The New Look

I'm very pleased with the Nautie Mermate's make over!  This past October Nautie Mermate turned one years old!  Miss Ivy calls her my blog baby....and I think she might be right!  I decided that since I had made it a year (successfully blogging almost everyday) I was going to take things up a notch. 

I'm just starting to reach the point where I'm getting comfortable having people read my blog.  I know that may sound ridiculous but, for the most part I know everyone who's visiting the site.  It gives me a bit of freedom to say whatever I want, or not edit when I'm sleepy, or not worry about my grammar - because I know that you'll all love me anways!  I have new readers now!  (Hi Bridget!)  People I don't know!  While this is majorly exciting it's also a little nerve racking.  I have found (especially onboard a ship) that a little nervous energy can be a miracle worker when directed properly - it may make the difference between getting it done and putting in a little extra effort.  I decided that Nautie Mermate required something extra.

I began working with Lauren (who helped me get set up initially) back in October.  One of the benefits of having cool friends is that you can go over to their house make a mean pot roast and have mini design sessions!  We came up with a few 'mock ups' (or ideas that we had put together).  I took them home with me and then I sat on them for a few months.

What blew my mind is how what I thought I wanted didn't look anything looking like what I ended up loving!

Here is a bit of a background on why I chose what I chose....

I wanted the site to look nautical without being cliche.  Which is why I opted for the oriental style waves in the background.  I've always had a thing for oriental wave patterns - my favorite artist is probably Hokusai - and so I gravitated towards these waves immediately.

I have received a couple requests to bring back the chart of Hilo (which was in the upper corner of the original Nautie Mermate).  I was sad to see the original Nauti Mermate chart disappear it just wasn't working out.  You'll all have to live with oriental waves for awhile!  Take that!

I also wanted the site to look feminine.  I am, afterall, a chick at sea.  Pink has been my 'signature color' for quite sometime now.  When I left Hawaii for Maine my Bestie and I got matching hot pink jansport backpacks for college.  We also had matching lobster claw keychains.  Ever since I picked up that backpack pink has been a 'thing'.  Maybe it was because I realized that in the dead of winter hot pink can pick your mood up in a heart beat.  Now, if there is an option available I'll almost always choose the pink one.  I also learned that on a ship - no one will steal your shit when it's pink.  Those pink work glvoes?  Still where I left them!  My pink water bottle?  Gone?  Nope!  What no one ever believes is that it's not really my favorite color....my favorite color is probably chocolate brown.  It just didn't feel write to have a blog of my own without somehow incorporating some pink! 

The image of me (the mermate) on a swing near the ocean isn't going anywhere.  For some reason this photo is 'it' for me.  I want to always be having that much fun.  I want to always be in my favorite dress.  I want to always be near the ocean.  I love that photo.  I especially love how it now looks like a polaroid.  I deem it cute.

The trinkets were photographed by yours truly. 

I love orchids (yes, even though they look like lady bits).  When I'm home in Hilo I go to the farmers market and buy about two potted orchids a week.  Sometimes I buy cut flowers too but, I mostly buy orchids.  My Mom gave me pink plastic plant markers - when I go to work I take all my orchids over to my parents and my Step Dad keeps them alive.  He has a magic touch with the orchids and has quite a collection.  When I'm home if any of the orchids bloom that have a pink marker then they get to come down to my house.

I also love jewlery.  Especially jewelry that reminds me of home when I'm off on adventures.  The white coil below the orchid is a necklace that I found in a thrift shop when I was bee-bopping about on the Big Island.  There was an iconic jewelry store in Hilo back in the day called Ming's.  They mostly made chinese style gold jewelry however; in the 20s they did a lot of work with ivory.  This necklace has little ivory beads that are carved into the shape of pikake (jasmine) blossoms.  Ming's made this style of necklace very, very popular and now you can find it all over (although it is no longer ivory).  My necklace is a choker and the clasp is in the shape of a pikake leaf.  I love it.

The pendant resting on the orchid is a little trickier to spot.  It is a tahitian black pearl clasped by an octopus.  This is my most special piece of jewelry.  My Mom gave me this pearl as a graduation present from the Maine Maritime Academy (MMA).  It's a little extra special though.  Every year MMA has a ring dance.  The Juniors all purchase a class ring - there is a big formal - and a 'ring dipping' ceremony.  Your ring gets dipped into water from the seven seas and is blessed.  I was on the ring dance committtee and spent a fair amount of time writing people requesting water from the seven seas (various research facilities and vessels).  I'm not much of a ring wearer and I asked my Mom if instead of a ring I could maybe get a black pearl.  She said, 'Well, I wasn't going to tell you this....and I had been saving it for graduation...but, I picked out a black pearl for you and have been paying a little bit on it every month.'.  It was an amazing moment.  When I got to see it I was really touched that she had picked one in an octopus for me - the octopus is a very important symbol in polynesian navigation and voyaging.  He is at the heart of many myths and legends but ultimately each tentacle represents a specific group of islands in polynesia.  Long story short, I was able to take it to ring dance and have it dipped in water from the seven seas.  Needless to say, I love it.  (In fact, I'm wearing it as I type.)

There is one more new item - it's not all the way up and running yet but, on the sidebar you can now find a map called 'Where I've Been'.  If you click on it you will be directed to a page where you can select pins on a map - each pin will correlate with a specific post about where I've been!

There you have it!  The new look in a nutshell (okay, fine...that wasn't a nutshell....the post was loooong!).

Tired and Cranky.

I'm tired.  Very, very tired.  I'm also a little cranky.  Probably because I'm tired. It's blowing 50kts out - and it's raining.  The howling and pelting raindrops are so loud that I can't hear my music.

I'm totally out of clean clothes to wear with zero motivation to spend any time in the ships laundry.  I can think of ten million things I'd rather be doing....starting with taking a nap.

My nose got stuffy last night - probably because the house is like an igloo.  I'm currently drinking lemon and ginger tea with a spoonful of honey.  I also doubled up on my vitamins.  I'm too cranky to be sick!

I keep telling myself, 'Megan, choose!'.  If now is not the time to enact 2012's one word - when will it be time?  I know i'm wallowing slightly but, I also know that I can choose to stop wallowing. (I do however, wholeheartedly believe that every sailor is entitled to a couple of days of wallowing per rotation.)

Whenever I get this way I try to remember one of my all time favorite quotes:

ATTITUDE.  The difference between adventure and ordeal.

I'm not sure that could be any more true.

So today I will:

Choose a positive attitude; choose a nap; choose healthy options and ward off any sickness; choose my favorite long johns and bundle up; choose to sort the laundry to get a head start; and choose to take some photos to share with my Nautie Friends.

A Shipboard Winter Wonderland

A few days ago I wrote about being cold - and how sometimes it was fun. After I wrote that post I:

Went out on deck and filled up my hardhat with snowballs and then I pelted my watchstanders with them.

Made a snow angel on the deck.

Announced that we should make a snowman and then amazingly one of my watch partners made a little one for the manifold.

Took lots of snowy photos.

FUN.

FRESH OFF THE PRESS!

Welcome to the NEW and IMPROVED Nautie Mermate Land! I've been silently working on a new look for my internet home.  What do you think?

There are still changes to be made - and they'll be made live and on the fly - so please be patient if things are not loading properly.  Also, please feel free to give feedback!  I know that somethings are slightly off (as in the font) but, hopefully the kinks will be worked out soon.  If you notice errors feel free to drop me a line - as a comment here or as an email (nautiemermate@gmail.com) - please also include what type of computer you have (mac or pc) and what browser you're using (explorer, safari, firefox, etc.).

I'm very, very excited about the new look!  A huge shout out to Lauren of Windward Webdesign.  She has answered countless emails and has sat very patiently at her desk while I sit next to her whimming and wahhing.  Huge Mahalos!

Thank You Russia...

Russia is cold. It seems strangely appropriate.  I mean really....when you think of Russia you think of fur hats and bundling up in Siberia.  You think of Dr. Zhivago....snow, trains and arm muffs....am I right?

Midnight watches suck when it is snowing sideways.  When you step outside and get a face full of snow....the kind of face full of snow that hurts all you can think is, 'what the hell am I doing here?!'. 

Snow blowing sideways and below freezing temperatures make me feel guilty that I'm a Mate.  I spend the majority of my watch in the cargo control room.  I go out on rounds about the deck however; I do two rounds an hour.  My watchstanders spend the entireity of their watch on deck.  Our ship doesn't spend much time in very cold weather which means that the deck isn't outfitted for cold.  There are no heated spaces outside of the house.

I joined my first ship in Seattle, Washington at the end of November (I was 22).  She got underway the next day for Alaska.  I spent 4 months aboard as an AB and realized exactly how brutal winter at sea truly is (a cold day ashore is nothing compared to even a chilly day at sea).  I was working on getting time on a tanker because, I didn't have the credentials to allow me to sail officer on a tanker....only other types of vessels.  Sailing AB was probably the best thing I ever did - it gave me some experience but, most importantly it gave me a little perspective....like, how cold you get when you stand a deck watch.

Being back in cold weather has me reminiscing about Alaskan winters.  One of my biggest reasons to leave Alaskan waters was that I truly didn't want to do another winter.  I soon found myself enjoying a Persian Gulf summer and decided then and there that I'd take an Alaskan winter any day over a Persian Gulf summer.....now that I'm back in the cold I'm wondering if maybe I should revise that statement! 

I didn't really expect to be really cold this trip.  I didn't bring my fleece neck warmer.  Do you know what this means?  It means that I'm wearing a coral colored pashmina around on deck.  It's bad enough that I wear a fuschia colored carhartt jacket....but paired with a coral colored scarf....talk about a shipboard fashion faux pas!  I'm pretty sure my shipmates (and the dockmen) think I'm freakin' crazy.  (I won't even tell you what it means that I forgot my waterproof gloves.  Think red vinyl....seriously.)

Being cold in Russia is making me yearn for a fur hat....you know the exact style of hat I'm referring to.  I bet if I wore a Russian fur cap no one would even notice that I was wearing a pashmina!  If only I had a fur hat like that when I was up in Alaska....

Wanna know another thing about being cold on a ship?  It has this magical ability to bond the crew.  Everyone is cold...and everyone knows that everyone is cold.  Before you know it people are pitching in to help one another just a little bit more.  Team work is slightly more prevalent.  Shipmates start taking care of one another just a little bit more.....because they secretly want to get taken care of.  I'm also amazed by how suddenly people are ready to have fun.  You'll see way more joking around...way more horsing around....way more chatting in rough and severe weather.  It's as if suddenly people realize that they have the ability to create fun.  Spontaneous snow ball fights on deck?  Yes please!

So, Russia, thank you.  Thank you for helping me remember just how awesome a shipboard winter wonderland can be. Thank you for reminding me of the days where I came into the house so cold that I had to start rewarming my toes with cold water and slowly increase the temperature.  Thank you for validating the purchase of 30 dollar wool socks.  Thank you for reminding me that at one time I was just another young pup on deck who got nervous when they had to tend the lines when they got icy.  Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to wear all the cold weather gear I packed....it makes me feel so much better about my heavy bags.  Thank you for reminding me how amazing a cup of hot cocoa can be.  Thank you for reminding me that there is fun to be had - and that snow ball fights are never a bad idea.  But mostly, thank you for reminding me that at one time I was an AB whose Mate sat in the cargo control room (which is the polite way to say: thank you for helping remind me to not be a douche bag Mate to my AB's).

A Note To My Mom....

Remember when I was a kid and I'd listen to the same thing over, and over, and over again?  Like when I parked myself in front of West Side Story and memorized the whole thing?  Or how about the Lion King?  Or every single Ani DiFranco Album ever out?  Or how about RENT?  This list can go on forever...as you well know. Well, I have a new edition to the list.  Nicki Minaj.  I can't stop listening to her!  Her songs are basically on repeat...and I did that crazy thing I do where I print out the lyrics and practice singing along to make sure I know all the words.  I'm 28.  I literally sat on my bed a few days ago and read the lyrics along with the song....seriously....it was like a flash back to my 14 year old self.  (I thought if anyone can appreciate this it would be you....also I appreciate that you had the patience to not crack my movies and CDs in half....)

After weeks of Nicki Minaj overkill I stumbled upon this:

(written by Nicole....over at Nicole is Better....there is swearing....which is probably why I like this blog....)

"The race was fucking awesome though. I mean, the race itself wasn’t anything special, but I had this crazy out-of-body moment around mile 8 where I was all, “holy shit, LOOK WHAT MY BODY CAN DO” and it made me remember what Gretchen brilliantly dubbed the “Nicki Minaj moment,” which is basically any real life version of that line in Nicki Minaj’s song that goes “Yes I did, yes I did, somebody please tell him who the eff I is” that in my mind loosely translates to, “YOU BEST BELIEVE I’M DOING THIS CRAZY ASS THING. BAM!” Which is why you’ll see Gretchen and I occasionally yelling “NICKI MINAJ” at each other on Facebook and Twitter as a new go-to mantra for things we maybe don’t think we can do but are totally going to do anyway because bitch please."

When I read this all I could think was, 'Yes!  Somebody understands!'.  Remember how we used to yell 'IMUA!'?  Think of Nicki Minaj lyrics as the less Hawaiian more Girl Power version of IMUA!

I actually posted 'Yes I did, yes I did, somebody please tell him who the eff I is' on facebook.  No lie.  When I deem a lyric facebook worthy you know I mean business.

So the song I've really been listening to ALOT is 'Moment 4 Life' (I've included a bit of the lyrics below for your reading pleasure). 

Lyrics to Moment 4 Life : I fly with the stars in the skies, I am no longer trying to survive, I believe that life is a prize, But to live doesn't mean you're alive, Don't worry bout me and who I fire I get what I desire it's my empire And yes I call the shots I am the umpire I sprinkle holy water upon a vampire, vampire And this very moment I'm king This very moment I slay Goliath with a sling, This very moment I bring Put it on everything that I will retire with the ring, And I will retire with the crown, Yes! No I'm not lucky I'm blessed, Yes! Clap for the heavyweight champ, Me! But I couldn't do it all alone, We! Young Money raised me, grew up out in Paisley Southside Jamaica, Queens and it's crazy Cause I'm still hood, Hollywood couldn't change me Shout out to my haters, sorry that you couldn't faze me Ain't being cocky we just vindicated, best believe that when were done This moment will be syndicated, I don't know this night just reminds me Of everything that they deprived me of, kuhh! Ppppp put ya drinks up, it's a celebration every time we link up We done did everything they can think of Greatness is what we wanna brink up. [Chorus:] I wish that I could have this moment for life, for life, for life Cause in this moment I just feel so alive, alive, alive

Now, imagine a bad ass chick with a pink wig rapping this.  Now do you see the appeal?!  (Man, I crack myself up....)

In light of current events (like my news - or the lack thereof) these are my favorite of all the lyrics....and they're dedicated to YOU!

No I'm not lucky I'm blessed, Yes! Clap for the heavyweight champ, Me! But I couldn't do it all alone, We! Young Money raised me, grew up out in Hilo

Mom, when I'm home next (and I mean really, who the hell knows when that will be...) I think we should have some beach cocktails and give shout outs to our haters...saying sorry they couldn't faze us....it ain't being cocky....we just vindicated!

For the record I realize that my Mother is probably the only person who will be able to follow my train of thought in this post......