Nautie Tidbits :: Procrastination, Chocolate and Hot Dogs

You know what always amazes me?  The amount of panic I feel when I realize that I'm about to receive travel instructions to depart the vessel.  You'd think after doing almost 90 days aboard I'd be counting down the days and would be expecting it.....and I am.....but then suddenly the Captain gives me an itinerary and it becomes real.....and then I think, 'Damnit Megan!  Why are you such a freakin' procrastinator?!'....and then, I run around like a chicken with my head cut off trying to tie up ten million loose ends....so that my relief doesn't think I'm a douche bag.  It happens every single time. You know what else happens a lot?  I get my travel plans for home and then they fall through.  Sometimes (as in this time) it feels like a relief when there is some sort of delay.  It means that I can regroup and catch my breath and tie up those loose ends! 

You know what the best kind of delay is?  The kind at anchor.  That's the kind I'm experiencing now.  Rushing from port, to port, to port allows zero time for loose end tying.

In a nutshell?  I got lucky.

Here are a few Nautie Tidbits....

• Apparently International Woman's Day is a really big deal in the Ukraine.  The Women take four days off!  Four Days!  When the Pilot came aboard he asked the Captain, 'How many Womens do you have aboard?'.  The Captain replied, 'Two many!'.  (Get it?  There are two of us...)  Anyways, the Pilot ended up giving me a bar of really nice dark chocolate as a Woman's Day present!  Kinda cool!
• When the Russian boarding party arrived to clear us for Customs they requested 'American Hot Dogs'.  It blew my mind.  Apparently they love American Weiners.....who knew?!
• I was able to upload corrections to the electronic chart system with no error messages!  I can't even begin to describe what a success this was and how amazing it feels!  WIN!  I had been sending emails to everyone I could thing of....the supplier, the hydrographic offices, the manufacturers.  You know who finally solved my problem?  An old instructor.  Teachers are the best.
• I didn't get ashore in the Ukraine - total bummer.  The good news is that Travel Buddy did go ashore....and he came back bearing gifts!  We officially have real beans on the bridge again!  The kind you can grind and use with the french press.  Yum-o!

Those, Nautie Friends are the highlights of my last 3 or 4 days.  I have more to share though!  There are photos on my computer!  (I know, I know, you're tired of hearing about it....)  Pictures soon!

Nautie Tidbits + I See At Sea = Time Management > Sunrises and Islands

Dockings, Cargo Operations, Undockings and Fun Ashore have really put my time management skills to the test.  Yikes!  The days have really gotten away from me!  Here are a few Nautie Tidbits....

• Today I tidied my desk - it still isn't anywhere close to being organized but it was a step in the right direction.
• Last night I saw a meteor that fully illuminated the sky.
• I'm due off the vessel in 3 weeks.
• Today I'm correcting charts and publications on overtime.
• I have no idea where my next port will be - chart preparation might become a mad scramble.
• My head (bathroom) developed the most foul odor last night.  What the hell?!
• I've eaten almost all my cheese from Spain...this makes me sadder than I can tell you.  I've also eaten almost all my chocolate from Russia....again, so sad!

Some of these photos are almost 6 days old!  What have I been seeing at sea?  In a nutshell - sunrises and Greek Islands.  No one is complaining.

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Nautie Tidbits :: Hot Cocoa and To Do Lists

Happy Sunday Nautie Friends! Things here are groovy.  We're back at sea for a few days which always makes me happy.  Being at sea is when I can take a breath, take some naps and get back on top of things.

I haven't been blogging much and have to catch up so, here are a few tidbits:

• I went ashore in Rota, Spain!  Woot!  Woot!  The bummer is that I took photos with my iPhone only (Damn, I've been lazy lately!  Big Bertha is feeling neglected!) and I'm having a hard time getting the photos onto my laptop.  Grrrr....hopefully, I'll be able to share them soon.
• During our last port stay we got a HUGE stores order (food!).  Yay!  Hello oranges, hello hot cocoa!  Coffee on the bridge is back to being awesome!  (Plus, when I was in Russia Travel Buddy and I picked up some whole beans.....mmmm fresh ground!)
• I did laundry yesterday.  I hate laundry.  I don't think I like doing it at home but I really hate doing it onboard.  Someday, I'm going to write an incredibly long post ranting about laundry.  Next step is cleaning my room.  Wish me luck.
• I made a long ass to do list.  Yesterday I crossed off 4 items.  If I cross off 4 items a day I still don't complete all my desired tasks before arriving in the next port.  Shoots.
• Did you know that I play cribbage every day at coffee time?  Well I do.  Yesterday I almost got double skunked!  But, I didn't because all of a sudden I had mad luck and was able to save face.  Losing is one thing....getting skunked is another....getting double skunked?!  Don't even go there....
• (In reference to the above tidbit:  You may be wondering how I can lament about incomplete tasks and then make time for cards at coffee time.  Coffee time is a sacred thing.  Apparently, working through coffee time (or more importantly asking someone to work through coffee time) is the equivalent of asking them to cut off their right opposable thumb.....in other words....don't do it....ever.)
• I have under a month left aboard!  Where does the time go?!  I've been a terrible correspondent of late.  If any of you are waiting for personal emails it might be awhile.  Don't say I didn't warn you.  (I think some of you just got a little excited inside because you realized you'd be able to call me instead of waiting for emails....and then you got disappointed all over again because you thought, 'wait a minute, that broad will never answer her phone anyways!'.  Too true.)
• I listed my house for sale.  Are you wondering how I could have saved such big news for the last tidbit?!  Me too.  I honestly forgot!  I'm actually very excited about it.  I'll probably (repeat probably) write a long emotional piece about my house....but I'll most likely save it for when I'm off the ship. 
• I think that's it for tidbits. 

Now, go enjoy your Sunday afternoon.  Please?  So that I can live vicariously through you?  Because, if I were you I'd:

*Buy a cute Patagonia beach dress at Hilo Bay Paddler * Have a delicious coffee at a cute coffee shop * Take a walk along the water * Go out for sushi * Arrange fresh cut flowers throughout the house * Eat half a papaya with some lime squeezed on it * Enjoy a glass of Pinot Grigio with one ice cube * Go for a scenic drive and turn around whenever * Write a note to a friend (on cute stationary) and get it in the mailbox * Drink some carrot juice *

Nautie Tidbits :: Time Flies!

• Sometimes it seems like I'm barely keeping track of the days.  I'll suddenly realize the date isn't what I expected it to be.  February 6th.  Sheesh.
•  We're in port and I didn't make it ashore.  Sad face.  It's been foggy and yucky and apparently the launch boat doesn't operate in such conditions.  I got all ready to go ashore with my travel buddy and then the boat just didn't show up...go figure...
• I've been extraordinarily cranky.  I almost feel sorry for my shipmates....I probably would feel sorry for them if I wasn't already so cranky.
• I ate all the chesse that I bought in La Spezia, Italy.  I had to hurry and finish it - I mean, I was in La Spezia almost a month ago!  That being said, not having my own personal stash of cheese is going to take some adjustment. 
• We're still working kinks out of the new and improved Nautie Mermate site.  Someday I'll sit down and tell you all about the design process and what I was thinking when I helped create the 'new look'.
• I haven't forgotten that there are still Nautie Friends Ask requests still out on the street. 
• The ship is out of hot cocoa and it's oddly distressing.  There are no oranges either.  What am I going to do without a mocha or orange goodness?!  I mean, really!
• I need to do laundry something fierce.  I hate doing laundry on the ship. 
• I've been watching a lot of movies at the end of my day to wind down.  Yesterday (after the boat was a no show) I started watching Thor and then I stopped it about 20 minutes in.  I think it might be the worst marvel comic turned movie ever.  Then I put in Water For Elephants which wasn't as good as the book but was the perfect pick for a foggy slightly blah day.
• I haven't used my camera in days.  Hopefully I'll get back on the band wagon shortly!
• That's it...I'm out of tidbits.

Nautie Tidbits :: No Longer Adrift!

• I didn't write much about it but for the last week our vessel has been adrift awaiting cargo orders. 
• The good news?  We're on our way to a load port in RUSSIA!  I am going to go through the Black Sea!  I'm very, very excited about this....
• Which is why you haven't seen too much in the way of posting - I've been pulling charts, laying courses and researching Vessel Traffic call in points.  It's always a mad dash to get a voyage plan ready when you have no idea where you are going until the phone call comes.  Such is the life.
• Other than being quite busy on the bridge I've been quite busy at the gym.  I've done a fair amount of working out in the last few days.
• I'm so sore!  Sore!  I limp up the stairs to the bridge and try to avoid lifting my arms over my head. 
• No pain no gain!
• Those are all my tidbits.....lots of charts, lots of gym, not a lot of sleepy time.....

Nautie Tidbits :: Oh, it's Wednesday....

• Yesterday I was sitting on the train and I looked down at my watch and saw that it was Wednesday.  I immediately burst out laughing.  I was sitting with a shipmate - he of course looks over at me wanting to know what was so funny.  I said, 'It's wednesday!'....and burst into more giggles....because yesterday at the bottom of my post I said, 'Hope you are all having a lovely weekend!'.  Clearly, I've lost track of my days.  Ha.
• I did an insane amount of walking yesterday and my legs are sore. 
• I absolutely cannot wait to get my photos sorted so I can show you what I was up to yesterday!
• This port call might be one of my all time favorites.  If I compiled a top five list yesterday would probably make it.
• I'm discovering that after sailing for 6 years I have officially done the worst packing job EVER.  I don't have any of the basics for shore leave.  I didn't bring a backpack or a purse with a shoulder strap.  What the hell was I thinking?  I also didn't bring a jacket.  Again, what the hell was I thinking?
• I have always found 'boat shoes' incredibly dorky however; I finally bought a pair after trying them on and realizing how insanely comfortable they are.  I think that they might be the ultimate shoe for quick treks out and about.  This may require a post all of its own.
• I got a little sunburned yesterday while cruising around.
• Italians seem very content.  The enjoy good food and good conversation.  I think that maybe I need to take some pointers and take my stressball level down a notch.
• I'm preparing to get back underway today - the bridge is calling my name....'Megan, come organize me!'.

I've introduced a few new series - Nautie Tidbits - for when I have many random things to say!  Yesterday morning I introduced I See At Sea (Aunt Kay - lets rock those homonyms!) - I'm pretty sure the idea behind this series is self explanatory.