A day late and a dollar...

Well, I already paid the dollars.  The outboard motor showed up today... while I was out getting some u-bolts for adapting a two wheel truck into an outboard stand.  Fortunately, Joan was here to sign for it.

The good news: it comes well-packed and appears to be undamaged.  I get to do the "pre-delivery inspection" (would that be the post-delivery inspection?), which mostly amounts to putting oil in the engine, checking for any loose connections, gassing it up, and test running it.  It was already test run at the factory, then the oil drained out for shipping.

The bad news: the wind is blowing out of the south at about 30 miles per hour, gusting to about a thousand.  I'm kidding... a thousand and three.  No way am I doing to put the dinghy in the water to fire up the motor and take it for a test run.  Remember when you were a kid (Seriously? You can remember back that far??) and you got a bike for Christmas... and the snow was up to your hind end?  Yeah, that's how this feels.  Kinda.  Except there isn't snow.  But, you know what I mean: new toy and you can't play with it... oh, sure you could sit on the bike in the living room and make screeching brake sounds... but, if I'm going to play motorboat, well... nevermind.

The forecast for the next few days is more wind.  Back on the bright side, it was in the upper 70s today, so at least that wind just roars in your ears and makes it impossible to put down anything lightweight (a piece of wood I just finished cutting blew into the canal before I could pick it up)... it doesn't cut through you like it did during that last norther.

One of us had a walk-about again today.  Yes, the short, furry one.  Joan let her out on the deck, with a gate she fashioned.  Well, apparently, the wind opened that just enough so our sleek little girl could get by it.  I was sent on a search and rescue mission, but little Izzy must have heard me and was back on the deck before I got back.

Putting a cat in "time out" is like a reward: "You go lay down and think about what you've done!"  Does this look like the face of someone with even an ounce of remorse...

Damn, I wish I could sleep like that.  And, here's her, "Don't you think I'm sweet, Daddy?" face...

Yeah, that is one very sweet face.

OPB...

Some boat folks know the meaning of that: Other People's Boats.  If you can't be out on your own boat, Other People's Boats can still get you out on the water.

We have some new friends here on our island - Mike and MJ (and furry kids Gracie and Yogi).  They are nice folks and have definitely embraced the lifestyle here.  They've been here about 5 days and have taken delivery of a new boat (Blue Wave 22), rigged up some electronics and other goodies, adapted a boat lift for their new boat... and today was launch day.

I offered to give Mike a hand with getting the boat launched... not that he needs any help, but just along for the ride, to provide some local information.  First time dunking the boat in and all went well.  The original plan was to move the boat from the launch ramp to their dock... a quick side-trip to the Brownsville Ship Channel gave Mike a good feel for the handling of the new boat.  It is like a fast magic carpet!  It is a fishing machine, 175 hp on a lightweight, shallow draft hull - it moves right out!  Along the way, we saw some dolphins, checked out a couple good, shallow fishing spots, and got Mike oriented to the water here.

Everything checked out great on the boat, we brought it back to their dock, and got it on the boat lift - they are good to go!

Back home, I was expecting the delivery of an outboard motor today.  Well, that's what the tracking said yesterday... alas, today, the "Out for delivery" status never showed up, and they moved it back a day.  I have been anxious to get the dinghy in the water and putt around... since the motor was going to be a no-show, I tossed it in and rowed it around.  I wanted to make sure there are no leaks...

This is the current version of the dinghy we had that literally came apart at the seams, but lasted longer than we were lead to believe.  Turns out, this is made by a different company; after some initial frustrations (caused entirely by the most ineffective owners manual I've ever seen), I have been convince that this boat is, indeed, an upgrade from what we had.  The inflation tubes are bigger, but there is more interior room.  Much more carrying capacity.  It can take a bigger motor.  At this point, any motor would be good, but I found out that it also rows much better than our old dinghy.  I still wouldn't want to be out rowing in a strong wind, but this was pretty effortless (thanks mostly to the better designed oar lock).  Yep, I'm looking forward to mounting the motor on there.

The info on the boat says this one is lighter than our old one.  Maybe.  Maybe I'm getting softer?  The two of us were able to heft it up on the dock easily... not so easy by myself.  Got to keep it clean and pretty...

Should be fun, and it will get us out on the water under power until we get back to Wild Blue.  Assuming the motor shows up.

It was another "Chamber of Commerce Day" in the Tropical Tip - absolutely perfect weather; temps in the 70s, abundant sunshine, low humidity, not much breeze.  It was a good day for releasing rescued sea turtles back into the water.  Two weeks ago, we had much colder than normal weather... cold enough that it "cold shocked" many of our local sea turtles.  Rescue volunteers pulled over 100 sea turtles out of the cold water and took them to Sea Turtle, Inc. to allow them to warm up.  They didn't all make it.  Today, they released all the surviving sea turtles back into the Gulf waters from the beach on South Padre Island.

Island Time...

Some think that means it's "5 o'clock somewhere."  My definition is more along the lines of: things will get done when they get done.

We have our morning routine, and none of it happens in a hurry.  Coffee (for her) and hot chocolate (mine), some pastries.  Next course: fruit.  Then, Joan makes breakfast.  This morning, it was pancakes.  I heard some grumbling from the kitchen... "I do not like this griddle - it has been lousy since the first time I used it."  When I looked, she was trying to "pry" pancakes off the griddle.

"I'll take it to the garbage," I offered.  Seconds later, she had pancakes the size of our plates going in another pan... and nothing sticking.

After breakfast, it is guitar time... for as long as the Blonde is an appreciative audience.  Generally little Izzy's grooming time, too... until she decides she's had enough brushing.

A decent day; a bit cool, but nice enough to do our running with the scooters.  We stopped at Walgreens for something Joan wanted to get.  While there, I decided to get a flu shot.  The people at the pharmacy had to call a staff meeting to examine my insurance card... and then, without actually checking anything, decided my insurance didn't cover the shot.  "Fine.  I'm here, you're here, any chance I can still get the shot?"

"Fill out this form."  Fortunately, I am not pregnant.  Once they had my money, they left me sitting for quite a while.  Finally, the pharmacist called my name (I was the only one waiting), and stuck me, almost before I could get my arm out of my sleeve.  "You're done.  Be well."

"That's the whole idea of a flu shot."

Off to the grocery store.  Easy; not much of a crowd.  Next stop: the Post Office.  On what is the busiest "letter day" of the year.  Joan saw Wilma inside; I waited outside with the scooters.  For quite a while.  I entertained myself watching people park badly; the white lines designating parking spots don't count during the Christmas season.

It was well after lunch by this time, my belly told me so.  Joan asked if I wanted to go to the nearby Mexican restaurant... "Sure, or BurgerFi."  We decided to drop off the package from the Post Office and the groceries, then go eat.  It didn't take long at the house, but the bridge was out when we were ready to head off the island.

The swing bridge is the only way on and off this island, unless you are coming and going by boat.  Usually if the bridge is out, it is a 10 minute wait... unless it is a barge and tug, and then the bridge opens earlier, opens further, and you can count on 20 minutes.  Yep, we were there at the beginning of a barge going through.

After waiting for 20 minutes, watching the barge go through, the bridge started to close.  Mid-way through closing, it reversed direction, opening again.  That is very unusual.  Even if another commercial boat is coming, they usually clear the traffic that has been waiting.  Not this time.  The bridge swung all the way open again.  We found out later from the bridge guy that the second barge told him, "We're doing 8 knots and aren't going to be able to slow down."  Yep, I'd open the bridge again, too.  Our wait turned into a bit more than 40 minutes.

You really don't want to be on a schedule, coming and going here.  The bad news: the Mexican restaurant where we were going to eat, closed at 2:00, and it was 2:30.  We decided to take the scooters over the causeway for a juicy burger at BurgerFi.  We rolled up in front of that eaterie, not a car in the parking lot.  A sign on the door: closed until February for "remodeling."  That is generally a codeword around here for: we ain't coming back.  Especially for a place that only recently opened.  Too bad, the burgers there are good.

Joan suggested Padreritaville - today is "Meatloaf Monday."  We got there at 3:05.  One car in the lot.  The lady who was going to seat us said, "I think the meatloaf is gone for the day.  We stopped serving that at (checking her watch) 3:00."

"OK, maybe next time."

It was a short jaunt to Blackbeard's.  Joan said, "I know they serve off the lunch menu until 4:00."  My belly was telling me it was WAY beyond lunch.  Two cars in the parking lot.  The young lady seating us said, "Pick any table you want."

Finally.  This being the Christmas season, I was beginning to better understand Mary and Joseph's difficulty finding a place to stay... if necessary, I was ready to eat in a manger.  ;-)

The food was good; it was late enough that we won't need supper.  I was going to toss the dinghy in the canal and row it around... just to make sure it is water-tight.  By the time we got home, it was well beyond the warmest part of the day... maybe tomorrow.  That's Island Time.

And now, it is 5:00 somewhere.  :-)

Massage - ohhhh, that feels good...

A gentle pull on the legs, hands working the back of the neck and up towards the head.  Roll over and feel that luxurious fur on the belly.  No, not talking about me, my belly fur is less than luxurious, thanks for asking.

Some cats have it made.  Izzy would be one of those.  She knows the routine: Joan makes me hot chocolate with a couple small pastries.  She sits down with her cup of coffee.  And, Izzy gets her morning massage...

I am working to understand Izzy's thoughts, meows, and purrs.  (Molly and I understood each other perfectly).  It really is getting better.  Izzy is now just a bit younger than Molly was when we first met her, so this may be a matter of maturity.

What's that?  No, I'm not talking about my maturity; this is about Isabella.

Back to the communication.  Pretty sure she is saying, "Bet you wish you got rubbed like this."

She'd be right.  ;-)

In the words of Ronald Reagan...

"Well, there you go again."

That fog this morning wasn't expected.  The next norther blew in earlier than forecast... on the bright side, this one is pretty weak.  As the wind built, we had some sunshine again this afternoon.  And another pretty evening sky...

Check out the palm trees in silhouette above... yeah, the wind has kicked back up with this front.  Tomorrow will be cool and windy (60º, winds 20 to 30 mph), but sunny.  I like sunny.

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Speaking of weather, I got this chuckle from the NuWa Owners forum...

Followed by this...

;-)

That sound...

Foghorn in the distance.

It reminds me of mornings at Friday Harbor, where the fog was common.  Not so common around here.  I stepped outside to look down the canal - it looks like there is decent visibility, at least a mile.  The ship channel isn't far away; it must be thicker there.

The morning is calm.  The palm tree branches aren't moving.  63º, we have the door open.  Better to hear the sound of the foghorn and the birds.  The sound of the foghorn is getting closer.

Yesterday was a perfect day in the Tropical Tip: mid-70s, sunny, light breeze.  We made a drive into the Valley to get a motor for the dinghy.  The salesman was a dipshit; we decided to not give him our money.  Yeah, I know... I tried to buy a motor in stock.  Immediate gratification.  Gratification delayed, but that is my new policy: don't give my money to dipshits.  I may have to get some business cards printed up that say that.  ;-)

That's OK, I wouldn't be out in the fog in the dinghy, anyway.  I like the sound of a foghorn, especially when I don't have to be out in the soup.  :-)

Pulling some strings...

No, nothing to do with Joan getting me a job.

The cold continues in the Tropical Tip.  No cabin fever for me, I had "a project" for today: restringing guitars.  I move out of the guitar room and take over the island in the kitchen... it's a good height for working on the guitars and plenty of light.

On the agenda: two Taylors and the Rainsong.  I checked my string supply - good to go.  The T5 got a new set of Elixir electrics.  With strings off, it gives me a chance to really clean the fretboard, too.

Next up: the 814...

I had a set of Martin acoustic strings that I bought to try on this guitar, but the Elixirs just sound so rich, I decided to try the Martins on the Rainsong.  I am particularly fond of the tobacco sunburst finish on the 814 - and it shines up nice!  Working on the island allows me to move to either side of the guitar...

This isn't a tough job, but I like to take my time and look the guitars over close while restringing.

Last, I put the Martin strings on the Rainsong.  The Rainsong is a carbon fiber guitar, with a crisp sound that some describe as piano-like.  Definitely different from my wood guitars.  I haven't tried Martin strings on any of my guitars, but they were recommended by some folks on the Taylor forum as having a "warmer sound," I figured this would be a good trial.  The B-string fought me... it kept jumping out of the tuning pegs... like about 20 times.  And sticking my fingertip each time in the process.  That's new.  Finally got it, and tuned it up.  Yep, that B-string is going to have to "work in."

When I cut each string to length, I tried to keep the loose end from shooting across the room... little Izzy waited with expectation after she saw the first one go flying.  I scooped it up quick, before she could chomp on it.

By the third guitar, she was over it - time to settle back in on her favorite blankie...

By the third guitar, I had to be over it, too - Joan needed her counter back to make some supper.  Now, I have to do some playing to get that initial stretch out of the strings.