Reunited with Captain Daddy

This past Friday night, Scott returned from the islands.  Lucky for him he just missed the polar vortex that was Chicago, but he still looked very out of place as he stood in shorts, flip flops and a glowing tan in baggage claim among the backdrop of black puffy coats, pale faces and snow encrusted winter boots that signify wintery Chicago.  Toto, we are not in Kansas anymore.  Luckily he had some shoes and jeans in his bag to change into as well as the coat and hat I brought him.  While the 30 degree temperatures were positively balmy compared the -20 we had earlier in the week, it was still pretty dang cold out.  Especially for someone who just flew in from the tropics.

We're used to reunions of this sort in our family.  Since getting his job with Island Windjammers, Scott and I have endured many separations ranging from 4 to 8 weeks at a time which - while grateful for the opportunity - has been challenging.  Such is the lot of the captain's wife.   This particular separation was the hardest, particularly for Scott.  He told me that with me being so pregnant and Isla being so aware, interactive and soaking up life lessons like a sponge, he really felt a longing to be with us more than ever.  Not that it wasn't hard before, because it was, but this time was particularly poignant.

He landed at 7pm and Isla was fast asleep so we had to wait until the morning for the big reveal.  Isla and I had been counting down the days till Daddy came home for a week and Skypeing with him regularly, so she knew something was up - but I don't think anything could have prepared her for seeing Scott's smiling face as it hovered over her little tent bed when she awoke sleepily calling, "mama...mama...mama" on Saturday morning.  Scott wanted me to sleep in but I couldn't stand to miss seeing the looks on both of their faces when they registered one another, so I went with - for no other reason than to bear witness to the joy.

To say she was excited would be an understatement.  Her sweet, sleepy eyes immediately lit up at the site of him and almost instantly she threw her arms around his neck in a big hug.  "Daddy!" she exclaimed with a smile.  Scott, obviously, turned to mush in an instant and the three of us cuddled together on the bed with Isla drawing each of us closer together by working her little arms around our necks and saying "group hug!"  She's been so "go with the flow" her whole life that it never really dawned on me that she would feel a void that her daddy was gone or really grasp the fact that our family had been "incomplete" for six weeks, but clearly she did.  She wanted us together, she wanted to be in the middle and she was super happy to have him back.  It was yet another lesson in just how astute a tiny toddler can be.  She literally never ceases to amaze me with her childhood brilliance and innocence.

So we are back together and all is right in the world.

We had a lovely weekend as a family, hanging out together, catching up and, of course, Isla had to show daddy all her new tricks.  At 22 months, this child is talking up a STORM.  There is almost nothing she cannot say and she repeats just about everything we tell her with alarming clarity.  Needless to say we are having to be extra vigilant about "bad words" which is a bit of a challenge for this former potty mouth.  She's singing songs; ABC's, Itsty Bitsy Spider, Wheels on the Bus and Humpty Dumpty are a few of her favorites.  She's grown fiercely independent and the phrase of the month is "Isla do it!" because she wants to do everything on her own.  She continues to be a fearless climber and aside from going "up" - she's running, jumping, and taking all sorts of risks and tumbles which we are happy to oblige.  Her physical prowess and incredible balance (no doubt thanks in part to boat life) has led me to believe she can absolutely handle skis so we're going to take her skiing in the next week or two.  I can't wait.  While it hasn't come up much since this has been a sailing blog - Scott and I are huge into skiing (I started at age 2 and Scott lived in Park City for five years) and both of us have every intention of turning our girls into little rippers on the slopes.  We're so excited to share two of our biggest passions, skiing and sailing, with our girls in the coming years.

So that's where we are right now.  Lots and lots of together time and simply trying to enjoy every moment of these last few weeks before we go from three to five overnight.  Woah.

Catching up on world events....in the comics.

We do a LOT of crafting these days.  Here she is showing Scott her finger paintings.

Fun outing in the sled (Daddy LOVES snow!)

Here I am at 31 weeks!! (I am now a day away from 32!!) Whoo hoo!! On the home stretch.  Pun intended.

Daddy Daughter Reunited

It was like Christmas morning on our boat today. Scott was so excited to see Isla, Isla was so excited to see Scott, and I think I might have been the most excited of all just to see their reactions to each other. So amazing. After four weeks, these were the first glimpses they got of each other. True love.  Daddy's and daughters are one of the best pairings in the world, I think.

Our Captain is on Loan

It's that time again. Scott is heading off to work and we've got to say goodbye to him for a few weeks.  In preparation for his being away, we have moved from our spot out in the anchorage to a mooring ball in a hurricane hole down here in Georgetown.  While it's is a huge perk that he is able to work such an incredible job to maintain our lifestyle, I hate saying goodbye with all my soul.  Yin and yang.  We can't have our cake and eat it too.

The idea behind moving our boat is really for the safety of Isla and me.  This hurricane hole is completely protected from wind and waves and the water stays nice and flat in almost all conditions when out in the anchorage boats might be bouncing like mad.  Getting a baby into a dinghy solo when a boat is bucking like a wild horse is not recommended.  In addition, Isla and I will be flying back to the states for a short visit and the man who maintains this mooring has agreed to do frequent checks on our boat to make sure she's doing okay without us.  It's a safe place to be with plenty of live-aboard neighbors and lots of friends nearby who will all be looking after us.  Scott will leave knowing I can hold down the fort, and I'll rest easy knowing we're surrounded by a great community of boaters.

Tomorrow Scott flies to Grenada where he will be setting sail on the tall ship Diamant.  We've already heard from several lucky passengers who are excited to sail with him.  If any of you are booked on an Island Windjammer cruise in the next month - have a blast!  And if you're not - you might want to look into a vacation with them.  It's a seriously awesome trip and a unique vacation experience.

In the meantime, we'll be missing Scott something awful.  This is one unique case where I hope the time does fly.

Reunited and it Feels so Good!

This morning I woke up to squeals and giggles of delight from Isla as Scott read to her.  It was music to my ears.  After a six week rotation in the Grenadines as captain of the schooner Diamant, Scott is finally back!  We are so happy to have him home, and looking very forward to getting our own adventure underway.  We're hoping to be heading to the Bahamas in the next few weeks (fingers crossed), and after that we'll make our way back to the southern Caribbean.  We've got our work cut out for us between now and then, but we'll get it done.  In the meantime, enjoy this little photo montage of our reunion.  Big thanks to my sister, Chelsea, for being our personal paparazzo.

On Goodbyes and Marital Bliss

Scott left today for a six week rotation to captain the beautiful tall ship, s/v Diamant.  Thankfully, my mom is here with me which takes a little bit of the sting out sudden loneliness. Even still, the boat does not feel the same without him.  I miss having him here next to me, tinkering away at some thing or another... I miss feeling his presence and hearing his voice coo to little Isla.   I'm not going to lie, two strong personalities living together on a boat isn't always the recipe for marital bliss and movie style romance (though it might seem that way).  I have probably threatened divorce once a week during this refit, but the threat is always empty and the anger short lived.  The stress and tension ignite like a flame to gas and temper out just as quickly.  They say the line between love and hate is thin; cram that love into a living space about the size of a two car garage undergoing a refit and it can grow even thinner.  Sorry, but it's true.  Living on a boat is not always blissfully magical.  Only some of the time.

So, yeah.  Despite the fact that we've had our "moments" (which we always laugh about in hindsight) we are deeply in love and when he leaves, my heart always breaks a teeny tiny bit.  It doesn't get any easier and saying goodbye always leaves a pit in my tummy and a lump in my throat.  I love living in our (relatively) cramped space with him, I love sharing our dreams and imagining the next few years of our lives together.  I love the highs and, yes, I even respect the lows.  I think some of the most valuable lessons that we can learn about ourselves and others are found in these extremes.  So, while I really hate the fact that Scott and I have to be apart, I accept this as an opportunity for growth.  I've got work to do, projects to complete and an amazing baby girl to keep me busy!

Lucky for me we are able to Skype weekly and text message almost daily.  If not for those two modern marvels, I believe I'd go mad!  Isla and I have some trips planned over the next four weeks as well: we're going back to Chicago for a visit, and we head back over to Anna Maria Island to spend Christmas with family so here's hoping these next six weeks fly by.  Then, it's goodbye Florida, hello Bahamas and beyond!

Lazy Sunday

Today Isla slept in until 7am which is pretty awesome considering she went to bed at 5:30pm last night.  Usually she's up at 6am, so this extra hour is cause for celebration on the rare mornings it occurs.  I hear her wimper, check my watch and when I see that it's 7,  I gasp, nudge Scott (who is sleeping soundly, mind you) and exclaim: "Honey!! She slept until seven! Seven!! Yes!!" I go get her smiling face out of bed and bring her into bed with us which means mega play time for her and gobs of baby slobber for our faces.

After breakfast we took a walk to a local park along one of the bazillion canals down here.  When we first arrived we thought all these man-made canals were a little bizarre, but now we love them and all the waterfront property they provide.  Isla enjoyed watching the boats go by and Scott is just dying for her to say "boat" or anything that resembles it.  So far, we're at "mama", "dada", "gaga" (the current fave), "baba" and "nana" (which we're guessing means "no" because she usually says it repeatedly in moments of angst).  After the park, we stopped off at the local Sunday Farmer's Market, got some fixings for lunch and dinner, and sauntered down Las Olas Boulevard basking in the mid-morning sun with our coffees.  Not too shabby.

We've got a final push of projects and boat work commencing tomorrow (the sails are coming off to be cleaned and looked over, our davits will be test-mounted, the solar panel installation will be finalized as well as a few other things) but for now, we're just soaking up this little bit of time we have left all together.  Scott leaves Wednesday for two months of work and then it's crazy holiday time for Isla and me.  We're heading up to Chicago to see family and friends for two weeks, then down to the gulf side of Florida for Christmas and New Years, and by the time we return to the boat, Scott will be back.  Hopefully it goes by fast because this little girl loves her daddy and we'll miss him terribly while he's away!

Island Windjammers

Having a working sea captain as a husband has it's perks...and last week I cashed in some major "perk points" when I was invited to join him on a cruise to the Grenadines.  Ummm....Yes, please!

As most of you know - Scott is now gainfully employed as "relief captain" with Island Windjammers.  If you are someone who is longing to get away and experience the pure magic that is sailing the Caribbean on a tall ship, then this is definitely for you.  The atmosphere on the ship is incredibly laid-back and casual but definitely not "rustic".  Each guest room is air-conditioned and has it's own private bathroom and the meals that are served (8am breakfast, 12pm lunch, 5pm "Swizzle Time" and 7pm dinner) are delicious.  The boat accommodates twelve passengers who, despite being from all walks of life (I've met guests ranging from Rumologists to foreign diplomats and everything in between), seem to effortlessly find themselves on the same page on the ship.  It's all about relaxing and having a good time while enjoying the beauty that the Grenadines has to offer from the deck of an incredibly beautiful sailing ship.  You make the trip your own.  I laughed so hard I am honestly surprised I didn't go into early labor and - as in my previous trip with Island Windjammers - I made some great new friends and had a fantastic time.  I'm only sorry it had to end.

Speaking of end - this is Scott's last week for this rotation!  After six continuous weeks of work he will now be off until July 2012 when he returns for another rotation.  While I am so grateful he has this job (I mean, could it be any more perfect?!), it will sure be nice to have him around again.  Being able to see him in action was such a treat - I was so proud of him and cannot believe how far we have come.

You can learn more about Island Windjammers on their Facebook Page and be sure to check out our pictures of this trip HERE!

SIGH of RELIEF (Captain)

Just call me "Captain Scott".

Believe it or not, it's been pretty stressful around here the past couple of weeks...

We didn't want to tell you about it, because - well, this is a happy blog - but now that everything is okay, we can let the cat out of the bag... 

Scott has FINALLY been issued his 100 ton Master Captains License by the United States Coast Guard.  In fact, he now actually carries the 200 ton license.  

So...Why was this stressful?  

He almost didn't get it.  

Which meant he almost lost his incredibly amazing job as a boat captain with Island Windjammers.

I've mentioned that getting your captain's license is no easy feat - and after the last few weeks I think getting into Law School might be easier...(okay, maybe not). You see - Scott's situation was very unique (and very lucky):  he actually had a job before he got his license.  For those of you who don't know, that is usually not the way things work in the maritime world.  People usually get their license, and then have to find a job.  So Scott got his cart before the horse.  Which was awesome.  Until we found out that there were a few minor "issues" with his credentials (namely, he qualified for the 50 ton and not the 100 ton, which he needed*)...Getting your OUPV 6 pack?  Not so hard.  Getting your 100 Ton Master?  More complicated!

I don't want to bore you with the particulars - but suffice it to say that it was a whirlwind of phone calls, faxes, emails, and inquires coupled with an actual mountain of paperwork.  The clock was ticking (he is taking control of s/v Diamant on December 17th) and his (incredibly understanding) boss was eager to know if and when she had to hire another captain.  I don't think I need to explain to you that government run organizations aren't known for their "speed" in paper processing, and the USCG (as wonderful as they are!) is no exception.  It was crazy, and for a little while there we thought it wasn't going to work out.  We were getting down to the wire, and it became a real nail-biter of a waiting game.  We were devastated.

But it DID work out and we got the ultimate Christmas present! Scott (who, I must mention, never lost hope or site of his goal) is now officially a USCG certified Captain! I am so proud of him and know that he is going to be fan-tastic.  Not to mention this will really help our cruising kitty.

I would like to give a shout-out to Boatwise.  If you or someone you know is looking to get their USCG Captain's License, you would be wise get in touch with Captain Rick and Captain Sue.  They are a wealth of knowledge and both of these lovely people went above and beyond acting as advocates for Scott, helping him sort through his credentials and double-checking rules and regulations for him (there are a LOT of them, and they change quite a bit). 

So there you have it! It's official!  My husband is a proper, certified Merchant Mariner.  Not going to lie, I really like the sound of it...I could not be more proud!

* He actually was qualified for the 100 ton, but needed to fix a few things on his paperwork.  Note to mariners looking to get your captains license:  make sure you know the proper formula to calculate TONNAGE of a boat (this is NOT weight and depth is NOT draft) and make sure to be very specific about your job on a boat.  "Race crew" only counts for 50% of the time so make sure to specify "deck hand" or "helmsman" if/when you can.  Also, start tracking that sea time!

Getting Your Captain's License is NOT Easy!

The mountain of paperwork Scott had to submit!

Scott headed to Trinidad last night with our friend, Mike, to complete the criteria needed to work on a passenger-carrying vessel, the STCW course...

While many of you may have thought that completing his USCG captain's license course was enough to become a "captain" - that was only the beginning...it is an incredible the amount of work to get your actual license, and Scott has been filling out, organizing and cross-checking paperwork for weeks in order to make sure he doesn't miss a step.

What does getting your captain's license entail, you wonder?

For starters, you must be 18, pass a drug test and a very difficult maritime exam, have a recent medical physical (within last 6 months), and obtain a TWIC card from the Department of Transportation.  Then, of course, there is the sea time. This is the hardest part by far.  To get a United States Coast Guard 100 ton license (which Scott has completed the course for and is applying for) you must account for 360 days at sea.  You'd think that sailing for a year, more or less non-stop, would have covered that with ease but there is a glitch:  a "day" can be no more than 8 hours in a 24 hour period.  If we spent 24 consecutive hours sailing to a destination (which we did plenty of), that is only considered one day, not three like you might assume.  This meant Scott had to supplement the hours spent on our boat and go back to his racing days to log all the hours he spent on other boats (which were many) in the past ten years.

Scott had to literally go back in time; check dates on races and track down former boat owners in his previous cities of Santa Barbara, Salt Lake City, Detroit and Chicago.  He had to make contact with the captains and have them sign-off on his time with them.  This process took ages.  Between a flurry of emails, phone calls and requests, he finally got his 360 hours more than covered*.  Once your sea time is accounted for and all the subsequent forms are completed, you must send them to the USCG for approval.  The following is a checklist of everything you need to apply for your License: 

• Coast Guard Application Form (CG-719B)
• Sea Service Forms (CG-719S)
• Physical Examination Report (CG-719K)
• Drug Test Report (5 Substance SAMSHA – CG-719-P)
• Three Character References
• Social Security Card
• Copy of TWIC Card or proof of purchase
• Proof of Citizenship
• First Aid/CPR Certification
• User Fees
• Training Certificate

(make sure to check them MULTIPLE times to make sure you have everything and that you have completed all forms properly!). Once submitted, their average turn-around time is no more than 15 days.  If Scott has one piece of advice for those of you who are thinking about getting your captain's license, it is to LOG YOUR HOURS AS YOU GO.  The form you need can be found here, and if you fill these out as you go, the arduous process of paperwork will be much, much easier when the time comes.

While all of that will get you a Captain's License, it will not be enough for you to work on a boat.  If you wanted to work on any ship, whether it be a steward on a mega-yacht or an engineer on a cargo ship, you will also need to complete the STCW course.  This course covers the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers and it is mandatory to have this certification to work on pretty much any boat (at least in the US and Caribbean).  The course is an intense five days, and by the time it is over on Friday, Scott will be proficient in these four areas: 

1. Basic safety, survival, and first aid
2. Bridge resource management (teamwork/watchkeeping)
3. Survival craft and rescue boats
4. Fire safety

Obtaining your STCW supposed to be pretty challenging and it includes a significant amount of playing with fire.  Rest assured, we'll tell you about it when he comes back!

* HUGE thank you to those wonderful captains who took the time to respond and help Scott out - your efforts are appreciated!