It's Friday....

 We have enjoyed our third holiday season in Southern California.  The city puts on quite the festive display of color and even though it isn't New York we share the same charm of a downtown ice skating rink that seemed to put you in the mood for hot cocoa, Christmas shopping and holiday cheer.                                            

            I am, as you know, a huge child and love this season. Not to sound "cliche" but it is about family togetherness, fun and the giving of time over money...

The kid in me puts up the Christmas lights early and I enjoy every minute of it. I think any decorating on a sailboat is charming and being in front of such a beautiful view of the city makes it all fit quite well....

Sadly I will be taking down the Christmas lights this weekend...although I am tempted to leave them up a bit longer...we have been so busy killing time, that its hard to believe 2012 is "no mas!"

 

 

 

       Just another day in paradise....

Wish you were here!

New Year's Day

Today as we were sitting down to lunch we heard loud screams for help coming from outside and thought " oh no, one of our neighbors is in the water again!" This time it happened to be a gentleman who had fallen off his boat out in the middle of the Chanel...he going one direction and his sailboat, under power, going another.

Neil and Stewart hopped in the skiff and sped off to the rescue, literally! He was an older man from South America who was moving his boat to another mooring...fell off his boat and almost sank as his boots filled with water wanting to pull him under.

Another vessel, did maneuvers around him until they were able to pick him up as Stewart climbed aboard his sailboat and started moving her back towards the shivering owner. Soon thereafter the police boats showed up, did their duty, than Neil offered to climb aboard and help him move his boat to the other side of the bay... Yep, the boys are heroes... Stewart helped get Neil safely aboard from the skiff and away they went.

                                                     They powered safely to a new harbor and got the boat secured to its new mooring without a hitch. The grateful man and new friend was very sweet, very relieved to be on his way home after a most invigorating dip in the bay... We hope to get together with him and his family soon.......

A new year...a new chapter

Well folks it has been a while as you know... And we have had a lot going on...Neil finally had his surgery at the end of last year. It has been a slow yet steady road to wellsville and it looks like we have a ways to go. So after some " dead air" I return to the blog...the old computer has been replaced with more convenient technology!

Neil went from being in a lot of pain for years and waiting for what felt like an eternity to going in for invasive surgery after a few days notice. They literally called and said, " got plans for next Thursday?" " No, why?" " See you for surgery, bring an overnight bag." " wha??? Ok!" And that was pretty much it.

They replaced a disk, wrapped a cage around his spine, secured it with what we hope is marine grade steel ( ha ha, you know what I mean) and slapped a few screws in. The result, a large incision and some serious down time.

Neil, being the stud that he is was moving around in no time, even though the first few days were shear hell, pain wise. He left the hospital confident to return to the boat with just a cane...and some horse tranquilizers to boot. The first week on board was awkward, but we have managed rather well. Getting him on the boat the first time and in the cockpit, then down the steps was challenging but rather easy...you see, being a sailboat which is prone to heeling and weather...we have hand rails and hand hold, well, everywhere! So pulling himself up, walking to the bathroom, bed, kitchen...well we are fairly handicap accessible...once you get in!

It has been about 6 weeks or so and he is doing well. We still have some time to see if this is all he will need there, and then we will focus on his neck area. It really has been quite taxing on the entire family. Emotions stemming from frustration to sadness to anger to happy to worried to excited to..... It's been a real roller coaster...and the ride isn't over yet....

So now that we are back in business....Internet wise...away we go starting a new year, a new chapter... Please join us, and thank you, to everyone who has cheered us on... You are so precious to me, to all of us, and we love you.