We on the South Island are paying for the "winter that never was". This May has been mostly cool and cloudy and, it seems pretty rainy. I haven't looked at the stats but it sure seems that way...
May has also seen some personal achievements. Some are big, most are mundane and more like to-dos crossed off the list.
I've shed about twenty pounds thanks to walking, laying off the beer, really watching the snacks and celebrating the salad. June will see the last ten go away and that's that for the rest of my life...I really hated carrying around the belly...
I've embarked on some inner explorations that have been quite enlightening...it never hurts to take stock, I am testament to that. I had the opportunity to give my inner child a good spanking, well, maybe a good talking to at least!
I've committed to this Web Site. I've had the bones of the site on the go for the better part of a year but, never realized it was so feature-rich! Frankly if I knew the folks at Weebly made building a website so easy and forgiving, I would have had it up and running quite a bit sooner. Kudos to you guys for making web-designing so approachable!
Project 365 is entering its second week. I'll admit the photos are weak but, I don't want to blow my wad at the beginning! Truthfully, between the weather and a generally bad attitude it has been a chore to drag my camera out of its bag. It will get better, I promise.
I got my first tattoo! It was a long time coming. But, to me it was a big deal. I have stirred around so many ideas in the last two decades that I'm really glad I waited so long to commit to what I think is an awesome design created by someone who knows me, not a stranger trying to interpret an idea. I don't want to be one of those people faced with the need to remove or cover-up something that seemed like a good idea at the time.
I sometimes wonder what the heck people are thinking or if they are thinking at all. Between punching holes in their tongues or body modding their ears leaving a hole so big that when their skin loses flexibility and healing ability that it will have to be stitched closed or left flapping in the wind. But, who am I to judge? How does it fundamentally affect me? It doesn't. I digress...
My new passport should be in my hands any day now. Part of me resents having to get it. I understand its need for truly foreign travel but, I can't even get into the good old US of A without one now and that means wonderful sailing grounds like Friday Harbor and Roche Harbor on San Juan Island. But a road trip to Washington and Oregon will require the document as well. So these are the times in which we all live and I guess I have to play along. Oh well, who knows where else I will go now that I have "The Pass".
The flower beds were planted and life is now evident in the soil.
A small victory was investigating and resolving a low hot water pressure in the bathroom. It wasn't the end of the world but, it's fixed and it's glorious!
The end of the month is the Swiftsure 67th International Yacht Race. This huge regatta sees participants from BC, Washington State, Oregon, California and this year there is an entry from Russia!
I participated in the race in 2006 and it was an unforgettable experience with ideal race conditions aboard a great yacht crewed by a very able bunch of sailors. Since then the start of the race has been enjoyed from shore...a spectacle to behold in its own rite.
This year the 2006 crew is gathering aboard SV "Black Dragon", the yacht we sailed to a First-in-class win in 2006 to watch the start on the water. It is truly exciting to be out there among hundreds of boats from club racers, family cruisers to sponsored rocket-ships built with state of the art material and equipped with the best of the best gear and crew. A sight to see!
You may hear from me one more time before June but if not, I'll see you all there. Save me a seat!
Peace,
Allan