Vacation!

I'm such a bad blogger! We spent the last week on Storyville (of course, we live there!). The difference was that we were away from the marina all week. I did intend to keep the blog updated but due to slow Internet connections and due to the fact that we were having too much fun to worry about it - the blog has suffered from neglect.

I don't even know where to start. We spent the first part of the week at Channel Marker 17 on Double Bayou. We lead a cruise of about 23 boats over. Since there is only room for about 10 boats, it was quite a feat to get everyone rafted up safe and secure. Fortunately everyone did an excellent job of boat handling. Most of the boats left on Sunday and the remaining boats left on Monday, with the exception of us (Storyville) and our friend John on Buddha. John had his friend Pam with him and the four of us stayed on at Channel Marker 17 to battle winds of up to 45 MPH!

We left Channel Marker 17 on Thursday and headed back to Kemah to wash clothes and take care of some business. Then - on to Moody Gardens in Offats Bayou, Galveston. We had never been to this destination on our boat so we were excited to get there and check it all out. It was so much fun, we can't wait to get back there for a longer visit. On Friday night Troy and our friend, Bob DeGroot entertained us by playing guitar and singing. What a blast!

What a fantastic week. As a bonus, we found out that we are gonna be grandparents! Jessica and David are expecting their first.

I just realized that I started this blog almost a year ago. What a year it's been. I'm just so thankful that Troy is doing so well.

Vacation Begins!

Channel Marker Raft Up

Dancing the night away at Channel Marker 17

John and Pam on Double Bayou

Here we are exploring Double Bayou - what a fun day!

This is Troy loving life!!!

Moody Gardens from Offats Bayou, Galveston, Texas

Deana and Karen Chappell

Sunset over Galveston Bay

Who can feel poor when the sails are full and the spirit is full? -- Herb Payson

Happy Easter! Christ is risen!

What a Weekend!

We started the weekend early by heading out to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo BBQ Cook Off. Great food and lots of fun! That was a warm up for the remainder of the weekend.

On Saturday we had our official boat christening for Storyville. We had a great party and best I can figure there were over 70 of our friends and family there!

For the truth is that I already know as much about my fate as I need to know. The day will come when I will die. So the only matter of consequence before me is what I will do with my allotted time. I can remain on shore, paralyzed with fear, or I can raise my sails and dip and soar in the breeze. ~Richard Bode

Maiden Voyage Pictures

A small sailing craft is not only beautiful, it is seductive and full of promise and the hint of trouble. – E.B. White

Storyville Makes Maiden Voyage!

Finally - I got to sail our new boat. I know, I know - it's about time. We took her out Sunday. What a beautiful day. We could have used a little more wind, but I'm not complaining. The sun was shining and it felt great to be out on the water. We raised all the sails and enjoyed the time out on the water.

Our friends John and Sheryl on s/v buddha went with us. John is a little crazy and here is my evidence of that: He's halfway up his mast while under sail! I can't wait to see the pictures that he took of us. I'll be sure to post those soon. Here's a link to some pictures of buddha under sail: http://imageevent.com/deanaj/svbuddha

We're really looking forward to our party this Saturday. Hope everyone is planning to come and help us give Storyville her official name. I am just praying right now that the weather is nice for us. I am obsessing just a little because the forecast is showing 30% chance of rain.

Even Harley enjoyed catching some rays.

We have laugh'd to see the sails conceive and grow big-bellied with the wanton wind!
A Midsummer Night's Dream - William Shakespeare

Happy Birthday Kayla!

Kayla turned 8 years old yesterday! We had a great time at her birthday party.

Here's a view of Storyville - headed back for the deep blue sea!!!! She's got a new coat of paint and she's lookin good!

"A ship is always referred to as "she" because it costs so much to keep her in paint and powder." -ADM. Chester Nimitz

Don't forget about our boat naming party on March 1st. We've never done this before, so please email me any boat naming ceremony suggestions, lies, or even true stories.

Few people get to do what they want to do in life. Be one of them. ~Andy Broer

Storyville is Home!

We got her back in the water yesterday. I thought she would be out of the water for 3 or 4 days and it turned into 8 days. She's lookin' good!

I spent the last two days (Monday and Tuesday) serving on a jury for a criminal trail (aggravated assault with a deadly weapon). Lucky for the defendant, the district attorney couldn't hold up that heavy burden of proof. I've never been on a criminal jury before, so that was an experience. Good thing it was over in 2 days.

Now we are concentrating on getting Different Drummer ready to sell and getting everything situated on Storyville. Gotta get some of those leaks fixed on Storyville (along with several hundred other projects). We can't wait to take her on the inaugural sail. Maybe this weekend if we're lucky.

MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT!

Come help us give Storyville her official name!

When: Saturday, March 1st (3:00 pm 'till ????)

Where: Watergate Marina

More details will be annouced as we figure them out. Send us an email if you think you will be able to attend. ( tojones1@yahoo.com ) This will be a chance to celebrate Troy's recovery and our new boat.

Thought is the wind, knowledge the sail, and mankind the vessel. -- August Hare

Storyville

She's still "on the hard" as we sailors like to say. We're hoping to get her back in the water tomorrow, but the weather just hasn't cooperated. We've gotten lots accomplished though. She came out as "Escape" and will go back in as "Storyville".

We can't wait to get Storyville back in the water and get settled into some kind of regular routine. We're both a little overwhelmed with all that we need to do, but Troy says we will get it done - "just like the way you eat an elephant, one bite at a time". I still can't figure out exactly why he wants to eat the elephant, but whatever works for him!

Life is good. We are really looking forward to getting out of the slip this spring and summer. We can't wait to get Storyville out on the water, so we're trying to say focused on the goal.

"You gotta grab the line if you're ever gonna come about." ~Malford Milligan (Storyville, Two People)

"I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving - we must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it - but we must sail, and not drift, nor lie at anchor."-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.