Mañana - means maybe tomorrow

As I mentioned... we got this boat.

So we are are down in Mexico, and the weather is fine.  Tamsyn and her dad (me) arrived on Saturday evening, and slept on Madrona that night.  It was quite a new world for Tamsyn.  The first night she slept alone in the quarter berth.  The second night she - and I - slept in the same quarter berth.  I know how a sardine feels.  On Monday Carrie and Griffyn flew in - their arms were tired.

So now we are this Leave it to Beaver family on the boat.  You know, napkins folded, dinner served on time, you get the drill.

So what's been going on?   Aside from trying to stow heaps of gear into the nooks and crannies, the kids have been running up and down the docks - even though their parental units keep repeating "No running." Tamsyn saw a whale shark yesterday from our boat.  It was spotted and its fin broke the surface.  I guess it was a bit lost.

Griffyn is in love with the general boatness of the boat. I catch him looking through the portholes, and stomping his feet on the deck to hear the sound it makes.  He really likes getting on and off the boat.  The water all around is really exciting to him.  His favorite thing so far has been a high speed dingy ride we all took.  He was in the bow, and stuck his tongue out just like a dog in a car. Not really.  But he was in the bow (front) and the wind bent his ears back.  You can tell I exaggerate. He loved it though.

Me... well I have been doing pretty mundane things like mounting our new liferaft to the stern of the boat, cleaning the toilet (called a head), and trying to figure out what needs to happen to get our rigging wire out of customs in Guadalajara.

But where ever I can find peanut butter and jelly I am happy.  As I sit now on the darkened vessel, the kids are asleep.  Only a couple small lights are on, and the only sound we hear is this strange clicking and snapping - which emanates from every part of the hull (the boat's bottom).  I experienced this oddity last month when I stayed on the boat.  Upon asking someone what made the noise, they gave me an answer which at first seemed so improbable that I didn't give it credence.  But after asking many, and always receiving the same answer I've decided they all must be pulling my leg.  They claim it is the sound made by tiny shrimp eating marine growth off the bottom of the boat. I think it's Orville Reddinbacher making popcorn down there.  Sure is strange - whoever is making it.

And of course I am keeping busy with my interpretive illustration business.  I'm working on a number of contracts at present, and keeping each moving along.

Soon we will take pictures and share them.  Ta ta for now.  Mañana.

Finding our Feet

We are a little buried here with stuff. It is hard to find anything much less get it put away or fix all the things that need to be fixed or thrown out or stowed. Wow what a colossal mess! Owen has only hit his head once today (and swore). The kids will be right sailors soon. I can only intervene to save the young ears so much before the onslaught of explicatives - caused by stripped bolts rusted on, or objects in the way - begin anew.

Our rigging wire is still stuck at the border. Our car is in a gated condo area and we couldn't get it out yesterday (our stuff is still in it). Someone here was telling me all about how her engine was stolen right out of her car - by the police.  I will feel much better when we are car-less.

The twighlight is a lovely shade of pink. The kids are fine - going swimming this afternoon. Owen and I have our work cut out for us. It feels good to write and sleep - in each case I am somewhat removed from the overwhelming task of getting it all stowed.

Glad to be missed somewhere where people still know my name.

Carrie