Autumnal Equinox 2017

I don't totally know what compels me to do so but, I always feel like I need to check in with the blog when the sun marks the change of seasons.

Fall is here.  Hurrah.  It felt like the never ending spring and summer.  

I'm at home in Hilo.  The leaves aren't changing.  The air isn't crisp.  I haven't seen a pumpkin.  

I'm measuring the seasons in sailing schedules these days.  My shipping season is winding down.  I took a long break this season which means I'll have to work more this winter.  Pros and Cons.  Always.  For now I'm home.  Thats a Pro.  Always.

Here's what my September 21st looked like.

Screenshots from the interwebs.  A mostly put together house.  A cozy bed.  All filtered with 'September' from the A Color Story app.  If you can't figure out why I chose 'September' I can't help you.

I've been listening to this song on repeat this morning.

I'm okay with who I am today.

#100daysofnautiecolors

I've been in a bit of a funk. I decided I needed a bit of a creative project so, I started taking a picture every day highlighting some of the colors I see. It's similar to what I did previously with a daily photo of my morning, evening and afternoon. 

Once I got started, a gauntlet was thrown down.  Don't use the same color twice. This means I'm naming my colors. It's all Benjamin Moore - Behr Paint names around here!  Ha! 

I didn't really consider how monochromatic the Arctic can be when I started. Lots of green, grey, blues.....with lots of rust on the boats!  I'm on Day 8 and it's already proven to be more challenging than I expected!

Challenging but fun.  

Here's a little sample of what I've got so far! 

If you wanna follow along you can find them on Instagram / Twitter - @nautiemermate - they go to FB too - Megan the Nautie Mermate.  

I'll try to post some here as I go along too.  

Arctic Happenings

Up in the Arctic...there aren't too many happenings.  Here's a little peak at what amounts to happenings these days. 

Big into the matcha these days. It's like sipping green goodness. I'm calling it tugboat hygge.  I also just officially made sipping tea a 'happening' so, now you know what we're dealing with here.  

Who knew that mosquitos were such a thing in the Arctic. I grew up in the tropics and I have never....I mean never ever ever....seen swarms of mosquitos like these. Look at this spider web!  ​

Clouds. They're gorgeous. So is that long low ground swell that really packed a punch. 

We had a little 'incident'. A 'smell' was detected in the freezer. Turns out the air was unable to circulate around the boxes of meat and we had a bunch of chicken....and sadly some sirloin steaks....thaw and begin to rot.  I had to individually cut open each piece of vacuum sealed meat and throw it over the side. Totally gross.  The seagulls strangely didn't touch the sirloin but went to town on the chicken. I shared it in my Instagram stories. If you don't go there you should. I share tons on Instagram. #justsayin

​There's been tons of dirt moving. Because that's what we do up here. There's been tons of sunshine. Because it's the Arctic, yo. 

Thats a wrap. Maybe there will be more of this to come. Also, fair warning. There might be some feelings getting shared. I've been saving them up. :)​

M.L.I.S.W :: Milk in the Shower

I walked by one of the common heads and one of my boat mates points to the shower and says 'that's not right'. I look in and sure enough there's white liquid sloshing around. I say, 'nooope. Not right. Pretty sure that's milk in the shower.'   

**flash to earlier in the day** 

Captain: the fridge has a smell

Me: I know!!!!! I smelled it! It's gross! I looked around but I couldn't find what stunk.

-30 minutes later-

Cook: Megan?

Me: Yes?

Cook: Does the fridge smell?

Me: Yes.

Cook:  Okay. Maybe some milk spilled....

**flash to present** 

Hmmmmm....I wonder where all that milk ended up....Hahahahhaa! 

It Takes a Village

I'm gone from home a lot.  Maybe even a little more than the average sailor.  I rarely turn down work (this is a good and a bad thing).  While I'm away from home I have a whole bunch of people who help me.  My Mom, she takes care of a lot of my bills that come in the mail.  I have a 'mail lady'.  She'll scan things to me if they look important and she forwards things that need to be handled to my Mom.  I have someone who helps me keep up my house.  I have a lawn service.  I have friends who message me when I'm gone.  

I recently got called to work for a short trip.  It was unexpected but I didn't mind going because it was only supposed to be for three weeks.

I show up to the boat - and I learn that there wasn't any internet.  I was furious.

I know how that makes me sound.  Pre-Madonna Sailor?!  Spoiled Brat?!  First World Crybaby?!

Here's the thing, I haven't been on a boat that didn't have internet - even just the slowest connection ever to be able to check email.  My life wasn't set up to be away from the internet.  I was hoping to be able to transfer money from account to account, check email, and I mean lets be honest....post to instagram...

While I knew I had a bunch of people who helped me when I was gone I never realized what a village I had.  It was an eye opener.  I didn't realize how much got done for me and how much I was supported.  

My cousin immediately got the logins to all my email accounts so that she could deal with important things as they popped up.  

My friend immediately was the contact person for all things house related (I rent it out as a vacation rental).  

My Mom was more on point with finances than ever before.  I am in the middle of a construction project - she was now responsible for paying the workers on Fridays.

My three week trip ended a bit early - so work was kind enough to fly to me a training on the Mainland two days later *eye roll*.

A whole new round of support was required.  My Mom came over to help me pack - and approve outfits - obviously.  I had zero food in the fridge but it was silly to buy some.  Aunties and Uncles hosted me for dinners.  I needed pick ups at the airport.  I needed drop offs at the airport.  I needed someone to watch my car.

I've been home for four days and I leave again in two.  It's moderately stressful.  Except, I have a village, and they've got my back.

Thank you.  All of you.  I couldn't do it without you.  I wouldn't even want to.

My 'cousin' Kristi

October 11th to December 21st.  Shit.

I got this message from my Cousin Kristi today:  Megan, you've been home for over a week and no drunk blogs yet?  I hope all is well...

She knows me too well.

Obviously.  I'm drunk now.  She also wasn't wrong....I had been drunk before...I thought about blogging and then opted out...

Here's the back story on Kristi.

I have three older boy cousins - I literally call them my 'boy cousins'.  At age 12 it went like this:  Keith 14, Colin 16, Greg 18.  I spent my summers in British Columbia my whole life...well from age 4-18...now, I visit when I can...which if I say so myself is LOTS.  When I was growing up I stayed at my 'boy cousins house'.

Kristi started dating Colin (middle boy cousin) when I was 13.  To my 13 year old mind - she was cool as fuck.

Kristi comes from a good family,  It's also a big family.  Also, Kristi is just a nice girl.  Granted, she's like most nice girls (ahem, like me!) in that, she's nice until you get to know her and then she's just REAL (ahem...maybe also called a bitch!  Like me!).

Colin didn't give two shits about me growing up.  Several things: a) middle child - he didn't give a shit about lots and b) age-wise (example: 10 / 14 - 14/18 - 22/26) we were opposites.  We were too close in age to be close and too far apart in age to be close.  By no fault of our own I've always been the least close to Colin.

So here's the thing.  Kristi has always given a shit about me.  Always.

When we were just kids - imagine Kristi having a learners permit - she'd come pick me up and take me to my cousins lacrosse games.  I thought I was so. fucking. cool.

My cousin Colin couldn't give two shits.  But Kristi always knew exactly where I was and what I was doing.  The other cousins Keith and Greg, they were a little all over the place but Kristi was a constant.  She treated me to getting my nails done, she let me hang out with her friends.  When I was in high school ad thought I was cool as fuck she didn't roll her eyes when I smoked cloves.  When my Grandpa died she supplied my favorite - Kahlua - and let me take shots in her car as we drove around in the neighborhood to escape the house.

Kristi is almost more my cousin than Colin.  When they got married I'd say, 'My cousins are getting married!'.  People would look at me askance and I'd have to laugh and explain.

Today when she teased me about not drunk blogging I thought, 'Damn. This chick gets me.'.  

Here's what else Kristi has done for me.  She's helped me get to know my cousin Colin.  They have three kids and I love going to their house and hanging out with the kids.  I love giggling with Colin when we watch the kids and its funny as hell.  I love waking up and having coffee with Kristi.  

One of the last times I was there Colin said, 'I hope you know you are always welcome and can stay as long as you want.'.  That's Kristi.  That's why she gets all my love.  

Kristi, love you lady.  You've done amazing things for this family - and for me.  I can't wait for you to visit!!!!!  Here's your drunk blog post - more to come - I absolutely promise!

xoxoxoxoxo

**In the meantime, I've drunk texted every single sailor friend I have...so fear not...people have heard from drunk Megan!!!!!!