), a hallibut, a bat ray and lot's of vegetation. When we were walking along the shore previously we saw and fondled a little baby octopus and when Neil ans Stewart hopped in with the hooka they saw a BIG octopus!! I think I may have squealed a little if I had seen that! haha.

As for Neil we are still waiting......all good things come to those who wait, Right?

In the first picture, pay attention to how little Winnie is compared to the wench, yet she is the tiniest little guard dog!

We definately have our "Hands Full!"

Mission Bay Video

Here is Katies Lates video!

a quick update

Just a quick update to let you know we made it back from our sail up to Mission Bay...not a far jaunt from San Diego, but man oh man, it was fantastic! I will be writing lot's more later and post some pictures and  one of Katie's new videos. All I can say is that I absolutely love snorkeling, and the puppies can't get enough of the beach!! Love to you all! Now it's off to get some groceries for the next stretch.

the plans

The plans are as follows: Tomorrow we head out of the bay after a stop by the police dock for water and fuel. Than we are off for at least 3-4days. Neil got a call today and may have a doctors appointment on Monday so we will have to call it short, at least for now. I am happy that he is finally getting in to see a specialist after waiting for so long. Stewart is learning about changing the oil and doing a small tune up on the 15 hp kicker. It has never run right since the "Book Em Danno!" incident. So we are hoping that it all goes back together, with no extra parts, haha. The reel the boys picked up was worth about 15 times what they ended up paying for it after doing a little research...guess we are supposed to catch some fish now! Below are some pictures of it compared to what we used to refer to as the "big reel." It reminds me of Mick Dundee exclaiming, "Now that's a knife!"

a sailing trip in our near future...

Well after hanging out in beautiful sunny San Diego, we may take a trip for a few days to a week. We haven't quite decided just exactly where we are going. The choices are: Catalina, Coronado Islands, Ensenada or even Los Angeles. Now we will be starting with a quick trip to Mission Bay just to check it out but after that...not quite sure. Not to worry though, we have lot's of fishing gear, plenty of sunblock and lot's of time to spare. I hope to see the dolphins dance around the bow and under "Hand Full's" bum. The weather should be fair and the winds should follow. I am excited to blow the sea skirt off her and head into the big blue wet thing. I will be sure and keep everyone in the loop, so no worries. I am feeling like my old self and have a ton of energy to burn. Neil has a big meeting the first week of March, so for all of you who know what I am hinting at here...pray all goes well for us. The kid's, especially Stewart and Nel (haha) are ready for fishing action. They even got a new reel..one that would make Barry and a few others proud, or jealous, or both! (It's a big en'). It will be interesting to see how the pups react to some bigger seas, as the last time they were not really old enough to know what was up, but our last trip across the border we hit a few swells and they were not quite sure what to think. Foster is not sure about the sea birds. He barks at them and then whines when they are out of view...his favorite place to sit and stare at them is on the top of the bimini!!  He is definately a boat dog!

Change of Scenery

Tomorrow is our last day on the free cruiser's anchorage. We are going to head over to Coronado and take full advantage of the beach in our backyard...surf's up!

After our week stay we will be deciding if we are to hang out on the mooring or off to Mexico for a short time. Next week we will be heading across the border for our fishing licenses. I know Stewart and Neil cannot wait until they can fish for the big stuff.

They have had a lot of luck here in the bay and have caught a couple good sized halibut and a few cod! Yummy! Now if only I could talk Stewart into diving for lobster...maybe in the warmer waters! Heck, I will be more than willing to "dive for dinner!"

We are all doing well, and I am feeling pretty darn good indeed.

Doctor's Visit

My chest x ray came back and showed a lot of scarring. I have lost part of my lungs for good. The doctor said right now I am at about 75 percent and in time I should recover to 85 percent. That is the best I can hope for. This type of pneumonia was very bad and so was the infection. Just a few short decades ago, it would be a coin toss if I would win the battle...thank you modern medicine! I am just going to have to get used to it.

So I am a little bummed but very gratefull. I think I will push my goals a little closer to let's say, 95 percent instead. I have the desire, and even though I want to shout out a few choice four letter words...I can only say, Thank You. Thank you to everyone who prayed for me.

I know I couldn't have done it without you and the good man upstairs.

So, I guess if I am to take it easy, what better way than to say to heck with land and go live, well on a the water in a sailboat!  Done and done! I will chase my blues away with sunny days and gorgeous sunsets. Chasing waves and dolphins until I cannot bare to do it anymore. It is a hard sacrifice I know, but I am willing to do it....pray for me.....haha!