That is Mr. Bentley - my beautiful Beta Fish -----
After hours of online research I finally selected a new camera. Based on my needs and the way I use a camera I selected a Sony Cyber-Shot DSC W-170. It arrived tonight at dusk and I am all alone. Nothing to take pictures of - so here are some of my results. I can't say whether I like the camera or not by this but it is going to be fun. It is a really little guy that can easily go anywhere with me and snap, snap, snap pix!
Tonight Kirby is in San Antonio visiting with Ray and Lucy Coltrane - long time friends from Ventura and Mexico days. On Saturday (I think) we will meet up in Georgia and have visits with my sister Patti and her family and also with Steve and Mollie - also from Ventura and Mexico but more recently from our trip to Nova Scotia 2 years ago. I am looking forward to a fun and hug filled weekend. And not only will I have pictures from the new camera, I will have pictures from Kirby's trip!
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08/26/2008 | Heather and Jim on "Meerkat" (svthistle att yahoo dott com)
That is so cool he got to see Ray and Lucy! I bet they had a blast! Congrats on the new camera - what fun :) love you!
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Kirby's Garage Ale is waiting for his return - just one more week.
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Mexican Pottery
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Kirby and Lee arrived in Oakland on Wednesday under heavy fog - no Golden Gate Bridge to be seen. Lee had to work until about noon but the plan was to head to the Bart as soon as he finished and go to visit Kirby's Aunt Vera who lives in El Cerrito. Kirby's report was that she is doing great in her retirement home (I think she is about 87 or so) and is the leader of most of the activities. He said they had a wonderful visit with her.
They left Oakland this morning and should be back in Long Beach tomorrow. A two week round trip.
It's getting pretty lonely around here!
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08/22/2008 | Heather & Jim on "Meerkat" (svthistle att yahoo dott com)
Ok, tell them to keep away from the whales in the Santa Barbara Channel - maybe they can go outside the islands? Ha ha, like that's ever going to happen. Hope it's daytime when he goes thru the Channel to bring back memories :), ones like calling us on the vhf: "Jim's boat, Jim's boat, this is Kirby's boat", when he couldn't remember the name of Jim's boat.
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Here is a report from Kirby about the crossing from California to Hawaii. After spending two days in Hawaii, they head back to California today. Sorry - no pictures. The camera is in the car in California!
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Just before noon, Connie took Lee and me to Trader Joes to buy a few things for the trip to Hawaii. We were aboard ship by 2:00pm, and got the last of the cargo containers aboard just after 3:00pm. The cargo loading was very interesting. The Long Shoremen can really get those cranes moving fast while off-loading the containers from the trucks to the ship. I was glad that my cabin is way forward so that the loud banging of the containers weren't quite so loud. I felt sorry for the 3rd mate and the non-officer crew who are right below and adjacent to the area being loaded. I have a view of the bow and the sea out of my two portholes in my cabin which is just across from Lee's cabin.
The ship left the dock with the assistance of one tug and a really powerful bow-thruster just forward of my cabin and of course below the waterline. I was on the bow with Lee while he directed the line handling and reported any small craft traffic to the skipper on the bridge. The ship is just over 860 feet long and can carry up to 3600 containers
The pilot debarked a few miles outside the seawall and we headed for the West end of Catalina Island at around 12 knots. There is a speed limit of 12 knots for the big ships in that area due to the air quality concerns of the LA Basin. The ship rounded West End at 7:30pm just as Lee, the ship's navigator, predicted. After that we were able to speed up to 22.5 knots for the crossing to Hawaii.
Lee has the 12 to four watch twice a day. I usually stay on the bridge with him for the afternoon watch, but the 12 to four am is a little bit too much. Breakfast in the officer's mess is very pleasant. The food is really good and I get to talk with the Captain, the engineers, and the Radio officer as well. Lee seems to be very popular with all the crew, and he makes it a point to joke around with them all. There are 26 crew members aboard, including the two cadets from California Maritime Academy. The Chief Steward is a real character. He's a bit of a practical joker and always has something funny to say to me.
Besides the 2000 containers we are carrying, there are several open containers of pigs aboard. I take walks around the deck in the morning, but don't venture onto the aft portion where the odor is a bit strong. They have a regular stock man aboard whose job it is to tend the animals that are being shipped to Hawaii. Sometimes they carry cattle or horses over. On our way back I understand that we will be bringing a large motor yacht to California, but I don't know if it gets unloaded in Oakland or Long Beach.
There are no elevators aboard and the mess deck is four decks below ours so you do get exercise going up and down ladders several times a day. The officer's lounge has a dart board, tv/video player, microwave, coffee maker, and many shelves of DVDs and books.
Last night, Tuesday, we had a BBQ on the starboard side of A deck. The weather was perfect and there were steaks, hamburgers, polish sausage, hot dogs, chicken, and ribs as well as all kinds of horses doovers. Lee and I sat and mostly listened to the HVAC/R guy talk about life in Thailand. He's married to a Thai girl and lives in Thailand when he's not at sea. I found out that he is the best paid non-officer on the ship plus he doesn't have to stand watches......hmmmm.
Most of the crew have interesting backgrounds and I think that they enjoy having someone ask them about how they got started in this career. They are a very diverse group from all around the world, and I sure have enjoyed talking with them.
Well, it's 4:00pm our time so it's 10:00pm your time, and we are 20 miles out from Diamond Head. We should dock around 7:00pm and Tom will meet us at the ship. Lee has to work tomorrow so I will spend the night with Tom and Diane.
By the way, you would have liked these night crossings....
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08/20/2008 | Heather & Jim on "Meerkat" (svthistle att yahoo dott com)
Ya think he left the camera in the car on purpose?
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Kirby and Lee should arrive in Hawaii today. I will update you when I have some information. I am sure he is having a great time!
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It seems like a million years ago that Kirby and I would live and work in Bakersfield, CA in the summers, and then return to Mexico and the boat in the winter to cruise the Gold Coast. This was Kirby's first stop on his trip.
Kirby's sister, Beverly, and her daughter, Pam, have a lovely new home in Bakersfield and Kirby spent a few days there with them. He was able to see the little ones, the middle ones and the older ones - Aunt Lileth is in her 80's. He even got over to Coldmen of California where he used to work and visited with Tracy, whom he hadn't seen in years. So I think he had a really good visit.
I just got off the phone with him and he is in Long Beach meeting Lee's ship. They will stay the night with friends in Huntington Beach and then board the ship tomorrow afternoon and head out to Hawaii. I think he is REALLY excited!
(In this picture - Pam's daughter Aryn and at the stove is Beverly.)
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Niece Pam, who's home Kirby was visiting, has a home office. So while Kirby goofed off, Pam was working.
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Little Ava with her daddy, Josh.
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Here is Aiden with his Uncle Eric.
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Well, Kirby is really making tracks. He is already in Gallup, New Mexico and at the rate he is going, he will probably be to the coast tomorrow. He doesn't make plans very well so who knows where he will go when he gets there. Bakersfield, Tehachapi, Lancaster???? You'll know when I know!
I am actually enjoying my time alone. The Shumbie's had me to dinner last night - Christie was just returned from driving Brendan around the country to visit colleges, meet with soccer coaches and attend some soccer camps. Brendan flies home tomorrow from his last camp. Casey was at Clemson last week for their soccer camp - and school starts back up in 3 weeks. Summer vacation is flying!
I took advantage of my first Saturday alone and went shopping - of course. Wore myself out. Have to go into work for a while tomorrow and then on Monday my company has a big open house which I have been working on for a couple of months. Hopefully things will slow down a little bit after that.
(No pictures from Kirby yet)
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08/03/2008 | Ray and Lucy (pepinarae att yahoo dott com)
WOW!! We've been thinking about you guys lately. I went to an old email to get your phone number (no joy) and then I went to your blog and discovered Kirby is on his way to a boat ride with Lee. How absolutely fantastic. Suzie, send me your phone number or call me. Love you guys.
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We didn't need an alarm this morning. Excited about his pending trip to the west coast, Kirby was awake and out of bed at 4:30 AM. By 5:20 he was pulling out of the driveway. I hated to see him go but - what a great adventure he is going to have!
I just talked to him and he traveled over 700 miles today and is staying the night near Jackson, Mississippi. It was just starting to rain good and he was pretty much done for the day. He said he didn't think he would start quite so early tomorrow!
Have fun, my love!
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08/01/2008 | Heather & Jim on "Meerkat" (svthistle att yahoo dott com)
I hope you sent the camera along with him! Also, did you see I put a photo of you "coffin shopping" on my blog? Ha ha!!
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For a long time Kirby has wanted to join son Lee on one of his ships. That time has finally arrived. Lee is a 2nd Mate on a really big freighter that runs a regular route from Hawaii to Long Beach, CA to Oakland, CA and then back to Hawaii.
Lee has obtained a special dispensation allowing Kirby to travel with them from Long Beach to Hawaii and back. What a fantastic opportunity for Kirby and also for Father and Son.
And to make this trip even more fun for Kirby, he is driving instead of flying so he gets to see more of the country this way. I won't be going with him; I don't have enough leave right now from work and besides - this is a guy thing!
I will be entrusting him with my little camera and as he sends me pictures I will post them here. I will also give updates as I think his trip will be a little more interesting than my daily life here.
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07/27/2008 | Heather & Jim on "Meerkat" (svthistle att yahoo dott com)
That is so cool! So "the boy" is on one of those freighters that we always had to avoid in the Santa Barbara Channel...
Huh - Kirby will have to ask him if he has ever seen us hovering and altering course to avoid him. Tell him hello for us and have a GREAT time! |
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07/28/2008 | Mollie (gaodies att hotmail dott com)
Way to go Kirby - enjoy your trip across country - we've done it many times but couldn't stop in a big truck! Send lots of pictures.
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In between all of his remodeling and ale brewing, Kirby bakes sourdough bread. Here he is kneading a loaf and you can see that the cupboard doors are off as he is refinishing them. Retirement sits quite nicely on him! He is happy!
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07/15/2008 | Betsy Adams (betsyadams att mac dott com)
Hello Susie and Kirby, I'm a Lightblog blogger also--and stumbled on your webpage.. We too are retirees and live on the Cumberland Plateau in Crossville, TN. We were just in your area visiting Charleston recently. It RAINED buckets (June 21-22).. Remember that??? Check out my webpage when you get a chance.
Betsy Adams http://www.lightblog.com/member/slohiker/ |
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07/16/2008 | Heather & Jim on "Meerkat" (svthistle att yahoo dott com)
Send him our way with some sourdough starter! We could use some good bread in Mexico :) "better than Bimbo"! Suz - he's a "keeper"! xoxo
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That is a PIG in the picture! We attended a great 4th of July celebration last night that was held right across the street from us. Actually I guess you could call it a block party but the block was huge. And true to southern style, we had a Pig Roast. Everyone brought a dish to share and there was live music and then after dark the fireworks were the best I have ever seen - other than professional and that doesn't count. There was even a golf cart decorating contest. (we live in a golf community but we are not on the golf course)
It seems that this event is put on each year by Phil and Jennifer, our neighbors across the street and it gets bigger each year. We had heard about it and were not disappointed. It was a great evening!
I hope your 4th was wonderful too!
4/6/08 - The consensus is that it was well over 200 people!
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The boys, Casey and Brendan, had a good time too.
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As the fireworks began the numbers of people increased mega-fold. This picture was taken early in the evening when things were just getting started.
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We even had live entertainment!
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I just have to share this picture of my oldest grandson, Brendan. He was in a soccer tournament all last weekend - actually about 5 days of tournament - and only had one goal scored on him. I am a very proud Grandmother! The only problem with the whole thing is that he looks so very grown-up - like a "man" in this picture. Makes me feel old. But he is a wonderful grandson and I love him bunches.
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Here is another picture of the 3 of us during Lee's visit.
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06/27/2008 | Heather and Jim on "Meerkat" (svthistle att yahoo dott com)
We miss that handsome boy... He does remember he is to take care of us in his old age, doesn't he?
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06/28/2008 | Heather and Jim on "Meerkat" (svthistle att yahoo dott com)
I mean in our old age...
What is he - 31 now? |
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06/29/2008 | Suzie (svtobias att yahoo dott com)
Actually, I believe that little boy is now 32! And a great "kid"!
Miss you guys very much! Steve and Mollie are in Nova Scotia today! Wanna be there with them! |
