Progress

Look, I haven't been just sitting on my ass being sad because Jessi's not here... I've made progress!! (Sweetie, I'm posting this so you can see how home is changing)

I installed the new countertop... it's hard to see but it's grey formica.


New Countertop!

Remember the old one?

Old Countertop!

It was a huge pain in the butt. The previous owner had glued the old countertop in place instead of screwing it in, like most normal folks would. So I had to mount my new countertop on top of the old one, instead of just replacing it. And, we didn't buy a pre-fabricated coutertop, so I actually had to cut and glue the laminate down myself. Turns out cutting laminate is harder than I thought... it's very difficult not to chip it. So, I'm building the trim pieces to cover the chips! Shhhhhh, don't tell anyone.

Oh, and the sink is only in there temporarily so I can have some running water. The clips that hold it in place have rusted out totally, so it's just kind of balancing in there right now. But at least I can brush my teeth! This means I have to buy and install a new sink. This is coming shortly.

Next, I removed all the doors and hardware, taped up the ceiling and mirrors and got it ready for paint. We will be painting it an off-white grey, as opposed to the off-white nasty, stained looking yellow it is now.


Taped and ready to go!

After paint, the trim pieces go back on, as do the doors and the new stainless hardware, and the tile backsplash goes back up. Finally, we are gonna drop in a new piece of linoleum floor. It's really going to look great! I can't wait to finish it off...

-Tom

A taste of my own medicine

I'm so glad I'm not going to sea anymore. They were tough times. I remember back when I went on patrol, all the wives and girlfriends dropped off their crewmembers with tearful goodbyes. There were pierside hugs and kisses, and promises of quick returns. They were such sad days. After the farewells, all of the wives and girlfriends would go to a nearby park and watch the submarine go to sea. Some would even take pictures of the boat leaving.


That's me all the way on the left.


See... Hi Tom!

Well, things change, but somehow they also stay the same. This past Sunday I dropped Jessi off at the Thomas G. Thompson so she could go on a 2 week research cruise. Booooooooooo!!! And although going to sea is tough, this time I got to see the crappy side of the coin. I tell you, it sucks being left behind. I'm bummed and she's only going to sea for 2 weeks! (And then she's flying to AZ to celebrate her stepmom's retirement, so I don't get to see her for 3 weeks total!) I can really feel for the Navy families whose significant others leave for 3 to 6 MONTHS!

After I dropped her off, I went to go take some pictures.


Thomas G. Thompson pierside.


Tooooooooooooot!!!! The ship is underway.


Passing through Lake Union on her way out to Puget Sound. If you click on the picture, you can actually see Jessi between two buildings near the bow of the ship.


The Thompson pulling into the Ballard Locks.


She's a sailor!


She's a scientist too!


Wait... where am I?


Time to leave the Locks....


Bye my Sweetie! There she is on the second deck. Have fun!

So, almost a week has gone by and I've been able to email or talk to her almost every day, but it's just not the same. 10 minutes a day isn't enough. She's doing well, getting work done (as always) but can't wait to come home. Well Sweetie, I love you and I can't wait for you to come home too.


I just can't wait to see that smiling face again in person.

-Tom

It's about time!

Two weeks ago Jessi and I travelled to Bretton Woods, NH for my brother Rob's wedding. First off, I'd like to offer the first internet congratulations to my brother and his new wife, Zandra. And I'd like to add, it's about f#$% time. I know you have probably heard it a million times Rob, but I feel it's my duty as your brother to say it again. (For those who don't know, Rob and Z had been dating for 12 years.)

We started out with a small bachelor party for Rob. The plan was to meet 2 of his buddies (Jim and Sven) in Boston, have a few drinks, go on a private yacht charter tour of Boston Harbor with light appetizers and more drinks, then hit a steakhouse for dinner and finally paint the town. I really wanted to charter a sailboat, but alas, October in Boston isn't high season for sailing, and most of the charter boats had migrated south for the winter. However, I found a fine substitute in the M/V Integrity. I figured since Rob and Z hadn't yet come out to Seattle to see our boat, I'd use this as a short term substitute. It was a lot of fun. The captain was a stitch. If you look up "salty sea dog" in the dictionary - there he is. He even told us stories of using a flare gun to fight off pirates off the coast of Guatemala. Crazy.

The next morning, Rob and I woke up in a hotel in downtown Boston. That's right, couldn't even make it 30 min home the night before. Wheeee! And being the excellent planners that we are, Rob and I left plenty of time to get all of the final errands done, pick up Jessi, and drive 3 hours to NH for the first official wedding event. And when I say "plenty of time," what I mean is, we wouldn't have made it had we stopped to go to the bathroom. My only job was to get Rob to NH "on time" not "early." We had 15 minutes to shower, change into our suits and meet our families. No problem.

Saturday morning was the cermony. It was really great. The setting was gorgeous. I mean really, New Hampshire in the fall, does it get better? It went off without a hitch, but of course even if the ceremony hadn't been perfect (which it was) they still would have ended up married, so no matter what it would have had a happy ending.


The ceremony.



Cousin Ryan, the ring bearer.



The wedding party.



Rob and I at the Reception.



I've never seen Rob as smooth as when he's dancing the salsa with Z. (Yes, his bowtie matches her dress)



Jessi and I at the reception.


Again, congratulations to Rob and Z, and thanks for the wonderful weekend!

-Tom

Gloomy Season

It's gloomy season again. It's grey outside - cool and rainy. Everything is wet. We ran out to West Marine and tried to buy up all the dessicant they had... but everyone else had that idea too. So, I guess I'll have to go back after they re-stock!

One thing I decided I wanted to do was start my leak patrols... I wander the boat when it rains and look for leaks. I was wandering around today, and I didn't see much in the way of leaks... but I did see this tucked away in a corner, hidden behind our speakers.



Mmmm tasty!

That's right. Mushrooms. Growing in our boat. Obviously I should have done the leak patrols a little earlier.

-Tom