3R1N's RSS Mix

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 01:03:00 GMT

Lots of anger, not on my computer, can't explain right now.

RSS Management

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 09:04:39 GMT

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Tue, 09 Jun 2009 19:25:51 GMT

In more pleasant news, I purchased Laurie R. King's newest Russelian novel The Language of Bees, specifically for the trip to the Cape, but I couldn't help myself and began reading it. Sorry Shakespeare, but I'll get to The Merchant of Venice sometime this week too >_> As for Bees, I'm enjoying it quite a bit so far.

Sat, 20 Jun 2009 21:41:04 GMT

Went to bestbuy with A and looked at cameras for him, laptops for me (just glancing around, not serious yet about buying one; I feel like my compy serves me well), and he bought some headphones and I bought ... Mass Effect v_v but it was only $20!

Time to install :]

And with Banana bread baking in the oven ... yum yum.

And Mum and B return this evening as well; I look forward to showing them my cape cod photos.

Ow

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:04:44 GMT

Am in the process of preparing for a bicycle trip around the Cabot Trail and Prince Edward Island. So I've been shopping for tents, and sleeping bags, and bike equipment, and touring gear, and all manner of other costly sundries. Not to mention looking up books, attractions, accommodations and kayaking options in the region.

The only thing I haven't done enough of is train. So on Saturday morning I went for a 100km training ride with a local bike club, and it was THE. TOUGHEST. RIDE. I'VE. EVER. DONE. It wasn't so much the distance, more so the sustained speed on a hybrid bike. The other 7 riders in the group were riding road (i.e. racing) bikes, which were about twice as aerodynamic and half as heavy as mine. So on hills, or against wind, the weight of my hybrid bike became incredibly, painfully apparent. We finished the ride at noon (it was a fast one, with pace lines, no breaks) and I spent most of the afternoon sleeping, sprawled under a tree in High Park, unable to communicate with my legs.

It was an exhilarating ride, and it felt great to test - and reach - my physical limits. But, it's a ride I won't willingly repeat until I have a road bike.

In the meantime, I've resorted to taking short breaks while climbing the stairs.

Just until the stinging goes away.

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 22:14:12 GMT

And now there's Aion in September and I'm pretty sure I'll have to try it v_v If it's good ... goodbye World of Warcraft :/ (Personal preference to play just one MMO at a time). I've played WoW since classic and I'd miss it but ... sometimes it's good to take a break and revitalize with different content. Someone might jokingly add "life," but I believe it's possible to enjoy a full and happy outer life as well as play an MMO, it just requires management and responsibility; games are like hobbies, but it's hard to explain that to other people sometimes.

As for Aion ... if I play I'm going to 100% choose Cleric. I'm undecided on faction, because both look awesome. I'm leaning towards Asmodian though, because everything glows ... I likes the sparklies. Plus, black wings are cool, like fallen angels ;)

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 23:22:38 GMT

Aion pre-ordered, downloaded and installed. I'll be playing in next weekend's beta, at which time I'll see if it's worth taking a break from wow (in September). I can't wait to try-out both factions this weekend!

And days go by...

Tue, 19 May 2009 03:28:15 GMT

Busy couple of weeks lately:
4 hard-core days off (involving much sleeping, movie watching and down time)

2 days spent in an 'Elements of Shipboard Safety' course, where I learned how to fight fires using various fire extinguishers and fire blankets...
and also spent a while in a pool wearing a SOLAS life jacket, dragged others around in the water, climbed in and out of life rafts, and jumped from the 3m board all while fully clothed... (my navy work shirt is now a kind of purple colour from all the clorine!).

2 days sailing, doing the day sail thing, one where it was raining the other sunny...

and 6 days doing maintenance... Sanding, sanding, sanding and sanding, and then putting wood varnish on, learning how to splice and then splicing clips onto new harnesses... and cleaning.

Joined a community orchestra... was lucky enough to call on the day of a practice, and be told that yes, the organizer (a horn player) had a spare violin that I could borrow while I'm here. So yeah - awesome?! I'm playing 1st violin again, which I haven't really done since highschool (8 years or so?), but the music level is similar to the high school orchestra, so it should be okay, though I will have to get used to touching my nose while shifting into the stratosphere... And though the rehersals are on mondays, the concerts (june21, sept6) are on sundays, so I may not even get to play in them... But I'm not too concerned about that one, I wouldn't have a thing to wear anyway. But we'll see!

I have noticed that the time is starting to fly - it's already mid/late may, which means I've been on board for nearly 3 months, and I'm sure the last 3 will go just as quick. There's supposed to be a few more voyages before I leave in September, so that should be good fun!

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:17:06 GMT

So my enrollment date for next year's classes is at 4:00pm today. I decide to visit the timetable listings to see if my desired classes are still available ... and the one fourth year class I desperately wanted to take - the only class I was looking forward to for next term - is fucking full.

So Pissed Off!

This is a specialty course, it won't be offered again next year (it seems to be offered every other year, if even that). Because I'm technically a "third year" I'm not allowed to enroll in my courses until all the fourth years have enrolled. I understand why that mechanic is in place ... but for the love of god I so wanted to take this damn course :( and not only to take an amazing course, but to finish my English requirements and graduate early! That won't happen now. I refuse to take a fourth year specialty course I have no interest in; writing essays on topics you loath is a sure way to fail unless you don't care! I care!

Let the Day Sails begin!!

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 09:18:06 GMT

So now the boat is locked into a bit of a routine, a three hour day sail with lunch on thursdays, fridays, saturdays and sundays, days off on monday/tuesday and maintenence on wednesday...

So far I've done two daysails, and though it's nice to be in a bit of a routine, I will admit I am very very tired by the end of the whole thing - wake up, clean, buy fresh bread, sell a few tickets, organize the merchandise, climb up the mast, get the gaskets off the sails (tie-y bits that keep the sails stored nicely on the yards), move the boat back to boarding position (remove mooring lines, replace mooring lines), set up the gangplank, board passengers, remove the gangplank, take the mooring lines off, drive the wheel, help prepare chicken sandwiches and salad, set the sails, serve lunch, get people harnessed if they want to try climbing, brace the yards (turn the sails to match the wind, basically rotating the entire yards to the side), adjust sails, cut cheese/watermelon and lay out the cheese platter, brace the yards again, answer questions and remain generally aimicable, get the mooring lines ready to throw, strike (take down) the sails one at a time, dock the boat and set up the mooring lines, get the gangplank, get rid of passengers, remove the gangplank, move the boat (remove mooring lines, replace mooring lines), put away the sails (triangles first, take them down, flake them and tie them up, and then the squares, climb up, crawl out on the yards, fold up the sail, roll the sail onto the yards, tie up the gaskets), then scrub the deck down, clean up, etc...

And I'm knackered with four deck hands sharing the work, next week and every alternate work thereafter, it will be just myself and one other...

Which reminds me, if anyone's interested we're hiring!?

Nah, it's all good, but hell, it's like hanging out at a gym all day for four days a week.
On that note, back to the ship for my hard-earned dinner!

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 06:28:13 GMT

Despite all registration issues...

I'm half way through my assignment due Friday - and feeling good about it - and tomorrow is the start of Aion beta :D

Trying to decide whether to submit and take a half science or walk in for an appointment as listed and try to sort this stuff out v_v

Bad News Day For Maritime Heritage And Professional Mariners

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:46:13 GMT

Some very bad news for tall ships, maritime heritage preservation and professional mariners today. P

quick entry from the internet cafe

Sat, 18 Apr 2009 02:35:15 GMT

Boat is finally off the slips!!!!
From April 1 - April 16 the boat was out of the water, and myself and the other crew spent our days from 830am until sunset, through easter weekend every day, chipping rust off of it, pressure hosing the sides, and painting and painting and PAINTING! from epoxy to metallics to anti-foul to high glass for the anchor chain, and varnish and deck polish for the exposed wood, the whole bottom of the boat was done over and over again, while the engine was overhauled and taken apart and then put back together again.

Ah, finally a couple of days off...

Did a day-sail wedding the day we got off the slips, so it was dress uniforms and serving caviar while wearing a rigging harness and setting sails for me! Still having a good time, the good moments are far outweighing the tedious days of mantenance and cleaning, so I'll stay for a bit longer with the hopes that I'll get to know the business of sailing a square-rig a bit better.

Made it out onto the flemish horse yesterday which was terrifying, hanging on a rig 3 metres from the safety of the mast on a bit of rope and then being expected to tie up sails while I'm there.... but I'm getting better at balancing on the yards, (considering a few weeks ago I was scared at being 1/2 a metre from the mast), so it's all good.

Tiring, but good.

A few pictures from the slips are available Here.

Boatswain - Rob Aspinwall

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 19:34:55 GMT

Rob started sailing on tall ships at Tabor Academy on the schooner?SSV Tabor Boy.? This is also whe

One Month in -

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 05:22:56 GMT

So what have I been doing for the last month?

To keep it short, I've been eating, sleeping, scrubbing, polishing, dusting, fixing, climbing, fearing for my life, enjoying sunshine and beautiful vistas, waitresing, taking care of an annoying cat, furling sails, hauling on ropes, dropping anchor, coiling muddy chain, driving by marine compass, keeping two hour anchor watches and four to six hour sailing watches, spewing my guts out, wearing the same uniform for days, adjusting harnesses, learning knots, and vacuuming.

To expand a bit on that, I've somehow managed to survive the first month aboard the Windeward Bound, and in that time I have completed three voyages, from Melbourne to Hobart with radio/tv stars, around the channels around Hobart with high school students, and into protected waters at Port Davey and Recherche Bay. I have scrubbed the boat from stem to stearn, made bed, served four course dinners, and climbed up and down the masts, and more increasingly out onto the various yards to furl and unfurl sails. Mostly it's been fun, great exercise and a hell of a challenge, on its best days, I see amazing landscapes and wildlive (fish, doliphins, seals, jellies etc), the sun is shining, and we're on a fast beam or downwind... on it's worst days, I'm re-polishing the brass or dusting the cabins again after missing a spot the first time... or I'm hanging over the side being ill.

On the seasickness thing though, I'm recovering faster, on the last voyage I had only 5 minutes of feeling unwell before stepping back up on the wheel and steering at 3 am in a 2 meter swell while the paying customers slept...

so it's all good. The voyages were fun and amazing, and now I'm looking forward to settling down a bit for the winter. We did a day-sail charter yesterday, only a 3 hour voyage with 60 rotary club people, so we get to sleep at night and then wake up, clean, sail, clean and then clock off for the evening.

The next two weeks, I've got 2 days off and then the boat is 'up on the slips', so out of the water, with the crew working 12 hour days to clean up the hull and perform massive maintenance. Then it's days sails 4 days a week, cleaning for 1.5 days more, and then 1.5 days off.

This should be good for me, because with less crew ( down to about 4 + captain ), I get to learn/do more. So far, I know bits and pieces, I'm getting a hang for what ropes do what, but realistically I only know what about 50 % of them do, and I"m still learning how to get my balance right on the yards (held up by only your stomach, tip-toes and luck, as you need both hands to tie knots), but I'm getting there. Definatly enjoy it more as I know how to do more!

Anyways, here's some tidbits for your enjoyment:

Photos (with some from Port Davey now) here
Video footage from Hamish and Andy's voyage here (and I'll try to embed it as well below)

Bottom line is, I think I'll stay for now. Am signed up for a Marine firefighting and Sea Evacuation course in May, so I should at least hang around to play in liferafts in a swimming pool. :)

Soundtrack of my Life #7: American Pie (Don Maclean)

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 19:57:29 GMT

As I teenager I would spend 10 days each summer on The Robbertson II. “The Robbie” was a

Able Bodied Seaman - David Goldman (Goldie)

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:10:41 GMT

When I was 3 years old I picked out what became the best friend a boy could ever have.? He was a Gol

PHOTOS!!

Sat, 14 Mar 2009 05:11:05 GMT

Finally got some photos up:
Have a look at them here

The computer I was using was crazy slow, so they're a bit out of order, but these are shots from the last two voyages, Melbourne, Hobart
and inbetweens.

Also, went to see the Watchmen, and it was awesome. Really Really Awesome. Which, was of course, a wonderful birthday present to myself.

Able Bodied Seaman - Rocky Hadler

Fri, 01 May 2009 18:10:10 GMT

While working at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston as the Assistant Registrar Rock

2 weeks of craziness

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 09:40:31 GMT

So I finally found an internet cafe!
Which also means that I finally walked within 2 blocks of the boat!
On Saturday (it's Thursday night now), I will have been on board the Windward Bound for two weeks, and honestly it feels like 2 days...

It's been pretty 'full on', so much so that I haven't really gotten the shakes from lack of internet until now, when I'm thinking - how long have I been on? There's no timer here, ah well, let's just do the journal thing and get it over with so I can go to bed (it's like 8:30pm and I'm thinking of bed... definiatly been up on late watches lately)

Basically, to explain what's been going on, for a voyage, first we wait for the weather/food/fuel to load/clear, then board passengers, get them safety trained (lifejackets and climbing practice) and then watches start and we're off.

Watches... Oh watches, probably the only part that I'm really having trouble getting used to, the crew and the passengers that are working as crew are divided into 'watches', then they work 4 hours on, 8 hours off basically all day and night.

Watch schedule is as follows:

8am-12pm
12pm-4pm
4-6pm
6-8pm
8pm-12am
12-4am
4-8am

So, with meals and 'cleaning stations' (the boat is cleaned every morning: decks scrubbed, salt rinsed off varnish, brash polished, kitchen and bedrooms cleaned, toilets cleaned, etc), and sleeping, when you're on a voyage, you're pretty much watching for other boats or checking the 'bilges' to make sure we're not sinking, putting up sails or pulling ropes, or you're eating, or you're sleeping.
Not exactly a pleasure cruise, but when you're on watch there's plenty of time to soak up the sun, watch the scenery/wildlife (doliphins mainly), and hang out.... But other than that I've been reduced to catching 2-5 hours of sleep when I can, working, eating then trying again.

SOOOOO TIRED somedays, usually when I do the 4-8 watch, which, luckily has only happened twice now.

But yeah, I'm starting to get a sense for what ropes are attached to what pins, where things go, what to hold onto when the boat is moving, and what not to do when the boat is busy... I've been climbing up a few times both on the dock and at sea, which is neat, but it's not really like rock climbing where you can rely on your harness if you get tired... You are wearing one, and you're clipped on to safety lines, but the safety lines are metal (so there's no give if you fall), and spaced at odd and sometimes somewhat long distances (so if you fall, you will probably get hurt, but not die), basically, the rule of thumb is: 'Well, it'd be stupid not to hold on'

But anyways, as mentioned I finally found an internet cafe, and I have some time off this weekend, so I'll get some photos up so you can get an idea of what I'm up to when I am climbing!

In general it's hard work, my muscles are always sending me strongly worded letters, and I'm often tired (and slightly cranky, esp when I've just been woken up for watch), but also, I've seen some really amazing things, and as I get more confident climbing and locating the right ropes, it's becoming really fun/interesting.
I do hate having to be constantly corrected/taught, (it's been a long time since I've started a job where I've literally known almost nothing), but I get over it and remind myself that in the grand scheme, I'm sailing on a Tall Ship, the weather is beautiful, and I know more every day.

That's all for now, as mentioned I do have some time off this week, so I'll fill you in a bit more and get some pictures up.

(and apologies as usual for typos and spelling errors, I don't have time to check it with the timer running)

About STA-R

Thu, 07 May 2009 09:40:17 GMT

????? The Sail Training Association Romania? May 2009 The Sail Training Association Romania(ST

Sad News from the Tall Ships Semester for Girls Today

Sat, 16 May 2009 02:59:34 GMT

From the Tall Ship Education Academy blog: The Tall Ship Education Academy, like many wonde

Survived that one!

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 00:56:13 GMT

Have arrived in Hobart safe and sound!
(this will have to be brief, I don't have long on this computer)

Voyage highlights include:
Climbing the mast on a beautiful sunny day with minimal swell...
Watching doliphins play in the green glowing surf the boat creates at four in the morning...
Sailing into Hobart to be met by hundreds of people on the dock, an escort of boats and television cameras...
Hanging out with 'Hamish and Andy' and the 'people's crew'....

Lowlights include:
Finding out that in 7 metre swells in the middle of a squal, that yes, I can get seasick....
holding on for dear life in my bunk in the bow as we battled our way through the aforementioned squall... (loosing our compass to the waves)
working watches round the clock...

In a nutshell, the television show had to make it to Hobart for the Sunday recording of 'Rove', so we had no choice than to risk a crossing of the bass(?) strait (between Australia and Tasmania) during not too ideal conditions... Most of the people on board spent the first couple days huddled on the deck in the rain, or spewing over the side, but in the end, the sun came out, Tasmania came into view and the dolphins and seals and albatrosses guided us into Hobart. So, though I was having scared out of my mind thoughts of calling this whole 'crewing for 6 months thing' off during the storm, I think I'll continue to 'give it a go' for now.

Next voyages - Tuesday March 10 to Thursday March 12 - sail training voyage with some teenagers and two teachers
**then I get 3 days off and can write a bit more**
And have time to wish myself a happy 27th Birthday on Friday the 13th,
and then a 10 day trip to Port Davey and Recherche Bay.

Will update with more when I can, but you can see a whole lot about the voyage here:
Hamish and Andy's website

Brigantine Romance's Sea Stories

Tue, 19 May 2009 14:01:00 GMT

My friend and former colleague Mike Jehle, who?s now the executive director of the Fairfield Museum

Very Quick Update - Running away to sea

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 03:50:09 GMT

Left New Zealand yesterday in the pouring rain, arrived in Melbourne where it's dryer than dry and arrived to the yacht club where I boarded the 'Windward Bound'.

Last night was mostly getting to know the crew, trying to get all my things sorted, and being generally amused by the bunks - I'm in a room with three other girls, and the four beds are piled on top of each other (like 2 bunch beds slammed into an 'L' shape so that the levels alternate in direction, but hung off the walls?) in a space about as big as my bedroom in Wellington was (not huge), with ceilings at about 2.2m.

Pretty comfortable, but that was parked, we'll see how it goes when I'm out to sea :/

As far as today goes, it's getting ready for tomorrow's voyage. The ship has been chartered to take Hamish and Andy (of 'Rove' and I'm told some other show's fame) across to Hobart. They will be filming on the voyage, and there will be a helicopter following us across. Today was mostly prepping for that, getting the beds ready for the 'guests' and their technicians and film crew, and getting all of the actual crew's stuff stowed and tied down, getting me fitted for my uniform/shoes etc, and me reading the 'Standing Orders' manual for most of the day... (I'm still working on getting through this).

Other than that, not much else to update, Melbourne harbour is packed with yachts and dinghys and there's a speedboat championship race today, so we got to see them go out (and the film helicopters to catch the action)... It hasn't really been like 'being transported back in time' in that aspect, in that there's million dollar speed boats on one side and helicopters taking off on the other of the historical wooden boat I'm aboard... But it's still neat. The crew are all really nice (about 12 permanent and voyage on board), and then we'll have 30 people on board for the crossing tomorrow, so that should be interesting.

I'll take pictures when I can, and hopefuly get to spend longer online in Hobart, which will be a few days from now, so I'll know A) whether I get seasick by then and B) whether this was an amazing idea or a crazy one...

Till then

Blowing My Haiku Load For Tonight

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:04:43 GMT

Coolest guy in school,
Jesus loves me, this I know,
'Cause he thinks I'm cute.

Wanna Fanta? Don't
You wanna wanna Fanta?
Well, shit. Now I do.

Mr. Brown iced cap.
Makes me smell like girlfriend's dad.
She won't fuck me now.

Making list of malls.
Mindless task for 4 am.
Wanna sleep in tent.

Kitty

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:04:45 GMT

Awesome cat from Alex's house in the south bay. I used Ans's 55-250mm lens for this, and it rocks.