Hmmmm.

This is just a little post cause I just got the new app....this may make things infinitely easier around here....

Funny Signage

I find that ships are one of the best places to see funny signs....

Here's a little collection of funny signage I've seen in the past few days.

Exhibit A) a poster for Asian Gypsy Moths. They're invasive and we inspect for them. Someone labeled the moth with 'this moth ate Godzilla'. Ha!

Exhibit B) a light switch labelled OFF. You got two choices - don't wanna mess this one up. Whew! Thank goodness that switch was labelled....close one....

Exhibit C) a diagram in the outdoor head for longshoreman. It's a little tricky to see. There's a man squatting on a toilet and a man sitting on a toilet. Apparently...squatting is not allowed!

The naughty squatting man was my favorite....until I found the Godzilla eating moth....I'm pretty sure that's the prize winner.

Eagle Poop.

Yesterday we discussed eagles...ad naseum (this says naseum isn't a word. I call foul!).

Today I'd like to illustrate how big eagles are and to maybe help 'paint a picture' as to how they could quickly become a problem.

This is eagle poop. With my foot next to it for comparison. I don't have little lady feet either. Size Nines in Big Boots.

That's a lot of poop for a bird.

Nautie Randomness II

Well, I'm not doing the best at keeping up with the blog....in fact I've never in the history of the blog done worse than I'm doing now! I'm introducing Nautie Randomness to help out. Token bits that stack up in my brain. It seems like a good plan. Onward!

Eagles. Sometimes I wonder if the scientists who declared eagles endangered have ever been to Alaska. They're kinda like seagulls in San Francisco....abundant. Furthermore, I used to think that eagles were beautiful majestic birds...rare....the perfect symbol for America. Have you ever seen an eagle up close? They're big, dirty, scrappy, freaky ass birds who look like they wanna eff you up. Noooot the biggest fan. Wanna see four eagles sitting on a lamp post? Alaska. Wanna see eagles dive bombing dumpsters? Alaska. Wanna be scared to get out of a cab cause the eagles are strutting around the parking lot...and are almost as tall as you....and are definitely watching you? Alaska.

Fog. Days and days of fog. I've figured out the quickest way to make people crazy. Put them in fog. Nothing to see but white...for days. Crazy-ville for sure.

Coffee. I've been trying to ween myself off a bit. I'm at almost 6 cups a day. Minimum 4. Sure that's a lot of coffee but know what it's for sure a lot of? Milk. I mean, the milk frother I brought aboard provides little to no incentive to use less milk. Like a little coffee with your milk? Why yes, yes I do.

Back to the eagles. I'd like some statistics on how many people are injured by eagles annually. I find it really hard to believe that no ones lost an eye this year alone...or the tip of an ear...

Tip of an ear. One time my Uncle Rocket got his ear bit by a seagull because he was stealing eggs from the nest. The kids were out on a little island and had to get back to their parents pretty quick....because Rocket was a hemophiliac. Note to self. Don't steal eggs from nests. (Hello I did say randomness...)

Nautie Randomness.

I'm loving the West Coast.  Listening to the Seals bark as I passed under the Oakland Bay Bridge this morning made me realize how happy I am to be back in this neck of the woods!  I missed you Best Coast.

I'm finally getting my containership bearings.  The only downside I can see so far is very little port time.  The flip side is that I was pretty used to that.  I wanted to run an errand today and realized I had zero time to do it in.  Just a little downside.

My room here on the ship is an absolute disaster.  Maybe I should do something about that...

My scalp is rotting off.  I can't figure out if it's my shampoo, the water or old age.  Any suggestions?  

I've been using Josie Maran's Argan Daily Moisturizer with SPF 47.  My face is loving me for it.  I'd say it's pretty much the bomb and you should check it out.

Some of my shipmates went home from the West Coast.  It always amazes me how sad I get when shipmates leave.  (don't worry....I'll be over it in two days....and then I'll be sad when the next guys leave...)

Thank you so much for letting me share my losses with you.  You've been so patient, letting me get a feel for the new ship and if I'm honest.....avoiding the slow internet connection.  I heart you so hard!

morning sky

goodbye.

About twelve days ago I was somewhere south of Japan.  I was right off the coast and could see lights of fishing boats and some city lights in the distance.  I happened to look down closer at the water and saw that it was glowing blue with phosphorescence so, I grabbed my camera and raced to the stern to try to take some long term exposure photos of our wake. 

I could see the fishing lines in the water stirring up more glow, a lighthouse swooped around periodically and I frantically adjusted my camera settings scared I wasn’t going to be able to capture the moment.

I stood on the stern snapping away, oblivious that the moment would hold so much more meaning the next morning.

Back home in Hilo one of my dearest friends was quietly slipping away after suffering complications during surgery.

You know those people in your life you don’t have to keep in touch with?  Whose history is so intertwined with your own that distance and time changes nothing?  The people who keep you real by simply accepting the real you?  That was Caryn.

Pulling into Yokohama the next day I eagerly anticipated cell reception.  Sitting on the bow I got my first signal and received the news.  I hoped my sunglasses would hide my tears and got myself together in time to tie up the ship.  

Memories.  I’m lucky to have so many good ones.  Caryn doing my make up for junior prom – I requested mermaid eyes – and man did she deliver.  Sassy haircuts, hot pink streaks, platform heels and style.  Making sushi in the fellowship hall.  Gossiping in the bathroom.

It’s hard to say goodbye but, I’d say fluorescent blue waters off the coast of Japan is a pretty amazing send off.

I’m gonna miss you something fierce.