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Swimming Anyone?


Good morning everyone. Winter is still here in New England though it seems to be taking a rest these days. We have enjoyed a little bit of a thaw. We still have snow covering our field but it is thinning out in the sunny patches. Mary Day rests comfortably in the harbor, bilges dry, cover intact, waiting for the crew to return.

Another busy week has passed so I will get you up to speed on everything that is happening here at the global headquarters. Jen is putting the finishing touches on year end taxes. Blockfest 2008 is finally finished. The blocks have received quite the massaging. And while we have the off-white paint out we are starting in on the lifeline stanchions, the davits, and a few other miscellaneous parts. Alex asked me last night how we were doing with our pace. We are doing great but in the back of my mind I know that there is never enough time to do it all. Having perfectionist tendencies is a curse. I want to do it all and know we will never have enough time.

There several big projects in the works, one of which we can finally reveal to the world. Visit the homepage to see a PDF of our all new brochure. Not that our old brochure was all that bad but we felt it was time for a new look. With the digital age upon us we realized that the 40lb box of lead plates that comprised the old brochure was limiting. Many thanks to Mimi, Tim and Jim and those of you who granted permission to use your photos. Jen has also revamped our educational program overview in a similar fashion. She amazes me everyday. She spent about 10 days learning Adobe InDesign and putting together a marvelous 22 page document with some great photography that gives potential sail training groups a good picture of what to expect.

Other projects in the barn include replacing the bearings on our tandem axle trailer. We finished that yesterday. That trailer is about to make a road trip on our next big project, all to be revealed in good time. We have been interviewing potential crew and met some great folks in-person and over the phone. We would hire them all if we could. I have been busy on the fire department and ambulance service. I am in the process of getting certified to teach first-aid and CPR to our crew. Around here it is also the season for chimney fires and ice rescue classes. Hope you like the fashion statement. The swimming is actually pretty good. My guess is that most of our guests would enjoy more of our summer ocean temperatures with one of these "Gumby" suits. But what fun would that be? Thanks for the photo Becky... I think.

Have a great day. Be well. Do good.

Comments

Unknown said…
I was going to comment on the picture editor's wildly varying tastes from the beautiful fecund Annie glowing in happiness and expectation to a wildman obviously recently escaped from an asylum still wearing the straight jacket the attendants had placed him in to protect him from himself. But, the second picture is gone. Have the PC police come after you?
Unknown said…
The picture is back. The crazy man must still be at large! He has arms and he is dangerous?
Michele B said…
Crazy indeed! I think anyone who swims in Maine in the summer is nuts! There is not a category for swimming in Maine in winter! The scary part is that we put ourselves in this crazy man's hands for a whole week while we go sailing with him. Luckily he is married to a very sane, intelligent and sharp woman. :)
AL from Alabama said…
Indeed, if you will loan me that suit I will go swimming. I was once bestowed membership in "The Order of the Wolf" society. It was conferred on me by the Shoshone Indians in Wyoming. To be a member you had to fully immerse yourself in the Sweetwater River, which flows from the snowcaps in the Wind River Range. After being on a horse for four days, I really needed a bath so I did so. It was like a sauna compared to Penobscot Bay. By the way, they did not tell me that Lander Creek flowed into the river 100 yds down and the water was actually 30 degrees warmer. First camp site I was ever in that had hot and cold running water.
BeckyEMT said…
Crazy man? Apparently, Capt. Barry they have not yet heard that Angels have been given clearance to wear red. . . finally! Who says it is only for the devil! LOL Believe me guys. .. if you were the person who was stuck in that frozen lake at death's door, you'd know this is an angel. . . not a crazy man! LOL
It takes a special kind of person to be able to rush off at all hours of day and night and willingly risk their own life for another. (OK maybe that does make us crazy, LOL.) Those of you who know Capt. Barry from his Schooner life already know what a great guy, great father, husband and friend he is. (And of course Capt.) What you may not realize is how valued he is a as a member of Union Ambulance, Appleton Fire and now. . . one of my CPR instructors! (Everybody cheer!) SO, don't keep him away too long on those beautiful summer days, we are glad when winter is here and we have him back to help us save lives. :^)

And your welcome Capt. Barry. . . best picture I ever took with a cell phone, LOL.

-Becky
Unknown said…
I am quite sure Barry is in fact an angel in disguise. However, that doesn't mean he's not just a bit crazy. Two days after I met Barry we were sailing along and he abandoned the wheel to sit in Arno while strumming his guitar and singing. So one of the first and most lasting images I have of Barry is this one.

Click on the link and see what I mean.

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