March Post

Okay, surely I can handle a monthly post, right?

Some photos that I've recently taken prompt me to get back to this undertaking, which gives me some insight into my loss of interest in blogging: Apparently it's a desire to display my photos rather than a desire to write that prompts me to continue my blog. And since I've only just gotten back into picture-taking, I've only just gotten back into blogging.

Tom and I occasionally watch  an episode of a set of Great Courses photo-taking DVD's that he got me for Christmas, and that has re-inspired me to play with my camera. I needed a refresher on the basics, such as the relationship between aperture and ISO and shutter speed, and I'm getting it. It's too easy to take good photos with a digital camera, and I've gotten lazy with it. I've always had a good eye, and an observant awareness of light, and of composition, important qualities when one wants to take a good picture, but I can do better than that. Time to step up again!

Two recent occasions prompted me to do that.

Last week we ventured into Houston and the Museum of Fine Arts to see the exhibit "Sculpted in Steel," a departure for the museum in its display of cars and motorcycles. But appropriate it was, as these beauties were works of art, fully as stylish as they were functional. Tom loved it.

These photos were taken with my IPhone.

and he appreciated in ways that I couldn't.

The same evening we attended a Loreena McKennitt concert at the University of Houston Cullen Hall and then spent the night at the Hilton there on campus. It was a good afternoon and night, and an early celebration of Tom's birthday. 

Then on Saturday we visited, along with friends, Railean's Distillery in lovely San Leon, a place we didn't even know existed. Luckily, we have friends who are more with-it than are we, and who include us despite our lack of hipness.

 Kelly Jean Raelean, owner, proprietor, distiller, tour guide, and distributor of samples. Those samples led us to buy two bottles (the limit), one of vodka and one of coconut rum.

 I really like this shot -- note the female bartender, still and central in the midst of the excitement.

And, of course, we ended up at Gilhooley's,

where we were served by Boom-Boom, aka Chester, our great waitress:

Okay, still not very interested in blogging -- wonder if that will change when we get back into cruising mode this summer. We are living our lives as millions do, with no big desire to record every moment, or any moment, for that matter. I can't explain the change.

We have just returned this evening from a lovely visit with Paul and Lauren, Lakewood Yacht Club members and the original owners of our boat. Have you wondered how our boat, Second Fantasy, got its name? Dozens have; we have tired of the question, "What was your first fantasy?," shouted out as we eased by. They told us tonight: their first boat, a sailboat, they named "First Fantasy." The DF 44 they named "Second Fantasy," and their plan was to name their final boat "Ultimate Fantasy." Good plan, but one that hasn't panned out as of yet; their current boat is named "Small World." The explanation for that name is long and fascinating, but is one I won't tell right now.

Some photos from some of our winter activities:

 Christmas scene

 Rainy Day

 Our may, his wife, and granddaughter at Mancakes, the Clear Lake Shores' Civic Club annual pancakes breakfast manned by the men of the community.

 It's been a very windy winter.

Kay, Tom, Debbie, and Bobby awaiting the arrival of the Carty Gras Parade, when neighbors parade their Mardi-Gras festooned golf carts. Fun day.

What's Going on, Doris; Where Have You Been?

I can't really explain my absence, but I think it has to do with these factors:

1. Once we got back to our home in Texas, I was on tenterhooks, waiting for our little Teddy to be born. Turned out he was late by about a week, while I expected him to come a week early,* so my wait was pretty long. But during that time, though we entertained a couple of times and were entertained alike, though we kept a couple of medical appointments, and though we had plenty of settling in to do, for me, all activities were done with half my mind and heart, the other half being in Mountain View, waiting with Elizabeth and Nathan. 
2. I had somewhat foolishly agreed to chair the annual Clear Lake Shores turkey dinner, held the Saturday before Thanksgiving, and that endeavor took enormous amounts of time, almost like a full-time job for a while. So my leisurely-writing time was limited.
3. And this is the big one: I just wasn't interested in blogging. Living my life seemed enough. Oddly, I also spent less time photographing, being less interested in that endeavor, as well. I refuse, by the way, to feel guilty or concerned about that fact; it just is. My interest, however, is returning. In fact, Tom bought me, for Christmas, the Great Courses set of DVD's on photography, and we plan to start watching them soon, together. I plan to get out my previous camera, a Panasonic, for Tom to use as I use my Sony and we learn together. It is a sad fact that I used to know more about photography decades ago, when I had a manual camera. F-stops, ISO, the whole shebang: I understood it all. Not so much now. But, just as a familiar phrase in French returns unexpectedly from a wrinkle created during my high-school class or just as the lyrics to a song forgotten since 1962 pop up from an even older wrinkle, perhaps my long-ago-learned knowledge will reveal itself as I study. And by the way, Tom, mostly pre-me, enjoyed taking photographs, mostly black and white (just as I did), but pretty quickly turned that activity over to me. Maybe he'll get back into it. 

And so I return, though I can't tell you how frequent my posts will be. Enough for now. 

*I was indulging in what Joan Didion, in her book about the year after her husband and daughter died, called "magical thinking." I didn't want Teddy to come before our appointments, but, once they were done, I was ready, and so thought he would be, too. Why wouldn't he want to indulge his "Dodi"?

Have We Been Missed?

I am posting this on both my land and boating blog, the last post on land and the first on cruising for a while, probably four months. So welcome back to "cruising on second fantasy"! It is certainly good to be back.

We were happy, as we drove up to Tiffany Yachts, to see that our boat was back in the water; the last time Tom had spoken to owner Randy, they were still working on the stabilizer and she was on the hard. But by Friday at 11:00 a.m., when we arrived, she was happily afloat. Dirtily, too, I might add, but what can you expect when workers have been in, out, and around her for months? And what workers they are -- the entire crew is hardworking, competent, cheerful, and accommodating. It's a family affair; so far we have met three of Randy's family members on the staff, and I discovered today that "Tiffany" was the original owner, Randy's dad's, name. Sounds like there's a story there, but I haven't heard it yet. We should be here a bit longer, so I'm sure I will. I already feel like these folks are family -- I hope I don't end up having to work here like the rest of the family, rather than cruising off as we'd planned!

 Taken from the bow on a beautiful evening.


We took our time, and a different route, getting here. Stopped in Sherwood, Arkansas, just north of Little Rock, to see Doris R., with whom I worked at Laying the Foundation and whom I haven't seen since before we began cruising. She seems to be happy and relaxed in her retirement, which is just as it should be.

We also stopped for the night in Winchester, Kentucky, to see the Elliott cousins, the three children of my dad's oldest sister. I wanted particularly to pay my respects to Harold, just recently widowed when Betty Jo, to whom he'd been married for nearly sixty years, died recently. It was wonderful visiting with them, salt-of-the-earth people and reminders of many of my happy childhood memories. I can see why my mom fell in love with the whole clan when she entered my father's life.

We are busy getting settled and organized (and cleaned up) and doing the electrical and other tasks we need to do. Tom's dexterity is not what it used to be, and he now calls on me and hires shipyard workers more, but he carries on. And we are both happy to be aboard, sleeping the gentle sleep that the boat induces and living the simple life that it enforces.

With great delight, we did take a break from the shipyard to go to KC's Crabs and Cues down the road to see friends from Chesapeake Boat Basin and to watch the Rockets cream the Clippers and thus move on the semifinals of the NBA Playoffs! I've just been reading online predictions that the Warriors would beat the Rockets in five, but what do they know of Clutch City? Let's take 'em on.

 Playing with different effects. No, the sky is not golden here, but we are in a little jewel of a spot.

Very cool bird, one of many interesting species around the shipyard. And there are two osprey nests in viewing distance. Nice.

And We're Off!

Not on the boat, but heading to it, a good and necessary first step. We sleep tonight in Texarkana, Arkansas side, having wandered up through East Texas, wet and green and lovely. A brief stop in Jefferson was pleasant and reinvigorating (5 cent coffee at the Jefferson General Store), and the buffet at the Pizza Inn near our La Quinta hit the spot. Tomorrow we will have lunch with another Doris, my friend and LTF colleague from my previous life, and then head toward Tennessee. Next day, Kentucky cousins, then on to Ol' Virginny. And then the fun begins and this blog goes on hiatus.

Can't wait!

Wellness

Note: I drafted, but never posted, this weeks ago. Just saw it in my drafts and decided to post it, though the conditions it describes are long past.


. . . It can't be overemphasized. My two-and-a-half-weeks of feeling poorly reminded me of how fortunate I am, and also of how devoutly I admire those who live with a chronic weakening condition and manage to carry on, and also of how much I hope that I will never be one of those people.



Having finally given in and gotten antibiotics from our g.p., I am feeling myself again. To wit, yesterday I got my car inspected and washed, got cash from the ATM, picked up my Clinique bonus gift, arranged to have one of my photos framed, fixed three meals for us and cleaned up afterward, swept the floor, talked on the phone with Tina, went for a mile-long stroll with Tom -- no, not that heavy a load. But a week ago that amount of effort would have plumb worn me out and sent me into a coughing fit and, probably, a sleep-interrupted night.  I no longer have to husband my strength, and, as a result, I am happy again.

Now Tom is a different matter, He lives with any limitations and discomforts with grace and fortitude, barely ever mentioning them. May I never cease to appreciate his attitude. Perhaps I can even learn to adopt it?

I am at the airport, waiting to board the plane that will transport me to California, and Elizabeth and Nathan, for a quick trip. It's been a while since I flew, and I am no longer a road warrior. But so far it's been easy, with short lines and no glitches, and I look forward to the trip. I'm eager to see how the   Airbnb lodging that I've booked will work out -- this will be my first experience with the concept.

This and That

Another long delay -- sorry. My anxiety index has ramped up to the point that blogging feels like an idle exercise when there is so much else to do in getting ready to leave Texas and head to Virginia and the boat.

But never fear, my friends, for the "much to do" includes some social activities. For example, attending the 60th anniversary of Lakewood Yacht Club, sharing a table with Steve and Ellen and Candace and Ken and Patty and Rick and indulging in indulgent food and dancing to The Fab Five, ever-excellent Beatles cover band. Steve dressed as a 70's nerd, I suppose, and danced like one, too, entertaining all the old ladies like me:

Another opportunity to dance came my way last night, as the culminating activity of a day filled with them, a day that began with a stint working at the ticket gate of Keels and Wheels, followed by a tour of the event with Tom, Billy and Martha, and Tommy and Tina, followed by a viewing of the Kentucky Derby at our house, complete, of course, with mint juleps in our silver mint julep cups:

. . . which was followed, after being joined by Teddy and Peggy, with a golf-cart ride to Bakkhus Taverna in Kemah for dinner, and then, finally, with a brief but active (at least for Tina, Tommy, and me) stint on the dance floor at the season's first "Jammin' on Jarboe" event. A good day.

Some photos from Keels and Wheels:

Tom owned a '72 Fiat Spider 124 when he was courting me back in the day, so we had to have a picture of this one. We both recall that I was not impressed at the time, since I neither knew nor cared anything about cars. My Gremlin was perfectly serviceable for me. Amazing that Tom overlooked that glaring deficit in my personality.

A 38-foot "Limousine Cruiser."

And our next grandbaby's first cradle?

I was taken by this woman's attire:

'Twas a lovely day for K & W, as is today. In a couple of hours I will go back to meet Ellen and celebrate her upcoming birthday with champagne and dinner.




And then there was the 1st Annual (?) Crawfish Cookoff at Jarboe Park; we were guests of our generous neighbors Kurt and Theresa:

The winner, Priscilla, exults. That's neighbor Kurt on the right.

 Tom feeds Doris . . .

and Todd feeds Kelly.

Kelly and Nancy.