Plan for the day

A MS update lost my work on the Loop site! I'll have to redo the route work I did the other day. I've been looking into the Google Maps API with a view to doing something in that space. It's entirely straight forward and I may do a bit of playing.

Plan for the day

• Email
• Get check to Art
• Get check for Seth
• Battery for BB's alarm
• Job search
• Deal with paper - I got the bills proper dealt with but also need to deal with the rest of the paper.
• Change land line to Vonage
• Arrange to get my car in for service - Mine has a rattle in the suspension that needs attention.
• Work on the Loop site -Arkansas, Port Allen Canal, fix New Orleans, Atchafalaya River.
• Check Jerry Silva re opportunities
• Call Walter C. re status - Got email from Walter. They are about ready to do something.
• Call KK re opportunities
• Call Citizens bank to stay in touch and check on opportunities
• Work on the exhaust cover for the kitchen hood
• Work on MBR screen/motor issue
• Checkout issue with radiant thermostats

Thanksgiving

BB and I had a quiet Thanksgiving. The boys were off to their grand parents. I smoked a turkey and couple of pseudo turduckens (actually meat rolls). I tried to call my family and managed to reach Ellen, Avery, and Art. Mom's phone wasn't working. Art said he'd deal with it today. I didn't hear from HB or Seth.

Wiki for AGLCA

I've been toying with the idea of a wiki for the Loop and Loopers. Google maps provides a useful API for such things and there are a number of interesting prototype sites such as Wikimapia.org, panoramio.com. Activecaptain.com provides an AOL based prototype as well.

It would be nice to show the following:

• Loop route
• Anchorages with comments, ratings, photos, etc.
• Marinas with comments, ratings, photos, contact info, etc.
• Places of interest with comments, ratings, photos, contact info, etc.
• Looper location

Plan for the day

Plan for the day

• Email
• Get check to Art
• Get check for Seth
• Battery for BB's alarm
• Job search
• Deal with paper - I got the bills proper dealt with but also need to deal with the rest of the paper.
• Change land line to Vonage
• Arrange to get my car in for service - Mine has a rattle in the suspension that needs attention.
• Work on the Loop site -Arkansas, Port Allen Canal, fix New Orleans, Atchafalaya River.
• Check Jerry Silva re opportunities
• Call Walter C. re status - Got email from Walter. They are about ready to do something.
• Call KK re opportunities
• Call Citizens bank to stay in touch and check on opportunities
• Work on the exhaust cover for the kitchen hood
• Work on MBR screen/motor issue
• Checkout issue with radiant thermostats

Time Lapse Cameras

One of the things I've been thinking about is to do a time-lapse movie of the trip and adventures. Since things are moving, I'm not sure how well this would work but it's worth a try. There are a number of ways to do it easily with digital cameras. Here are some interesting links:

• Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time-lapse
• Software for Cannon camera and PC

There is a good deal of info on the web. Just Google.

How to create and link a KML file to google maps and google earth

See this link: http://blogoscoped.com/archive/2006-09-25-n83.html

RV v Boat

As I've looked in more detail into buying a boat and cruising, I've become concerned about the cost, particularly with fuel an unknown and the larger boats (50' +) we are now looking at. That's brought me back to thinking about RVs. They are

• Much less expensive (300K + for a boat or the sort we are looking at 100K +- for an RV)
• Get much better fuel economy (1 MPG for a boat, 4+ MPG for an RV)
• Provide access to much more of the country (boats do need water)
• Are generally much less of a risk to operate

There are a number of sites for RVs. I've started a web site to organize my thoughts.

BB and I have talked a bit about the prospect but she is almost entirely set against it. I'm thinking about renting one for a week as a test drive to see if she might change her mind.

No boat weekend

The last few days have been fairly quiet.

BB took off Thursday and spent the day running errands. I did some things around the house.

Friday was a quiet work day spent mostly working on the Loop web site. I got a fair bit done and have developed a technique for doing routes on google earth. I may redo the routs for the Keys, Florida East, Georgia, SC, and NC this way. I'm also looking into an easier way to do routes with a link to google maps.

Saturday was an at home day. Originally we'd planned on going to CT to look at boats but the broker was not available. I may go down Monday by myself as BB has to work. I had a nice long conversation with HB. Things are going OK with them.

The plan for Sunday is to relax and enjoy a quiet day at home.

Next week I'm going to get back to work looking for a contract and catching up on paperwork.

Went to see a boat

BB and I drove up to Portland, ME to look at a Navigator 44. It was a very nice boat and almost everything we are looking for. Accommodations were first rate with a master under the pilothouse. The heads were very nice. The saloon big enough but not as wide as the 4708. The galley was up with the inside bridge and dining area. That was the only part of the boat that was disappointing as it was rather crowded. Even so, if the table was removed it would be OK I think.

We've decided to see a Navigator 53 in CT this weekend. This boat is reportedly somewhat tired but it should give us a sense of the model.

Yard work

Worked on the yard a bit. The leaves continue to come down by dribs and drabs. It's turned colder with nighttime temperatures below freezing. This year summer seems to be hanging on for a long time.

Looked at navigator yachts online. They seem interesting. I spoke briefly with Ron Housman. He was in CT and looked at the 53 there. According to him, it's tired. He said he check around and see what else was available.

I've started to work again on the house inside to get it ready for sale. Next up is the trim for the stove vent chimney.

Just another Monday

Hung the rest of the paintings after way to many weeks. Went through a bunch of emails. Got a note from a yacht broker with listings for a couple of NE Navigators. These look interesting. I'll review them with BB and arrange to see them if appropriate.

Waltham pest services were by. It turns out that I contracted with two different firms. Waltham only comes out twice a year whereas the other firm comes 4 times. I'll only use the other firm next year.

Quiet Sunday

We had a nice dinner with John and Marie. The chocolate sauce I made was a hit.

Spent some time looking at boats and enjoying some football on TV. BB ran errands. All in all a quiet sunday.

Looking at boats

BB and I went to look at a Carver 450 today. It was a nice enough boat with good accommodations but the pilothouse was a non-starter and deck access was poor. Afterward we drove to Fall River to look at Cherish (Bayliner 4788) again. The boat still impresses but there were some negatives when we looked closer. The couch wasn't very comfortable. The shower in the master head was a non-starter. The master berth required crawling in/out. Still said and done, the boat is very attractive and one can be had at a reasonable price.

John and Marie are coming over for dinner tonight. I've put a roast in and will have some pan saute potatoes and broccoli. Cheese etc for starters and drinks for desert.

Spoke to Seth. He's still upset with his girlfriend but hasn't told her to leave yet.

Also on the Seth front, one of his coworkers assaulted him Thursday. The company isn't being forthcoming so I'll need to find him an attorney.

House day

Did a bunch of work around the house and worked on the web site a bit. Cooked shrimp for Saturday's dinner with Marie and John. Made spaghetti for dinner with spaghetti squash.

Errands and miscelania

BB was off today. We ran errands, got my flu shot at the Wayland CVS and did some house chores.

Yard and house day

Spent the day working on the yard and house.

Another Loop day

Spent most of the day working on Loop related matters and looking for various boat options. The Carver 450 looks like a possible as does the Bayliner 4788 and possibly Mainship 43 aft cabin. Here's a sort of match up. Of the three boats the Bayliner is the better, significantly so compared to the Carver and marginally compared to the Mainship.

Just another Monday

I spent most of the day organizing Loop related material on the web site.

I'm becoming more and more comfortable in the sort of boat we should buy. If it's a liveaboard the older Bayliner 4788 seems like a reasonable choice. If it's just a loop boat there are other smaller choices.

Lazy Sunday

BB and I spent a lazy day. She was a bit under the weather after dinner Saturday night.

Dinner with Bob and Burnedette Landry

BB and I had Bob and Burnedette Landry over for dinner. I fixed a large beef roast and with champaign, good food, several bottles of wine, and a bit to much after dinner drinks we had a nice time. BB work up Sunday AM a bit the worse for wear but is recovering.

Back to work

Plan for the day

• Job search
• Deal with paper - I got the bills proper dealt with but also need to deal with the rest of the paper.
• Change land line to Vonage
• Arrange to get cars in for service - Mine has a rattle in the suspension that needs attention. BB's hasn't been serviced for some while.
• Work on the Loop site -
• Call Bob L and setup dinner Sunday 9th
• Check Jerry Silva re opportunities
• Call Walter C. re status - Got email from Walter. They are about ready to do something.
• Call KK re opportunities
• Call Citizens bank to stay in touch and check on opportunities
• Work on the exhaust cover for the kitchen hood
• Work on molding in MBR and screen/motor issue
• Checkout issue with radiant thermostats

Boat day

BB and I went into Quincy to meat with Michael Brockman of Eastern Yachts to look at a Mainship 43 a 43' sedan style trawler. The one we saw was seriously overpriced but both BB and I liked the boat. It had a very nice saloon, good master cabin, very large single head, and adequate guest stateroom with seperate washer and dryer, galley down, outstanding Q series Cummings engines, and a very workable engine room. The inside helm was good and the flybridge and upper helm outstanding. All in all the sort of boat we've been looking for.

While we were in the area we also went to look at a new Jefferson 52. The boat is clearly layed out for looping with folding radar arch and shalow draft. BB liked it a lot. While the boat was nice enough I was less enthuastic as the design details were somewhat wanting.

After talking about things I'm more and more inclined to the Bayliner 4788. It has a very attractive feel with plenty of space. The only real negative is the master berth. It would be nice to have a walk around but there are so many other positives that it's a reasonable compromise. There are some larger versions of the basic boat including some 50s with two real cabins and walk around master.

After looking at boats we had a nice lunch out and then went home to take Cindy to the vet. She is passing some blood in her urine.

I got a couple of emails from Michael about other boats including a Mainship 43 aft cabin. I'm still interested in that boat but BB seems set on the Bayliner 4788.

The day after

Well it's the day after what may well be the most historic presidential election in my lifetime. BB and I watched the election returns with Marie and John. It was a pleasant eventing but the outcome was clearly determined by 6PM before they came over.

Plan for the day

• Job search
• Deal with paper - I got the bills proper dealt with but also need to deal with the rest of the paper.
• Change land line to Vonage
• Arrange to get cars in for service - Mine has a rattle in the suspension that needs attention. BB's hasn't been serviced for some while.
• Work on the Loop site -
• Call Bob L and setup dinner Sunday 9th
• Check Jerry Silva re opportunities
• Call Walter C. re status - Got email from Walter. They are about ready to do something.
• Call KK re opportunities
• Call Citizens bank to stay in touch and check on opportunities
• Work on the exhaust cover for the kitchen hood
• Work on molding in MBR and screen/motor issue
• Checkout issue with radiant thermostats

Dentist and interviews

Went to see Dr. Karp in the AM to get impressions for the implant. With any luck I'll have a tooth within the month.

Had an interview phone screen with Miter. I'm not sure what it was about but it was an interesting conversation.

Sent out a few resumes and got caught up on email.

Modified my blog template to take advantage of the actual screen real estate.

Ogunquit

BB and I went up to Ogunquit Maine to have a bit of adventure and lobster. She also thought she'd lost her keys at a coffee shop there and wanted to check (not there). We had a nice drive up after dropping Mike off at a meeting, a pleasant lunch at Barnacle Billies (the last day they were open), and went marina hopping on the way back. All in all a nice day.

House day

BB and I spent the day tending to various house matters. I managed to get the first crop of leaves off the yard. We spent most of the day running errands. Just a normal sort of house day.