neighbors

Our dinner with new found boat neighbors went very well. It was nice to have other kid's close to our childrens ages so close. This works out well for both parties as with teens onboard, socialization is the key to happy campers! We have always had a "full house" when it comes to kids. This doesn't change much when it comes to the boat either. We have managed to have sleepovers on our little boat despite the lack of space. Tables get taken out and the floor gets covered in cushions. I have mentioned before that we are nothing but a floating clubhouse, and I like it that way! This time our kid's slept over on the neighbors boat as theirs is the bigger of the two.With this we'd better be careful as Neil and I could get used to "date night" at home! ha ha.

We had a lot in common with our new friends stemming from the fact that we had both done some "mountain time" in our "previous lives." I think if one can survive in the hills, one can survive on the water. Granted it's a little different but so much the same. It was a nice treat to learn that Jim (the head of household) was a glass blower and showed us some very beautiful pieces. Ursula, (mother) was a wonderful crochet-er and we are both into herbs, simplicity and various forms of art. The kid's are just a few years younger but close enough that they had a realy fun time.

We are all going to be around till the fall, unless the time to depart comes up sooner. That is a boaters life though, you plan but cannot set anything in stone. Our life revolves around the wind and water, and so do our plans!

dinner with new friends

We are starting to meet more and more of the local fellow boaters here on the mooring. Some of them have just as big of dreams as we do of sailing to far off locations and just enjoying our time here on this planet. Maybe it's all the sunshine here, but we have yet to meet an uptight boater...at least not on the anchorages or moorings. Sure there is always a few eccentric people, but overall they love their freedom, their lifestyle, and their boat. We are invited to go to dinner with a family on Friday who also have a blue boat and a few kids. I am looking forward to sitting down and talking with them. It's always so fascinating to hear how people end up on boats fulltime. Sometimes its a tragedy that led them there, other times it is a burning desire that could only be quenched by living on the water, and sometimes (especially the younger ones) it is because they grew up on the water and can't imagine living any other way. So we shall see. To all of our friends and family up north..we miss you and hope you are enjoying the beginning of spring just as much as we are, rain and all!

San Bernardino

Our trip to San Bernardino went very well. Neil went in for his MRI. He has a few other appointments later this week but most of it will be local, thank goodness.

While he was in the doctor's office the kid's and I were looking for something to do. It was rainy and cold outstide so any "touring" was out. We saw a Chuck E Cheese and I said, "Hey, wanna play some games?" to which my two teenagers both replied, "Mother! That's for Babies!!" "Oh, right." I didn't pout too much, I mean after all it's not like I wanted to go in there...haha..

Around the corner we saw a bowling alley with a pool hall attatched. I must say back when I was their age up until I finished school I was at the local pool hall ALOT..so I offered that up as a suggestion and was met with two enthusiastic "Sure!"(s) from the back seat of the rental car. Off we went and we had a realy fun time. After a few rounds I went to pick up Neil and we came back and spent a few more hours there. Neil and Katie soon became the cheering squad as Stewart and I were in a head to head match of nine ball, than eight ball...he eventually got me, 5 games to 4.

I have to say that I miss my kid's being little, but at the same time, it was so neat to just "hang out" and enjoy them as young adults.

I am a very blessed lady indeed.

It's always an adventure going into the city

Katie had a doctor's appointment on Friday that required for us to take public transit deep into the heart of, for lack of a better descriptive word, "Crapsville." It seems like this is the  trend with doctors offices here. With exception of Neil's doctor..but even then there is that one little stretch you have to cross under the freeway...where bums live in the bushes...We became aware of the fact that this is the bum capital of CA. when we arrived.The local news stations were boasting that the city had some 10,000 homeless in the city. At first, before we realy started to explore the entire area, I thought it was an over exaggeration. I thought it was similar to San Francisco's downtown. I was wrong. There are so many homeless and they seem to be multiplying. I hate to blog about it but when it is in your face all the time it is hard not to.

Now hear me out, I enjoy taking the trolleys and trains and even the bus. I love not having to pay attention to the traffic and just sit back, listen to the interesting conversations, or my IPod  and not have to realy worry about anything other than making sure I keep on schedule and don't miss my stop. With this, there is ALWAYS a story to tell when one of us comes home about some "weirdness." I don't mind it unless it gets too close.

Friday night Katie and I, after making a day of it, were headed downtown when we had our first real scare. This drunken/high or both older gentleman bum(and I am being very nice here....) came and sat next to us, and would not leave us alone despite my subtle hints to be left alone. There were a lot of other people around and two of the men nearby were also trying to "hint" that we needed to be left alone. All of a sudden he sat super close next to Katie and just as I was getting ready to cause a scene, I noticed our train was approaching our stop.
I told Katie, "Ok, this is us" and we hopped off as quickly as we could.

The transit cop must have seen the disturbed look on our faces and came over as I was calling Neil. I told him about our situation and he basically said that there is always a "someone" on the train.Then he gave us some alternate routes that don't have as many "someones" on them. I was thankful for the info and noticed that after that, the trains were heavily patrolled from then on.

After that we did a little shopping and strolled through the famous "Gas Lamp" district which is full of clubs, lounges and sports bars. They have a few live theatres and this night they had a fashion show. We arrived just as it was finishing up. We got to see some hairstyles that don't exist in nature! Curly hair standing straight up, gold painted faces, false eyelashes that were 2 inches long, 8 inch platform shoes, clothing that I really can't describe, and music so loud you could feel the bass thumping through your chest. Down the way we saw every club from Hip Hop, Underground downward spiral staircases, a Tranny bar full of Lady Gaga look alikes, High End formal wearing, to The Official House of Blues. All of these places are within a good 3/4 mile stretch or less. It was an experience to see all the people dressed to impress...some were a bit our there, and others looked like they stepped out of the pages of Vogue. We also got to hear the musical skills of the "Hari Krishnas" who played and sang very well...tamborines and all! Katie got to see her first steroid ridden bouncer too. I swear he had no neck! Let's just say if he was on the train with us, "No Worries!" haha!

And me without a camera! Darn!!

It was fun, despite the drunken turd from the train. It's always and adventure going into the city. I may not be seeing the rest of the world right now, but I am seeing a completely different world right here!!

Tomorrow we get the final set of shots for the puppies. They had to space them out as they are so little. Then we are going to go to a beach festival (weather permitting) and Monday we are off on our road trip for Neil's MRI.

We do still get our little 3 or 4 day sailing expeditions every week or so...and thank goodness for that!

(oh and I do carry a pocket knife and am going to start carrying mace and perhaps a whistle from now on!! haha).

Progress

Since our trip to L.A. Neil has been in to see the doctor a few times, including a start to his physical therapy via a chiropractor. Next Monday we are to rent a car for the day once again and this time head north to San Bernardino for an M.R.I. We are excited that things are finally happening and hope that this is just the beginning to his road to recovery. (Fingers Crossed!).

We hope to take our time as we head inland for the first time so we can see the sights. Got to make the best of it! We may even get into some very warm weather. I will be sure and keep everyone posted as now we broke down and got an internet card. It isn't just for the blog and email but for the kid's education as well as mine. If we are to be here for a while I have decided to go back to school. If everything goes well, Katie may join me this fall. With today's techonological advances a good majority of studies and classes are all online..so this shouldn't damper our desire to sail, learn, and enjoy our extended stay in southern Cal.

I can't complain at all. After all, I think so far this winter we only started the heater once after a week of rain. Other than that it has been fairly warm, mostly sunny skies with a slight breeze. Clearer water with little to no chop. Beautiful sunsets welcome each night. If you wake up to fog  it gets taken over by the sun and stands little chance of surviving past noon. That is not a bad way to spend the winter...and spring is just around the corner!

evidence of a tsunami

We have all heard by now of the recent events happening in Japan..we feel so greatly for all of the lost souls and their families left behind to deal with a monsterous mess. We recived many phone calls from friends and family both in the state and around the states about whether or not we were to be affected by it all. Fortuately we were not. We did feel a few little surges the day after. We realy noticed it when we went up the coast a little ways to Mission Bay. What we noticed there was that when landing the dinghy onshore, we put out the anchor, walked away from the skiff about 10 feet when all of a sudden the water came in quickly. We thought "ok, the tide is coming in fast", not realy thinking much about it. We went and moved the boat up closer to shore so we wouldn't be swimming to it later. Within 10 more minutes our boat was now on dry land and we ended up having to carry her about 80 feet back to the water's edge. This was our evidence of a surge. We had a chuckle over it, but it realy made you stop and think about how powerful the force of the waves and sea can be. Again we were fortunate to not have been affected by the waves. We have thought about it before as one does when living on the coastal waters. The safest place to be is offshore a ways, not next to land. If it ever were to be the case and warning was given we would head out as far as we could, and wait. So to all of you who called or wrote...thank you, but we are fine. Now just pray for all of those who have been affected and will continue to be for some time to come. May God be with them.

on the mooring...

Well we are officially on the mooring in San Diego. I would have preferred to just be free agents and anchor but this area has so many rules that we found it to be the best solution to our situation. We still have a lovely view of the city front and are very close to the beach! So I guess I can't complain. It looks like we are going to have to stay within the states here for a little while too as we await the outcome of Neil's ordeal. As I said before though we plan on taking lot's of mini trips and for that I am thankful. Now the dilema of getting a car while we are here or continue to rely on public transportation is the big question...wishing I hadn't sold the car! But hey, it's all part of the adventure!

and now its time for picture pages..L.A.

home again home again

I can say that we are glad to be done with the deposition. I was thankful that they let me stay in the room and be a fly on the wall during the whole ordeal. It gave Neil a bit of comfort, even though I had to stay quiet. Anyone who knows me, knows that remaining quiet is sooooooo hard for me! I was thankful when the lawyer handed me a notebook, a pen, and a nod...I was able to write my words that I felt needed to be freed, than doodle over...phew! Neil did very well. It was very hard not to become overly emotional when talking about his injury, how it's affected him, us, and our plans etc...After it is all said and done, I think we will be ok, and Neil will hopefully come out of it after some physical therapy and treatment with some success. I know he will not be as before, but we will take what we can get...forwards,even if slow, is better than backwards.

That being said it was nice to get away, sit in the hot tub while the kids swam. I also enjoyed the pool. It still seems so bizzare to be swimming outdoors in the middle of winter and not be freezing! I like it alot! I was also glad that the dog's did very well being alone for a few days. They still had plenty of water, food and treats. Since they are paper trained it made it very nice to know that there was not going to be a huge mess when we came back...that being said....ya, they did pull practically everything off of the top shelf trying to peek out of the windows. I am not sure how Foster got up there, as it is about 3 feet from the couches, but he did it..and yes we know it had to be him! ha ha. I took the cushions off the couch when we left and put them on the V Berth. I brought in the very durable and 100% washable cockpit cushions inside...it worked out perfectly and we were back to normal within 10 minutes of returning!

This was a good little test and the main reason that we opted for Daisy to have pups...no one was freaked out, and they weren't tramatized to be alone as long as they had each other...this will be great when we head to little islands that will not allow dogs on shore.

This week we plan on heading back to Mission Bay and are deciding whether or not to sail up to Los Angeles for a week or so. There was so much we didn't get to see. I do know that we will need to be here in the area for a while so we are going to start taking some week long trips while we wait.

Thank you to all of you who prayed and shared happy thoughts and well wishes with us...we are not done yet, but the first big hurdle is over and done with. Our love to you all goes out with big hugs and kisses attatched.

Made it to L.A.

Yesturday we rented a car, loaded up the dogs to stay on the boat by themselves with self feeders and water and probably 5 pounds of mixed rawhides, busy bones and pig ears. Not to worry, we took the kids with us, haha!! We got up to Los Angeles by noon. I haven't been here since I was about 12 years old...and my how things look so different seeing  it from an adult perspective. We drove around Beverly Hills, Bel Air, Santa Monica and got out and walked the Hollywood Blvd walk of fame. We found Marina Del Mar, and holy moly do they have a HUGE marina in there! I think next time we will be bringing the boat as we want to spend time at the beach.

Are we on vacation? No. Today is Neil's deposition for his injury. Pray it all goes well. This is the main reason, other than his health, that we are still in San Diego. I will report on the matter later and post some pictures as well, for now, we are off to the courthouse.

I am glad we were able to get a motel with a pool and hot tub...the hot tub really helped Neil and I to relax before our big day...if only I could get one to fit on the bow!! haha