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The Hurricane Chronicles:
The Horrors of 2005
Emily / Dennis / Katrina / Rita / Wilma
Who would think 2005's hurricane season could rival last year's madness? Max Mayfield, that's who! Hurricanes Dennis, Emily, Katrina, and now Rita have crossed our paths one way or another this wicked hurricane season. Rita is on her way to the Gulf Coast as I type this. She just left the Keys. I'm just putting in all the correspondence during that time right now, no order except chronological -- unless it's a reply to a specific email, then it's paired with the original email.
The Hurricane Chronicles are here to demonstrate how hurricanes effect our lives. Even so, things continue to happen in everyday life with our family and friends who are living in Illinois, Arizona, Philly, Argentina, Los Angeles/Hollywood, Colorado, Maryland, other parts of Florida, Connecticut, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Maine, New Mexico, Wisconsin, Hawaii, Countries of Germany, Grenada, etc. etc. The places were our loved ones live, where emails are written for many reasons... our lives don't stop because a hurricane is coming. The Chronicles here show you basically, what a year full of hurricanes looks like and how our live-aboard and sailing life intertwines into the day-to-day lives of those we love.
Our hearts ache for those on the Gulf Coast who now must face another catastrophic hurricane. Get out while you can, she is a monster. There is nothing more important than life. Homes, furniture, cars, possessions are NOTHING. Go!
Eventually you'll be able to read all about what was happening in our lives as these meteorological wet dreams came to view. I got so incensed hearing newscasters sounding like Jimmy Olson and Lois Lane biting on the story of the decade. When Rita hit the Keys she had barely turned into a Category 2, but my phone was ringing off the hook from all my family and friends who thought the Keys were going to be obliterated off the map. All because of what they saw on the news.
Yes, these stories are big... but for God's sake... please show more compassion and less drooling! Not all are like this, of course... but dayam... you know who you are, because your spouse told you the same thing. It's like the plane having landing gear problems, the TVs on in the plane and the passengers watching their own fate on the NEWS! Good Grief!
Though Hurricane Emily caused us here in the Keys no problems, dear friends with their children and parents were on vacation in the Yucatan Peninsula... and Emily was on her way there as a Category 4. They called us for advice. Charmaine was on the telephone with them for hours... and still on the phone as Emily hit... incredible ordeal. You'll be able to read about it all right here... as well as the Horrors of the Gulf Coast -- Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi -- New Orleans made much of the news, but they all were suffering with the wrath and rampage of hurricane Katrina: 90,000 square miles of devastation.
Remember, The Hurricane Chronicles start out as our lives are in full gear... every day living just like you or anyone else... and then things start to change... as life continues there is the up, the down, and the middle ground where you have a fleeting moment to get in a sigh, cry, or an emotional high. It shows that life still goes on, no matter what. One day you laugh, the next day you cry. In the long run, however, the sun will shine once again -- but if your eyes are full of tears... you just might notice it.
A phrase I coined earlier this year fits my philosophy: "Life's a Gift... Unwrap It"!
- Charmaine Smith Ladd|
From:
Charmaine
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From: s/v September Sea
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A
blonde calls her boyfriend
and says, "Please come over
here and help me. I have a
killer jigsaw puzzle, and I
can't figure out how to
get it started.
Her boyfriend asks, "What is it supposed to be when it's finished?"
The
blonde says, "According to
the picture on the box, it's
a tiger."
Her
boyfriend decides to go over
her house and help with the
puzzle. She lets him in and
shows him that she has the
puzzle spread all over the
table.
He
studies the pieces for a
moment, then looks at the
box, then turns to her and
says, "First of all, no
matter what we do, we're not
going to be able to assemble
these pieces into anything
resembling a Tiger."
He
takes her hand and says,
"Second, I want you to
relax. Let's have a nice cup
of tea... and then," he
sighed....
"...so now... let's put all
these Frosted Flakes back in
the box."
Bill and Charmaine Aboard
s/v September Sea
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From: lfrancis
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So sorry to tell
you that our son, Bj (Bill Jr.),
passed away yesterday, Memorial Day,
on his boat in St. Croix. It
appears he was sick with a virus and
then died after falling into
a diabetic coma. Bj was 31 and had
Juvenile Diabetes and was at risk
throughout his life.
Charmaine's mother,
Essie Smith, also passed away the
very same day. We're in shock and
grieving, but trying to hang in
there.
We will have a
joint memorial service for Bj and
his loving Grandmother in
Springfield, Illinois (this
Saturday). After we return, we will
have another Celebration of Bj's
Life here in Marathon, Florida for
all those here who loved him. It
will be on the Sombrero Beach, June
8th at 3:00 pm.
Thank you for
your prayers. Somehow, this too...
shall pass.
He's already
missed.
Charmaine & Bill
Aboard s/v
September Sea
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~ We received hundreds of condolences. Please refer to the Celebration of Life. ~
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From:
tiempo@pocketmail.com
Date: 06/10/05
19:35:27
To:
Charmaine@SeptemberSea.com
Subject: Re: Bj
This email is a treasure to me, and
when we get to Brunswick, I will
print it out and keep it in my
special place. You are the most
soulful person I have ever known, my
Charmie-you are healing others as
you heal yourself...Bless you &
Bill-so special and to our Breighan,
& darling Will. Soooo much love from
us to you. Peggy& Edwin
Peggy/Edwin Bockelman
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From: tiempo
Date: 06/17/05
23:23:08
To:
Charmaine@SeptemberSea.com
Subject: The
deafening silence
Dear Bill & Charmie...
Received your "Living Board"
magazine today, filled with
nostalgia. And your article was The
Best!!! Now that
you are quieted down-the real impact
of it all hits like a bullet. Just
wanted to wait for this time,to let
you know we are still thinking of
you so very much, and here for both
of you. This pain will never
subside, but will become more
tolerable with the magic word
"time". What to say, dear, dear
friends..nothing can be said to ease
this sorrow. I pray you will find
the strength to get through this,
and move on...Bj expects you to do
just that. So so sorry dear friends,
how impossible is this to say
goodbye to your child-just can not
imagine. But, you do have that inner
power & strength-just hang on to it
and to each other. So much love
pouring outta here to you. Love you,
my Charmie & Bill, and our sweet
Breighan.
Peggy/Edwin Bockelman
on board m/v TIEMPO
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From: Charmaine
Aboard s/v September Sea
Date: 06/21/05
10:14:44
To:
NickBruce@CrisisShield.org
Cc:
dmortimer@verizon.net
Subject: Need Help
Contacting Davisons
Hello, I was given your name and
email address from someone who also
is concerned about Jim and Kathleen
Davison. Jim and Kathleen are doing
volunteer work (Jim's a woodworker)
for the Crisis Relief in
Grenada. They live aboard their
sailboat, "Drummer," a steel 33-foot
sloop rig, tan in color with seafoam
accents. Their dinghy name is
"Bongo."
I am very worried. My 31-year old
son and my Mother both died on
Memorial Day of this year and I know
that Jim and Kathleen would want to
know this information. I have
written and been approved by their
internet security so I know that's
not the reason why I haven't heard
from them.
Please help me.
My name is Charmaine Smith Ladd, my
husband is Bill Ladd, we are on s/v
September Sea in Marathon, Florida
Keys. We can be reached at our
toll-free number:
800-544-xxxx. If Jim and Kathleen
have no way of writing us, please
give them the toll-free number for
contacting us.
May they be safe and my worries for
naught.
Life's a Gift... Unwrap It!
Charmaine & Bill
Aboard s/v September Sea
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I have just heard from Jim and Kathleen. It's 10:18 AM on June 21st. Thank you all for helping.
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From:
MCOMCorp@aol.com
Date: 06/21/05
10:59:34
To:
Charmaine@SeptemberSea.com
Subject:
Congratulations on your website
I just
saw the website you have and wanted
to congratulate you on it. Once
again, please receive my condolences
on the untimely death of your son.
My heart goes out to you and your
family. I'm the father of two young
adult girls and I can't imagine a
life without them.
all the
best
Michael
Cannon
Wayward
O'Malley
'30
Portsmouth Downeast Flybridge
Cruiser
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Hey Biffy,
I'm just going through email and
realizing so much of this stuff you
really need to see. Someone sent
this to me and I was trying to
figure out who it was, when I just
gave up and said, "What does it
matter WHO sent it?"
Enjoy.
Love you SO MUCH,
Mommy Aboard s/v September Sea
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From: Steve
Weinstein
Date: 06/21/05
17:40:17
To: Charmaine
Aboard s/v September Sea
Subject: Re: [livaboard]
Container Waste
Hey,
kiddo, I forgot to say Welcome
Back! You doin' okay? Given what
you were dealing with the past two
weeks I didn't want to intrude but I
was concerned for you.
Steve
Steve Weinstein
s/v HYDRO-THERAPY 1981 Cherubini Designed H33 Sailing out of Oyster Bay, NY |
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Thanks Darlin'
We're doing okay. I'm still on
heavy sedatives. They don't seem
to sedate me, but they do keep me
from non-stop blubbering. The
minute those puppies wear off I'm a
crying vegetable.
I'm sure this too shall pass. The
love for our son is immeasurable,
the blessing we had as parents to
raise him to become one of the most
incredible human beings I've ever
had the good fortune to really know.
Found out today I have interstitial
cystitis and found it's not that
uncommon for those of us who have
fibromyalgia. I'm one of those
people who, when the doctors say,
"Well, with this you can't do
that..." "I'm dissin' ya, Doc."
Not too bad, could have been a worse
diagnosis, at least no kidney
stones. My father always said,
"Kidney stones are turrable, just
turrable." LOL
Thanks for the welcome back, Steve.
You're a peach without a pit. They
did a full page newspaper article on
Bj down here in the paper for the
Keys. Amazing. He is so loved down
here, and in St. Croix as well. He
just is a charming, infectious with
affection type of person... guess I
had something to do with that.
Hope to hear from ya again soon.
P.S. My own hours? You are a
Devil, you know. LOL <wink>
Charmaine Aboard s/v September Sea
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Breigh and Ennie:
Thought you'd like to see this. I
did these up for Charlie (Janet &
Charlie), who is heading the
committee for the Benefit for Will.
It's also another Memorial,
"Celebration of Life," once again.
That's Bj, got to do everything
TWICE as good.
"Celebration of Life"
"Bj" William Dean
Ladd II
Saturday, July 2nd
Location: Dockside
Lounge
4 pm til 9 pm
Special Musical Guests
50/50
Drawings & Raffles - Games & More
Must be present to
Win!
~ ~ ~
HAPPY HOUR
3 pm til 9 pm
Come show your love!
All Donations are
for:
William Dean Ladd
III, "Will"
College Fund
____________________________________
For
more information call:
Charlie
Miller 000-0124
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From: mccormick
From: Charmaine Aboard s/v September Sea
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From: Charmaine Date: 06/30/2005 Time: TO WAKEUP TERRY!!!!!
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Somebody better stay away from JAMAICAN CHOCOLATE!!
OMG! Too funny.
Love ya, Mainie
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From: John Perry
Dear Fellow Cruiser
I found your contact details on the Cruising Yacht Site Ring – of which I am also a member.
What I am hoping to do is to get as many cruising sailors as possible involved in my Message In A Bottle project. The aim of the project is for us to donate essentials to the local communities in the underprivileged, out-of-the-way places that we visit. These essentials might include such things as school books, medical supplies, fishing equipment and so on. As a participant, the choice of what you donate is yours.
We would raise the money needed to purchase these items by offering a Message In A Bottle to anyone that makes a donation via our websites.
How it works: You create a Message In A Bottle page on your website where visitors to your website can donate £10-00 (US$20-00) towards our project. Using their donation, you then purchase whatever you think is needed for the local community of your next port-of-call.
In return for their donation, when you are next in the middle of some ocean, you throw a bottle with your sponsors message in it, into the sea and then send them an email confirming the date and the latitude & longitude of its launch, or, if they are one of those nice environmentally conscious folk, you send a Virtual Message In A Bottle that will drift around the ether for about thirty seconds before beaching itself in their email inbox.
What types of Message In A Bottle are available? The world of messages is your sponsor’s oyster, so to speak. Anything is possible. From birthday greetings to seasonal greetings. From declarations of love, to declarations of unpaid traffic offences. Your donors can make their message as personal as they wish.
How does the payment work? If you don’t already have one, you will need to set up a PayPal account through which your sponsors can send their donations. PayPal will send you an email confirming their payment and will then transfer the money into your regular bank account.
What else? Firstly, you will need to create a Message In A Bottle page on your website with a prominent link to my website so that your visitors can follow the global success of the project. Please have a look at my website to get some ideas. Once you are registered with me and are up and running, whenever you have the opportunity, please email me an update for the “Our Success” and the “Photo Album” pages.
Registration: Once you’ve created a Message In A Bottle page on your website, all you need to do is email me a recent photograph of your boat or yourselves and include the following details: boat name, your name/s, the URL of your website and your preferred email address (please note that I use java script to hide your email address from spambots).
If you know of any other cruising yachts that have their own websites, please forward this to them. Thank you.
Here’s to us making a difference for the people of the places we visit.
Best regards and fair winds.
John Perry s/v Stingo
http://www.stingo.co.uk (Anecdotes from Stingo)
john@stingo.co.uk
Skype userID = stingo390
Hurricane Dennis
| Hurricane Dennis | July 5th - July 11th | Max Winds 150 (mph) | Minimum Pressure 930 (mb) |
From: Steve Weinstein
From: Randy Johnson
Just checking in to see if you are ok............I guess you have gone to your hurricane hole in the glades.............take care.....write when you can.
Randy
From: tiempo
DAYAM as you say, every year is getting more complicated. All is well here, we, are enjoying the beach walks here, and the beautiful Spanish Moss hanging everywhere, and the huge Oak, Magnolia, and Pine trees, Very beautiful-a low country kinda peaceful feeling here. SO miss hearing from you, please let us know how you REALLY are. You would love this....... We are very involved with the 12 Tribes so called cult here. Have known them for years, and every one on our dock is worried--that perhaps we are getting sucked in. Can you imagine Edwin getting snow balled???? Anyway, we love these people and what they do, all organic food, baking own bread and creams and lotions and potions, and energy Mata tea, and all things great. They are huge in the community here in tiny Brunswick, Ga., and ALL new cruisers are hugely suspicious. They own 5 houses here and have a huge IRON WOOD hull 94' awesome vessel called AVANY. Look up their web site- www.TwelveTribes.com Have known them for years, and every one here thinks we are crazy to even talk to them. Any way, they are forever stopping over to see us to bring us fresh bread, and chat with us. Our Dirk is nervous we are involved as well, but actually he could do worse to get involved himself with this group/cult. We see nothing but good in them..
Anyway, their vessel is outstanding--full of stained glass all through the interior. They all wear long skirts, bloomers, loose fitting clothes, and all have long hair tied in a pony tail, both male and female, Ed and Dirk say that if I get fitted for bloomers, they are outta here, any way check it out= www.TwelveTribes.com and all their controversy. Interesting. Have to get together with you to have a girlfriend thing my Charmie, miss the heck outta you. Hope you are holding up and getting through the rest of the season OK. LOVE you soooooo much!!!!! Give Garth and Rob a huge love from us, and all the gang. My heart aches for all you two have been through.
Much much love, Peggy n EDwin Huge hugs and sooooo many memories of all the gang there. Stay so safe, and we are thinking of you and praying for you, we love you so much, you are in our hearts!!!!
From: John Porter
Hurricane Emily
| Hurricane Emily | July 11th - July 21st | Maximum Winds 155 (mph) | Minimum Pressure 930 (mb) |
Hurricane Emily - Satellite picture over the Yucatan taken 7-19-2005.
From: Charmaine Aboard s/v September Sea
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Hey all, just spent the last two
days and nights on the phone to our
dear friends who are in Mexico (yup,
at the Barcelo Maya hotel which
is about 15 miles west of the
Southern tip of Cozumel -- on the
"dirty" side of Hurricane Emily and
right smack where the eye
hit... near Tulum). We lost
communication as Hurricane Emily
reached land, I did speak with them
for about fifteen minutes of the
initial impact and they were doing
well. I expect to hear all went
fine as the Hotel was built in 1999
and able to easily withstand 135-160
mph winds from Emily and her
EYE. If any of you have heard more
than I, please pass the information
along. I'd appreciate it.
I think it's amazing that it seems
only one person so far had a
satellite phone (on Playa del
Carmen), very near the strike zone
as well -- and definitely in
the high winds. He talked with CNN
just an hour ago and said all is
well. Some trees down but didn't
seem to be any major structural
damage (of the Resort areas).
Cancun is fine as well.
Now... back to Boat Size. Just a
few other things to mention for
those who are interested:
Often times your boat chooses you,
if it's near your price range
(LOL). Otherwise, my main point is
that linear footage is not always
indicative of lack of (or ample)
space. Our 36-foot sloop is much
larger than a 32-footer, and I don't
mean only by 4 feet in length.
Everything is bigger; wider; taller
(freeboard); as a boat's length
increases, so does everything else,
exponentially.
Also, center cockpit boats can offer
tons of space even in the smaller
sizes due to the higher freeboard
(meaning lots of headroom below
decks), and usually a nice large aft
cabin. Many CC boats have two
heads, one adjoining the V-berth and
community space, and the other in
the Owner's Sleeping Cabin.
Great example for impressive space
per linear foot are the Scylla
Swallowcraft boats. Go to
Yachtworld and look around, find the
boats that show most all the angles
and areas of the boat.
For those who haven't seen the
differences in space, all boats of
the same linear footage are not
created equal. There are 40-footers
I've been on that don't have the
"open" spaces on my 36-footer. So
besides length, it's make, model, CC
or not, and many other yada yada
yadas.
The thing here is to try and offer
people who may not know exactly what
they want -- a manner of weeding out
and narrowing down,
realistically, the right boat for
their respective needs. Judy's
needs are pretty clear with a
claustrophobic mate (however, I too
am claustrophobic [got hives inside
an elevator!], yet have learned ways
to accommodate myself. I actually
sleep in our Owner's cabin, which I
thought would be an impossibility in
my lifetime. (We have a king-sized
convertible bed in the salon, that
was my security blanket for six
months. I took the door off the
hinges in the Owner's cabin and
would go in there and read... before
I knew it I'd be cat napping... you
get the idea). The door's back on
its hinges and I'm very
comfortable in there now.
The trick is to try to keep an
open-mind with regard to size, as so
many people find they buy boats
larger than they really needed
(cause they didn't know what they
needed). Hopefully, with a thread
such as this one, it will give pause
to some who think they too could
never live aboard "anything less
than 40 feet." My husband was one
of those people... didn't take long
before he was seeing things
differently. I suppose he felt that
if I (Miss Claustraphobic) could
handle it... so could he. He's 6'2
and loves our boat just the way it
is and is so thankful I got him to
consider looking at smaller
vessels. (You know, the "What's the
harm in looking?" routine.)
So my advice to anyone who is
looking for their perfect boat, and
has never owned one... to think
practically. If you've never lived
aboard or owned a boat, you have to
start somewhere... so take baby
steps and do extensive research on
boats and their sizes (and layouts,
yes... VERY important). When you
think you have found what you want,
see if you can find another one like
it to charter for a few days. Even
with one or two other people on
board, it will give you a sense of
what it's like on a boat that size.
Don't like it, try another layout or
model. Then work your way to
finding the boat that fits your
comfort level. But don't forget
that with more boat comes more
everything else... including
headaches. That's the way it is
with anything.
Hopefully, as we've all pretty much
agreed on this List, your boat will
find you. Let's just say I think
it's advantageous to try to increase
the odds of it being the right
choice by making a decision based on
education, not
emotion. "Dreamboats" are often...
well, like in life: not necessarily
"reality" boats.
Charmaine Aboard s/v September Sea
"Life's a Gift... Unwrap It!" - C~
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From:
Charmaine Aboard s/v
September Sea
Date:
07/29/05 12:24:35
To: PEGGY
Subject:
Guess Who's Coming to
Dinner????
Hey my Sweet One,
Girl... do I have some
bombshell news for you!!
Are you ready? You sure?
Oh Peggy, this is like a
miracle. A gift from God
above. It's so incredible.
Bj has a DAUGHTER!!
Yes, a little girl named
Diana. She will be six
years old on August 5th. We
are
stunned. She looks just
like Will, Bj's son. Will's
mother met with Diana's
mother, Rebecca, just the
other night.
Rebecca called Melissa and
told her she really wanted
to be in contact with us and
had never been
able to find out where we
are. Melissa called me and
gave me Rebecca's phone
number and we talked for
hours. Rebecca cried when I
told her, "Oh my God, we
have another grandchild!
What a gift from God."
She said she had no idea how
we would react or if we'd
want contact, but said she
knew from Bj that we are a
very loving family.
She said she always thought
taht if we knew about Diana
we would have made contact.
She's absolutely RIGHT.
My WHOLE family is beside
themselves. They want
to know WHO WHAT WHERE WHEN
HOW and
"When do we get to meet
her?" They are so excited.
SOOOO excited.
Here's a picture of Diana
with her big brother Will
(they met for the first time
the other night). Girl,
have mercy, my sisters say
she looks just like I did
when I was her age.
Incredible. The resemblance
between
she and Will is amazing. She
and Will played together
like they've lived together
their whole lives. Rebecca
said she has never seen
anything so amazing.
I will call you and we'll talk. Let this picture soak in:
CAN YOU STAND IT!!!! I'm SCREAMING with JOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MUCH MUCH LOVE, Life's a Gift... Unwrap It! Charmaine & Bill Aboard s/v September Sea |
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From:
Peggy & Edwin
Date:
07/29/05 14:51:09
To:
Charmaine Aboard s/v
September Sea
Subject:
Diana & Will
Please send pic again to
me--I have the prob. solved,
just followed the
instructions on the "the
page cannot be displayed"
page. And with all my poking
around I deleted my web
mail, before I even knew
what was there. So I wait
with baited breath. Love you
girl.....peek-a-boo Charmie---your
news is good for you, and
you have enough love and
warmth for the whole
world--even with your
already HUGE family. You are
all one Unit, and you are a
living community all of your
own--even if you do not have
Little House on the Prairie
clothes-or Bloomers. I
love you...peek-a-boo
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From: Charmaine Aboard s/v September Sea
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Girl, I know you were saying "BAITED
BREATH" loud and clear so I could
hear you all the way over here.
I called Rebecca, Diana's mother and
we talked for a while. She's
fantastic. A wonderful girl.
We're so excited about Diana.
To have another grandchild AFTER
your son has died, is truly a
miracle. I cannot help but
KNOW this was somehow all meant to
be.
Rebecca says when she returns on Monday from camping, she wants to meet Cheyenne right away. Now get this... interesting. When I told her about Cheyenne, my sister, she gasped.
"What's the matter?"
"Oh my God. Did you say Cheyenne?"
"Yes."
Lord, what is happening here.
"I was this close to naming Diana --
Cheyenne. We have Blackfoot Indian
in our family and I wanted to name
her Cheyenne Sioux."
"Shut up, Girl. Get outta here!"
"No, it's the truth. You can ask my
mother. It's true. I don't know
why I changed at the last second and
named her Diana Jean for my
grandmothers."
"I'm dayam glad you didn't name her
Cheyenne or I'd have a tougher time
with my sister trying to claim my
kids as hers! That would just
have sealed it. She'd have a
grandchild!"
We both laughed. What a delightful
young lady Rebecca is. Only
twenty-four years old and has a good
handle on things. She is anxious to
meet all of Bj's family. She told
me that she always sent Bj pictures
of Diana.
Peg, Bj never said a word about it.
She also said that she thought one
day, some day, Bj would call and
say, "I want to see my daughter."
She says she will believe that til
the day she dies.
I did some reorganizing after our
chat. Bought a shelf to put our
printer on so it won't be ON the
guest berth. It's amazing. Fits
perfectly. Of course that misplaced
some other items, so I decided that
the whole pantry needed to be
reworked. Another shelf.
Yeah. Perfect.
Now I can get a bowl without lifting
something out of it!
Fantastic. Quicker to the calories,
just what I need. Ha!
I AM LOVING YOU, my Peek-a-Boo.
Kisses to My Edwin.
Hugs and Kisses,
Your Charmie
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We're so sorry, my Sweet Edwin and Peggy. We have you in our prayers. Love and condolences to Dirk. Be safe. Charmaine & Bill Aboard s/v September Sea |
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From: Jo Powers
"Yep," the wife replied, "in-laws."
The husband turned to his wife and asked, "What?"
"HEBREWS"
Men are not equipped for these kinds of contests.
From: Wally
Hamlin
Sent: Friday,
August 05, 2005 4:13 PM
To: William
Ladd
Subject: Storm
Bill please share this with Charmaine Thanks Wally
Wally Hamlin
Stop telling God how big your storm is.
Instead tell your storm how big your GOD is! In Phoenix, Arizona, a 26-year-old mother stared down at her 6 year old son, who was dying of terminal leukemia. Although her heart was filled with sadness, she also had a strong feeling of determination. Like any parent, she wanted her son to grow up and fulfill all his dreams. Now that was no longer possible.. The leukemia would see to that. But she still wanted her son's dreams to come true. She took her son's hand and asked, "Billy, did you ever think about what you wanted to be once you grew up? Did you ever dream and wish what you would do with your life?" Mommy, "I always wanted to be a fireman when I grew up." Mom smiled back and said, "Let's see if we can make your wish come true."
Later that day she went to her local fire department in Phoenix, Arizona, where she met Fireman Bob, who had a heart as big as Phoenix. She explained her son's final wish and asked if it might be possible to give her six-year-old son a ride around the block on a fire engine. Fireman Bob said, "Look, we can do better than that. If you'll have your son ready at seven o'clock Wednesday morning, we'll make him an honorary fireman for the whole day. He can come down to the fire station, eat with us, go out on all the fire calls, the whole nine yards! And if you'll give us ! his sizes, we'll get a real fire uniform for him, with a real fire hat-not a toy one-with the emblem of the Phoenix Fire Department on it, a yellow slicker like we wear and rubber boots. They're all manufactured right here in Phoenix, so we can get them fast."
Three days later Fireman Bob picked up Billy, dressed him in his fire uniform and escorted him from his hospital bed to the waiting hook and ladder truck. Billy got to sit on the back of the truck and help steer it back to the fire station. He was in heaven. There were three fire calls in Phoenix that day and Billy got to go out on all three calls. He rode in the different fire engines, the paramedic's van, and even the fire chief's car. He was also videotaped for the local news program. Having his dream come true, with all the love and attention that was lavished upon him, so deeply touched Billy that he lived three months longer than any doctor thought possible.
One night all of his vital signs began to drop dramatically and the head nurse, who believed in the hospice concept that no one should die alone, began to call the family members to the hospital. Then she remembered the day Billy had spent as a fireman, so she called the Fire Chief and asked if it would be possible to send a fireman in uniform to the hospital to be with Billy as he made his transition. The chief replied, "We can do better than that. We'll be there in five minutes. Will you please do me a favor? When you hear the sirens screaming and see the lights flashing, will you announce over the PA system that there is not a fire? It's just the fire department coming to see one of its finest members one more time. And will you please open the window to his room.
About five minutes later a hook and ladder truck arrived at the hospital and extended its ladder up to Billy's third floor open window 16 firefighters climbed up the ladder into Billy's room. With his mother's permission, they all hugged him and held him and told him how much they loved him. With his dying breath, Billy looked up at the fire chief and said, "Chief, am I really a fireman now?"
"Billy, yes you are, and the Head Chief is Jesus, holding your hand," the chief said.
With those words, Billy smiled and said, "I know, He's been holding my hand all day, and the angels have been singing..." Billy then closed his eyes one last time.
*****************************
Stop telling God how big your storm is.
Instead tell your storm how big your GOD is !!!
The great pleasure in life is doing what others tell you you can't do. - Hellen Keller.
|
Hey my Darlings,
Almost done with Bj's
things... but just ran across a book "Voyaging
Under Sail." Had a warm sentiment from
1977 in the inside cover from you, Peg, to
your Darling Edwin "For when the dream
becomes a reality." It was then signed
again to Bj with the same sentiment. Cried
my eyes out.
Just wanted you both
to know that Bj didn't keep many
things...but he kept that book.
I love you... WE love
you.
Your Charmie & Bill
Aboard s/v September
Sea
"Life's a Gift...
Unwrap It!" - C~
|
Note: My daughter Breighan loves this one....
|
From: Juanita Barton
Charmaine
Thanks so much for the updates, you and Bill have done a wonderfull job with September Sea.
Btw, If you have any recommendations for the web site, please let me know. I really wish that I had more time to devote and develop new ideas for the web site, but since I sold my Lancer 25 and now have upgraded (Capri 26) and with my new responsibilities at the yacht club, I sometimes struggle just to find time to respond to all of the emails that I receive from all of the (wonderfull) responses that I get from all of the Lancer owners. You guys are the biggest reason that I still maintain the site and I will always find the time as long as the Lancer owners group remains so active. I am really impressed with how the group is growing and responding to the web site and I am happy to be a part of it. I just really wish that the Capri owners were as pro-active as the Lancer owners. Lol…..
Please continue to stay in touch, I always enjoy hearing from you and Bill.
Stephen
PS
I think of you guys every day!1. You've ever used an album cover for a dustpan. (5 points)
Terri Featherston
|
From: Peggy &
Edwin
Date: 08/15/05
15:29:33
To:
Charmaine@SeptemberSea.com
Subject:
Returned
Hey guys, we had a wonderful
trip, in spite of circumstances.
We are now getting ready to be
gone 3 weeks in Sept. leaving
the 7th to go to Nicaragua, to
check it out, as well as Panama,
and Costa Rica to find out if
this is where we want to
settle. The USA is unaffordable
for us, and we no longer "Fit
In"!!!! And we know we would
have our loved, dearest friends
visiting us, if for nothing
else-outta curiosity. We do
well in 3rd world, and I will
personally get very involved in
volunteering my services for the
needy. We did this in Guatemala,
and it is very fulfilling. Soooo
we will let you know re: that
venture. We had a miserable
flight to and from Germany, we
were both times stuck in the
middle of crying, screaming
babies, for the full duration of
the trip both ways. Took us 2
days of coma state to come
around. Had good visits with
family and friends while in
Deutschland and lotsa kuchan;
wiener schnitzel; schinken and
brocht!!!!! Could not fasten our
seat belts on return--needed
extension. All well, more
later-loved your jokes, and love
you both sooooo much--kisses to
both and our Breigh. Peggy &
Edwin
|
From: Charmaine Aboard s/v September Sea
|
Hey my Loves,
So glad you're back... and all
without having killed one
person! There truly are
miracles in this life. LOL I
learned a little trick a long
time ago for babies on
airplanes... sit near the
screaming child and talk about
all the brats you've cooked in
your oven. Needless to say, the
mother finds a way to get
another seat... or the flight
attendants ask you to sit
somewhere else. WORKS FOR ME!
Added some pictures to
the website at the Celebration
of Life page. Diana, Bj's
daughter has visited with my
family in Illinois and is now
one of the bunch. Oh she is so
adorable. I've talked to her on
the phone. She tells me, "Hi
Grandma. I love you." What
a darling treasure.
Our family has just taken over!
Cheyenne is beside herself with
so much love and genuine
thankfulness for this little
bundle of total joy added to our
lives. She looks very much like
Bj and Will. And, I will admit,
the girl has my nose... oh the
genes we pass on.
Just got all the boxes of Bj's
personal effects. Oh Peggy,
what a time we've had opening
everything and going through all
Bj's things. The things he kept
were treasures to him: pictures
of Breighan, Will, us, his
family. All the cards from
friends at Dockside for his Bon
Voyage Party... tons of cards.
His wallet is a plethora of
information. I've never seen so
many slips of paper with women's
names on them... and he never
wrote one! Have mercy.
Getting his (my) computer up and
running, that should be a
treat. Let's hope no more
Peek-a-Boo shit... hahahaa.
Well, he can always tell em up
in Heaven that he got that
honest... from his Mother and
Aunt Peggy. What a hoot.
We're charging his phone as I
type this. I know I called his
number at least ten times since
he passed. Just wanted to hear
his voice. Can't wait to get so
many phone numbers of his
friends I haven't had... I mean
how do you look up "Tone Deaf
Tim" or "Upchuck Carl." LOL
Oh my. I have cried at
least twenty times during the
unpacking... so many memories.
I'm sure you've been going
through a lot with family since
the death of Edwin's mother. I
tell ya, the older we get the
more time we spent at funerals.
I'm hoping that the majority of
the visit was wonderful. Sure
sounded like it in your email.
I miss you Peggy.
Give my love to Edwin. Tell him
I'm saving up hugs to give
him... should be a big crushing
one by the time I see you again.
Oh, to be crushed.
What love.
Charmaine (& Bill) Aboard s/v
September Sea
"Life's a Gift... Unwrap It!" -
C~
|
|
|
Hey my Brother,
Received your email too
late to think about
it... and kind of wish I
would have given it more
thought at the time,
John. Anywho,
much thanks for your
words of wisdom! If
anyone would know... you
sure would; in the
future I'll be talking
to you BEFORE I make
such emotional
decisions.
It really was very tough
going through those
boxes. Took us nearly
all day and about ten
breakdowns of crying my
eyes out. Bill cried
all day too. Way too
many memories and the
realization that our son
really is gone from his
earthy existence.
I really should have
waited for your thoughts
on that... I should have
waited. You've
been through this...
well, you as you well
know, one never gets
through it... I
love you John.
Charmaine |
Hurricane Katrina
| Hurricane Katrina | August 23rd - August 30th | Maximum Winds 175 (mph) | Minimum Pressure 902 (mb) |
From:
Charmaine
Sent: Thursday, August 25,
2005 11:39 AM
To: Shannon & Steve
Cc: Andy; Antoinette Genesis;
Aunt TeTe; becca keffer; Big Ed;
Breigh-Baby; Bren Bren; Brooke
Grosenheider; BRUCE & SHERRI; Buddy;
Bryce Rosene; Cheboone; Danny &
Diane; David; Dawn Hamlin; Deanna
Shaughnessy; Debbie Grant; Denise
Lilley; Denny & Judy Aboard; Diana
in Wrigleyville; Eagle Scout & Leen;
Edie; Enyo; Ennie; Ernest & Betty;
Iris; jai lanre; Janet & Greggers;
Jeannie and Philip; Jeff & Marty; Jo
Powers; John Murray; John Porter;
Lanny Stowe Lonie; Letitia & Bill;
Melissa; Michael & Sandee; Mighty
Mite; Mom & Dad Hotmail; Nae 'Nae;
Pat Schad; Norma Jean & Jim; Reece &
Dianna; Rose Caillier; Scottie;
Shelly & Ken; Sister Kitty (Deacon);
Skip Makely; Steve & Beth (Four
Ladds); Steve Ladd; Suzi;
Tempestuous; Toddkins; Tom & Ellen;
Wally Hamlin; Walter my Cuz; Wolfie,
my German son
Subject: Maybe Hurricane
Katrina?
|
Will
call you
later,
Peek-a-Boo.
Tornado
did
some damage,
but
we're
fine.
Larson
family
was
missing,
all five
of them
left
Boot Key
Harbor
yesterday
morning
from
Banana
Bay
about
7:30 am
(What
the HELL
were
they
thinking??!!)
Anyway,
they
have
been
found
and all
are
well.
Will
call you
later on
today.
Cross
your
fingers
I can
get
these
letters
out
without
the
power
failing
again..
it's
been
spotty.
I love
you!!
Big kiss
to my
Edwin.
Your
Charmie
"Life's a
Gift...
Unwrap
It!" -
C~
|
|
From: Michael Glanz
Date: 08/26/05 00:29:12
To: 'Charmaine'
Subject: RE: Maybe Hurricane Katrina?
Well,
looks
like
she
made
a
mess
of
things,
huh?
Not
like
her
bigger
sisters
and
brothers,
but
wow...she
sucks
as
it
is.
Mike
|
|
Hey Sweets -- LIKE A HOOVER!!
We're still right in the mix with Hurricane Katrina. Sustained winds of 80 mph since midnight... early this afternoon she slowed down a bit, but now that her ass has hit the Gulf, she's kicking up a storm here again. Have mercy.
We opted to stay at the marina, Category 1 -- no biggie. Yeah right! She's a bad Category 2 and she's getting stronger. That's what you call lifting weights on the fly... I'd say you GO GIRL, but she just might not... so I won't risk it. I want her ass out of here and quick!
It's dead here, off-season. No worries of stupid rent-a-boat tourists not tying their boats up properly... we damn near have the place to ourselves. All who are here are those we know... and who know what they're doing! Have had power all but for an hour and now got cable and internet back as well. Life is good. But this Katrina... dayam.
I'm glad we were one of the few that took Katrina seriously around here. Most laughed when they saw us hunkering down and adding stronger lines. Shit, Mike. I was here with Dennis and he packed a wallop... but Katrina is kicking and screaming... yeah, like a GIRL!!! Now I know what that saying REALLY means... it's not putting females down... it's actually paying them a complement. Dayam. She's a bitch of a hurricane. She's strong and very deceptive. Her winds are swirling and hitting each other in midair, wreaking havoc with everything. So it's not always about the strength of the wind... it often is what the wind is doing with itself! The rigging on the boat howled all night as we were hit with 73+ mph sustained winds for hours and hours and hours. She's STILL howling like well, like a BITCH! Last night was much like a horror movie. You couldn't see a thing, but you could hear this monster growling right outside your door. Just a constant clawing away at that which protects us. Relentless. And I ain't into no "Dark Water." Forget that. It's always a WHOLE lot better in the day time... got that right, Spanky.
When the GFS computer model showed yesterday morning that Katrina COULD change course and make a bee-line from Ft. Lauderdale down to the Keys, especially near Key West and our area, we took note. If there's one model that shows something WAY off the mark of the others, you know some shit is gonna hit the fan (or the boat!). We got prepared. Others didn't, and their boats are all over the place! Fortunately, in our marina we have mangroves behind us and we sit off a narrow canal so no boats can come down on us in here. Perfect!
Bill fixed a "on the hook" breakfast of eggs, bacon and pancakes. Tell me I ain't spoiled!! LOL Fantabulous, to say the least. Been talking to my Wally Wonderfull throughout, he's the one I was on the phone with when he and his family were vacationing in the Yucatan as Emily hit little over a month ago strong as a Category 3. Emily was a bitch of a hurricane and she did lots of damage. Fortunately, Wally and family stayed at one of the strongest (if not THE strongest) built hotels there. The Barcelo-Maya. Write that down if you ever are there. That's where you want to stay if you're in the Yucatan Peninsula anytime during hurricane season. Unreal. Wally is from my home town, Springfield, Illinois. How the hell did we work this where we talk he and his family through a hurricane, and a little over a month later, he's talking to us... getting us through and providing information when the power goes down. Talk about tit for tat. Hmmm, interesting... so what's the tat? LOL. Love that Wally! He and wife Dawn and their kids Hailey and Alex, are just so dear to us. Who would have ever thought of this scenario? Wow!
All in all, we're fairing well. We did have one line nearly chafe through, but that was our fault, as there was no chafe guard on it. We just doubled another line right over it and since most of the worst is over, all is okay. However, we're watching Katrina like a hawk... I don't trust her as she hits the Gulf of Mexico and strengthens. I would not be surprised at all if she were a Category 4 by the time she hits the Panhandle. Right now, she's a Category 2 and all the way here in Marathon she is RAISING HELL (as I move the monitor back to its former position as the boat takes a huge gust from the South). Since she's hit the Gulf, she's been pummeling us every which way BUT loose (now you understand where THAT saying came from too-- it had to have its origins from a salty sailor in the middle of a hurricane!).
Just to let you all know that we're fine and the AC is pumping away so I'm calm, cool and collected... but in bad need of a shower! I'll do that just as soon as I finish tellin yaz I was talking to Wally Wonderfull (aka Wally & Dawn Hamlin) earlier and telling him I smell bad and look worse. I could do a great Secret commerical about right now... and the Secret would be OUT! (Microphone pushed up in my face:) "Now you. Did your deodorant stand up to Hurricane Katrina? How was your Secret?"
JUST SAY NO. Ya gotta love Nancy "Big Head" Reagan. No really, not that I think she's conceited or something.. but if you ever noticed, she just got a really BIG head! How she gets that head into those tiny head holes of a size five dress.... Maybe we should bring this to the attention of Ripley's. Next time you see Nancy, watch for the big head.
LOL
WE LOVE YA!!
Charmaine & Bill Aboard s/v September Sea (Safe & Sound)
"Life's a Gift... Unwrap It!" - C~
|
From: Juanita Barton
How'd you guys do? It looks like Katrina came right at you? Did you know the Larsen's? Evidently they left Marathon day before yesterday or something with their 3 kids. It just came over MSNBC that they were rescued and pulled off their boat earlier today.
| Hi guys, Glad to hear you both made it through the hurricane with nothing more than a couple of partially chaffed lines. I know what you mean about the screaming of the wind outside,with nowhere to hide. At least up in the midwest, when a tornado would come through, we had a basement to retreat to. I haven`t been able to get in contact with Hugh over at Keys boat works yet, but he has gone through so many hurricanes on his boat, that I`m sure he is OK. Judu & I are back in Daytona,, at least for a little while. Our visit N. this summer proved my Mother is in need of help to be able to stay in her own home(89 years old),,, so regretfully, we are preparing to move back to Michigan to help her out. Planning on selling our trawler down here, and renting out the condo,,, fully furnished, so we don`t have to move all that stuff North. I am leaving for a month long bike trip out west to the Rockies first. 6,000 miles in 30 days on the bike. Ouch!! Sore ass bike trip! Judy staying in Daytona to get the condo ready for rent. I HATE Michigan,,, thought I had finally escaped, but plans change. Really missing all our friends in the keys, and the keys themselves, of coarse, but had a hell of a good time, while it lasted. Keep us on your mailing list, so we can sort of remember what life was like. Love ya both, and glad you`re OK. Denny & Judy | |||
|
|
From: Charmaine
To: A Bunch of Coconuts
Subject: Hurricane Katrina Update
From: Renee Chomiak
|
From: Woodward, Melissa
Date: 08/29/05 12:34:01
To: Charmaine Aboard s/v September Sea
Hey
Charmaine,
That
is
Fantastic
for
Diana!!
What
great
friends
Bj
had.
You
probably
don't
want
to
talk
to
me
today.
I am
in a
fowl
mood.
I'm
just
really
pissed
right
now
& in
a
funk.
I
need
a
vacation!!
Sometimes,
my
family
&
friends
think
I am
to
overprotected
with
Will.
Well
first
of
all,
some
of
these
people
don't
have
kids,
so
they
shouldn't
say
shit!!
So
what
if I
don't
let
Will
go
to
the
park
by
himself.
I'm
a
parent
that
is
involved
with
their
child,
not
the
lazy
ass
ones
that
sit
on
the
couch
at
home.
If
Will
goes
to
the
park
I go
to
the
park.
If
Will
goes
for
a
bike
ride
I go
for
a
bike
ride.
Get
the
drift!!
I'm
just
ticked
&
sometimes
people
should
just
keep
their
mouths
shut
if
there
not
experienced
or
if
there
shitty
parents!!
I'm
glad
you
guys
are
safe
-
this
Hurricane
Stuff
is
C-R-A-Z-Y!!
Love
Ya's
Liss
|
|
Hey
Honey
Pie,
Don't
even
get
ticked
over
that
nonsense,
really.
The
reason
why
you
don't
get
pissed
over
ignorant
people
is
because YOU
know
what
is
right
for
you
and
Will.
They
don't.
I
would
NEVER
allow
Will
to
go
ANYWHERE
without
me.
Even
when
we
were
at
the
Hotel,
I
had
to
correct
Bill
about thinking
Will
can
go
somewhere
in
the
hotel
alone.
What
happened
is
he
and
Will
were
in
the
parking
lot
ready
to
go
somewhere
and
I
was
in
the
room.
A
knock
on
the
door
and
it
was
Will.
Girl,
I
about
lost
my
mind.
I
walked
down
with
Will,
without
letting
him
know
I
was
upset
about
it,
and
talked
to
Bill
to
the
side.
I
told
Bill
"NEVER
NEVER
EVER
let
Will
go
ANYWHERE
alone.
I
don't
care
if
it's
just
back
up
to
the
room.
NO
WHERE."
Bill
apologized
and
said
he
really
didn't
consider
that
what
he
did
was
unsafe.
He
agreed
IT
IS
UNSAFE.
So
you
just
tell
that
story
to
anybody
you
want
to.
If
something
happened
to
Will
when
you
had
your
guard
down,
you
would
never
forgive
yourself,
it
would
destroy
you.
Tell
people
so
WHY
take
that
chance?
People
who
prey
on
little
kids
are
counting
on
the
fact
that
those
in
small
towns
think
their
kids
are
safe.
It's
not
the
people
in
the
town
that
will
hurt
your
child.
It's
the
ones
who
come
there
KNOWING
people
think
their
child
is
safe
by
walking
to
the
park
alone.
You
just
tell
them
that.
It
is a
FACT
that
this
is
exactly
what
child
predators
do.
They
go
to
small
towns
and
drive
around
the
streets
just
waiting
to
see
some
child
unattended.
One
time
in a
small
town
two
kids
were
picking
up
soda
cans
at
the
park
ACROSS
THE
STREET
FROM
THEIR
HOUSE.
A
boy
and
girl,
12
years
old.
A
guy
in a
van
came
and
scooped
the
girl
up
and
left
the
boy
behind
as
he
was
about
50
yards
away
from
the
girl.
That
girl
was
raped
and
beat
up
and
left
for
dead
in
some
woods.
She
survived,
but
she
was
lucky.
I'm
sure
her
mother
thought
"she's
right
across
the
street,
I
can
see
her,"
and
there
was
no
problem
with
it.
And
that
she
was
with
another
kid.
WRONG.
Kids
need
to
be
accompanied
by
an
adult
at
all
times.
Even
public
restrooms
are
dangerous!
So
Melissa,
I'm
PROUD
that
you
are
the
way
you
are
with
Will.
If
you
weren't
I'd
be
right
on
ya,
nagging
you
to
death.
So...
you
can
either
realize
that
hearing
this
crap
from
fools
that
don't
understand
the
DANGERS
of
letting
their
kids
walk
around...
or
you
can
be
GLAD
that
I'm
not
cussing
you
out
everyday
for
letting
Will
roam
free.
So a
good
answer
to
them
might
be:
"I'd
rather
have
YOU
saying
that
than
CHARMAINE
or
MY
MOM
cussing
me
out
for
letting
Will
roam
around.
Because
WE
ALL
KNOW
the
dangers."
Let
them
know
it's
not
just
YOU
Melissa.
All
they
have
to
do
is
go
to
any
website
to
see
what
the
authorities
tell
people
about
supervising
their
kids.
You
don't
need
anyone
to
tell
you,
you
have common
sense,
they
don't.
So
don't
let
those
bastids
get
you
down
or
put you
in a
foul
mood.
They
don't
get
it, 'Liss.
I
hope
they
never
lose
a
child
under
their
care
because
of
their
negligence.
That
would
be
very
hard
to
live
with.
Maybe
they
should
think
about
that.
I
will
call
Rebecca
soon
and
let
her
know
of
the
College
Fund
for
Diana.
I
haven't
told
her
yet.
Yes,
it's
wonderful,
SO
WONDERFUL.
BOTH
MY
GRANDKIDS
ARE
GOING
TO
COLLEGE!!!!
I AM
LOVING
YOU!!!!
Charmaine
Aboard
s/v
September
Sea
"Life's
a
Gift...
Unwrap
It!"
- C~
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From:
Dawn Hamlin
Sent:
Monday,
August 29,
2005 12:37
PM
To:
Charmaine
Subject:
Noah's Ark
This is fun but it will drive you nuts.
Just click
on the link
below to see
how good
your
reflexes
are..........
http://www.brookviewcottage.com/miles/cards/noah/noah.html
From: Larry Goodman
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From: Kati Adams Date: 09/01/05 12:45:09 To: Charmaine Subject: FW: Humpbacked whale under the water You've got to see this. It's incredible !! First, look and see the whale under the water. Keep your cursor out of the picture until you see the whale. Then move your mouse cursor onto the picture, but stand back, you might get wet (it's like it's 3D).
Kati Adams |
From:
Charmaine
Sent:
Friday,
September
02, 2005
11:14 AM
To:
Kati Adams
Subject:
LOVE YOU!!
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Katie, my sister. Girl, you know me much better than that. We LOVE you and my Big Twin with ALL our hearts. I hold nothing back, you know that. If you or Tom ever did anything I didn't like... you would be the FIRST to know. I was down for over a week with my back. And I mean DOWN. Curled up in a fetal position, writhing in pain DOWN. This has happened three times in the past three years. When it blows, it just blows. My spinal cord is being compressed, both vertically and horizontally... thus it can and does happen where a disc protrudes too far and I just have to lay and wait it out. Pain meds just keep from killing myself... when this happens, it is all I can do. It doesn't, however, get me back on my feet. I am SO SORRY we didn't get the chance to see you guys before you left. We have still been busy with Bj's things (we just got his belongings from St. Croix right before my back went out... very emotional ordeal. We arrived in the Bahamas yesterday. Our 33rd wedding anniversaryand this is our little getaway and celebration of it. Our luggage is still not here... dayam. I have no clothes, no toiletries... I am not diggin this... but I'm also not in New Orleans! I count my blessings and shut my mouth. For you two to even remotely think we had some beef with you.. girl, I should just kiss you all over and hold you tightly. You should know us better than that, my Love. We are loving people and it's very difficult to tick us off... we love our friends so much. Parise said she thought I had lost weight before we went back home for all the services. I went to the doctor and found I had lost thirty pounds. No, I had no idea I'd lost weight, you'd think I'd realize it. I hadn't. To me, I don't see it... I think it's just the stress of Bj's passing, as I haven't knowingly changed the way I do things at all. I'm as happy as I could possibly be, you know I'm a survivor. I look back at Bj and thank God we got thirty-one years with him. We are so thankful for that. I don't dwell in the past. How is my Parise doing? You know she just lost her seven-year-old nephew who died after a tragic pool accident. When I found about it, Parise and JC had left to go back home to Canada. I haven't seen them yet, they're not back. This accident keeps things in perspective: his family only got seven years. How can I complain? We LOVE you both sooo soooo much. Can't wait to see you when we return. We will just have to make a POINT of seeing you, as we DO love you both so much. You just don't know how blessed we feel that we have you in our lives. We have ALWAYS felt that way. Kiss each other for me.. and don't forget the BIG HUGS!!! See you when we get back. All my Love, Charmaine (& Bill) in Freeport "Life's a Gift.. Unwrap It!" - C~ |
Whew… I have missed you and since I hadn’t seen or heard from you… well I’m sorry for being a Martha. And DAMN that Bill for not telling us about your back. Man we still have major drugs, patches, all kinds of good shit. And we would of even had Dr. Lynne come over and do some acupuncture on you. Tom’s sister did it to him on his back and it lasted for a couple of months with hardly no pain.
So you’re in the Bahamas running around naked??? I know people like to go native but damn!!! Oh well now you can just get a new wardrobe! Tell Bill to break out the plastic!
Tom and I moved to our new home and last night sat outside and watched the sun set over the Seven mile bridge. Man it’s so beautiful!! And this morning we had coffee on the bow and looked out over a flat pink & blue ocean, it was gorgeous. Did you know at Cabot’s up until 6:00 pm all appetizers are ½ price and Margarita’s are $2.50, in big tall mugs too!! I had several of them. Yummy! Well you and Bill hold and love each other. And Happy Anniversary too! If you get a chance to get over to Turtle Cay check it out a lot of boater friends of ours go there for the winter and love it.
Love you both very much!
Kati Adams
Florida Keys Rentals
www.flakeysrentals.com
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From: mccormick
Date: 09/02/05 10:23:54
To: Charmaine & Bill Aboard s/v September Sea; Natasha Secoquin, rashida shakir; tariaria; priljohn; Norma Samame; debbie mcferrin; Rand & Linda Frylinge Miller; Grayson Mitchell; mmbandur; yvette angela morrison; Breighan Ladd; Dan Lauer; Rayan Lauer; Melvina Lloyd; loiskprice; janette aceron-outlaw; carla michelle jones; Cjtrees; Chris Kafus; michelle kerr=spry; gwen; ernest & denise; charlene, Enyo Dewith; Jai Dewith; valerie boyd; derrick brownlee; Bryant Spry; taylor anderson; titiaandbill anderson; annefitz; annettedelprete
Subject: Prayers for Karen Bates
I am sure each of you are already praying for the victims of hurricane Katrina. I write to ask that you pray a special prayer for our dear friend Karen Bates. Karen was born and raised in New Orleans and most of her family still lives there. Indeed her father and her mother were born and raised in New Orleans. To date Karen has only heard from one cousin--he and his family did make it out in time. She has not heard from any other family members--none of her aunts, uncles or cousins. Nor has she heard from any of her many friends. Needless to say Karen and her mother are devastated. Worried beyond words. But managing, somehow, to keep the faith. Please pray for the Bates/Parker family. God bless us all.
Thanks, Peace & Blessings,
Shannon & Steve
215/000-0000
P.S. Those of you who know Karen directly please do not call and ask her about her family and friends--these types of calls only worry her further. She, literally, like so many others, knows nothing...she's just hanging in limbo until she can find someone, anyone. Good company and listening ears, and of course, prayers is what she and her mother need right now.
From: Charmaine Aboard s/v September Sea
Date: 09/02/05 10:29:31
Re: Karen Bates Hey my Loves,
Be sure that Karen knows about the website CNN has put up that lists all the names of people who have been found so far. There is also a phone number. Check CNN.com. I'm hoping Karen will find good news there. If not today, then perhaps tomorrow.
I have a feeling most in her family will be found alive. Yes, thousands perhaps have died, but it is more those who had NO PLAN at all. Any person who can add would know that a Category 5 hurricane hitting New Orleans (or even NEAR New Orleans) would mean rampant flooding of almost biblical proportions. New Orleans is surrounded by water inhabited well below sea level. Engineers have said for years the possibility of New Orleans being hit by a major hurricane was very real and that the levees must be made to withstand such a catastrophe. We all know our hurricane seasons are bringing bigger and badder hurricanes with alarmingly increasing frequency.
I am praying Karen's family took heed of the warnings that Hurricane Katrina was coming, and got to safety. However, different circumstances mean different situations for people. Some could not get out. With it's economically poor populace most don't have transportation. Why weren't these people bussed out BEFORE Katrina arrived? I don't understand it. A Category 5 hurricane coming... this has been talked about for years, that New Orleans could be devastated by a major hurricane that broke the levees. They were built to withstand only a Category 3.
What a nightmare and a shameful telling of what the U.S. needs to make sure we have a plan of action IN PLACE prior to such apocalyptic devastation brought on by nature or worse (terrorists). It doesn't make me feel comfortable thinking we aren't ready for such events.
We are in the Bahamas, celebrating our 33rd wedding anniversary. I tell you, it is bittersweet for many reasons. Wherever we are and whatever we are doing... it is very difficult to see our fellow brothers and sisters suffering this way.
It sure puts our losses in perspective.
We will be praying for Karen, her family, and all those who have lost so much and who are enduring that which most of us cannot even imagine. People dying while awaiting rescue in an age where we have airplanes and helicopters... I shake my head in utter disgust and frightful shame.
The last words spoken in Francis Ford Coppola's movie, "Apocalypse Now," comes to mind:
"The horror. The horror."
Charmaine & Bill in Freeport at the Westin Hotel
"Life's a Gift... Unwrap It!"- C~
www.SeptemberSea.com
Above: Click on photo to view slide show taken by happy vacationers in New Orleans, September 2005. If anyone knows any of these individuals, please thank them for us. A slice of Nawlins before the horror. House of the Rising Sun There is a house in New Orleans, they call the Risin' Sun Written by Georgia Turner & Bert Martin Originally recorded by Texas Alexander in 1928. Since recorded by many, including "The Doors" and "The Rolling Stones."
Click picture for side show brought to you by www.WWLTV.com See www.Nola.com for the very latest on New Orleans. Thanks to all!
From: Christopher Snow
Date: 09/03/05 11:25:47
To: Charmaine
Subject: Re: Fw: [liveaboard] blank mails and attachments
Charmaine,
Unfortunately, we do not have a boat yet, and need to sell the house before we can afford one. We are getting the house ready to sell now, hoping to put it on the market in the next month or two. The market here looks like it might be turning down, but no hard crash yet. So we assume closing in November or December, and then driving down to Florida to buy a boat and move aboard.
Like everyone we are spending much of our time the last few days watching the news from the Gulf. It is just a national shame the situation those poor people were left in. And that the help they are now getting still seems to be too little, too late. Michelle and the kids are sorting through outgrown clothes and toys right now for the few hundred that are being
brought here to DC.
I am so sorry to hear about your son. I cannot imagine. I saw the pictures of your kids months ago on your website and must say I dreamed of my little boy growing up to be such a strong, handsome sailor.
Chris
From: Charmaine
Date: 09/03/05 12:56:17
To: Christopher Snow
Subject: Bless Your Heart
From: mccormick
Date: 09/02/05 13:50:58
To: SeptemberSea
Subject: Re: Prayers for Karen Bates
Thanks, sweetie...Karen said she has been checking postings and posting names (and maybe photos) however I will be sure to double-check that she knows about CNN. Karen reminded me that most people did not know that Katrina was a category 5; their electricity had already been hit. Nobody knocked on doors to tell them that the sever storm that they figured they could ride out (afterall many, including Karen's family, had been throught sooo many floodings before--including Camille). Karen believes many of her family and friends stayed with their homes...especially because so many had elderly, sick and babies. God bless them all. She heard from one uncle on Sunday afternoon who said they were going to the other side of the river--that bridge collasped. She doesn't know if he/they made it.....
Yeah, the government--federal, state and local--failed. And if I see one more image of citizens waiting to be rescued AND ITS DAY FIVE, I am not going to be so polite on the phone with my elected officials. Fortunately, the media is asking the same questions of government (I won't get into the bias reporting issue). This is soo overwhelming! This is sooo unacceptable. I, too, am disgusted and disappointed....and deeply sadden. God bless us all.
Peace, Love and Happy Anniversay. I am sooooo glad you two are okay. I love you guys. Kiss each other for me. Shannon
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Tropical Depression #18 -
Hurricane Rita
| Hurricane Rita | September 18th - September 25th | Maximum Winds 175 (mph) | Minimum Pressure 897 (mb) |
(Click to enlarge)
From: Charmaine
|
We're hunkered down to prepare for what will be Hurricane Rita.
She's expected to hit the Keys Tuesday morning. Looks like this
will be another Category 1 must like Dennis and Katrina as they came
through here.
We're prepared, so no worries. We decided not to travel to Little
Shark for this one. We stayed here at the marina for both Dennis
and Katrina, and did just fine.
Got all our provisions. Tidal surge could be up to 7 ft., since
we're in the astronomical moon phase right now (tides are already
high). In a boat, one thing you don't have to worry about is tidal
surge! Huge surges like 10 ft. and above just don't happen in the
Keys. The waters around here are very shallow and lots of places
for the excess surge to go.
We'll stay in touch as long as we can. Could be that cell phones
won't work once the storm approaches. Don't worry, we're old hands
at this. A category 1 where she hits will mean winds up to 73 mph
here in the marina, even if she landed right on top of us. We can
certainly withstand tropical force winds like that. Done it before,
and I'm sure we'll do it again.
Love to all. Ray-Ray, so glad to hear you're doing better. Glad
you're getting some relief from your back pain. Excellent!
Talk with everyone soon.
Hugs and Kisses
Charmaine & Bill Aboard s/v September Sea
"Life's a Gift... Unwrap It!" - C~
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From: Shelly K. Ladd
|
From: Charmaine [mailto:charmaine@septembersea.com]
Sent: Monday, September 19, 2005 9:56 AM To: A Bunch of Coconuts Subject: The Pick Up Guys
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From: Jo Powers
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Hahaha. Nope.
Tidal surges are not as you think. I believe you're thinking of bashing and crashing waves heaving up and down. A tidal surge is very gradual and simply means a rising of the waters. You don't even notice it when it happens. At the dock, you know the tide is rising because of where the boat is in relation to the dock pilings.
For the Keys, we may see a tidal surge of ten feet. That's huge. However, imagine a boat sitting in a slip with three pilings on each side. You tie the boat up to the pilings using line that is specifically engineered for high stretch capability. As the tide rises, you can feel the boat getting more snug in the slip. You go out and check the lines. If they need to be relaxed a bit, you do so. Most often, the line used for this purpose stretches and contracts on its own.
Girl, I don't even get seasick. LOL Lots of those who live aboard do have problems with seasickness. I tell each and every one of them to eat dry gingersnaps. All the products you see on the market today for hangovers is basically a good dose of ginger. Ginger works wonders on a queasy stomach.
Bill is a bit different. When we've been out on the water for a week, anchored at various sites and then sailing in between... he still gets weak sea legs once we're back at the marina and tied up to our slip. He gets off the boat and everything is still moving on land. LOL Many people say the worst is taking a shower while after being out to sea. They say the whole shower is constantly moving up and down, side to side, even though they are on land. Fortunately for me, I have incredible sea legs and never notice any difference.
Hope all is well with you and Jim. Love that Jim, he's a good man, Jo. But I'm not telling ya anything you didn't know! We'll be home in late October and am looking forward to spending some time with you guys this time. Such a rush last trip and under such stressful circumstances. We can't thank you and Jim enough for being there for us. There is nothing like knowing your dear friendships base is full of wonderful people like you two.
Love ya and will write again after Rita does her thing. LOL
Charmaine & Bill Aboard s/v September Sea
"Life's a Gift... Unwrap It!" - C~
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Hey my Sweeties... here's an email I just wrote to my dear, dear friend, Dawn Hamlin [with her replies in blue] (she's a hurricane survivor... remember me talking to you about my good friends caught in Hurricane Emily (low Category 4) in the Yucatan peninsula while on vacation? Dat's her... now you can see why she's worried. A hurricane can do many things unexpectedly... like come WAY closer than we thought!!
I thought since the wind is beginning to howl, we could lose our internet connection... so I'm sending
you the same email that should answer all your concerns.
Not to worry. The more you know about what we're facing, the more you'll rest assured that Bill and I
will be just fine.
I am LOVING YOU all...
Charmaine & Bill
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From: Charmaine [mailto:charmaine@septembersea.com]
Sent: Monday, September 19, 2005 12:22 PM
To: Dawn Hamlin
Subject: TD 18 - Hurricane Rita
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Hey Sweetheart,
Girl, I know that if you just looked at Brad Pitt and George Clooney without batting an eyelash... you are WORRIED!! Don't be worried, Honey. Let me explain the situation:[Dawn Hamlin] Yes - A little concerned...
Tropical Depression #18, or what should be by this evening, Hurricane Rita, is expected to be a Category 1 (winds 74-95 mph). She is heading right for the Keys. Key West and the Middle Keys (where we live in Marathon) are expecting tidal surges of up to 10 feet and torrential rains. [Dawn Hamlin] Thats ALOT down there... There isn't alot of LAND...
We are at the marina and have a condo for our use in the event we think its better to leave the boat. The winds don't bother me, even 90-100 mph winds we'd be quite comfortable aboard, but the tidal surge is the worry. If we get that kind of surge, the boat will be sitting overtop the pilings of the marina. That's how boats get holed. When the tide recedes, boats often come right down on top of the piling and it become impaled, then sinks. [Dawn Hamlin] Pleeeeeease - Don't be on the boat in that case...
We've decided that if the surge goes over the finger pier (boardwalk to our boat) by more than two feet, then we're off the boat. We have a ditch bag of necessary items in the car (which is on higher ground nearby behind the condos), and will grab food and water for three days and head to the second
story condo waiting for us. [Dawn Hamlin] Do you have a reserved space - Definitely take plenty of ALCOHOL - That way you can laugh at the bitch as she roars through!
Hopefully we won't get that kind of surge back here in the canals where our marina is. But they are forecasting for a ten foot tidal surge, mostly due to the astronomical lunar tides we have right now with the full moon. [Dawn Hamlin] GREAT - Even better luck!!! Damn moon phases!
Keep your fingers crossed. We will be fine, don't worry about us. You know we're not foolish. There is no doubt had I any inkling we could get a huge surge like this in this marina, we would have gone to Little Shark River. It still remains to be seen. Hurricane Rita will show us what the marina's
weaknesses are. There is no way I'd ever stay for a hurricane in marina when there is that kind of tidal surge possible. [Dawn Hamlin] Oh, I know your not foolish... We are the dumb asses that went to Mexico with Emily headed straight for us - HA HA
The NOAA out of Key West issued a statement, but it's not totally clear which areas are in the danger zone of these huge tides. Imagine, ten feet over our normal tide. That means our boat will be floating even with the roof line of the first floor condo. DAYAM. Well, live and learn. You'll never
see me jeopardize our home like this again. I honestly had NO idea. [Dawn Hamlin] Shit, we still don't have any idea... Is there any chance it can gain speed quickly and turn into a category 2 or 3?????????????????
Let's hope we're in an area that doesn't see that kind of flooding. The Labor Day Hurricane (unnamed) in the Keys of 1935 was a Category 5 monster. I still don't recall finding evidence that the Keys were totally flooded with surges like that. Rita is just a Category 1. I believe there might be some
embellishment on the part of the Weather Center just to get people to get the hell out of here. [Dawn Hamlin] I can believe that... Although there are no dumb asses with the names Dawn and Wally down there !!!!
All of the Keys is under a mandatory evacuation now. Shit, Dawn. They don't know exactly where Rita will hit. We could get in the car and try to outrun it, but then the streets will flood and you're stuck. For all I know, we could be moving INTO harm's way. The cones you see at the website
www.wunderground.com are actually called "error cones." The path you see means the center of the hurricane could be anywhere in that cone... far right, far left, anywhere. And that cone has a 250 mile error margin. That's a lot of error! [Dawn Hamlin] 250 FREAKING MILES... Shit!!! Are the people boarding up - Are the business owners leaving???? Are there going to be other people there with you???
Looks like Rita will pass us tomorrow mid-morning and we should be with her for about 24 hours. The good thing about that is that we can see the tidal changes in the light of day. From that we'll know whether or not to get off the boat. Nothing like the daytime! [Dawn Hamlin] True - Luck is on your side there! Night time is miserable when the power is out!
Rita is currently on track to pass within 35 miles of us. That is much, much closer than originally projected. Yet, Marathon and Key West's chance of getting hit with hurricane force winds is still only 35%. Tropical storm force winds is simply a given at this point. But, that will be the least of our
worries. Fortunately, she is a small system and the likelihood of her gaining Category 2 status while in the Keys is very slim.[ Dawn Hamlin] Okay... You answered my question above... I will keep watching throughout the day and night! I know you're safe and not careless but strange things can happen - High water - Even flying debris could put you and Bill in danger! If you do have to abandon the boat - Get your asses out of there before the winds get to strong! PLEEEEEASE!!!!
I'll keep in touch! I have to leave early today to take Miss Hailey to see her boyfriend in Champaign... We are going down to have dinner with him!!! Can't believe she wants me (and ALEX ) to go!!! Maybe at 16 she is learning to like me a little - Is that how it happens??? Take Care! - I'll say a little prayer for you - That's a song... You know it!
We'll talk soon!
Big Hugs~
Me
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From: Kathleen & Jim
When I pulled this up from www.wunderground.com I almost fainted. Then I realized it was an error.
The YELLOW and RED are erroneously reversed. WHEW! Have mercy. I thought it was the end of the world.
From: Pierre Buhler
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We're doing great. Internet still up. The torrential rains that were scheduled for last night have just now arrived. Rita is still not a hurricane. Thank goodness!
She's moving at 20 knots and will be past us before she can strengthen, or so it seems. Looks like she won't be a major hurricane for us here in the Keys. Of course, things can change and I haven't had my morning coffee yet.
September Sea is doing a great job protecting her crew. Love that beauty of ours. Since last night, we've been having 40 knots of sustained wind and gusts much, much higher than that so far. Looks like the highest winds we will see are the 60 mph winds we're having now and topping out around 70 knots at the most.
Looking DAYAM GOOD!
Thunderstorms galore and lots of lightning last night. Went to bed at about 4 a.m. and up now (no wonder I can't see!). Wanted to get this out to you all asap.
Right now it's bands of torrential rain... I just felt a lull. It's great to look at Rita on the radar to see the bands as they hit us. Technology works... fantastic.
Rita will be here by 10 am... or so my calculations say, since she's moving at 20 knots she will blow through here quickly. That's when we should get the most intense winds. But she's moving FAST... so let her blow right on by. NOAA has moved her course farther south away from us. Looks like so far, so good. At 8 am Rita was located 60 miles ESE of Marathon, and 100 miles ESE of Key West. WAY better location for her to be.
They'd now said the tidal surges will affect the Lower Keys, not us. WOOO HOOOOO!!!! But we're under a a tornado watch (duh!)... but knowing we won't have that horrible surge is music to my ears. Bill is actually smiling... We haven't slapped high fives just yet... but somehow I think it might be done over lunch.
Hurrying off now... will write later if we're still up and running. Love to each and everyone of you!
Charmaine & Bill STILL Aboard s/v September Sea
"Life's a Gift... Unwrap It!" - C~
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From: Dick Conklin
Glad to hear from you. Plus the great news. We are in Miami, husband watched to much TV and had a hurricane panic attack, so to make him feel better we drove up to Miami. Keeping flippers crossed for our dolphin kids. They have great people taking care of them.
So stay safe and look forward to updates..............
Sea ya Love Carol
WEATHER REPORT UPDATE FOR RITA
HURRICANE WARNING IN EFFECT FOR THE FLORIDA KEYS
UNTIL 11:30AM EDT
From: Breighan Ladd
I'll call tonight around 8pm (9pm your time)
Love to ya!
Biffy
Weather Update Hurricane Rita
Hurricane Rita Discussion Number 11
Statement as of 11:00 am EDT on September 20, 2005
From: MCOMCorp
From: Charmaine [mailto:charmaine@septembersea.com]
Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2005 11:22 AM
To: Alicia; Andy; Antoinette Genesis; becca keffer; 'bella; Big Ed; Big Twin; Brandi Simpson; Breigh-Baby; Bren Bren; Brooke-I-Have-Now-Met; Bryce; Buddy; Capt Marti; Cheboone; Chris & Yanni; Chucky Hubbard; Danny & Diane; Danny y Debbie y Lobita; Dawnie Girl; Deanna Shaughnessy; Deb & Doug; Debbie & Bobby; Debbie Grant; Denise Lilley; Denny & Judy Aboard; Diana in Wrigleyville; Dick Conklin; Dolphin Lady Carol; Donna & Ray; Dr. Dlugie; Dunc; Edie; Ennie; Enyo; Ernest & Betty; Iris; jai lanre; Janet & Greggers; Keys Florida; Jeannie and Philip; Jeff & Marty; Jenny-Jen; Jim Powers; Jo Powers; John Murray; John Porter; Joshola; Kathy & Capt Jack; Kati my Sister; Katy & G-Man Charlie; Ken & Carolyn Vance; Krista Kay; LaMar & Marty; Lancer 36 Tom; Lanny Stowe Lonie; Letitia & Bill; Liz & Sir Charles on Espchiel; Loren my Dearest; Lori and Steve; Lovin' Larry; Maggie May; marathonflorist@aol.com; Margaret; Marlene & Reynold; Melissa; Michael & Sandee; Mighty Mite; Mike & Harriet; Mike on Liveaboard List; Mom & Dad Hotmail; Mom & Dad Ladd; Nae 'Nae; New; Norma Jean & Jim; Pat Schad; Peggy & Edwin; Randy; Reece & Dianna; Renee; Rhode Island Mike; Rick & Leann; Rob & Garth Aboard Whatever; Rose Caillier; Sandee Glanz; Sarah Smrcina; Scottie; Shane; Shannon & Steve; Shaolin Poker; Shelly & Ken; Sister Kitty (Deacon); Staci my Sistah; Steve & Beth (Four Ladds); Steve Ladd; Suzi; Tempestuous; Toddkins; Tom & Ellen; Wally Wonderfull; Wolfie, my German son; Zach my Cuz; Shelly Kay; My Honey; My Price
Subject: Hurricane Rita - What a Difference
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Hey my Sweeties,
What a difference a day made My yesterday was blue, dear What a difference a day makes It's heaven when you find romance on your menu What a difference a day makes It's heaven when you find romance on your menu Song written by Maria Grever and Stanley Adams as recorded by the great legend, Miss Dinah Washington.
Daddy always whistled and sang during all my childhood years. He still does to this day. But it was Mother who loved Dinah Washington. When Mom was happy, she'd be humming and singing all through the house. I remember as a child, sitting and listening to her and I'd wonder how did she know all those words to all those songs! I'd look in wonder at the beauty of Mom and realized not only how strikingly beautiful she was, but that she had a lovely voice to match that beauty. It is so very, very true... there was no greater happiness in our home as when Mother was singing.
~~~
AMEN AMEN AMEN. Layed down to sleep about 4 am and got up at 8 am, jumped on the computer to look at the radar and tropical forecast... and YES YES YES... Rita still can't get her ass up to be a hurricane. Hallelujah!! I just might find religion after this... Can you imagine me starring in "Sister Act IV?" Whoppie and I would make one hell of a team. LOL
Got my coffee. Sitting in the wonderful air conditioning, life is good. "We don't need no stinking condo!" Thank goodness that's what I'm saying. It's not over yet, far from it... but it sure is looking so much better than last night's forecast. Never turn your back on a crazy woman, and that is what Tropical Storm wannabe-a-Hurricane Lovely Rita Meter Maid is.
We're still watching her like a hawk. The highest winds now are gusting around 60 mph, which doesn't sound all that bad, but you have to consider what the water is doing at the same time. Back here in our slip, the water is churned up pretty good, but no really bad waves. It is just that the water is like it's in a blender. The boat is in the water. We're in the boat. We could be Smoothie before this is over. LOL Actually, it's a pretty darn smooth ride when you consider what's going on with the weather.
Sure feels like a lot more wind. Rita is hitting us pretty dayam skippy, but the twisted nylon hurricane lines are handling the job beautifully. They'll stretch 30% if need be, and I tell you, it's a remarkable thing of beauty (and to think you never hear of it... yet you hear all the fuss about space shuttles). Give me the thrill of marveling over the incredibly simple strength of twisted nylon any day!
Every lull we run out and adjust the lines. Considering the amount of sustained wind right now, we're sitting quite comfortably. Incredible. Our slip faces east, just a tad northeast, actually. Perfect position for riding out the NE winds we're getting--boats love to point into the wind. Of course, as Rita passes, we'll get winds from the SE... but that direction will offer us even more protection than where we're positioned now.
The great thing is that high tide is just an hour away, and we're doing just fine. As I said before, the only thing that really concerned me with Rita was the potential for a 7-10 ft. storm surge (what being on the "bad" side of a hurricane can do). It looks like at least that threat is gone. Whew!
We dodged a bullet, my Babies. A bullet. I know that blessing has got to have a little something to do with a whole lot of callous on all your knees...
Oh, how we love you!
Charmaine & Bill Aboard s/v September Sea "Life's a Gift... Unwrap It!" - C~ |
Charmaine,
You can’t star with Whoopi……she would never get another job once they got a look at you, my darlin’.
Glad all is well. Continue to take care!
Donna
Weather Updates - Hurricane Rita
ALERT 2 - Hurricane Local Statement
RITA NOW A CATEGORY 2 HURRICANE
Issue Time: 1:14PM EDT, Tuesday Sep 20, 2005
Valid Until: 2:30PM EDT, Tuesday Sep 20, 2005
From: 'bella
You can see Rita's big eye... and she's flinging rain everywhere. Key Largo is taking a big hit.
Marathon, where we live, stayed in an area with far less rain bands (see the clear spot) most of the time. Very fortunate. The green red indicates heavy rain. Now you can see why there is so much rain for those when the eye passes right over them. Not only does the eye create suction and pull water up from the ocean, but it ends up dumping it all on wherever the eye hit land. Rita had 45 ft. waves out at sea.
From: Charmaine
i took charmaines advice and got an air card. NO way to get a phone in my building, where my studio is in the middle of the basement.. and the cable company refuses to install cable for just two ppl.. so its either a sat dish or the air card.. air card more portable. just thrilled to see that marathon and key west dodged the bullet.. know this might sound sappy..but that grotto still stands and st mary once again saved key west.. thank you lady.
From: Julie Weston
From: Vonage
I'm working on getting this up and running, bear with me, please.
Two computer models show Rita doing a U-turn and coming back out through the Alabama/Mississippi border. I've learned that the BAM model is very accurate, usually. Seeing that two of the models predict that particular scenario, I would only hope those in harm's way take heed. Though Rita's winds are dissipating quickly, the huge amounts of debris already in these areas could cause very dangerous results. Thank goodness she hit as only a Category 3. WOOOO HOOOOO. It's a blessing. A blessing. Normally, I don't write of the hurricanes once they are out of our hair... but knowing my friend, Thomas Wright, is right in the middle of it with his aging mother, I am compelled to continue the report on Hurricane Rita.
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From: Charmaine
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Quick note... dinner's ready... all is FANTASTIC, my Loves. Katie and Tom moved over to Marathon Marina September 1st. I was sick with my back and didn't even get to see them before they left... you'll get a kick out of an email from Katie asking if she and Tom had offended us in any way... like we were avoiding them... GEEZE... I called her a MARTHA and told her to stop being SO FRIGGEN' BLONDE !! LOL Love her and Tom with ALL my heart.
DAYAM Speaking of BLONDE.... check out the link below... HYSTERICAL!!! Breighan sent it to me... I laughed my ass off. Either go to the website shown or click on the logo if you have a Media player... it's ready to rock and roll!
http://www.smartelic.com/ Or click on the logo: Anyway, check out our website, I'm just documenting the NEW HURRICANE CHRONICLES of 2005. Let's hope there are no more names to add to DENNIS, EMILY, KATRINA and RITA.
I think I'm gonna let my hair grow out and change my name to GLORIA GAYNOR>
hahahaaaaaaaaaaaa
HUGS AND KISSES... You know Peg, we just might go wherever you guys go... or at least sail to visit... 'cause we LOVE YOU and MISS YOU BOTH THAT MUCH>
Ooooh, my Peek-a-BOOOOOO
Charmaine & Bill Aboard s/v September Sea
"Life's ... oh, you know all that shit....
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Brutal! Glad you were able to ride the storm out once again.
HURRICANE WILMAAAAAAAA!!!!!!
Yabba - Dabba - Don't!!
| Hurricane Wilma | October 15th - October 25th | Maximum Winds 175 (mph) | Minimum Pressure 882 (mb) |
A strong, strong hurricane… pummeling Cozumel (Mexico) for hours and hours as a Category 5, and expected to take a big turn to the Northeast. Here we are… sitting smack in the middle of the Keys in Marathon. Wilma’s coming… and she’s projected to be heading right for the Florida Keys. Oh yeah… time to get the flock outta Dodge. We gotta get out of here, and fast!
As Wilma wreaked havoc and devastation on Cozumel and much of the Yucatan Peninsula… sure brought back memories of talking with Wally and Dawn Hamlin who were vacationing there during Hurricane Emily. Emily was a low Category 3… the pictures from the aftermath were so frightening, to say the least… and Wilma is a Category 5. What a horrible replay for the people there… with Emily they were in a Ronald Regan B-movie… you’ll live, but ask “Where’s the rest of me?” With Wilma they had Freddy Kruger all over them. The Horror. The Horror. Sheer terror and life threatening danger.
We stayed in the Marina for Hurricanes Dennis, Rita, and Katrina. Our slip faces nearly dead East, and when tracking those hurricanes, all Category 1’s… we decided we’d be safe staying tied up to the docks here. When you read about our experiences with Dennis, Rita, and Katrina, you’ll see we were snug as bugs, very safe here. The long line of two-story concrete condos that run across the east side of the Marina were considered as a heavy protective barrier that would protect us from the strongest winds of all three hurricanes. Katrina wasn’t listening when we surmised that… in fact, we didn’t even know she was coming down to the Keys. She turned direction, unexpectedly, and headed right for us. Had we the time, we would have surely decided to run for the protection of the Little Shark River. An up to 12-hour trek (depending on the currents and wind direction), we just didn’t have time to get there safely. The Gulf of Mexico was already churned up and blowing 25-30 knots. We’d just have to do what is necessary to tie September Sea up properly and ride it out.
Katrina pushed us hard from the southeast, winds of 80+ mph… for hours and hours. But September Sea and her crew came out just fine. Life is good.
~ ~ ~
Watching Hurricane Wilma as she headed to the Yucatan Peninsula… yet she was expected by all computer models to make a 90 degree turn after leaving the Yucatan and head northeast... heading right for the Southwest coast of Florida. As she makes the full turn... she's expected to hit THE KEYS. Projected to be either a Category 2 or 3 when she hits the Keys. OUCH!
Fortunately, this time we had the window of opportunity to make preparations -- GET OUT -- and sail up to the Little Shark.
You'll get the whole blow by blow soon. Off to Illinois early Friday morning, October 28th. I'm making notes and will get it all down for you all soon.
Charmaine
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From: Charmaine
Date: 10/18/05 16:22:01
To: Friends & Family (A Bunch of Coconuts)
Subject: Sailing & Wilmaaaa!! Hey my Darlings,
Right now, Hurricane Wilma, the 12th hurricane of the season (which ties the record set in 1969 for most hurricanes in one season), is predicated to come through the Keys by Saturday am/Sunday pm. Unreal. Have mercy, what an incredible season. It's predicted to get worse for next year... if ya can imagine WORSE than this year. DAYAM. All the more reason to get the flock outta the Keys before next year's hurricane season... down below the hurricane belt, around the 10th latitude. AMEN to that!!
We just got back from a glorious week of sailing... fantastic weather and wonderful wind. Just an exhilarating and fabulous trip! We so enjoyed it. We even enjoyed the 12-hour return trip from Key Lois (took us three hours to get up there). The wind changed and the seas were around 4-6 ft. right outside the reef (which we had to go out there to have room to tack back and forth as we beat to windward into a 27 knot headwind). WOW! Talk about YEE-HAW!!! Actually, as sick as it may sound, I absolutely enjoyed it. The moon was full
and lit our way (great to see crab pots before getting 'em tangled up in the prop!).
We'd had a bit of engine trouble at the mouth of Bahia Honda, which is about half-way back to Marathon from Key Lois. The winds were so high and the seas contrary and angry... so we thought we'd duck into
Bahia Honda and ride it out. Ha!
Sometimes things don't go as you wish them to... right at the mouth of Bahia Honda is a very strong current and on that day it was extremely strong and unfortunately, going against us. Had the current been going into Bahia Honda, it would have just carried us on in there. But noooo.... I was at the helm and making NO progress... she wasn't even pulling a knot out of the engine. She just hummed like she was moving... but we weren't moving as I noticed a little tree on the small isle (and shallow spot) right outside Bahia Honda's entrance had not moved from my view... remaining in the same spot for fifteen minutes. DAYAM.
Can't get in... I told Bill we weren't moving and he agreed. So I turned the boat to windward and Bill put up a double-reefed mainsail (we had the foresight to already have the double-reef prepared before we left Key Lois). We put out about 25% of our 180 genoa and sailed back out to sea. We figured we could tack back and forth, each time only making about two miles of progress, and it would eventually get us home. Just 11 miles to go.
Out at sea the waves kept getting bigger. They went from one foot near Bahia Honda to 4-6 ft. as we angled past the reef. But we were sailing at a steady 4 knots and albeit slow, we were making progress.
We had to do a controlled gybe to make the tack... the seas were so contrary I couldn't believe it. I had the helm hard over and she just wouldn't come to lee. No choice... gotta gybe. She acted as if that's exactly what she wanted to do and we sailed back toward land once again.
Out ETA for the outside of Boot Key Harbor was midnight.
Our GPS stayed at a steady 7.5 miles to go no matter where we were out there... looks like we were merely pivoting around the same spot... Boot Key Harbor.
On our last tack toward land the headwind was really something. The wind indicator measured 28 knots right on September Sea's nose. Well this girl likes a little wind in her nostrils and we were slowed down to 2 knots... but our ETA was finally dropping.
We shaved a half-hour off and got into the anchorage right outside Boot Key Harbor at
about 11:30. By the time midnight rolled around, our anchor was well set and the GPS Man Overboard showed we weren't moving. Fantastic. Made our drinks... (gotta have plenty of libation) and got some snacks. We had rinsed off a bit and were enjoying the lovely moonlit evening in very calm waters. Life is good.
In the morning we got a call from our good friend Wally Hamlin who reported to us that Hurricane Wilma was indeed a very possible threat to us here in the Keys. Right after Wally called, our good sailor friend Chris (working in Salt Lake City) called with the same report. His sailing vessel, Magus, has accompanied us to Little Shark River for a couple of hurricanes before... Chris was trying to decide when to fly back so he could take his vessel (and his lovely, sweet wife, our good friend Yanni) up to Little Shark with us. So far, we told Chris, looks like we'd be heading up on Thursday.
We came inside Boot Key Harbor at high tide (2.4 over mean low) around 11 am and the wind had picked up from when we hauled anchor (8-10 knots) to a steady 15 gusting to 20 knots. When we first went to haul anchor and Bill was at the bow, I put the engine in forward and heard a strange clanging sound from the engine. Yup. Once again I had no power. Bill came back to the cockpit and lifted the engine hatch and saw that a screw was loose on the linkage, causing it to lock up. He got his tools and made some adjustments... then we checked the engine's gears were properly aligned... then he tightened the screw all the way down. I felt the wind picking up again. My knot meter said 23 knots.
The Boot Key Harbor bridge ceases opening and closing for passing sailboats when the wind reaches a sustained 30 knots. I looked down and my wind indicator said 27 knots. Holy Crappola Bat Bill. I yelled to Bill that the Bridge could close if we don't hurry in... "We GOTTA GET IN and NOW."
By the time we got to the Bridge, we hailed the Bridgetender and the wind was a steady 23 knots. We informed him of the wind and that we could possibly have some trouble maneuvering (the channel is very narrow)... so we'd appreciate it if he'd not delay in waiting for us to get into the normal position to open the bridge... but to go ahead and open the bridge now. He 10-4'd our request and he immediately lowered the crossing gates on the roadway to the bridge. The bridge then began to open. Whew!
Got through without a hitch... the wind was blowing a steady 22 knots. As we headed eastward in the channel, the wind was gusting again now to 26 knots. Made the right turn to navigate a straight-away in the channel up to "Dog Shit Island" (an appropo moniker due to years of people bringing their boat-bound dogs there to take a 'shyte'). Keeping September Sea on the straight and narrow in that kind of wind isn't the hardest thing in the world, but it did demand all my attention, as the wind was now on the forward port (left) quarter panel... trying to skew me sideways out of the channel. September Sea was up to the challenge and responded to every move I made at the helm -- what a sweet baby girl she be. We got through, reading 1.8 feet under our keel (at HIGH TIDE of 2.4+ !!). Unreal. The water was literally being blown out of the Harbor by the strong winds. Whew! Made a big sigh of relief as I steered to make the left turn around Dog Shit Island and now was back into a strong headwind. All went well as we passed Dockside and then made another left to the straight-away to our Marina. Put September Sea in her slip with a no-touch landing... that's always my goal... I don't want her topsides or toerail to touch a thing. She sure appreciated it too. Bill hoped off the boat to tie up the bow as I put her into reverse for just a second to settle her down. Put her into Neutral and I hopped out of the cockpit to position the fender between the midships and the piling on our finger pier. As Bill pulled her just a bit forward, I tied the two amidships lines to the boat and she was IN!!
Bill says, (as if he doesn't say it every single time we come in): "Dayam Girl, you are GOOD! WOW! Fantastic landing!"
In all honesty, he doesn't say it every single time, just when the conditions are very challenging and I show him that once again... I'm up to the challenge... 'cause it just doesn't seem to bother me one bit. I'm sure September Sea sighed at Bill's comment... She knows I protect her as I do my children and grandchildren. She knows we have a strong bond between us... and absolute trust.
We're still getting things back in order aboard now that we're tucked safely into our slip at Sombrero Lighthouse Resort & Marina. However, it appears now, since looking up the status on Hurricane Wilma at www.wunderground.com, we'll be leaving on Thursday to take a trek to our hurricane hjold at the Little Shark River. Wilma is expected to be a Category 3 by the time she reaches the Keys... DAYAM.
We'll be just fine though up at Little Shark. You can peruse our previous adventures at Little Shark by going to our website and selecting HURRICANE CHRONICLES. Also, under ADVENTURES is "LITTLE SHARK RIVER" and you can see
other pictures of our adventures there.
Here's the 2 pm status of Wilma, below. The graph reflects the consensus of the different computer models' projected paths starting with where Wilma was located at 2 pm today and her forecasted location at 2 pm on each subsequent day. The color code indicates anticipated Storm Category intensity.
  As you can see, quite astonishingly, all the computer models are in marked agreement that Wilma will make a sweeping right turn off the Yucatan Peninsula and head on a northeasterly course bound for the Keys and the bottom portion of Florida's west coast.
Here is the 11 am Discussion from NOAA regarding Hurricane Wilma:
Hurricane Wilma Discussion Number 12
Statement as of 11:00 am EDT on October 18, 2005 Wilma is being upgraded to a hurricane based on subjective Dvorak classifications of t4.0 from all agencies...and objective T numbers from UW/CIMSS of t4.5 since 09z. Another reconnaissance aircraft is scheduled to be in the system this afternoon. Cold convection is being maintained over the center...and strong upper-level outflow channels continue to the northeast and southwest of the center. Oceanic heat content ahead of Wilma is high. The only inhibiting factor is the dry air mass in the Gulf and extreme northwestern Caribbean...but the large and growing circulation of Wilma should be able to keep much of this air from reaching the core. A high likelihood of rapid strengthening is indicated by the SHIPS rapid intensification index...and it is likely that Wilma will be a major hurricane when it enters the southeastern Gulf of Mexico. As Wilma accelerates northeastward late in the forecast period...wind shear is forecast to increase...but there may not be enough of it to weaken Wilma very quickly. However...it is Worth remembering that there is little skill in long-range intensity forecasts. The initial motion is estimated to be 320/5. There has been little change to the track forecast thinking. The mid- to upper-level low that had been off the Southern California coast is now moving northeastward...and as it progresses high pressure over the Gulf of Mexico is expected to weaken...allowing Wilma to move through the northwestern Caribbean and enter the southeastern Gulf of Mexico in about three days. Once Wilma moves north of the subtropical ridge axis and encounters mid-level westerly flow...an acceleration northeastward is expected. Model guidance has not changed much and remains in very good agreement...and the official forecast is very similar to the previous advisory and close to the dynamical model consensus. Wilma...the 12th hurricane of the season...ties the record for most hurricanes in a season set in 1969. Forecaster Franklin forecast positions and Max winds initial 18/1500z 16.5n 80.6w 65 kt 12hr VT 19/0000z 17.0n 81.2w 75 kt 24hr VT 19/1200z 17.7n 82.3w 90 kt 36hr VT 20/0000z 18.5n 83.5w 100 kt 48hr VT 20/1200z 19.6n 84.5w 105 kt 72hr VT 21/1200z 22.0n 85.5w 105 kt 96hr VT 22/1200z 24.0n 84.0w 100 kt 120hr VT 23/1200z 28.5n 78.5w 75 kt Of course I'll let you know what is going on and confirm when we leave for Little Shark. Since Little Shark River is in the Everglades and out of cell phone and radio range, we purchased a satellite phone after last year's many treks up there... and will use it to keep in close touch via our daughter Breighan (BiffyB83@hotmail.com). Feel free to email Breigh so she can add you to her list of contacts for sending updates via email regarding our progress. Love ya all... hope all is well with you and yours. We don't anticipate this event preventing us from getting back home to Springpatch on the 28th. We miss you all so much and KNOW we will be there!! Diana and Will (aka "Boo" and "Boo"), Chocolate Grandma can't wait to get you both wrapped up in her ams!! Melissa, Alison, and Breigh-Baby, don't fret Dear Daughters... we WILL be there!
Cheyenne: You KNOW we're coming so I can take ya back wid us... SMOOCHES.
Wally Wonderfull, Dawnie Girl, Haley and Alex... you guys always keep us in the KNOW and we SOOOOO appreciate it. Can't wait to be there in the flesh and hug you all soooo tightly!!! (The Hamlins: Springfield's family of Hurricane Hunters)
LOVE LOVE and MORE LOVE to ALL....
Charmaine & Bill
Aboard s/v September Sea
"Life's a Gift... Unwrap It!" - C~
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From: Dick Conklin
Date: 10/17/05 13:38:54
To: Charmaine
Subject: Re: Out Sailing |
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Hahahahaaaaaaaaaaa
Dayam Dick, I MISS YOU!!!
Give Arlene and big hug and kiss from me.
Hope your kids are doing well.
We'll get through Wilma... you guys be VERY careful... if she's close, pack up and get the hell outta Dodge.
We're taking no chances with this one, Category 3... time to hit the Little Shark... we'll be just fine there way down in the mangroves.
I am LOVING YOU Dick Conklin!!!
Will be in touch.
Charmaine Aboard s/v September Sea
"Life's a Gift... Unwrap It!" - C~
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From: 'bella
Date: 10/18/05 02:30:32
To: Charmaine
Subject: Re: Out Sailing enjoy is sister girl... the sailing that is... looks like either you or me is gonna get a blow this weekend... better me than you...
at least my baby is in a hurricane hole..
I am soooo jealous... really really jealous..
talked to norm tonight he is 3-4 days out of anacortes heading back in. He says the trip is super good. He and a freind took friends trawler up the coast to british columbia.
geez everyone i know is on the water and the closest I get to liquid is someones bedpan...
keep me posted.. will post the weather underground blog tomorrow.. tired, bus was late, made me miss my connection.
after a 45 minute wait i took on that stopped 8 blocks from the house.. walked at 1:30am thru da ghetto. my white skin stood out like the klan in thier bedsheets.. streets were empty, deserted.
store fronts have these roll down shutters.. felt like i was in a bad b grade movie... rats everywhere in the shadows..from the time I left work at 11:35 it took me until almost 2am to get home.. crap...
first time this has ever happened. I usualy never am more than an hour and a half.. most times just an hour.. the things one does for money and a new to me boat..lol...
night, tired.. cats are close to becoming fur slippers and kitty stew.. driving me to drink.. more not less for sure
kisses bella, the envious |
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Girl, next time you get caught in the Ghetto... tell 'em you got Vertiglio... you know, Michael Jackson skin
disease... you ain't white...
YOU just my Sis 'bella.
... that got the GOOD hair...
LOVE YOU!
Charmaine Aboard s/v September Sea
"Life's a Gift... Unwrap It!" - C~
P.S. I'll stay in touch... hope it's us instead of you... we'll be fine in the Little Shark. Don't want you in harm's
way, Darlin.
Ain't another one like ya!
Stay safe.
C~ |
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Hey my Darling Sister Sheila,
I had just sent out an email to friends and family giving them an update on what we're doing.... and so glad to see your email in my Jund Mail.... I GASPED and rapidly clicked APPROVE SENDER...
Got you now. And I'm damned glad too.
Geeze Louise, how I do miss you.
I've forwarded the email I sent out earlier... it's below. Enjoy it, my Love.
Bill and I had such a wonderful time out sailing this past week. A full seven days out and it was glorious. Sun, wind, the calm and beguiling seas... and how I love them so. I'll take the sea whether she's rocking me to sleep or rocking my world... 'cause either way, she makes my body and soul feel alive.
While we were out, just this morning before we sailed in, I took a picture of a huge rainbow that was hovering just behind our cockpit. I took the picture quickly because it was waning... and I then started saying aloud... a poem thought of spontaneously... and Bill listened...
and cried.
Son in the Rainbow
Today I saw a rainbow it seemed that it had eyes.
Yes, eyes inside that rainbow even so, to me, 'twas no surprise.
M son, you see, watches over me as his father and I sail upon the sea.
Today I saw a rainbow so familiar way up high.
Yes, way up inside that rainbow I looked into its eyes.
I realized on second look its colors a lovely arch.
It truly had a hazel glow rubbed my eyes til parched.
And so I truly, truly know...
Today I saw a rainbow turned to mirror in the sky.
As it reflected off the sea I smiled as wide as ever could be.
Because today I saw a rainbow one so perfect as ever could be.
Today I saw a rainbow which looked so very much like me.
Bj had beautiful hazel eyes. A rich hazel... so precious.
I love you, Sheila. I'm so glad the kids are doing well. I'm so proud of Corey... WOW!! A DJ with taste...
I'm sooooo diggin that. Can't believe he and Brit are past their mid-teens. Dayam. Where DID the time go.
Sophia in Grad School... Breigh is so proud of her and of course Breigh has planned to follow in her footsteps.
What a wonderful pair they make. We love Sophie so much.
We'll be home on the 28th if all goes well... I'm determined to make that trip come hell or high water...
and it looks as if that is exactly what will COME... hahahaha.
I LOVE being in touch with you.... on the first Sunday we're home to Springpatch we'll have a get-together at
my Father's house. Hope you all can make it. It will be so good to spend some time together and just LAUGH
ourselves silly!!
You are always in our hearts, Sheila. We love you so much it almost hurts.... but then, that's what love does.
The sky above has some wonderful additions... Jack and Bj... can you imagine the things they're talking
about right now? What you wanna bet they're not engrossed in a great strategic game of chess?
Every star, every moon... every time the sun shines and the birds fly... I know that Jack and Bj's combined
energy had a little something to do with it all... and making me take notice... and SIMPLY SMILE.
Love to the Babies and YOU!!
Charmaine & Bill Aboard s/v September Sea
"Life's a Gift... Unwrap It!" - C~
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From: Larry Goodman
From: Charmaine
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Hey my Sweet 'Gator,
At our website you can select to read "The Hurricane Chronicles." It is somewhat of a narrative of our adventures running from hurricanes last year...
This year's Chronicles I've just started putting together for the site.
If you read over last years... you'll get to see where we go in the Everglades as our hurricane hole.
Also, under "Adventures" you can select "Flamingo" and "Little Shark River," for more insight on what goes on when we're there. "Flamingo" is right at the tip of Cape Sable... the origin of my "Mosquito Horrors" emails.
Once you check out Little Shark, you'll see it's a literal labyrinth of mangroves lining small inlets and outlets of the River. Our spot is very nestled in... most people have no idea of what is at Shark River, but we
went up there three years ago and scoped it all out, mapped it, did depth-soundings and investigated where the best protection is found (depending on which way the Hurricane comes).
We were there for Hurricanes Charley and Hurricane Ivan. For Hurricane Jeanne we ducked into Flamingo awaiting information as to whether we needed to get back to Little Shark or head back home to
Marathon.
Check the Little Shark River out... then let me know what you think.
LOVED your email, 'Gator, as I always do.
I'll stay in touch and remember to keep our daughter Breighan's eddress so you can keep apprised of our situation.
This will be a bad one... but we'll be safe at Little Shark. I just pray for those in harm's way... they do a Forest Gump and RUN! [Forest, RUN]
Love ya,
Charmaine Aboard s/v September Sea
"Life's a Gift... Unwrap It!" - C~
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From: 'bella
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From: captmarti
Date: 10/18/05 20:44:36
To: charmaine
Subject: Re: Sailing & Wilmaaaa!! Charmaine,
I really urge you NOT to go to the little shark...it is highly possible that Wilma could come right over you there. It would offer a good deal of protection but if anything went bump then you'd be screwed.
Go into the whiskey creek mangroves. I'm going there tomorrow to tie off and prepare. will probably get off the boat from the looks of it.
Let me know if you need any info on the whiskey creek..just off of sisters creek...
As of five pm today it was forecast to come ashore at the everglades near Little shark as a cat III! I wouldn't want to be in the Shark for that.
Good luck!
Capt Marti B
Cruising Companion Publications
Creating Books That Cruisers Keep Close At Hand |
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Hey my Sweet Marti,
Today it looks better. They have Wilma coming in high on the west coast of the State... but not high enough for
us to stay here. She's a Category 5 at this time, but is said to become a Category 4, then a 3 by the time
she reaches our coast.
I would ride out a Category 3 in the Little Shark, I was there for Charley and Ivan... Charley passed right over
us and we hardly felt a thing.
The area I go into Little Shark, is an area not often ventured by others. Bill and I went there three years ago
and scoped the place out, made maps and took depth soundings. We found a few really protected areas, those are where we go (takes almost an hour and a half to get there once inside the River). It has mangroves
way up high, as the land tiers... and we're nestled way down low. The winds blow right over the tops of the trees, hardly affecting us down where we're tied.
The other thing I like about Little Shark is that we can tie the boat up bigtime with tons of mangroves and much
thicker trunks than around here. And if the circumstances became that we broke loose, we'd never move out of
the canal where we are, as mangroves jut out forward of us and would simply stop our boat from moving.
It's a perfect place to ride out a hurricane, though I don't tell others about it because they don't do the
homework to find a good spot there.
I know we'll be just fine up there. You'll be fine here in Whiskey Creek, I am hoping Wilma doesn't even really
hit the Keys. Her eye is only 5 miles wide...
However, we watch the reports and keep updated constantly. Nothing is out of the question, as it remains to
be seen whether or not the predictions stay as they are. We could change our minds if it appeared we would be in harm's way. We are cautious... but we also have done our homework and know what we CAN do and what we should not do.
Cross your fingers, Darlin. Let's pray this one doesn't hit the Keys at all. She can come over Little Shark if she
wants to... and she'll just blow right over the top of us. (Gulp!) LOL
Thanks, Marti. You're a peach.
I'll stay in touch.
Be safe.
Love,
Charmaine Aboard s/v September Sea
"Life's a Gift... Unwrap It!" - C~
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From: Charmaine
You can read more about our adventures up there during Hurricanes Charley and Ivan at our website under "Hurricane Chronicles."
From: Deb
From: Charmaine
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Hi Deb,
No problem at all. My pleasure to hear from you!
If you go to "Hurricane Chronicles" it does show how we tied up at Little Shark River.
We use 5/8 twisted nylon line that has a thimble braided into it and then that's connected to chain which is what you we use to wrap around the mangrove trunks.
Eight lines, four on each side, port and starboard, seem to work for us. We also put out an anchor fore and aft
and make sure it's dug in.
The key to survival at Little Shark is to find a very narrow canal, 50 ft. wide at most, then tie your lines to each side of the canal.
Make sure you have good protection from the east, as storms always seem to pummel from there no matter what. Make sure your boat is facing the direction the hurricane is coming... (opposite of its reported path).
Of course, the boat needs to be stripped to bare poles.
Many have ridden out Category 4's and 5's in the Little Shark. That's not my plan... but I do know that it is the best hurricane hole in all of Florida. It's the Everglades... I guess God put it there for a reason!
Take care.
We'll be taking off early tomorrow morning, it's a 12-hour trek for us.
Charmaine Aboard s/v September Sea
"Life's a Gift... Unwrap It!" - C~
www.SeptemberSea.com
On 10/18/05, Charmaine wrote:
10-4 my 'bella.
I just sent you a long email about our week out. Just got back into the slip about two hours ago. Had to catch ya up on what went on... fabulous outing.
Wilmaaaaaaa!!!! Why didn't Fred keep that Stone-Aged Woman under lock and key. Dayam. I think he misunderstood and thought someone said "locked on the Keys." Ha.
She's gonna come really close... we'll probably head to the Little Shark River on Thursday, if she stays even close to the projected path that showed today at 2 pm ( www.wunderground.com).
Oh well, I wasn't quite ready to come in anyway...
GOOD FOR ME.
Dayam 'bella... she's the 12th hurricane of the season... equaling the record set in 1969. We be in a heap of trouble, Barney! Better get Betty back so she can take Wilma shopping at the Dino-Mart.
Oh well, I suppose this is what I get for being barefooted all the time.
Love ya! I've missed the list and all of you here... I'll stay in touch.
Hope all and their loved ones in harm's way will yield and move out Wilma's way. No need in this day and age for anyone losing their life over a hurricane.
Peace.
Charmaine Aboard s/v September Sea
"Life's a Gift... Unwrap It!" - C~
www.SeptemberSea.com From: 'bella
Date: 10/18/05 18:01:13
To: LiveAboard
Subject: Re: [liveaboard] WILMA
no, no, no, no,....NOTG the shark... the projections are for somewehre near there and if it hits fort myers you will be on the south side.. it suxs to have a sailboat right this second...
if you had a 48 hr window for safety i would tell you to wait till the modells come out thursday...
i put up links for you especially though i never said so....
crap... some terrorist threatened both baltimore tunnels.
cops closed the tunnels down for 3 hrs.. it was scary
nothing happened, the fbi says the investigation is still open.. the whole
thing started two weeks ago so they say. wow! |
From: Charmaine
|
Hey my Sis Joyce,
No, we don't have to run across the peninsula to get to the Little Shark River. It's in the Everglades, a straight trip North from where we are. If you go to our website you will see it mapped out and where it is in relation to the Keys.
Wilma has peaked as a Category 5 and her reading of 886 mb is the record for the lowest mb reading... which means a huge, intense hurricane.
The general consensus is just that: GENERAL. No one really knows exactly where Wilma will land, that's the problem. However, we do know that she will in all probability be a Category 3 by the time she hits the Keys (IF she hits the Keys). It will be close, so we're taking no chances.
A Category 3 with winds in excess of 105 mph we can do... we have done it many times. No worries. We could probably stay here in the slip, but we would be running the chance that Wilma could come much closer... her eye is five miles wide and that's where she packs a hell of a punch. No thanks. LOL
We're playing it safe, Darling. Leaving in the morning, I will send you another email before we leave.
We'll be just fine. Don't worry.
Love you!
Charmaine & Bill
Aboard s/v September Sea
"Life's a Gift... Unwrap It!" - C~
|
From: Charmaine
|
Hey my Love,
Stay on the alert for Wilma, she could go just about anywhere... Tampa could get hit. Just keep a watchful
eye... I use www.wunderground.com and find it to be one of the most informative, easy to understand,
weather websites.
We are on our way to the Little Shark. Not worried a bit, as that is the place to be in this case. Whether
Wilma is a Category 2 or 3 or even a 4 (which I doubt) when she hits, we are very safe at the Little Shark.
My love to you. Kiss Syd for me and tell her I love her.
Will give you a jingle when we get back. Remember to
contact Breighan for an update on us.
Much Love, C~ |
From: Peggy & Edwin
From: Steve Weinstein
From: Jesse card
From: Charmaine
|
Hey my Darlings,
We're alive and well. September Sea road out all that Wilma could throw our way... We went to the Little Shark River, north... very near Everglades City and Wilma passed right over us...
DAYAM. We knew this was a distinct possibility (Wilma's eye coming right over us) when we left on the 20th... but staying here in the Keys was not an option. Over 120 mph winds... geeze. But we hung tight and the mangroves protected us. We never hobby horsed or rocked, really... as unbelievable as that sounds, it's true. However, Wilma had two big, strong hands that pushed us hard... heeling 30 degrees when she gave it her all... and that happened about 8 times in total. Enough times for me! LOL All in all, not too bad. But the mangroves took a huge beating... but they protected us.
Soon, I'll add Miss Wilma to the "Hurricane Chronicles" at our website. I won't leave out a thing... and there are lots of things to chronicle, for dayam sure. You won't want to miss that blow-by-blow... and I do mean BLOW!!!
We arrived back in Marathon earlier today... to devastation. Soon as we hit the channel to enter Boot Key Harbor... we saw a Grand Banks trawler (m/v Three Quartertime) SUNK. It belongs to two of our very best friends, liveaboards Tom and Katie. Tom's my "Big Twin" brother. Horrible sight,
looking over and seeing their beautiful boat sunk as I steered dodge ball with about fifty loose crab pot buoys right in the middle of the channel.. all with only eighteen inches under the keel... wild ride for sure but got through... with big tears in my eyes.
Dockside, an icon in this community is trashed... all finger piers totally destroyed. Tons of sunken boats. Our marina at Sombrero Resort is in bad shape... all finger piers in irreparable shape.. that is if they're there at all! But there is another side of our marina that wasn't damaged, so we re now along that concrete seawall.
Bayside here in Marathon is destroyed. Faro Blanco, Banana Bay... they had a 12 ft. storm surge and the water destroyed all the cars over there. Here on the Atlantic side, we got a 6 ft. surge... cars were fine over here (at least our Land Cruiser was intact... and dry). Close one.
We're tired and STILL WILL hop a plane Friday morning for Illinois to visit very worried family... Can't wait to hug my Babies... Breighan... I'm gonna squeeze you too tight! Buddy Bud... you're in for some lovin'... Diana and Will, Chocolate Grandma & Chocolate Papa are COMING HOME!!!! We love you all so very, very much -- each and every one of you.
I've missed you all.. hope we didn't worry yaz too much (Peggy, are you listening??). I'm sure you think we're nuts, but we're not... we're just avid fans of the Little Shark River, having mapped it out and done our own depth soundings... we know it very well and know it is nature's sanctuary for boats otherwise doomed for destruction.
Oh yeah... watched "The Perfect Storm" as Wilma came in....
finished up with "After the Storm," an adaptation of Hemingway's novel. I know, I know....
But you know all know me by now. LOL
Love yaz... Hope all are safe and sound...
Charmaine (& Bill) Aboard s/v September Sea
"Life's a Gift... (and so is the Little Shark River)... Unwrap It!" - C~
|
Wally Hamlin
HNR MARKETING
4481 Ash Grove Drive
Springfield, IL 62711
800-991-9356 - office
217-741-6501 - cell
whamlin@hnrmarketing.com
just thought you'd all like to know what we went through.
[Note from Charmaine: Kathy, they're called SHROUDS]
|
Subject: The Wind and the Wilma
Recap of Hurricane Season 2005 and The Wind & The Wilma
We've been running non-stop ever since our battle with Hurricane Wilma. Fortunately, we got to go out and sail for an entire week prior to Wilma raising her bewitching red hair (reminds me of "Gorillas in the Mist," Sigourney Weaver starring as Diane Fossey, the ultra-bitchy mountain gorilla activist who scared the natives by donning a Halloween mask with wild and wooly red hair so they'd think she was a witch and leave her gorillas alone). "Get off my mountain!" I think that was truly Sigourney's best performance. Wilma was a WITCH BITCH. Anyway, our sail was a fabulous, totally relaxing time out on the water with our sails full and the sun shining brightly. Then here comes Wilma to jolt us back into reality: it's still hurricane season!!
It was a mad dash back to Marathon to prepare to go to Little Shark. We left Marathon a day and a half after returning from the Little Shark River, where we sought shelter from the wrath of Wilma. Once Wilma was over, we returned to Marathon and what was left of our Marina.. and immediately hopped a plane as we were scheduled to visit friends and family (and grandkids, YAY) in the Midwest. I sit here now, looking out my hotel window at fall colors on huge oak trees, cars cars cars and people people people... and yes... I'm still in the midwest!!
We're having a wonderful time here and have been going going going the likes to which would put the EverReady Bunny to SHAME!! In light of it all, and our hectic schedule, I haven't until now had a chance to sit down and chronicle the fascinating experience with our 8th hurricane in 15 months. Yikes!! We thought 2004 was an incredible record-setting year, and it was... but little did we know 2004 would be pummeled in the record books by the many records set during the hurricane season of 2005 (including most hurricanes for one season, and most Category 5's for one season).
Broken records, huh? Didn't we just go through this last year?? Yup. More records broken. LOL Reminds me of when we moved to Scottsdale, Arizona... We arrived and all was fine.. until summer. Our first summer there was the hottest summer ever on record. Gotta love that one. 113 degrees in the shade. Birds walking around in a daze, pecking on patio doors -- begging for water! No kidding. A summer in which feral animals simply disappeared along with the scorching heat. They couldn't survive without care. Mercy. How'd we manage to get there just in time for that mess??!!
We watched Wilma when she was just developing, a tropical wave. She then turned into a tropical depression -- and you now know she quickly developed into a hell-raising, vindictive adolescent who was hell-bent on bringing Grunge of the worst kin to the Keys and the Florida mainland.
We had already gone through Hurricanes Dennis, Katrina, and Rita -- each of which we rode out in our slip at our Marina. Dennis was a Category 1, not a very large hurricane, so no worries.. easy enough to put on the hurricane lines and batten down the hatches. The direction he came from gave us plenty of shelter at our slip. He didn't cause us much inconvenience at all (the power stayed on the entire time).
Next was Katrina. Katrina was not to hit the Keys. She was on another path and not a concern to us. However, we have learned from our vast hurricane experience, hurricane paths often fool the experts. Katrina did just that as she hit the eastern coast of the Florida mainland... then made an unexpected turn and headed straight across the peninsula toward the Keys.
On the day we saw this was going to happen, we were out readying the boat. Many people walked by and asked what we were doing. Once told Wilma was heading for us, most shrugged it off and said, "She's not coming down here." We replied: "She wasn't forecast to, but she is now. She's definitely coming. Some took us seriously, as they know we don't play... others twisted their faces (looking like they just smelled something turrable), "Well, I highly doubt that."
SMELL THIS!! Katrina battered the Keys. Key Largo took the biggest hit with lots of flooding. U.S. 1 was closed and when debris was cleared from the highway, reopened. Key West was hit hard as well, flooding, flooding, flooding. I often remind family and friends it's not the wind that does the biggest damage from a hurricane... it's the flooding. The water accumulating from all the rain and the tidal surge is by far the biggest threat to life and property. Like I tell my friends and family: We live on a boat. A boat floats. It's supposed to be in the water! So during a hurricane, just pretend we're Noah and Mrs. Noah: tucked safely inside our ark.
We stayed in our marina and rode out Katrina because by the time we realized her path had changed, it was simply too late to navigate the Gulf waters to Little Shark River, as the Gulf was quickly being churned up. Contrary waves that slap one another a huge high five (feet) while lapping at your ears. Hurricanes Dennis and Rita were no biggies, as I said. But Katrina was different. She churned and churned, slowed waaaaay down and stalled right off Key West... thrashing us for hours and hours and hours with very high winds (Sombrero Lighthouse clocked her at 78 mph). September Sea's rigging was literally howling like mad coydogs (aptly named as they're a crossbreed of domestic dogs with coyotes) listening to Credence Clearwater Revival's "BAD MOON RISING." Dayam!!
Katrina dumped tons of rain on the Upper Keys. Key Largo got it the worst. When you look at the radar images for Katrina, you'll see Key Largo is being pounded on with precipitation, while a glance at Marathon shows we were in the clear most of the time. So the Upper Keys got lots of rain and flooding. Finger piers destroyed, damage... damage... that's what the water does.
In Marathon, Katrina was little more than an inconvenience. We didn't lose power except for one hour in the early morning hours. We simply went about our business... and other than the howling of the rigging and the heavy hand of Katrina trying to push us over (we were tied to the nines... she couldn't budge us but a very small bit, albeit that small bit was powerful as hell), Katrina was not too bad for us. We're very thankful for that... but after she had passed, we said to one another once again: "Next one, we head for Little Shark." I remember saying that during Frances last year. We stayed at Dockside for that one (our former marina) and our slip was quite a bit wider than our boat. There isn't adequate protection from the south, southeast, or west, southwest at Dockside. Frances pushed us from one side to the other. We decided at that point -- The Little Shark River and the Everglades were put on this earth for a reason!!
Most didn't heed the warning about Katrina's last minute bee-line down to the Keys. Many boats dragged their anchors in Boot Key Harbor (they didn't bother to put out a second and third anchor). When a boat drags, it invariably hits another boat or two on its way as it blows into the mangroves... "Damage, Damage," as Whoopie Goldberg used to say when she imitated the First Lady at disaster sites. Ha. But it was a good exercise (with minimal damage) in remembering what one must do to preserve life, limb, and property during bad storms and hurricanes. So when Hurricane Rita was all the buzz... people were totally attentive and prepared.
Marathon handled Rita easily. Little damage. We were snug as bugs. No problems handling Rita. After Katrina, Rita was as mild-mannered as Clarketta Kent, and as gentle as Mary Poppins.
Then came the Wind and the Wilma. For Wilma, since she had been a Category 5 right before she hit the Yucatan Peninsula, and since she was forecasted to be either a high Category 2 or 3 when she lands on the southwestern coast of Florida. She would have to make a 90 degree turn from the Yucatan... and she did just that. The Keys would be hit. Not much doubt about that.
We prepared early and decided to head for the Little Shark River, our hurricane hole. Even if Wilma would be a high end Category 3 or low Category 4 (120+ mph winds), we and September Sea would be safe there. Of that we were absolutely confident.
Initially, we'd gone to the Little Shark three years ago and done our own depth soundings. The charts available for Little Shark left much to the imagination. There are many shallow spots (shoals)there that aren't marked. We'd have to do our own research. By going there and searching for a perfect hurricane hole, we'd have a sanctuary in which to ride out any hurricanes that came our way down in the Keys. We knew the Keys get beaucoup hurricanes... so we had to find a hurricane hole before the season was upon us.
Along with our good friends, Jim and Kathleen Davison aboard their s/v Drummer, we scoured the Little Shark (see Adventures: Little Shark River). From that, we made our own notations on the charts and identified shoal areas adding exact directions for crossing such shoals by either swinging out wide or following a path through a shoal area. Perfect.
Jim and Kathleen never used the Little Shark as a hurricane hole, as they left for the Virgin Islands and are now in Grenada helping the people there rebuild their homes which were destroyed by Hurricane Ivan last year. We've used the Little Shark PLENTY enough for all of us!
We left Marathon and headed for the Little Shark three days before Wilma was projected to hit the Keys. We learned with prior hurricanes (especially with Hurricane Katrina) that the Gulf of Mexico gets very churned up terribly a couple of days before a hurricane hits the area. We knew we had to leave Marathon
quickly.
Our friends Chris and Yanni of s/v Magus were going to Little Shark too. Chris has been working in Salt Lake City and had to hop a plane to fly back down to Marathon to ready their boat and prepare for the trek to the Little Shark River. They only know about Little Shark River because we told them of it... and we showed them exactly where to go for protection. They came with us last year during Hurricane Charley. Its always good to have
another vessel within radio range. At the Little Shark River, unless you are fairly in close proximity, our radio doesn't transmit. Cell phones don't operate there either, as they are out of cell tower range. We be in the Everglades, Mon!
We purchased a satellite phone late last year so we could keep in touch with business clients and so we'd also have a way to stay in close touch with our friends and family. Especially our kids, as daughter Breighan was worrying herself sick during our other trips to the Little Shark and we had no way of letting her know we were safe. Breighan then emails/calls our friends and other family members and gives them an update on our situation.
During Wilma, the Sailjazz/Sailnet Liveaboard List I belong to was quite grateful to hear via my good friend (and list mate) 'bella... that we were fine. 'bella had received an email from Breigh telling her she'd heard from us and all was well. We had survived a high Category 3 hunkered down in the Little Shark River!
In Little Shark, we'd found a great spot years ago. Nestled deep within the maze of the mangroves. Tall mangroves on all sides, groves with mangroves near 60 feet tall. We've used that same spot to ride out Hurricanes Charley and Ivan in 2004, and as bad as this 2005 season has been, we've retreated to Little Shark only once this year (so far... knock on something!!) and that was to await the arrival of Hurricane Wilma.
We knew when we departed Marathon that Wilma would more than likely hit around Marco Island, Everglades City and/or Ft. Myers. She was forecast to come in very close to us in the Little Shark River. Knowing that, we wanted to hunker down like never before... get snug in our spot and put out our chains around large mangrove trunks which were connected to 5/8 "twisted nylon hurricane lines. This all would take some time to do.
We arrived at the mouth of Little Shark river and anchored outside the channel until a full 24 hours prior to Wilma's arrival. Chris and Yanni went inside immediately to anchor in the horseshoe, but Bill and I loved the nice breeze outside the Little Shark River (LSR) channel... and thought the mangroves inside would block out the breeze. Besides, what's the hurry to be Soylent Green for the mosquitos?
Talked to Chris and Yanni the next day on the radio and they said there were hardly any 'skeeters. Fantastic! we had put out our mosquito netting anyway, just in case. One trip up there last year, the mosquitos came out (with knives and forks and dinner napkins...) and converged on us like white on rice. We'd had on our navigation lights and were anchoring well outside the entrance. Big mistake, those nav lights. The lights were the 'skeeters beacon to alert them: "your table is ready and waiting" aka "DINNERTIME!!" We learned from that mistake and when arriving at night, turn our lights off long before we reach the LSR. We also put on our netting to protect the entire cockpit and the companionway (entrance into the boat) long before we get to the River.
Little rain this year meant not many skeeters. Cool. I knew that, but was not about to personally test that theory -- thus the netting. We were on our way into Little Shark the next day, just waited til the tide was up sufficiently for us to navigate the narrow, fairly shallow channel, and entered. Chris and Yanni had gone in right before us and were headed to our regular spot. A spot Bill
(without asking me first) showed them and shared with them -- albeit he also told them to keep it confidential.
I hear "Ketch going into Little Shark River... Ketch going into LSR..." Someone from a sailboat not too far from Chris was hailing on the radio asking if Chris had ever been here before. The man explained he had never been here and had some questions he'd like to ask. Chris said "Roger that, ask away."
"Is there a problem with mosquitos?"
OMG... an id-io-(yach)t. [Note: Not a motor yacht, a sailing yacht... for those who don't know there are such.]
The guy asked some pretty silly questions...I mean crap ya'd know by the time you reached your tenth birthday... sounded to me like he was asking stupid questions so somebody would take him under their wing and show him where to go!! Helpless to the nth degree. What you wanna bet it as all an act??
Mosquitos???? What,here in the EVERGLADES???? DUH!!!!
Next thing I hear, Chris has taken the bait. He's now giving directions OVER THE RADIO on how to get to... yup, you guessed it... MY FUCKIN SPOT!!! "Come and join us, the more the merrier... we'll have a party!" Is he out of his mind... YES.
I could have strangled him. My hands were choking the air... I just wanted to get hold of him and do him in RIGHT. I got on the radio and reminded Chris that this whole journey is an exercise in getting away from other boats -- and to have protection from
man-made objects -- we don't want to be in an anchorage; that's why we left Marathon. He was wrong to disclose our spot to anyone and jeopardize our safety. But I didn't say it then. I should have said he told about our spot which is NOT his... a spot he was invited to by a white man who lives with me... and who wasn't THINKING!! We don't want anyone in our "secret" hole... it's a secret so it will be there, sans other boats, when we need it. He knew that from before, but his hard-headedness and pompous "I'm a man, so I know what's best" attitude is about to get his ass killed. "Here ally-gator,over here, ally-gator...I have something delicious for you? Come and get some white meat!!"
Needless to say, I was super-pissed. Mind you, I didn't tell Chris about our spot, Bill did. I was pissed that Bill did it. HE NEVER ASKED ME. BILL TOLD CHRIS BECAUSE BILL IS A KIND SOUL WHO UNDERESTIMATES THE UNMITIGATED GALL AND STUPIDITY OF COMPUTER PROGRAMMERS. Bill is different than his peers. Other than he and Bob Sloan, very few of 'em have a lick of common fricken sense and wouldn't have the slightest idea they're generally anti-social tryin'-to-be-social -- assholes. They wouldn't know not to stand in the street during a monsoon with their heads laid back and their mouths hanging open... and without their wives pulling them back into the house only 'cause they need the income... they'd just stand there and fucking drown!!
Last year when Chris and Yanni (who is a sweet soul...but suspect 'cause, after all... she is married to CHRIS), came up to Little shark with us... the deal was they could follow us up there, but they needed to find their own spot. Period. Damn it if Chris wasn't in MY spot the first time we went up there. We were looking around at other spots and Chris went into our canal first. By the time we get back and I see Chris all tied up in my spot... I'm like "Chris, get the &@!* outta my spot. Why'd ya think the map had a big X on it? X marks OUR SPOT. SO MOVE. That's our spot. MOVE." Asshole.
He yelled out that he already had three anchors down. I yelled back a perfect Tommy Lee Jones Inspector what's his name in the movie "The Fugitive" (as he said to Harrison Ford when Ford was trying to explain: "I didn't kill my wife."): "I don't care." GET THE &@!* OUTTA MY SPOT. Then Chris came out to our boat in his dinghy and made the mistake of saying (while he's well out of my reach and rowing his dinghy ever so slowly toward us), "Well, you've got a lot of nerve."
Oh hell noooo. NO he didn't!!!!
It was killin' time. Plain and simple. I'd be doing the boating community a favor by ridding us of another stupid maggot. Bill said, "Charmaine, let's just move on up the way and forget it." I mean we're running for safety from a hurricane and it's stressful as it is. Now I got a f'n Neanderthal in my secret spot. I was madder than a wet hornet.
Okay, so that was last time... last year. This is this time. We're going in to seek shelter from Wilma and I hear Confused-as-an-Idiot Chris on the radio broadcasting the location of out spot. I look at Bill. Mister Bill. Mister Bill who told that A-H where we go and didn't demand he leave our spot LAST YEAR!!
Bill then got on the radio and told Chris he had no right to share OUR secret spot that we (not Chris) scoped out and shared with Chris and Yanni...and told them to keep it a secret. Chris was broadcasting it on the radio and said to Bill, "Well, I feel the more the merrier... we'll have a party." Can you believe that brain-challenged speck of being? Bill told Chris, "Well, we'll be finding another spot."
Chris says, "Well, I'm sorry to hear that."
I yell, "Not as sorry as YOU'LL be, Christopher Crazy!"
Bill was hoppin mad, as he should have been. We decided to hell with Chris and his affinity to be nothing more than a sphincter with a face. We must seek out another place of refuge within the Little Shark. Chris has jeopardized our safety taking (and his own and his wife's) by inviting others to it (others he doesn't even know... or know what ground tackle they have or how they tie up their boats). What a knucklehead! Not a lick of commonsense to be had. We have a Category 2 or 3 hurricane coming our way and he's talking about a party and daydreaming of martinis and rafting up.
We found another spot and got tied up. We were very close to the mangroves on the Southeast side, the direction from which Wilma would initially be hitting us. We knew that at some point after she passed over us, she'd clock around to the north and then hit us from the northwest. No one figured on Wilma's backside being ten times worse than her front. Not even Max Mayfield. We were super safe and nestled in when she came roaring through no biggie at all. We did just fine. Not too bad.
Then BAM! DAYAM!! The calm subsided as her backside came through after her eye passed us... WOW. Easily 120 mph winds as she was bearing down right over us... she would heel us over, without warning, about 30 degrees and hold us there for a second, then let us down gently.
Then the wind would subside. Is it over? Not yet. BAM!! She did it again, Bill was sitting on the settee across from me, a table between us held our radio. We had been listening to the reports coming out of Marathon. She hit us so hard and heeled us over, Bill jumped to grab the radio to keep it from falling, his leg flew up like a doctor had just done a knee-jerk ping on him... and he caught the radio. But as he kicked his foot up, it hit directly under my HOT CUP OF COFFEE. The cup went up in the air and hot coffee hovered over me... I felt like I was in a cartoon. Dayam... this fat ass ain't fast enough to get the hell outta da way of the hot lava coming from the volcano above my head....
My jammies have a coffee stain all over 'em. My favorites too. Guess I'll be looking up "Ask Heloise" to get 'em clean again.
Wilma hit us many times that way... and each and every time, Bill would grab something he wasn't supposed to be HELPING and make a big mess. LOL He would apologize and then do it again. Hahahaha. Actually, we were laughing so hard I think it helped relieve the tension.
Wilma's damage to our boat: ZERO
Bill's damage to our boat: STILL BEING ASSESSED.
We made it, Guys. We lived through it and it was just fine. No big worries. But man, that wind was something. The rigging never howled like it did during Katrina, but the heavy hands pushing us over were much more powerful than Katrina. All in all, not a bad thing at all.
September Sea is happy we protected her. We're happy we protected her and she returned the favor. She's a strong vessel, designed for racing and built to take punishment. What a doll baby she be!
Wilma was gone by late afternoon on Monday. That night we went out topside and sat with drinks and had a lovely sunset. I noticed there was some kind of weird looking bugs on the boat... they were nasty looking. Oh well, we are in the Everglades, just glad the mosquitoes haven't been a problem.
Venus came out first after the sunset... oh she was glorious as I've ever seen her. She shone so bright she was mirrored in the River just like a full moon would be. She seemed to have a halo around her... more like an aura, a pristine, angelic like white ring that glowed all around her. She looked like a fake star, the kind you learn to draw in kindergarten... with six points. It was absolutely mesmerizing to witness. Bill and I were in total awe. I said to Bill that the sky looked clean. Like it had been scoured. It really did. I could see dimensions as never before. Way past the stars on the surface and far, far, behind them. A myriad of stars to reassure us, "It's all over now."
Charmaine Calm Once Again.
Yeah. We were just put through hell and now we get the reward. A plethora of stars, a display of the heavens opening its gates and allowing us to peek inside. We were both very, very thankful.
Chris called and said he blew out his staysail. He said he and Yanni would never do this again. No more hurricane stuff for them. See what happens WHEN YOU TAKE MY SPOT!!
Dat's what you get, SPANKY.
Man am I tired... we've been up for over 30 hours. Bill said let's have "Breakfast" and he made bacon, pancakes, eggs, HAVE MERCY... too good!! After we ate and cleaned up the dishes, we called it a night and went to bed for some much needed rest. We'd wait til the waters calmed down and the debris settles before making the journey back to Marathon. We're to leave on Friday to fly to Springfield to see our babies, friends and family... will be able to make it? We might need one more day. Perhaps we'll postpone our trip just one day and leave on Saturday for Springfield. We'll see.
Decided to call it a night and went to bed and Bill came and joined me. We always put up the big bed in the salon during such times, as well as when we're out on the hook during our sailing adventures. Just a lot more comfy than our cabin when the weather is so warm.
I fell asleep just for a bit. Ouch! Dayam. What was that? Something had hit me: "Stop it, Bill!"
Bill said, "I didn't do anything."
Uh huh. Surrrre.
"OUCH! Shit. What the fuck is that? BILLLLL!!!!!
Something else dropped on me, right on my side. Hurt too.
I felt some legs. I jumped up like Carl Lewis and was out of that bed and standing at the companionway in two hops. Didn't know I could still move that fast.
We had been spotting these odd looking bugs since we got there. Bill put out the bug screens over the hatches but they were getting in anyway. Bill jumped up and found one... he hit it with his shoe... hard. The bastid played dead and sat there... I went to get something for Bill to pick it up with and the SOB started running again! BAM! Bill crunched it this time.... and YIKES there's anther one!!! OMG.
"Ouch, dammit." One of them stung Bill on the finger. CRACK! Bill hit that thing like he was killing a monster. LMAO. It was funny but scary too. Dayam, it's only a bug. Or is it??
We looked at one and were aghast. They are horrible looking. The resemble a lightning bug but they have hard-as-hell shells and two Scorpion-like stingers on their butts. They also have a pair of fake Lobster-looking eyes on their butts too. Dayam.
Bill went up topside cause I wasn't sleeping with those things out there. I told him to shut the hatch and take the screen off. When Bill lifted the screen to take it off, ten of those THINGYS ran out... they went scurrying everywhere. CRAACK! BAM! Bill was killin' bugs in record speed. He was efficient with every stroke. Then we learned the best way to kill 'em is to put on a pair of Crocks and slide them across the non-skid... YEAH BABY!!! It's killing time!!!
After we got THINGS (quite literally) under control... we breathed a sigh of relief. What the hell are they and how did they get on the boat? Do they swim? Do they fly? What are they? We decided not to tell Breighan about this incident. Well, let me explain:
The last time Breighan stayed with us on the boat, we went sailing and had a great time. Below are a few pics from that trip with us in October.
I went to give her a kiss as she lay in her bed... and she had her pillow and HAND and covers over the right side of her head as she laid on her side. I said, "Breigh, gimme kiss." "NO MOM."
"Breigh." I went to remove the covers and saw her pillow... her right hand was pressing the pillow over her ear. I said, "What is the matter with you?"
She said, "I saw the Twilight Zone Mom. Earwigs. They climb in your ear while you're sleeping and eat your brain."
Hahahhaaaaa OMG. And OMG she's serious!! She would not remove her hand or the pillow. She said, "Mom that episode just freaked me out."
"Breighan, you're 21 years old. There are no earwigs."
We left the Little Shark and headed back to Marathon. Motored all the way, hardly any wind... and what wind there was was from a Nor'easter. It was about 70 degrees, fabulous. As the sun began to set we decided to anchor out in the Gulf, the crab pots were all broken loose and their lines will get tangled in the prop if you can't see them. We anchored and were holding. Fabulous.
I'm sitting in the cockpit and turning off instruments... and soon as that motor was shut down these friggen monster bugs came running out of the engine room and up into the cockpit. I screamed for Bill and he came running with Crocks on. I had mine on already and was doing the Kill the Bastids Dance on a bunch of em.
We killed 12. Didn't see anymore.
Finally got home and entered Boot Key Harbor. What a mess. Boats sunk. Our friends boat's sunk. Horrible. I can't complain.
Our finger pier was destroyed at our Marina but the sea wall slips were fine so we called Lynn, the Dockmaster, and she said to tie up at the first seawall slip. We had all utilities, there was a boil order in effect.
We heard all the stories of friends losing their cars, their boats, their possessions. But no one lost their life there. We have much of which to be very thankful.
Bill found one of those bugs in the dinghy...he was waterlogged but dead. We took a picture of him and tossed him overboard. Here's the picture (click for large version you can see DETAIL....)
I asked everyone about these bugs and no one had ever seen them before. Odie and Judy came by, they were dinghying past and saw us... two of my most favorite people in the world... I asked Odie and Judy about this bug and they had no clue. Judy said, "What about.. no..."
I said, "What about what?"
She laughed. She said "Could it be an earwig?"
I howled with laughter and told her the whole story about Breighan and the Twilight Zone's brain-eating earwigs... we all got a kick out of it. I told Judy, "Never say that around Breigh...please!!"
Odie says, "It's not an earwig, they don't have stingers."
I did some research and found an article...
GASP GASP GASP
That's HIM. It's an EARWIG. Holy Moly!!! OMG OMG OMG.
I can't continue right now... I got my hands over my ears...
Charmaine
"Life's a Gift... Unwrap It!" - C~
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Hurricane Wilma's Destruction
Click on picture above for a narrative of Wilma's wrath; when enlarged, start slide show by clicking on the arrow at bottom left corner.
