This mystery sign has showed up at our marina. Nobody knows who put it here. The funny thing about it is that each of these activities ARE allowed. We know because we pay extra for 3 out of the 4.
What's the funniest sign you have ever seen?
Signs Signs Everywhere Signs
03 April 2012
This mystery sign has showed up at our marina. Nobody knows who put it here. The funny thing about it is that each of these activities ARE allowed. We know because we pay extra for 3 out of the 4.
What's the funniest sign you have ever seen?
This mystery sign has showed up at our marina. Nobody knows who put it here. The funny thing about it is that each of these activities ARE allowed. We know because we pay extra for 3 out of the 4.
What's the funniest sign you have ever seen?
Nip and Tuck
02 April 2012
My sexy assistant helped with the most important part of the job, the clean up. She used the same 90 grinder but with a sanding disk we call a tiger paw. She used it to take off all of the sharp edges. Come to think about it maybe I should put the guard back on the grinder. With her around it's hard for me to stay focused on what I am doing and pay attention.
Our other big project was the Quadrant. Surely misnamed, this one is a whopper. Just like everything else around here it is a home build also. The small snag with this one was that the cable brackets (I call dog ears) were welded in to close. Being in that position left no room for a turnbuckle at this end of the steering cable. The fix was simple, cut off each dog ear and weld it further away form the break in the edge. Now comes the fun part. Most of all the welding around here is done with the splatter gun (MIG), but not today. Today I got to drag out my little buzz box. It's a 115 Miller stick welder. The reason being was because the dog ears were stainless and the lateral deck of the quadrant was mild steel. I keep a few special rods just for times like these.
At the end of the day the Quadrant and Pedestal were back home onboard and bolted up. If all goes well, tomorrow we will be picking up the new fuel tank!
-G
Mission #1
Our first mission today was the helm pedestal. The pedestal was a home build at some point in the past. It was fabricated well except for the undersized hole in the base. The steering chain and cables kept hanging up on the lip. After transporting the pedestal to our storage area we opened up the hole for more space.
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| Itsy bitsy hole |
 |
| Cutting the Stainless |
I used a 90 grinder with a cutoff wheel to cut through the Stainless Steel base. If you are looking for the safety guard you won't find it. It went with the cardboard box the day I bought the grinder.
My sexy assistant helped with the most important part of the job, the clean up. She used the same 90 grinder but with a sanding disk we call a tiger paw. She used it to take off all of the sharp edges. Come to think about it maybe I should put the guard back on the grinder. With her around it's hard for me to stay focused on what I am doing and pay attention.
Mission #2
The Quadrant
Our other big project was the Quadrant. Surely misnamed, this one is a whopper. Just like everything else around here it is a home build also. The small snag with this one was that the cable brackets (I call dog ears) were welded in to close. Being in that position left no room for a turnbuckle at this end of the steering cable. The fix was simple, cut off each dog ear and weld it further away form the break in the edge. Now comes the fun part. Most of all the welding around here is done with the splatter gun (MIG), but not today. Today I got to drag out my little buzz box. It's a 115 Miller stick welder. The reason being was because the dog ears were stainless and the lateral deck of the quadrant was mild steel. I keep a few special rods just for times like these.
 |
| Marking the new location |
 |
| Stick welding |
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| Relocated dog ears |
At the end of the day the Quadrant and Pedestal were back home onboard and bolted up. If all goes well, tomorrow we will be picking up the new fuel tank!
-G
It's Bo Time!
01 April 12
Still on our sleep routine we were up with the sun this morning. Eager to get at it but without any groceries we went to the Waffle House, one of our favorites. Before returning home we swung by and picked up food for the rest of the week so we can eat happy healthy meals onboard.
We hit our mark with the punch list today and enjoyed two home cooked meals. It's good to be the King, even if it's only for a day.
~ G
Still on our sleep routine we were up with the sun this morning. Eager to get at it but without any groceries we went to the Waffle House, one of our favorites. Before returning home we swung by and picked up food for the rest of the week so we can eat happy healthy meals onboard.
 |
| Fresh |
The first thing to start was to finish the fiddles on the galley shelves. A quick trim and up they went.
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| Fiddles |
The big project for today was to rip out the temporary Day Tank, Helm column, Quadrant, Water-lock and raw water Strainer. Before removing the tank I had to siphon out the 15 or so gallons of diesel. Next I had to disconnect the steering cables and unbolt the Quadrant. Note the red tie-downs- we used them to secure the tank in place. It worked on our last boat for this same reason also without any trouble or rust (We got your back Tate).
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| Temp Tank |
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| Empty Cockpit |
We hit our mark with the punch list today and enjoyed two home cooked meals. It's good to be the King, even if it's only for a day.
~ G
Spring Break
01 April 12
We're home! We have a week off and we have a lot to do on the boat... we will be posting daily with the updates.
Sweet Date
29 March 2012
Date night is rare while we are working on the road, especially when we are working opposite twelve hour shifts, six days a week (him from 5:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and me from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.). With the exception of a five minute chat in passing at the worksite, we don't see each other at all with these kind of hours. I finished up my contract this week (and am still trying to readjust to normal human-being sleep patterns) and today is his last day at this site. We are planning to head out of here as soon as possible in order to get in as much quality time with The Hammer as possible before we have to go to the next job site. Since yesterday evening was likely our last night in the Charlotte area we decided to go out somewhere downtown for date night. Restaurant of choice? Crave Dessert Bar. YES- a restaurant devoted to delicious desserts and yummy cocktails. I seriously LOVE this idea. We both have an insatiable sweet tooth, and were in dire need of a tasty drink after the past few weeks so we cleaned up and headed into town.
The restaurant's atmosphere is very romantic with a sensual ambiance. Caley was our server, who was fantastic. She made several great suggestions for drinks and dessert, all of which we tried and loved. Lucky for us we came on a good night to drop in, as all of the martinis were half price. I indulged in a Cucumber Martini (Rain Cucumber Lime Vodka, mint, lime, and garnished with a cucumber), and he in a Razberri Mojito (Bicardi Razz, mint, soda, and raspberries) while we looked over the desert menu. Finally I decided on a Double Decker Strawberry Shortcake (Caley's suggestion), and G ordered The American.
The Double Decker Strawberry Shortcake has four layers; the top layer is a thin strawberry glaze, followed by a light strawberry moose. Under the moose is a layer of shortcake, and the bottom layer is cheese cake. White chocolate shavings are sprinkled on top, and served with a fresh sliced strawberry. It makes a perfect dessert because it is not too heavy... which means you can eat more of it!
The American is a hot apple pie baked in skillet. A bourbon cream caramel sauce is drizzled over top, and served with a sprig of mint and a side of vanilla ice cream. Both desserts were amazing, and we finished off the evening with two more yummy cocktails. If you happen to find yourself in the Charlotte area make sure you stop in here to satisfy your sweet tooth for a little romance and dessert... and make sure you ask for Caley!
~ C
Date night is rare while we are working on the road, especially when we are working opposite twelve hour shifts, six days a week (him from 5:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and me from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.). With the exception of a five minute chat in passing at the worksite, we don't see each other at all with these kind of hours. I finished up my contract this week (and am still trying to readjust to normal human-being sleep patterns) and today is his last day at this site. We are planning to head out of here as soon as possible in order to get in as much quality time with The Hammer as possible before we have to go to the next job site. Since yesterday evening was likely our last night in the Charlotte area we decided to go out somewhere downtown for date night. Restaurant of choice? Crave Dessert Bar. YES- a restaurant devoted to delicious desserts and yummy cocktails. I seriously LOVE this idea. We both have an insatiable sweet tooth, and were in dire need of a tasty drink after the past few weeks so we cleaned up and headed into town.
~ C
Fun With Inch Worms
28 March 2012
Spring is here! Is it just me, or are inchworms incredibly charming creatures? We have the R.V. parked right under a big tree, and these little guys are everywhere. I will often notice two or three of my little green friends that have made their way to the worksite from the campground, making my hair, hoodie, and arms their playground, swinging and inching their way all over me. How can you not love such a cute reminder that winter is over?
Anyway, I have been laid off from my first contract (don't be concerned- being "laid off" often is why we love this work), and G will be freed from his this weekend. We will have a little bit of time off between now and our next job, so we are going to have time to go home and play/work on the boat for a week or two. We are definitely looking forward to a good night sleep on the boat and being able to get a couple of boat projects done as well.
~ C
Spring is here! Is it just me, or are inchworms incredibly charming creatures? We have the R.V. parked right under a big tree, and these little guys are everywhere. I will often notice two or three of my little green friends that have made their way to the worksite from the campground, making my hair, hoodie, and arms their playground, swinging and inching their way all over me. How can you not love such a cute reminder that winter is over? Anyway, I have been laid off from my first contract (don't be concerned- being "laid off" often is why we love this work), and G will be freed from his this weekend. We will have a little bit of time off between now and our next job, so we are going to have time to go home and play/work on the boat for a week or two. We are definitely looking forward to a good night sleep on the boat and being able to get a couple of boat projects done as well.
What signs of spring do you love?
Freeze Frame
27 March 2012
We have decided that it is time for a new camera, as our Olympus 280 is starting to show its age. It has been put through a lot, and it is finally time to start thinking about an upgrade. After having looked at several brands, types, pixel counts, optics, makes and models over the course of the past month we have come up with a few features that we would like to have in a new camera.
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| Our Olympus 280 |
- At least 14 megapixel
- NOT a touch screen
- Chargeable through a USB
- Small enough to be easily carried and concealed
- Less than $200 on it, but a reputable name
Some of the brands we have looked at include Nikon, Sony, Canon, and a few others. I know a lot of our readers are fellow bloggers and many of you share beautiful, high-quality pictures of your adventures.
What kind of camera do you use, and do you have any suggestions for one that would suit our needs?
A Posture A Day
23 March 2012
As I mentioned in my recent post, AN APPLE A DAY, we do not carry health insurance. In that post I also mentioned that there are several aspects of living a healthy life to consider when trying to avoid doctors' offices and hospitals, including, but not limited to diet (the topic of the mentioned post) and exercise.
So, what do I do for exercise as the second most important contributer to my health? I practice and love yoga.
Most of the time I practice BIKRAM YOGA, which is a series of 26 Hatha Yoga postures and two breathing exercises. This series is done in a hot studio between 95 and 105 degrees, which does two things:
Not only does this get and keep you in awesome physical shape, it does wonders for your mind, mood, and energy level. It aids in the healing of injuries and pain, balancing hormones, lubricating joints, and building a strong skeletal system, among helping with other health problems.
So, what do I do for exercise as the second most important contributer to my health? I practice and love yoga.
I can hear all of you hard core runners and gym rats snickering at me, but seriously- yoga is an awesome total body (and mental) work out! Anyone that believes that yoga is not a physically challenging workout has never been in a room cranked up to 105 degrees F in Standing Bow Pulling Pose.
Most of the time I practice BIKRAM YOGA, which is a series of 26 Hatha Yoga postures and two breathing exercises. This series is done in a hot studio between 95 and 105 degrees, which does two things:
- Allows your muscles to warm up and loosen up in order to get deeper into the postures, and
- Detoxifies your body through incredible amounts of sweat.
During each session the same series of postures in the same order is practiced. It requires 100 percent concentration and ability to stay in the present moment for the duration of the 90 minute class. Affectionately called the "Torture Chamber," the Bikram Yoga studio will reward your hard work with a fit body and mind.
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| Bikram's Postures Chart |
Above all else- IT KEEPS YOU HEALTHY! It is challenging, but can you beat the rewards of a healthy mind and body?
I was pretty bummed out when we got to the job we are currently working and could not locate a Bikram studio anywhere close (I had to figure out a way to get my yoga fix!). My brother suggested that I try VINYASA YOGA while I am here working. I did a little research and joined a nearby studio that teaches Vinyasa.
Vinyasa ("breath") is a flowing yoga that gets your blood pumping, and provides total body conditioning in a heated studio. The main idea of Vinyasa is to balance mind, body and spirit; to create peace of mind and the ability to live powerfully "in the now." The postures can vary, flowing from one posture to the next without the short rests that Bikram Yoga inserts between postures.
After my first class I was not totally satisfied because I was used to Bikram and the usual 26 postures, and I didn't feel like my Vinyasa class was as challenging or rewarding. After my second class, however, I decided I had found my second yoga love; mixing it up is fun and interesting, and once I got into the groove of the flow I realized that it is just as challenging and rewarding as Bikram, just in different ways.
I'm not saying that everyone should love yoga- it is definitely not for everyone. Each person should find what works for him or her when it comes to exercise. I believe the best advice anyone has ever given me regarding exercise is to find something you love to do, and when you accomplish this, you can look forward to exercising. Yoga is my physical outlet. I find it challenging, and unbelievably rewarding physically, mentally, and emotionally, and for these reasons it is the perfect form of exercise for me. I can practice yoga while traveling anywhere in the world requiring very little space, and studios are literally everywhere. I recently stumbled across an amazing yoga blog. She provides a lot of information about yoga, and writes about her daily Ashtanga practice, which is her main focus. You can check out her blog "MY YOGA BLOG" HERE.
~C
Pump Up the Jam
20 March 2012
ONE OF THE COMPONENTS THAT WE BROUGHT WITH US TO WORK ON WAS THE RAW WATER INTAKE PUMP. THIS IS NOT THE ORIGINAL FACTORY PUMP BUT An ADD ON. THIS IS A BELT DRIVEN SIDE MOUNTED MODEL. APPARENTLY ONCE YOU TAKE THE ORIGINAL OFF IT IS A BEAR TO GET BACK ON. IN THE CRATE OF SPARE PARTS I FOUND THE SMALLER FACTORY PUMP PLUS AN ADDITIONAL MATE TO THIS ONE.
ONCE WE GOT THE DIESEL ENGINE STARTED I NOTICED THE SHAFT SEAL FAILURE FROM THE INTAKE PUMP. IT WAS TO BE EXPECTED SINCE SHE HAS NOT RUN IN THREE YEARS. AFTER CLEANING THE TARNISH OFF THE WEAR PLATE JUST ENOUGH TO READ THE MODEL NUMBER, I STARTED DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE WEB. IT IS A JABSCO 11850-0701. LOOKING AROUND THE PRICES RANGE FROM MODEST TO OUCH. I FOUND THAT THERE IS A MAJOR REBUILD KIT AND A MINOR REBUILD KIT. THE MINOR IS ALL THAT IS NEEDED BECAUSE THE WEAR PLATES AND CAMS ARE STILL WITHIN SPECS. THE MINOR KIT GOES FOR $60USD. THREE KITS HAVE NOW BEEN ORDERED. ONE TO FIX THE PRIMARY PUMP THAT'S PICTURED, ONE TO REBUILD THE SPARE, AND ONE TO KEEP FOR A PINCH.
WHILE HERE I WILL BE REBUILDING THE PUMP ON THE TAILGATE. WOW, IF THAT DODGE TRUCK COULD TALK! WE HAVE REALLY PUSHED THAT TRUCK DURING THE BOAT REBUILD. NOT TO MENTION SLEPT IN IT A NIGHT OR TWO ALSO.
- G
ONE OF THE COMPONENTS THAT WE BROUGHT WITH US TO WORK ON WAS THE RAW WATER INTAKE PUMP. THIS IS NOT THE ORIGINAL FACTORY PUMP BUT An ADD ON. THIS IS A BELT DRIVEN SIDE MOUNTED MODEL. APPARENTLY ONCE YOU TAKE THE ORIGINAL OFF IT IS A BEAR TO GET BACK ON. IN THE CRATE OF SPARE PARTS I FOUND THE SMALLER FACTORY PUMP PLUS AN ADDITIONAL MATE TO THIS ONE.
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| JABSCO RAW WATER INTAKE |
WHILE HERE I WILL BE REBUILDING THE PUMP ON THE TAILGATE. WOW, IF THAT DODGE TRUCK COULD TALK! WE HAVE REALLY PUSHED THAT TRUCK DURING THE BOAT REBUILD. NOT TO MENTION SLEPT IN IT A NIGHT OR TWO ALSO.
- G
S.P.D
17 MARCH 2012
I THOUGHT THIS PICTURE RELATIVE TO TODAY, AT THE CAMPSITE WE HAVE FOUND A PATCH OF FOUR LEAF CLOVER. THIS WAS HER FIRST TIME TO EVER FIND ONE. TODAY WE ARE ALL IRISH.
- G
I THOUGHT THIS PICTURE RELATIVE TO TODAY, AT THE CAMPSITE WE HAVE FOUND A PATCH OF FOUR LEAF CLOVER. THIS WAS HER FIRST TIME TO EVER FIND ONE. TODAY WE ARE ALL IRISH.
- G
SNAP, CRACKLE, POP
13 MARCH 2012
WHILE WE ARE AT WORK WE HAVE THE LUXARY OF STAYING IN A SWEET RV. THIS ALLOWS US THE BENEFITS OF HAVING SOME PRIVACY AND FRESH AIR. LIVING IN A RV IS A LOT LIKE BOAT LIFE. 12 VOLT LIGHTS, 12 VOLT WATER PRESSURE AND PROPANE ARE JUST TO NAME A FEW OF THE SIMILARITIES.
SCENE UNO:
THE NIGHT BEFORE LAST THERE WAS A FREEZE WARNING FOR OUR AREA, SO JUST BEFORE WE TUCKED IN I TURNED THE HEATER KNOB ON HIGH. THIS MOVE WAS MAINLY FOR US AND THE DOG BUT IT ALSO HELPED TO KEEP THE PIPES FROM FREEZING.
SCENE 2:
IT WAS AROUND 1:30AM WHEN A LOUD SNAP FOLLOWED BY THE SMELL OF BURNING PLASTIC WIRES WOKE ME UP. HALF CONFUSED AND WITHOUT THE AID OF ELECTRIC LIGHTS, I STUMBLED MY WAY TO FIND THE FLASHLIGHT. FEARING THE WORST I FIRST POPPED OPEN THE BREAKER PANEL TO CHECK THE MASTER BREAKER AND THE GFI (GROUND FAULT INTERRUPTER). THEY BOTH APPEARED OK. STILL SMELLING THE DAMAGE, I RAN OUTSIDE AND KILLED THE BREAKER ON THE POWER BOX SUPPLING THE ELECTRIC FROM THE CAMPGROUND.
BACK INSIDE, STILL ARMED WITH ONLY A FLASHLIGHT AND A FIRE BOTTLE, I SEARCHED ALL OF THE NOOKS AND CRANNIES THAT I COULD FIND THAT WAS HIDING WIRES. NOTHING!
WE STAYED AWAKE LOOKING FOR THE ROOT CAUSE UNTIL IT WAS TIME TO GO TO WORK AT 4:30AM. DURING THE WHOLE DRIVE TO WORK AND FOR MOST OF THE MORNING I RAN THE SYSTEMS THROUGH MY HEAD. ONE BY ONE I ELIMINATED WHERE THE PROBLEM COULD BE. ALL SIGNS POINTED TO THE BREAKER BOX.
SCENE 3:
BACK AT THE CAMPER AFTER WORK WITH THE ELECTRIC STILL TURNED OFF, I GRABBED MY TOOLS AND WENT TO WORK ON THE BOX. AS I STARTED UNSCREWING COVERS IT BACAME OBVIOUS. THE WIRES HAD OVER HEATED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. LUCKY FOR US THE FIRE WAS IN A METAL CASE AND SHORT LIVED DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF FUEL(PLASTIC COATING) THAT WAS CONTAINED. AFTER AN HOUR OR SO I HAD THE PANEL REWIRED AND THE MESS CLEANED UP.
MY DIAGNOSIS IS THAT BY TURNING THE HEATER ON HIGH FOR TOO LONG THE WIRES OVER HEATED, THE BREAKERS THAT SHOULD HAVE TRIPED DID NOT, ALLOWING THE WIRES TO CARRY TO MUCH JUICE UNTIL COMBUSTION.
EVERYTHING IS BACK TO NORMAL AT THE LAND-HAMMER. WE CHALKED THIS ONE UP AS A LEARNING EXPERIENCE.
- G
WHILE WE ARE AT WORK WE HAVE THE LUXARY OF STAYING IN A SWEET RV. THIS ALLOWS US THE BENEFITS OF HAVING SOME PRIVACY AND FRESH AIR. LIVING IN A RV IS A LOT LIKE BOAT LIFE. 12 VOLT LIGHTS, 12 VOLT WATER PRESSURE AND PROPANE ARE JUST TO NAME A FEW OF THE SIMILARITIES.
SCENE UNO:
THE NIGHT BEFORE LAST THERE WAS A FREEZE WARNING FOR OUR AREA, SO JUST BEFORE WE TUCKED IN I TURNED THE HEATER KNOB ON HIGH. THIS MOVE WAS MAINLY FOR US AND THE DOG BUT IT ALSO HELPED TO KEEP THE PIPES FROM FREEZING.
SCENE 2:
IT WAS AROUND 1:30AM WHEN A LOUD SNAP FOLLOWED BY THE SMELL OF BURNING PLASTIC WIRES WOKE ME UP. HALF CONFUSED AND WITHOUT THE AID OF ELECTRIC LIGHTS, I STUMBLED MY WAY TO FIND THE FLASHLIGHT. FEARING THE WORST I FIRST POPPED OPEN THE BREAKER PANEL TO CHECK THE MASTER BREAKER AND THE GFI (GROUND FAULT INTERRUPTER). THEY BOTH APPEARED OK. STILL SMELLING THE DAMAGE, I RAN OUTSIDE AND KILLED THE BREAKER ON THE POWER BOX SUPPLING THE ELECTRIC FROM THE CAMPGROUND.
BACK INSIDE, STILL ARMED WITH ONLY A FLASHLIGHT AND A FIRE BOTTLE, I SEARCHED ALL OF THE NOOKS AND CRANNIES THAT I COULD FIND THAT WAS HIDING WIRES. NOTHING!
WE STAYED AWAKE LOOKING FOR THE ROOT CAUSE UNTIL IT WAS TIME TO GO TO WORK AT 4:30AM. DURING THE WHOLE DRIVE TO WORK AND FOR MOST OF THE MORNING I RAN THE SYSTEMS THROUGH MY HEAD. ONE BY ONE I ELIMINATED WHERE THE PROBLEM COULD BE. ALL SIGNS POINTED TO THE BREAKER BOX.
SCENE 3:
BACK AT THE CAMPER AFTER WORK WITH THE ELECTRIC STILL TURNED OFF, I GRABBED MY TOOLS AND WENT TO WORK ON THE BOX. AS I STARTED UNSCREWING COVERS IT BACAME OBVIOUS. THE WIRES HAD OVER HEATED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. LUCKY FOR US THE FIRE WAS IN A METAL CASE AND SHORT LIVED DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF FUEL(PLASTIC COATING) THAT WAS CONTAINED. AFTER AN HOUR OR SO I HAD THE PANEL REWIRED AND THE MESS CLEANED UP.
MY DIAGNOSIS IS THAT BY TURNING THE HEATER ON HIGH FOR TOO LONG THE WIRES OVER HEATED, THE BREAKERS THAT SHOULD HAVE TRIPED DID NOT, ALLOWING THE WIRES TO CARRY TO MUCH JUICE UNTIL COMBUSTION.
THIS IS WHAT WE LEARNED THAT NIGHT
- PUT THE FLASHLIGHTS WHERE THEY ARE EASY TO FIND AND GRAB
- WHY DOES IT ALWAYS HAPPEN AT NIGHT???
- JUST BECAUSE SAFETY MEASURES ARE PUT INTO PLACE DON'T BET YOUR LIFE ON THEM.
- TEST THE SMOKE ALARMS.
- TEST THE FLASHLIGHT BATTERIES.
- HAVE AN ESCAPE PLAN
- IF YOU HAVE NEVER USED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER GO AND BUY ONE TO SET OFF IN YOUR BACK YARD, THE EXPERIENCE IS PRICELESS.
- JUST LIKE ON A BOAT MAKE SURE EVERYONE KNOWS WHERE THE MAIN BREAKER IS AT, AC AND DC.
EVERYTHING IS BACK TO NORMAL AT THE LAND-HAMMER. WE CHALKED THIS ONE UP AS A LEARNING EXPERIENCE.
- G
An Apple A Day
10 March 2012
How do we maintain our health with our crazy lifestyle?
Because we do not have health insurance, we are very motivated to maintain our health. We take special care of our bodies and health in order to avoid hospitals, doctors, etc. While we realize we take on a certain amount of risk by not having insurance, we believe that not having it makes us a lot more inclined to protect ourselves from poor health or accidents. There are many contributing factors that we consider every day regarding our health, such as exercise, environment, habits, stress, carelessness, etc. but we are all familiar with the main contributer to health: DIET.
While there are several very important factors for staying healthy, I believe the most important factor is having a healthy diet. I generally cook for us every day with fresh ingredients, and avoiding packaged foods like the plague. Keeping a lot of variation in our diet ensures that we get all different kinds of nutrients and vitamins that we need throughout the week, while also keeping the toxic properties of certain foods to a minimum. Did you know that naturally occurring toxins in fruits and vegetables that in very large doses can act like poison to humans? Even vegetables, fruits, and vitamins that are VERY beneficial to your health can still have a negative effect if consumed too often. Due to these reasons, a diet with variety is crucial.
A few years ago I thought that a strictly vegetarian diet was the best way to stay healthy. I spent a lot of time fatigued and cold while on this vegetarian diet. Allergies and headaches were common in our "boathold" for a while, so we went to a natural health specialist for some advice. His first question for us was "Do you have O blood?" We are, in fact, both O blood type. He educated us on a diet called the Blood Type Diet, which we started immediately after our meeting. This diet for us as O blood-typers includes red meat, fish, veggies, and lots of leafy greens, while avoiding foods such as pork, dairy, corn and gluten products (of course incorporating red meat into a healthy diet means being choosy, and lean, organic meat is obviously recommended).
I am very aware that many extremely healthy people are vegetarians. It works for a lot of people (most likely those with different blood types than we have), but is clearly not for everyone. A vegetarian diet does not work for us- we need the nutrients provided in meat to stay healthy. I now center our meals around the blood type recommendations and fresh foods, and focus on having a lot of variation in our diet as well.
So, what have I learned through my quest to stay healthy?
How do we maintain our health with our crazy lifestyle?
While there are several very important factors for staying healthy, I believe the most important factor is having a healthy diet. I generally cook for us every day with fresh ingredients, and avoiding packaged foods like the plague. Keeping a lot of variation in our diet ensures that we get all different kinds of nutrients and vitamins that we need throughout the week, while also keeping the toxic properties of certain foods to a minimum. Did you know that naturally occurring toxins in fruits and vegetables that in very large doses can act like poison to humans? Even vegetables, fruits, and vitamins that are VERY beneficial to your health can still have a negative effect if consumed too often. Due to these reasons, a diet with variety is crucial.
A few years ago I thought that a strictly vegetarian diet was the best way to stay healthy. I spent a lot of time fatigued and cold while on this vegetarian diet. Allergies and headaches were common in our "boathold" for a while, so we went to a natural health specialist for some advice. His first question for us was "Do you have O blood?" We are, in fact, both O blood type. He educated us on a diet called the Blood Type Diet, which we started immediately after our meeting. This diet for us as O blood-typers includes red meat, fish, veggies, and lots of leafy greens, while avoiding foods such as pork, dairy, corn and gluten products (of course incorporating red meat into a healthy diet means being choosy, and lean, organic meat is obviously recommended).
I am very aware that many extremely healthy people are vegetarians. It works for a lot of people (most likely those with different blood types than we have), but is clearly not for everyone. A vegetarian diet does not work for us- we need the nutrients provided in meat to stay healthy. I now center our meals around the blood type recommendations and fresh foods, and focus on having a lot of variation in our diet as well.
So, what have I learned through my quest to stay healthy?
- We are not all plumbed the same way, and depending on certain factors (i.e. blood type) your body will require different sources of nutrition.
- Above any nutrition advice anyone can give you, you must LISTEN TO YOUR BODY. If your body responds well to something, you may need more of it. If your body rejects something (upset stomach, headaches, sinus allergies, rashes, etc.) then obviously regardless of what anyone says, you should avoid it.
- Pay attention to what you are putting in your body- know what is in your food! The best thing you can do is prepare your own meals with fresh ingredients.
- Fresh food and water are key to any diet, regardless of what your diet includes. Soft drinks and packaged food is definitely one of the worst things you can do for your body.
Check out these books if you are interested in learning more about the information I've provided in this post. Both of these authors are very educated and provide excellent information regarding healthy and nutrition in these two books (my personal favorites), as well as many other books they have written.
~ C
101 Days Until . . .
7 March 2012
101 days until we tie the knot!
Let me start off by saying that I am the luckiest girl on the planet for having found such an awesome person to make my hubby this coming June; a man that it adventurous, smart, super handy, funny, and (of course) handsome! I am truly so grateful to have such an amazing partner in life and adventure, and for the amazing life that we share. I simply cannot think of a better match for me!
OK OK! Enough with the mushy stuff . . . but since I have never posted the story of how he proposed to me, I figured I would share.
G proposed to me in Charleston, SC on a VERY rainy Friday last April. We love geocaching... so on the Thursday before he snuck out for the entire day (he said he was "working") to plant clues and record coordinates all over downtown Charleston. The following day he suggested that we go on a road trip "South" to relax a bit before the start of our final Spring contract the following Monday. I excitedly agreed, as I love road trips. Our first stop was Charleston. . .
We had breakfast at a little restaurant downtown. Afterwards he informed me that he forgot his wallet in the truck and had to go get it. He abruptly left, leaving me annoyed in the pouring rain with an umbrella and a heavy purse containing our GPS. A couple of minutes later he called and told me that he had left a card in my purse that I needed to immediately open, and he quickly hung up on me.
So what would any normal girl think at this point? Crap, he is breaking up with me and he just drove away and left me in the pouring rain in a heavy soaking wet dress with no straps...
So I opened the card, prepared for the worst, but all it contained was coordinates, a coded message, and instructions for a "Geo-cache" style scavenger hunt. I was instructed to punch in the given coordinates into the GPS to get to the general area of the following clue. Once I arrived in the general area I was to decipher the coded message, which gave me a more specific idea of where to find my next set of coordinates.
Through all six hidden clues and locations I was oblivious to the blue poncho-ed boyfriend following me from my starting point on Market Street, down through Water Front Park, and ending up at Battery Park. My last clue led me right onto the gazebo in the middle of the park, where he met me and asked me for a dance. Although the park was somewhat crowded for the rainy day that it was, we danced to "Are You Going to Kiss Me or Not" by Thompson Square right in front of everyone. When the song ended he said "Happy Anniversary..." My confused facial expression pulled the rest of it out of him. "...of the day I asked you to marry me." Then he got down on one knee, opened up a small box, and asked me to be his queen.
A little side note about the location of this proposal... When I was a little girl this gazebo was where my dream wedding was to take place when I became a grown-up. I told G about this sometime in the first few months that we dated, and even though my desire to get married in that spot had changed he still remembered me telling him this, and chose this place to fulfill that little girl fantasy that I had told him about six years ago.
By the way... I did say yes, and immediately the rain stopped and the sun came out. It is not an exaggeration when I say that we did not see another drop of rain the rest of the weekend!
~ C
101 days until we tie the knot!Let me start off by saying that I am the luckiest girl on the planet for having found such an awesome person to make my hubby this coming June; a man that it adventurous, smart, super handy, funny, and (of course) handsome! I am truly so grateful to have such an amazing partner in life and adventure, and for the amazing life that we share. I simply cannot think of a better match for me!
G proposed to me in Charleston, SC on a VERY rainy Friday last April. We love geocaching... so on the Thursday before he snuck out for the entire day (he said he was "working") to plant clues and record coordinates all over downtown Charleston. The following day he suggested that we go on a road trip "South" to relax a bit before the start of our final Spring contract the following Monday. I excitedly agreed, as I love road trips. Our first stop was Charleston. . .
We had breakfast at a little restaurant downtown. Afterwards he informed me that he forgot his wallet in the truck and had to go get it. He abruptly left, leaving me annoyed in the pouring rain with an umbrella and a heavy purse containing our GPS. A couple of minutes later he called and told me that he had left a card in my purse that I needed to immediately open, and he quickly hung up on me.
So what would any normal girl think at this point? Crap, he is breaking up with me and he just drove away and left me in the pouring rain in a heavy soaking wet dress with no straps...
So I opened the card, prepared for the worst, but all it contained was coordinates, a coded message, and instructions for a "Geo-cache" style scavenger hunt. I was instructed to punch in the given coordinates into the GPS to get to the general area of the following clue. Once I arrived in the general area I was to decipher the coded message, which gave me a more specific idea of where to find my next set of coordinates.
Through all six hidden clues and locations I was oblivious to the blue poncho-ed boyfriend following me from my starting point on Market Street, down through Water Front Park, and ending up at Battery Park. My last clue led me right onto the gazebo in the middle of the park, where he met me and asked me for a dance. Although the park was somewhat crowded for the rainy day that it was, we danced to "Are You Going to Kiss Me or Not" by Thompson Square right in front of everyone. When the song ended he said "Happy Anniversary..." My confused facial expression pulled the rest of it out of him. "...of the day I asked you to marry me." Then he got down on one knee, opened up a small box, and asked me to be his queen. A little side note about the location of this proposal... When I was a little girl this gazebo was where my dream wedding was to take place when I became a grown-up. I told G about this sometime in the first few months that we dated, and even though my desire to get married in that spot had changed he still remembered me telling him this, and chose this place to fulfill that little girl fantasy that I had told him about six years ago.
By the way... I did say yes, and immediately the rain stopped and the sun came out. It is not an exaggeration when I say that we did not see another drop of rain the rest of the weekend!
~ C
Birthday Week
4 MARCH 2012
G LOVES TO MAKE SPOILING ME ON MY BIRTHDAY A HABIT, AND EVERY YEAR HE TRIES TO OUT-DO THE PAST YEAR'S SPOILING OF ME. FOR MY 28th BIRTHDAY HE GAVE ME A NEW PAIR OF SPERRY TOPSIDERS (WHAT GIRL DOESN'T LOVE NEW SHOES??), A GIFT CARD FOR THE NEW KINDLE (OUR CHRISTMAS GIFT FROM MY BROTHER), AND A SURPRISE DATE TO THE JERSEY BOYS TRAVELING BROADWAY MUSICAL.
I LOVE THIS STUFF... BROADWAY SHOWS AND MUSICALS ARE SOMETHING I'VE ALWAYS REALLY ENJOYED, BUT JERSEY BOYS WAS ABOVE AND BEYOND ENTERTAINING. IT TELLS THE STORY OF FOUR BLUE COLLAR KIDS FROM NEW JERSEY MAKING IT BIG AS FRANKIE VALLI AND THE FOUR SEASONS.
SOME OF THE SONGS YOU PROBABLY KNOW FROM FRANKIE VALLI ARE...
IT WAS REALLY FUNNY AND GAVE INSIGHT TO THE MEANING BEHIND THE SONGS. THE SHOW HAD ME SO DRAWN IN THAT IN A MOMENT OF SURPRISE I JUMPED WHILE HOLDING MY VERY FULL PLASTIC CUP OF RED WINE, WHICH WENT FLYING UP AND SPLATTERING ALL OVER MY SWEET DATE'S WHITE DRESS SHIRT. OOPS...!
G LOVES TO MAKE SPOILING ME ON MY BIRTHDAY A HABIT, AND EVERY YEAR HE TRIES TO OUT-DO THE PAST YEAR'S SPOILING OF ME. FOR MY 28th BIRTHDAY HE GAVE ME A NEW PAIR OF SPERRY TOPSIDERS (WHAT GIRL DOESN'T LOVE NEW SHOES??), A GIFT CARD FOR THE NEW KINDLE (OUR CHRISTMAS GIFT FROM MY BROTHER), AND A SURPRISE DATE TO THE JERSEY BOYS TRAVELING BROADWAY MUSICAL.
I LOVE THIS STUFF... BROADWAY SHOWS AND MUSICALS ARE SOMETHING I'VE ALWAYS REALLY ENJOYED, BUT JERSEY BOYS WAS ABOVE AND BEYOND ENTERTAINING. IT TELLS THE STORY OF FOUR BLUE COLLAR KIDS FROM NEW JERSEY MAKING IT BIG AS FRANKIE VALLI AND THE FOUR SEASONS.
- WALK LIKE A MAN
- BIG GIRLS DON'T CRY
- SHERRY
- WHO LOVES YOU
- CAN'T TAKE MY EYES OFF OF YOU
IT WAS REALLY FUNNY AND GAVE INSIGHT TO THE MEANING BEHIND THE SONGS. THE SHOW HAD ME SO DRAWN IN THAT IN A MOMENT OF SURPRISE I JUMPED WHILE HOLDING MY VERY FULL PLASTIC CUP OF RED WINE, WHICH WENT FLYING UP AND SPLATTERING ALL OVER MY SWEET DATE'S WHITE DRESS SHIRT. OOPS...!
LUCKILY HE QUICKLY FORGAVE ME, AND THE SHOW AND EVENING WERE BOTH GREATLY ENJOYED.
~ C
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