Sunday, July 11, 2010
The rest of the family.
Chef and Tigger are along on this adventure. As far as we know, neither had flown before.
Prior to looking into their travel arrangements, I mistakenly thought that policies on flying with pets were the same industry wide. They're not. Different airlines have different policies. It seems some have little interest in catering to pets. But Continental has made it a specialty. They have an 800 number with dedicated staff for arranging travel for pets, and they provide real-time tracking of your pet while on its journey. The cost was not much different from other carriers. Nonetheless, it cost more to fly each of of our cats to fly here here than my own ticket. (I got a bargain.)
Chef and Tigger are never happy when in their cages. For this trip they were stuck in them for nearly 18 hours. No doubt the entire experience was stressful for them. It was stressful for me. But they arrived just fine.
When we released them from their cages in our St Petersburg condo they were naturally freaked and found security under the bed. Chef emerged first, as we would expect. Tigger took rather longer. Now they both seem well acclimatized.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
I see stripes of a Teva tan in my future.
Back in the 90's when I lived in the Islands there was a freakish contrast between my tanned feet and the comparative pale of Teva lines. Friday, July 9, 2010
More facets to St Petersburg
Walking from the condo to a nearby marina I pass the St Petersburg campus of USF, greenspaces with public art, and the Dali Museum.
My quest to continue messing around in boats.
To arrive at a new port, unknown and without connections, seeking gigs as a freelance skipper is bound to be daunting. That's challenge enough. And to that these factors: the market for boat sales is as bad as anyone remembers, hurricane season is coming on strong, and the BP oil mess does the image of boating in this market no good at all.
But that's my challenge and I go about it cheerfully. I've been in these deckshoes before. I know what doors to knock on - boat brokers, harbor masters, charter operations and sailing schools. I carry copies of my updated resume with photocopies of Coast Guard license and ASA Instructors card attached. Smile. Introduce myself with a brief statement explaining my purpose and experience. Convey the truth, which is that I'm an old hand at this.
My particular strength was acquired over long experience in the charter boat business - I'm good with people. Not all skippers are. I've known highly qualified captains who won't do charters. They won't even deliver yachts if the yacht owner insists on going along.
I'm not like that. I've proven I can spend week long cruises with complete strangers and have their friendship at voyage end. I can teach boat systems and vessel handling on sail or power boats. My license isn't the most impressive around. I'm not likely to start driving megayachts any time soon. But put me onboard a 40 or 50 something recreational vessel with new owners or a charter party and we'll all have a good time. Not bragging. That's just what I do.
But now my job is to go around talking to professionals in the network. Yesterday seemed like a productive day. Patience and persistence are also part of the job.
But that's my challenge and I go about it cheerfully. I've been in these deckshoes before. I know what doors to knock on - boat brokers, harbor masters, charter operations and sailing schools. I carry copies of my updated resume with photocopies of Coast Guard license and ASA Instructors card attached. Smile. Introduce myself with a brief statement explaining my purpose and experience. Convey the truth, which is that I'm an old hand at this.
My particular strength was acquired over long experience in the charter boat business - I'm good with people. Not all skippers are. I've known highly qualified captains who won't do charters. They won't even deliver yachts if the yacht owner insists on going along.
I'm not like that. I've proven I can spend week long cruises with complete strangers and have their friendship at voyage end. I can teach boat systems and vessel handling on sail or power boats. My license isn't the most impressive around. I'm not likely to start driving megayachts any time soon. But put me onboard a 40 or 50 something recreational vessel with new owners or a charter party and we'll all have a good time. Not bragging. That's just what I do.
But now my job is to go around talking to professionals in the network. Yesterday seemed like a productive day. Patience and persistence are also part of the job.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Cleaned up pelicans released in St Peterburg area.
Clearly the Coast Guard believes this area is one of the safest from an oiling.
http://ht.ly/28r0I
See video of the happy moment.
http://www.tampabay.com/components/video/rescued-pelicans-released-at-fort-de-soto/110217599001/2652468001
http://ht.ly/28r0I
See video of the happy moment.
http://www.tampabay.com/components/video/rescued-pelicans-released-at-fort-de-soto/110217599001/2652468001
What Cathy is doing this week.
Yesterday Cathy flew to Gulfport Mississippi with the Deputy Regional Administrator for a series of meetings with state officials and environmental groups that will play important roles in resoration efforts. The Coast Guard is the lead agency on the inital clean up. NOAA will lead restoration work, which is expected to go on for a very long time across a wide and growing swath of geography..
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