tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54316973564020764932024-11-01T06:43:01.544-04:00The diary of one 25-year-old setting out on the voyage of life on a 30-foot sailboatUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5431697356402076493.post-4498339375201550492012-10-25T17:49:00.003-04:002012-10-25T17:49:46.177-04:00

Well, readers, it's been a very long time since I published an update. But I wanted to tell you that I'd moved to The Liveaboard Takes the Suburbs. I moved in with my boyfriend a few months ago and Misty Rose has gone back to her much quieter life without a roommate. We did not sell her -- she still sits in her old berth, where she is very comfortable (especially without all of my stuff crammed

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5431697356402076493.post-63074121799095872632012-02-14T14:21:00.002-05:002012-02-14T14:23:15.291-05:00

Source Happy Valentine's Day from Misty Rose to everyone in the blog community! To all our readers, family and friends: Thank you for reading -- and thank you for all your kind comments, both those typed in the comment section and those made to me in person and on Facebook. I can't say how much I appreciate them -- but it's a lot. Now if you'll excuse me, Misty and I have some valentines to

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5431697356402076493.post-3020231277641143972012-02-01T12:19:00.000-05:002012-02-01T12:19:00.686-05:00

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5431697356402076493.post-76692105652009199102012-01-25T13:04:00.000-05:002012-01-25T13:04:00.770-05:00

Well yes, yes I do. It always makes me want to laugh hysterically when someone asks me this. Really? Do you think I'm a magical creature that doesn't make waste? Do I smell so bad you assume I never shower? (Yeah. That's right. I alluded to the fact that I use a toilet. Get over it.) I think what they really mean to ask is, "What's your bathroom situation?" I have a marine toilet,

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5431697356402076493.post-67583559767522187342012-01-18T16:37:00.000-05:002012-01-25T12:21:43.875-05:00

 Well, folks, I'm finally getting around to telling you about the 2011 Annapolis Sailboat Show. It was a LOT of fun! I don't have a whole lot of pictures because it seemed more important to use my hands for my Pusser's Painkiller. For those of you not in the know, a Painkiller is a very tasty rum drink that includes pineapple juice, orange juice, maraschino cherries, an orange slice and..

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5431697356402076493.post-4301190409013002712012-01-11T15:58:00.001-05:002012-01-25T12:22:29.877-05:00

Well winter is finally starting to rear it's ugly, cold head. And that means it's really hard to leave my nest bed in the morning. I sleep in the v-berth of Misty Rose. The v-berth is essentially a compartment in the pointy part of the boat toward the bow. My v-berth has the holding tank beneath it (there is a wooden platform that acts as the "floor" of the berth completely surrounding the

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5431697356402076493.post-15490594908880673602011-12-19T15:06:00.002-05:002011-12-19T15:06:52.530-05:00

Well I finally did it. I stopped putting off winterization. (Isn't that a weird word? One of the thousands of strange boat-isms) Anyway. After attending my grandfather's funeral and wake on Saturday, Greg and I stopped by the boat to grab a couple of things and I happened to see Captain Phil of the Pintita, former boss and teacher of the USCG Captain's Course I took a couple winters ago. Capt.

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5431697356402076493.post-72703178753990486082011-11-24T09:00:00.000-05:002012-01-25T12:22:51.050-05:00

Source This Thanksgiving I'll be spending the day at the boyfriend's house and Misty will be all alone. Maybe she and the other boats will enjoy their own special Thanksgiving feast together. After all, Thanksgiving is a boating holiday, isn't it? I distinctly remember learning in Lower School about pilgrims and boats. The world may never know. Meanwhile, I'm giving thanks for my floating

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5431697356402076493.post-85149687632200750942011-11-18T19:13:00.001-05:002012-01-25T12:23:06.546-05:00

Source "Gettin' cold on the boat, isn't it?" I hear this question several times a week from random co-workers, neighbors, marina staff, friends and various family members. Another popular variation is: "So you live on a boat right? Isn't it, like, cold?" Yes, yes it is. "So what do you, like, do?" The same thing you probably do -- I turn on the heat! I have two of these West Marine brand

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5431697356402076493.post-37410028152558651372011-10-31T09:45:00.000-04:002011-10-31T10:11:59.698-04:00

I went shopping with my mother for her birthday a couple of weekends ago and, while out, I found the item of my dreams: a Le Creuset kettle on sale for $40. I couldn't believe what I was seeing there in the TJ Maxx. It was the only one there and it was the perfect color. Of course Misty would get a present for my mother's birthday. Brat. The backstory here is that my old kettle was

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5431697356402076493.post-60595875605013113752011-10-25T16:49:00.005-04:002011-10-25T16:55:16.079-04:00

Picture post to come from the United States Sailboat Show in Annapolis -- I went with Greg and had a fabulous time. I looked all over for ranges, but I didn't see a single one. What I did find was flooring. Ladies and gentlemen, the beautiful Burmese teak interior of my boat is marred by a rotting faux teak and holly floor. It's.. well it's disgusting. Sometimes when I step on said floor if

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5431697356402076493.post-76046696113876969282011-10-08T13:53:00.002-04:002011-10-08T13:56:44.689-04:00

It's no secret that I have somewhat limited space. I mean... I live on a boat. That's like the definition of "limited space." This has brought about a love -- some might call it an obsession -- of all things collapsible. This goes double for kitchen items. I have been expanding my collection of collapsible kitchen items over the past two years and it's still a pretty small collection. But

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5431697356402076493.post-52169274284079535092011-10-06T01:25:00.000-04:002011-10-06T01:25:30.846-04:00

Let me tell you about a fun thing that happens when you live on a boat and it rains for a week solid: EVERYTHING is damp and MOST OF IT gets moldy. I am cringing just thinking of sharing these stories. If you are squeamish about mold you may want to stop reading right about now. So here are the things you need to know before I start this tale of gruesome woe: 1. It rained for an entire week,

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5431697356402076493.post-44647091353645626382011-09-19T10:49:00.000-04:002011-09-19T10:49:58.842-04:00

Of course I couldn't let International Talk Like a Pirate Day go unnoticed here on Diary of a Liveaboard. I talk like a pirate EVERY day, of course, but today, you all can join me! So pull up a dead man's chest and let's have some rum! Yo, ho ho! (Real post on the moldiness resulting from Tropical Storm Lee to come as soon as I can get home and snap some pictures. I also may NEED some rum

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5431697356402076493.post-20620528916421798612011-09-08T10:52:00.001-04:002011-09-08T10:59:04.537-04:00

Continuing in my occasional series of blog memes, I am inspired to share thirteen things this Thursday: 1. So far at least 3 people have asked me if they can join me on the boat if our region continues to flood. 2. Did I mention that it's rained nonstop for a week? Everything on the boat is damp. I am running out of rags and paper towels. 3. Four people have suggested I buy a dehumidifier.

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5431697356402076493.post-703393627386597982011-08-29T12:40:00.000-04:002011-08-29T12:40:05.088-04:00

Yes, faithful readers, I survived Hurricane Irene. She was, almost disappointingly, pretty much a non-event here in Baltimore. Almost being the key word there. Not so lucky on other parts of the East Coast -- I wish everyone good luck cleaning up and getting power back. Especially the folks in Vermont. I stayed overnight at my friend Pascal's house along with boyfriend Greg and two other

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5431697356402076493.post-55598671342981966472011-08-27T10:56:00.000-04:002011-08-27T10:56:22.099-04:00

Well, folks, Misty Rose is all set to ride out Hurricane Irene. The forecast is becoming more favorable -- we're sitting at 80 percent chance of tropical storm force winds, according to the NOAA weather radio aboard. Yes, I'm still aboard. No, I will not be here once it starts hurricane-ing. I know I posted the other day that I wasn't that worried, but, well, I've succumbed to peer pressure. In

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5431697356402076493.post-21160268589949468582011-08-24T12:26:00.000-04:002011-08-24T12:26:04.169-04:00

So it looks like Baltimore is going to be hit by Hurricane Irene this weekend. Weather reports are still sketchy, but at the very least we will get some high winds and rain, according to the weathermen. I don't claim to be an expert on hurricane preparedness on boats, but when I lived in Washington, D.C., I was required to file a hurricane plan (including location of extra lines and fenders)

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5431697356402076493.post-41467110989349745012011-08-23T13:37:00.001-04:002011-08-23T13:46:28.336-04:00

Well now that summer is drawing to a close and the weather has been cooler, things have been exceedingly pleasant on the boat. Apparently not pleasant enough, though. Yes. That's right. Melted chocolate-cracker stick things. Oh the humanity. This is just the most recent in a long long list of lessons with a single moral: When in doubt, put it in the refrigerator! Days without A/C on the

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5431697356402076493.post-42609388378854562011-08-11T11:13:00.001-04:002011-08-11T11:14:45.708-04:00

Well last summer dad and I took a nice overnight trip to Annapolis. There was a nautical flea market I wanted to visit. It turned out to be a bust, but it was a nice visit and we got to eat at our favorite Eastport eatery, Davis' Pub. As we were leaving Sunday morning, we stopped for fuel. Last summer, Dad couldn't much leave the cockpit. So he was steering and I was guiding him to the fuel dock

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5431697356402076493.post-23072437051530084802011-08-05T15:45:00.000-04:002011-08-05T15:45:26.649-04:00

Well... it seems the worst of the worst has passed for summer. It's been much cooler lately and, you know what? I think I can easily make it through the rest of the summer without an air conditioner. I think I will buy one for the future though -- but my strategy will be to let the a/c fund collect some interest and buy either just in time for next summer or whenever it happens to go on sale.

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5431697356402076493.post-49381377358373341732011-07-22T15:47:00.001-04:002011-07-22T15:49:33.371-04:00

Well... I mean the air, of course! Baltimore is in the midst of a serious heat wave. The overnight lows have been in the high 80s all week. So far I've got a small fan and a big Vornado fan and that's about it. And a lot of hatches. And the occasional merciful breeze. Now, I could buy one of those air conditioners pictured to the left there... I had one last year. It sits on one of the hatches

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5431697356402076493.post-53515090247157514192011-04-21T11:53:00.001-04:002011-04-21T11:55:44.466-04:00

Spring is here and I find myself with an entirely new dilemma for my 50th post at Diary of a Liveaboard -- lack of time. In the past, I held jobs that allowed for time to work on the boat. Jobs that weren't at least an hour away. Jobs that... well... weren't paid by the hour solely for the purpose of making me feel guilty about not working them.  So after four months of unemployment this

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5431697356402076493.post-5164832590630563002011-03-29T16:19:00.010-04:002011-03-29T16:38:40.952-04:00

So my dad has been dreaming a lot lately about a new boat, apparently. I got an e-mail Friday with the subject heading, "Wanna Catalina?" ... Particularly nice one. And six feet nine inches headroom in the cabin. http://www.sailboatlistings.com/view/18334 I figure Misty plus a 65,000 loan with a 600 pmt at 5.75% would pay off in 13 years. With 700 pmt, 10.5 years. With 1000 pmt, 6.75 yrs.

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5431697356402076493.post-60890530413875089462011-03-21T15:45:00.005-04:002011-03-21T15:52:50.778-04:00

Well, folks, today is the first day of spring, and I could not be any more giddy. (Well, maybe if it was 70 degrees outside and I had an old-fashioned Baltimore snowball in my hand...) This was my first real winter aboard. I made it through the entire winter (with an occasional night at my parents' house or a friend's house) on Misty Rose -- and I lived to tell the tale! Last winter I wussed out

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3