Packing Lunches and Going For Walks

The first thing I always realize when I work in the office is how hard it is to live and work. I bustle about in the morning packing my lunch trying on different outfits (sans hosiery...what?! It's spring!) and getting organized for the day.

I sit at my desk and reap the rewards of a well packed lunch.

I pack up and head out for the evening. If you hope to have any kind of a life you better have everything planned because bed time comes quick!

This morning I woke up early and met up with a friend for a morning walk - which was awesome but now....I'm six minutes late and sitting on the train.

I have an Aunt (yes, the one with the poodles) who is mad organized. I used to think she was crazy. She had a planner - and used it! She scheduled things waaay in advance and had to check the thin before commuting to new activities. She went on huge shopping trips and had lists upon lists and went to many stories. I get it. Poodle Loving Aunt you are my spirit animal. I hope to channel some of all that goodness.

Packed lunches and morning walks folks. Insane. (Sorry for the randomness of it all...just figured I'd let you all know where I was and what I was doing)

And....I'm off!

After being on terra firma for 24 hours I hopped on a plane and took off. I'm off to Virginia where I'll be working as a cargo planner for a few weeks. It's good and bad.

I'm excited for the opportunity and bummed that I haven't slept in and lazed around with a slow cup of coffee.

Here I sit with a kale smoothie and comfy as hell boat shoes (with sparkly leopard print, ahem).

I kicked the last 24 hours ass. Seriously. I can't wait to fill you in!

Generate A Poop Deck.

US Flag vessels don't typically have a 'poop deck' but, this vessel was built overseas so indeedy, we have a poop deck. This is glorious because then one of my shipmates can put a sticker above it's sign....

I love this.

First of all, it's funny.

Second of all, it loosely translates to, 'give a shit'.

Honestly, I give a shit.  About almost everything.

I enjoy sailing with people who give a shit because, I give a shit and there is nothing more annoying than a shipmate who doesn't give a shit.

As I wrap up my rotation (the Pilot should be boarding shortly and I'll be docked this afternoon) I feel grateful for several things - being surrounded by people who give a shit is probably the top of my list.

Here's to giving a shit!

Mettle Makers :: A Demon

"I'm going to tell you what a demon once told me:  It is okay to want your own happiness.  It's okay to care about yourself the most.  It's okay to do what's healthy for YOU.  When someone hits you, it's okay to hit back and then ask them what the hell they expected.  It's okay.  You are not obligated to sit there and smile and swallow every bit of shit everyone heaps on you.  You are more than furniture, you're more than window dressing, you're not their shiny toy.  You're human, and you have the right to say "That was shitty of you".  You have a right to say "Let me feed that back to you; tell me, how does it taste?" You have a right to protest your own mistreatment and set boundaries for respectful interactions. The rest of the world doesn't realize you have this right, and they will act offended and appalled when you exercise it, but it is yours." via.

Things In Mason Jars :: Fruit Smoothies At Sea

I have a really nice Cadet - who went ashore when we were in Charleston and bought me a crap ton of fresh fruit.  After 29 days at sea I was jonesing....bad.

(I just realized that I didn't tell you guys that I hit my first US Port and am heading to my next...the one where I get off the ship at!  Yippee!)

Anyways, I was hungry for some fruit in a really big way and my Cadet totally pulled through.

I've been snacking on berries and mangoes.  I have greek yogurt (again, thanks cadet!) and am making Mango Lassi's but most importantly, I've been blending myself smoothies in the mornings.  Delish.

I know what you're thinking....this chick is getting off her ship in a few days and all she can talk about is her garden and her fruit?!

This trip has been good.  I'm not sure I've ever said that before.  Despite the fact that I haven't stepped foot on land in 97 days (unless I've been taking drafts), I don't feel like I'm going crazy.  I don't feel like I need to completely reevaluate my lifes existence - which, let me tell you is quite common for me by the end of my rotation!  Don't get me wrong, I am ready to be on land.....I'm just not wishing I could quit shipping and have quadruplets as soon as possible.

Life is good, folks.  Life is good.

My little bit of green.

I have a cute little garden.  I love it.  I brought a basil plant with me and it didn't die!  Can you believe it?  Along the way I also grew some garlic.  I found some garlic that started to sprout and so I just shoved it in the basil's dirt - and it took off.  I tried pretty hard to sproat that potato first in water and then in soil but it just rotted on me.

Do you remember way back when I first started the blog?  I had some basil and a sweet potato.  I loved posting about them.

This trip I again tried to potato trick (trying to sprout it in water) but it didn't take at all.

Plants onboard are always a tricky thing.  It seems like you're either going to get really lucky or you'll have dead plants in days.

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