Hello all!
I'm alive. I wish disparately that I could write one of my epic blogs as it's been ages since the last one and SO many cool things have happened. However, I'm in the Friday Harbor library and they have a time limit on their computers!! I'm already 5 minutes over mine so any minute now I'm going to get the boot!
This is what I'm going to do. I'm going to make a list of things that stick out in my mind and hopefully that'll suffice.
1. Watching the Tacoma fireworks from atop the main mast
2. Pranking other tall ships at the Tacoma Festival
3. Building connections with other tall ships, their crew, and ASTA personnel
4. Hugging a maple leaf mascot in Victoria BC
5. Bonding with our crew
6. Making the lashings for the mainsail when we had to put a reef in
7. Being the Bosun while our bosun was on leave (I bought a spike!)
8. Sailing at 10 knots across the Straights of Juan de Fuca in 30 knot winds!
9. Getting ill in rough seas from Port Townsend to Friday Harbor
10. Stitching the main sail
There are so many more and maybe I'll be able to get on later! I miss you all dearly.
Z
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Sailing Again!
Dearest Family & Friends --
I'll keep this brief. The time has come again for me to go on a sailing adventure! As of Sunday the 15th of June I'll be aboard the historic tall ship "Adventuress." We'll visit may places during my 6 week stay aboard, including: Bellingham, Port Townsend, Tacoma, Friday Harbor, Victoria BC, and various anchorages between. You can go to the Adventuress' web-page to find our schedule and if you happen to be in any of those places when I am, give me a call! I'd love to meet up with you.
I know it's only 6 weeks, but I want you all to know I care for you immensely and I'm so happy to know you. Being gone for any period of time is hard, especially when the people you're leaving are so amazing. After August 1st I'll be back on land and living in Seattle! So give me a call or shoot me an email and lets get together!
Oh, and if for some reason you wish to send me snail mail or a postcard, send it to the following:
Zachary Simonson-Bond
c/o Sound Experience
PO Box 1390
Port Townsend, WA 98368
I love you all,
Cheers,
Z
I'll keep this brief. The time has come again for me to go on a sailing adventure! As of Sunday the 15th of June I'll be aboard the historic tall ship "Adventuress." We'll visit may places during my 6 week stay aboard, including: Bellingham, Port Townsend, Tacoma, Friday Harbor, Victoria BC, and various anchorages between. You can go to the Adventuress' web-page to find our schedule and if you happen to be in any of those places when I am, give me a call! I'd love to meet up with you.
I know it's only 6 weeks, but I want you all to know I care for you immensely and I'm so happy to know you. Being gone for any period of time is hard, especially when the people you're leaving are so amazing. After August 1st I'll be back on land and living in Seattle! So give me a call or shoot me an email and lets get together!
Oh, and if for some reason you wish to send me snail mail or a postcard, send it to the following:
Zachary Simonson-Bond
c/o Sound Experience
PO Box 1390
Port Townsend, WA 98368
I love you all,
Cheers,
Z
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
The end is in sight.
I literally have a final next Friday. To me, that signifies the beginning of the end, and it's a mere 9 days away. This is all that's left to do:
My COM video is due tomorrow. We're polishing it up tonight.
My SOC paper is due next Tuesday. I need to get on that. I think I'll make a phone-call regarding my paper this Thursday.
Then my Spanish final is next Friday, the 7th. Followed closely by my COM final on Monday the 9th, and finishing with my SOC final on the 11th.
Then I'm on the Adventuress on the 15th (Training is the 16th but they want us there the night before)
Somewhere in there I have to get a food handlers and CPR/First Aid training for the Good Ship. My schedule and all the schedules I've found don't match up so well. But it looks like I'll be taking my CPR/First Aid from the Red Cross on the 14th of June, 9am- 4pm. As for the Food Handlers. I think I'll take it either on Monday the 2nd at 8:30 in Downtown, or I'll do the Sand Point one at 9:30 on Wednesday the 4th of June.
Other then that, I've already started preparing for the Adventuress. I've made a lanyard for my spike that Jesse made for me, as well as a new Turks Head for my wrist. It's still got a long tail on it because I need to lash the two ends together, but obviously I'm unable to do so myself. So I can leave the tail wrapped around my wrist until I get on the ship in 3 weeks, or I can try and have someone burn the ends for me... I don't really like either proposition. I could always make another one if this one goes bust.
As for my pleasure reading, I've been engulfed by 20000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne. It's getting me all fired up about my summer adventure! Here's a line I just read and it's fantastic:
"The sea is everything. It covers seven-tenths of the terrestrial globe. It's breath is pure and healthy. It is an immense desert, where man is never lonely, for he feels life stirring on all sides. The sea is only the embodiment of a supernatural and wonderful existence. It is nothing but love and emotion; it is the 'Living Infinite'" - Cpt. Nemo
My new workout plan is great, except I was meant to work out yesterday but didn't because of Memorial Day (they Gym closed early). So I'm about to do it in about a half hour. Then another one tomorrow morning at 10. The thing is, you're meant to leave a day between workouts so that may or may not be the best idea. Something needs to change though. I've lost no weight since being back and I've been eating pretty terribly. I have to stop that. I have three weeks until the Adventuress and I want to lose 10 pounds (I'm about 208 today). I think it's possible if I can just eat better. 195 is the goal at the present. 185 would put me in the "Normal weight" BMI range. Right now i'm in the overweight range. Boo.
Leaving that depressing subject behind, I've started guitar lessons with Rosy! It's fun and the lady teaching is really nice. Right now I'm practicing my pentatonic scales (for solos and bluesy stuff) and familiarizing myself with the fretboard; moving up and down it, knowing chords and notes etc.
I think that's it for today. More later!
Z
I literally have a final next Friday. To me, that signifies the beginning of the end, and it's a mere 9 days away. This is all that's left to do:
My COM video is due tomorrow. We're polishing it up tonight.
My SOC paper is due next Tuesday. I need to get on that. I think I'll make a phone-call regarding my paper this Thursday.
Then my Spanish final is next Friday, the 7th. Followed closely by my COM final on Monday the 9th, and finishing with my SOC final on the 11th.
Then I'm on the Adventuress on the 15th (Training is the 16th but they want us there the night before)
Somewhere in there I have to get a food handlers and CPR/First Aid training for the Good Ship. My schedule and all the schedules I've found don't match up so well. But it looks like I'll be taking my CPR/First Aid from the Red Cross on the 14th of June, 9am- 4pm. As for the Food Handlers. I think I'll take it either on Monday the 2nd at 8:30 in Downtown, or I'll do the Sand Point one at 9:30 on Wednesday the 4th of June.
Other then that, I've already started preparing for the Adventuress. I've made a lanyard for my spike that Jesse made for me, as well as a new Turks Head for my wrist. It's still got a long tail on it because I need to lash the two ends together, but obviously I'm unable to do so myself. So I can leave the tail wrapped around my wrist until I get on the ship in 3 weeks, or I can try and have someone burn the ends for me... I don't really like either proposition. I could always make another one if this one goes bust.
As for my pleasure reading, I've been engulfed by 20000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne. It's getting me all fired up about my summer adventure! Here's a line I just read and it's fantastic:
"The sea is everything. It covers seven-tenths of the terrestrial globe. It's breath is pure and healthy. It is an immense desert, where man is never lonely, for he feels life stirring on all sides. The sea is only the embodiment of a supernatural and wonderful existence. It is nothing but love and emotion; it is the 'Living Infinite'" - Cpt. Nemo
My new workout plan is great, except I was meant to work out yesterday but didn't because of Memorial Day (they Gym closed early). So I'm about to do it in about a half hour. Then another one tomorrow morning at 10. The thing is, you're meant to leave a day between workouts so that may or may not be the best idea. Something needs to change though. I've lost no weight since being back and I've been eating pretty terribly. I have to stop that. I have three weeks until the Adventuress and I want to lose 10 pounds (I'm about 208 today). I think it's possible if I can just eat better. 195 is the goal at the present. 185 would put me in the "Normal weight" BMI range. Right now i'm in the overweight range. Boo.
Leaving that depressing subject behind, I've started guitar lessons with Rosy! It's fun and the lady teaching is really nice. Right now I'm practicing my pentatonic scales (for solos and bluesy stuff) and familiarizing myself with the fretboard; moving up and down it, knowing chords and notes etc.
I think that's it for today. More later!
Z
Friday, May 16, 2008
Highlights of the Week
Zach's Top Five Favourite Moments of the Week
5. Getting asked out on a date
4. Cold-reading the play "The History Boys" with my new friends
3. Slack-lining, studying, and tanning in the Quad
2. Passing a man dressed as "Bleaker" from the movie Juno, then him giving me orange tic-tacs.
1. Meeting the President of the University of Washington Mark Emmert and having a great conversation with him!
5. Getting asked out on a date
4. Cold-reading the play "The History Boys" with my new friends
3. Slack-lining, studying, and tanning in the Quad
2. Passing a man dressed as "Bleaker" from the movie Juno, then him giving me orange tic-tacs.
1. Meeting the President of the University of Washington Mark Emmert and having a great conversation with him!
Sunday, May 4, 2008
I might live in France
I just keep hearing great things about France.
For some bizarre reason, the powers that be have decided that we shouldn't like the French. They're prudish, uppity, elitist, blah blah blah. Well, every country has those people, but you can't say generalize the entire French populace as such! I've been there and sure, Paris may be like that a bit, but even the rest of the France believes Paris is basically its own entity. The non-Parisians are from a mold quite their own.
I'm constantly impressed by what they're doing. Their stance on our war for one. Their language for another. They are well educated and on average, very healthy. And their food! My god.
But two things have struck me recently. First, in my Sociology class we've been talking about poverty and welfare programmes. Here's the thing, most western societies have implemented a poverty line and numerous welfare programmes, but some countries have been more successful at curbing poverty than others. France has done a great job of that. The difference between their programmes and ours is that they A) have set the poverty line higher than we have, and B) they have implemented more encompassing programmes; they consider things such as multiple children, debts, etc. Our system merely considers how much you make each year which is only one factor in a slurry that can lead to poverty.
But besides actually spending the money to help out their poor, they also care about health. I believe they have a universal health care system, but that's not what I'm talking about. Recently a bill was passed by France's lower house of Parliament that would make it illegal for anyone, including magazines, advertisers and websites, to "publicly incite" extreme thinness. The French even care about the self image of their people! MY GOD that's phenomenal!! They've long been the experts in fashion, and used the ultra-thin model trend to the full extent, but now they're leading the change for a better body image! This is a great step towards healing our ailing, over exercising, purging men and women from their endless quest for zero fat and flatter abs. Granted, exercise is immensely important, but not everyone can be Keira Knightly.
Thank you God. Or Buddha. Or whoever. Thanks for this gem of humanity in these dark times.
For some bizarre reason, the powers that be have decided that we shouldn't like the French. They're prudish, uppity, elitist, blah blah blah. Well, every country has those people, but you can't say generalize the entire French populace as such! I've been there and sure, Paris may be like that a bit, but even the rest of the France believes Paris is basically its own entity. The non-Parisians are from a mold quite their own.
I'm constantly impressed by what they're doing. Their stance on our war for one. Their language for another. They are well educated and on average, very healthy. And their food! My god.
But two things have struck me recently. First, in my Sociology class we've been talking about poverty and welfare programmes. Here's the thing, most western societies have implemented a poverty line and numerous welfare programmes, but some countries have been more successful at curbing poverty than others. France has done a great job of that. The difference between their programmes and ours is that they A) have set the poverty line higher than we have, and B) they have implemented more encompassing programmes; they consider things such as multiple children, debts, etc. Our system merely considers how much you make each year which is only one factor in a slurry that can lead to poverty.
But besides actually spending the money to help out their poor, they also care about health. I believe they have a universal health care system, but that's not what I'm talking about. Recently a bill was passed by France's lower house of Parliament that would make it illegal for anyone, including magazines, advertisers and websites, to "publicly incite" extreme thinness. The French even care about the self image of their people! MY GOD that's phenomenal!! They've long been the experts in fashion, and used the ultra-thin model trend to the full extent, but now they're leading the change for a better body image! This is a great step towards healing our ailing, over exercising, purging men and women from their endless quest for zero fat and flatter abs. Granted, exercise is immensely important, but not everyone can be Keira Knightly.
Thank you God. Or Buddha. Or whoever. Thanks for this gem of humanity in these dark times.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
"Wow I Feel Like a Pirate"
Last night, under the glow of the waning moon, a plan was set in motion to save the planet. Granted, it wasn't the most comprehensive plan, nor did it extend beyond that evening, but it was a world-saving plan nevertheless.
Cloaked in university apparel and athletic wear, two young men slipped silently into the mirky night to set upon their secret world changing adventure. I cannot say who these two men were, though I can say they are both quite hansom and any woman would be lucky to have either of these important world changing men.
They moved so casually that any observer would have only suspected they were two good friends enjoying a leisurely stroll in the crisp evening air. But it was so much more then that. Upon closer inspection, the observer might have noticed the moonlight glinting off an object held by one of the two men, or perhaps that, held in the other hand, there was something gently swaying with the wind.
This gently swaying parcel was secured the day prior at a festival. To many, that day was considered to be "Earth Day" and that parcel was, in fact, a sapling, given out gratuitously by two other very kind world-saving gentlemen. The sapling was cared for throughout the day by one of our two protagonists, and eventually it made its way to north Seattle where it would become the focal point for the top secret world-changing plan previously mentioned.
Before too long the casually strolling duo strayed from their worn concrete path and set foot upon the squidgy earth. Their heads craned and bowed looking for the perfect place, a place where a young tree could grow into an old tree. At the top of a hill overlooking a park, the two men set upon on their master plan. One of the men grabbed the tool that twinkled excitedly under the ebbing moon. He raised it above his head, and paused to take aim and add dramatic effect, then forced it down into the cold damp soil.
Working quickly, he pulled up scoop after scoop of dark earth until a small hole was made. Digging away, he paused for a moment and said to his companion, "Wow, I feel like I pirate". Before too long, the digging was done and the young tree was placed in its new home. Loving hands pushed the soil back around its fragile base. To two men got up from their work, then parted ways. The work was done, the plan was complete, and the Earth was saved... at least a little bit.
Cloaked in university apparel and athletic wear, two young men slipped silently into the mirky night to set upon their secret world changing adventure. I cannot say who these two men were, though I can say they are both quite hansom and any woman would be lucky to have either of these important world changing men.
They moved so casually that any observer would have only suspected they were two good friends enjoying a leisurely stroll in the crisp evening air. But it was so much more then that. Upon closer inspection, the observer might have noticed the moonlight glinting off an object held by one of the two men, or perhaps that, held in the other hand, there was something gently swaying with the wind.
This gently swaying parcel was secured the day prior at a festival. To many, that day was considered to be "Earth Day" and that parcel was, in fact, a sapling, given out gratuitously by two other very kind world-saving gentlemen. The sapling was cared for throughout the day by one of our two protagonists, and eventually it made its way to north Seattle where it would become the focal point for the top secret world-changing plan previously mentioned.
Before too long the casually strolling duo strayed from their worn concrete path and set foot upon the squidgy earth. Their heads craned and bowed looking for the perfect place, a place where a young tree could grow into an old tree. At the top of a hill overlooking a park, the two men set upon on their master plan. One of the men grabbed the tool that twinkled excitedly under the ebbing moon. He raised it above his head, and paused to take aim and add dramatic effect, then forced it down into the cold damp soil.
Working quickly, he pulled up scoop after scoop of dark earth until a small hole was made. Digging away, he paused for a moment and said to his companion, "Wow, I feel like I pirate". Before too long, the digging was done and the young tree was placed in its new home. Loving hands pushed the soil back around its fragile base. To two men got up from their work, then parted ways. The work was done, the plan was complete, and the Earth was saved... at least a little bit.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Just Ride
Just ride.
The wind whistled as it whipped around his glasses. Normally, the stinging blast would have made his eyes water, but he was already crying. "Thank you for that" he whispered to no one. The wind carried the tears back across his face.
Just ride. Harder.
His thoughts came faster than he could pedal them away. With each exhaled breath, he breathed away a worry. With every exasperated thrust of his leg, he pushed away a fear. But with every revolution of the wheel, something bad came back to him.
Just ride. Harder. Stand up.
He stood up. The tears now streamed down his nose and fell off to the pavement speeding below. His body rocked up and down with every turn of the crank, his legs screamed fire, his arms pulled unceasingly on the bars. The bike creaked and moaned the agony inside him; he said nothing.
Just ride. Harder. Stand up. Faster.
The sun beat through the broken clouds and warmed the shivering pavement. A layer of steam clung to the road as if it was afraid to fly away. He cut through that mist like a ship through water and left it swirling in his wake. The sun tried to warm him as well, and for a moment he welcomed it, but with the spin of the wheel another sorrow came. He ached for the speed to get away.
Just ride. Harder. Stand up. Faster. Longer.
The wind tried where the sun had failed. It blasted him from all sides, tried to slow him, tried to stop his hurt driven madness. But he sustained. The sun could not entice him. The wind could not slow him. The tears continued to fall and the wheels continued to spin.
Just ride. Harder. Stand up. Faster. Longer. Stop.
She can succeed where the others had failed. He came to the crest of the hill and she revealed herself to him. Her vast blue expanse stretched out in all directions. At the oceans edge he was forced to stop. His breathing slowed to match the breaking of the waves. His muscles relaxed. The tears rolled slowly to a stop. The thoughts stopped.
Breathe.
The wind whistled as it whipped around his glasses. Normally, the stinging blast would have made his eyes water, but he was already crying. "Thank you for that" he whispered to no one. The wind carried the tears back across his face.
Just ride. Harder.
His thoughts came faster than he could pedal them away. With each exhaled breath, he breathed away a worry. With every exasperated thrust of his leg, he pushed away a fear. But with every revolution of the wheel, something bad came back to him.
Just ride. Harder. Stand up.
He stood up. The tears now streamed down his nose and fell off to the pavement speeding below. His body rocked up and down with every turn of the crank, his legs screamed fire, his arms pulled unceasingly on the bars. The bike creaked and moaned the agony inside him; he said nothing.
Just ride. Harder. Stand up. Faster.
The sun beat through the broken clouds and warmed the shivering pavement. A layer of steam clung to the road as if it was afraid to fly away. He cut through that mist like a ship through water and left it swirling in his wake. The sun tried to warm him as well, and for a moment he welcomed it, but with the spin of the wheel another sorrow came. He ached for the speed to get away.
Just ride. Harder. Stand up. Faster. Longer.
The wind tried where the sun had failed. It blasted him from all sides, tried to slow him, tried to stop his hurt driven madness. But he sustained. The sun could not entice him. The wind could not slow him. The tears continued to fall and the wheels continued to spin.
Just ride. Harder. Stand up. Faster. Longer. Stop.
She can succeed where the others had failed. He came to the crest of the hill and she revealed herself to him. Her vast blue expanse stretched out in all directions. At the oceans edge he was forced to stop. His breathing slowed to match the breaking of the waves. His muscles relaxed. The tears rolled slowly to a stop. The thoughts stopped.
Breathe.
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