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The Carrot's LiveJournal:
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| Saturday, July 19th, 2008 | | 6:47 pm |
Top mast
We went to a captain's party last night to greet the crews, then spent most of today touring and hanging out on three tall ships.
Now we're off to the beer and chowder fest. | | Wednesday, July 16th, 2008 | | 4:27 pm |
So it goes Let me see if I’ve got this straight. If I go with option number one, I potentially get another 100 years of war, an economic policy that stays the course in the same manner that a kamikaze pilot stays the course, a clueless old man in the White House and a pack of sycophants who think the clueless old man is defending Western civilization from hordes of Arabs. But if I go with option number two, I get some sort of undefined change, tons of money we don’t really have to burn tossed into myriad ineffectual social programs, an inexperienced guy whom I don’t trust in the White house, and a pack of sycophants who think the inexperienced guy is the Second Coming of Jesus Kennedy. Of course with either option I’ll get someone’s hand (NOT Adam Smith's invisible one, alas) fishing around in my pocket for spare cash, for the simple reason that either of these complete ass clowns don’t seem to understand that the good ol’ US of A is dead broke and out of soldiers. It seems to me that I no longer cast a vote so much as take a vote. Taking a vote is similar to taking a shit; it’s a somewhat messy, occasionally unpleasant process that really can’t be avoided. Jesus H Christ. That pretty much sums it all up, really. It strikes me that registering one's outrage on a blog won't really change anything. It might make you feel better, natch, but for the most part complaining on a blog is just screaming into the void. Nobody really gives a voteshit, not unless you couple that with actual, real actions. But you gotta turn the computer off and venture into the real world, where The Stupid lives and thrives, in order to take real action. That trip outside of Mom's basement is a real painful experience for some people. [ I've got the same complaints about a lot of the futurist or transhumanist bloggers as well; sitting in a coffee shop and blogging about the Singularity and post-Humanism doesn't do a fucking thing to actually make it happen. You actually have to go out and DO something, which leaves little or no time for a blog. Unless, of course, the Singularity is driven by some critical mass of blogs and bloggers, and that strikes me as pretty fucking unlikely.] Is it any wonder that my clan is slowly migrating towards the edges?  | | Tuesday, July 8th, 2008 | | 4:54 pm |
Fading fast  Parked way in the back of one of the yards I was shocked to find my first boat, the Si Sea Marie, slowly rotting away, apparently abandoned. I could see that the cabin was open, but I was afraid to climb up and check her out...I prefer my memories remain intact. For very little money I could probably buy her back, drag her off to the barn and spend an ungodly amount of money repairing her. Or I could sneak back there some night and take her tiller as a keepsake. I like that idea better. | | 9:16 am |
New dinghy  The Dr Leaky finally gave up the ghost over the winter, so we went out and bought a new one, a RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat). We haven't named her yet, although I'm thinking something grand might be in order and am leaning toward Endeavour. In any event the fiberglass bottom came in handy when we grounded out on top of a mussel bed while we sped across the sound. The floor of the old dinghy would have been torn to shreds; instead, after putting on our shoes we hopped out and pushed the dinghy into deeper water...but not before we harvested about 5 pounds of fresh, clean, fat mussels. | | Saturday, June 28th, 2008 | | 6:35 pm |
The Mist  1) Humidity level climbs 2) Temperature drops 3) ??? 4) Profit!Fog! A good day to make tea and cuddle up down below with the girls, quiet music and some books. | | Wednesday, June 25th, 2008 | | 8:59 pm |
On the hook  | | Sunday, June 22nd, 2008 | | 8:38 pm |
Passing a sister ship while heading toward Anisquam  "I'll bet you can't quit", she said. "You're on!" I replied, and proceeded to excise the 'net* from my life (with the exception of email and news). It's amazing how much extra time one gains, time spent in the real world rather than in some sort of cobbled together cyberspace, screaming over the wires. Life is good all around: good jobs, Maine, sailing, time off...what more could one want? * A little taste can't hurt, right? | | Thursday, March 6th, 2008 | | 5:13 pm |
Carrot versus the flu  You gotta respect any illness that's able to strike down my entire household. Holy fuck. | | Wednesday, February 20th, 2008 | | 1:25 pm |
Megaliths
From my new office I can see these two great big chimneys, made of red brick, part of an old rehabbed mill building. They soar into the air, and they’ve become a sort of calendar, an Industrial Age Stonehenge, because they stay brighter for a few minutes longer every evening. The sun is setting later and later, which means the days are getting longer and longer, the shadows from the 19th century megaliths are changing and that means temporary salvation is at hand for me in about three months’ time.
Work is fine, a challenge at times (which is good), and quite a change from my old job. Honestly, I miss my old job at times, especially working with some interesting technology, but I’m better off here (and it’s not like I didn’t take a ton of knowledge with me). Besides, this place gave me 6 weeks of vacation and the CEO is a sailor who disappears into Maine for several weeks in the summer to build and sail his own boat(s).
Heh. Life is funny.
Last summer was interesting, in that we finally bumped up against the limitations of the Maria Jane. The Kid’s getting bigger, Molly’s daughter is old enough to bitch about privacy and wanting her own space onboard, Bobbie Jo wants a better galley and Molly wants a bigger bathroom.
All of this adds up to everyone demanding a larger vessel.
Me? I’d like a bigger boat, too, but not some faggot Catalina or Hunter. I want a man’s boat, the sort of boat that’s got a long full keel, a diesel engine and will take me to places I probably shouldn’t go, like the coast of Labrador or Argentina.
That’s a pretty big order, and to make everyone happy will require one of two things: finding an older boat that fits the bill but needs some work, or spending six figures on a sailboat. While the first one is an acceptable option the second one (while doable) is not. That's simply too much money to spend on what's essentially a toy.
We’ve been out looking at used boats for the past few weeks.
This has not gone well.
The girls were enamored of an aluminum Sparkman and Stephens 45’ ketch until I pointed out the hole in the bottom (the owner was willing to have that fixed for an additional $15K). We checked out a custom-built Buhler that had turned into the consistency of soggy cardboard due to an unrepaired deck leak. The Cape Dory we looked at was beautiful but expensive, and the owner was reluctant to let us have a survey done. The Bristol was too small inside for us to feel comfortable.
The only boat that really made my heart sing was a somewhat beaten-up Pearson Vanguard who, with a little love and an investment equaling her sale price, could be turned into an outstanding example of a classical ocean-going yacht. Unfortunately, I was the only one hearing that particular song.
So the search goes on. It’s sort of odd doing this, seeing how attached I am to the Maria Jane.
(Sigh)
Weird dreams last night; I dreamed one of my favorite rats had come back from the Great Beyond to visit me. We sat on the couch and hung out, just like we used to do when he was alive. Thanks for the visit, Chibba, you made my night. | | Sunday, February 10th, 2008 | | 9:57 am |
FrogCam, Part 2
Wow, that was a lot of traffic. Who knew that many people would want to look at a bullfrog sitting there doing nothing?
More FrogCam today, until around noon. I'm trying to swing a deal with the iguanas, but since it's hot fucking mating season they both have some privacy concerns. | | Saturday, February 9th, 2008 | | 4:00 pm |
Dagon! DAGON! Dagon the bullfrog is appearing live on the web on Carrot's FrogCam. This will only be on until sundown today. | | Wednesday, February 6th, 2008 | | 6:23 pm |
A quick update
Good: I love my new job.
Bad: Had to fire someone at the end of my first week, a guy who could only speak in Dilbertese buzz words. The CFO and the CEO called for his head the minute I walked into the door. I thought I was escaping that?
Good: It's not a ten minute commute, it's a seven minute commute.
Bad: I'm making up for the short commute by working late every day.
Good: Even when I work late, I can make it home before 8.
Bad: I'm on the books at my old company as a "consultant", so I'm usually home around 11 three nights a week.
Good: The new job gives me six weeks of vacation time.
Bad: One of the chicks at work likes me.
Good: She's a hot black chick straight from a Snoop Dog video.
Bad: I'm too smart to fall into that trap.
Good: Got my first paycheck. Oh yeah, that's why I'm here.
Bad: Can't really counter that last one, but holding my nose and voting for Hillary last night is pretty close. | | Thursday, January 24th, 2008 | | 5:35 pm |
I walk outside into the parking lot and look up.
There are hundreds upon hundreds of crows spanning the sky, flying across purplish clouds at sunset. I haven't seen anything like it in a long time, or at least haven't noticed it.
The sight makes something in my brain fizz, explode, excited.
Taking a picture would ruin it, so instead I stand and watch the dark line of birds cross the sky, then go home. | | Friday, January 18th, 2008 | | 11:49 am |
A new life awaits you in the Off-world colonies!
It's the last day at the job. The lab has been cleaned, projects filed, off-shore groups are working to plan and are ahead of schedule and my project plans have been appropriately handed off to the poor bastard who's going to fill in for me.
Monkey Boy and the rest of the IT crew took me out last night and oddly enough I ended up in a bar in Boston, eyeing the Eurotrash chicks and raising my blood alcohol level.
Monday I start as the MIS Director of a non-profit health care organization, escaping from the science fiction world of overseas trips, nano/biotech tooling and high tech business practices. Oddly enough it pays a LOT better, and I've been doing quite well over the past few years.
Goodbye to all that. Goodbye Mumbai, Shenzen and Brussels, airline food, overly long trips, and sleeping five hours a night. I'll miss you, Mumbai, filthy cutting edge city of the future, but not so much that I'd ever return.
Goodbye to the economy, for now at least. There's a storm coming and I'm escaping into a safer place, a sheltered harbor, a safer and less-volatile industry (and one that doesn't involve widgets but helping people. Extra karma points for me, I think).
Time for a new life.
| | Wednesday, January 9th, 2008 | | 3:18 pm |
Happy Birthday, VB! In lieu of a gift:  Atlantic Sunrise | | Saturday, January 5th, 2008 | | 5:47 pm |
Hometown terraforming
| | Friday, January 4th, 2008 | | 8:10 pm |
Carrot's shiny new year
The problem with stress management classes is that what they REALLY teach you is the ability to handle even more stress. Bah.
My company has got some more executions planned for later this month. I've been...concerned, shall we say?...about the effect this is having on me from a moral standpoint. Now, it's not as if firing people is ALL that I do; this is all being done to serve a higher purpose and meet certain goals. We're reaching those goals, and my being a good soldier has been key.
Still, being a good soldier isn't a very good moral defense. Also, there's a lesson to be learned from the Soviet executioners: they were, for the most part, inevitably executed by their successors.
So, given that, I did the only thing I could: I interviewed for another position in a relatively unrelated industry. Two more interviews later I walked away with a new job, a Director's title, a corner office, no more foreign travel, a shorter commute and a 40% salary increase.
I start in two weeks, and if my current employers aren't happy with that, fuck'em. | | Sunday, December 30th, 2007 | | 5:18 pm |
A bit early, but... ...we're hanging out at the secure undisclosed location for New Year's, shoveling, snowshoeing, drinking and generally fucking around, which means I'll be too busy to post this in a day or two.  Goddamn, I need to stop hanging out by the water; spring fever on December 30th is a bit too much to handle. | | Saturday, December 29th, 2007 | | 12:18 pm |
Adios, butthole.
Way back when I was a mere 19 year old sprout I was randomly attacked and stabbed by a stranger who was on a drunken rampage. When I mean 'random attack', I truly mean the 'random' part; my assailant testified in court that he wanted to kill the first person he ran into that night, and it just happened to be me.
I ended up with 36 stitches on my left cheek, 18 inside and 18 outside, and a scar that is still slightly visible. During the attack I fucked him up badly enough that he was easy prey in state prison.
But that's not enough satisfaction for a man like me, not really.
His obituary was in the paper today. A Christmas present that arrived 24 1/2 years late, but a present none the less.
The obituary included burial details. His earthly remains are being interred approximately 3 miles from my home.
Once he's buried in the spring, I fully intend to piss on his grave...if I don't take his skull as a trophy, but that's gonna depend on how far back from the road his grave is located.
No, I'm not joking. | | Sunday, December 23rd, 2007 | | 9:41 pm |
Christmas time is here The days are finally getting longer, even if it's just by a few minutes a day. Soon I'll be back where I belong, bobbing around on the barge, drinking and chasing peace, happiness, women, a decent breeze and dreams. Meanwhile... ( ...Christmas time is here... )Merry Christmas, everyone. |
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