Here's a few words I thought I would throw out in hopes of getting ideas on how to use them in future writings. Send me your thoughts; you know like the days of old when you were in school and your teacher had you write your vocabulary words in a complete sentence. Use your imagination, be creative, funny. serious or delirious. Just relate them to sailing. Thanks, Marlene
Here are this week's words:
aperitifs
magnanimity
veroten
Added by Marlene A. Sassaman on April 18, 2009 at 3:01am —
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Early on in my school counseling career my supervisor, Libby Schmidt, warned me to ask busy people to help out when needed. She went on to explain that busy people have a knack for getting things done. I guess that is a complement, because just about the time my blackberry shows every moment of every day for the next six weeks is full, I couldn't seem to refuse a request for help.
One of my crew, Susan, wanted to buy a used 'total gym' fitness contraption. Because I have been using…
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Added by Marlene A. Sassaman on April 12, 2009 at 8:15am —
2 Comments
Those who remember the slight hesitation a millisecond before their first kiss should empathize with future anticipated endeavors. Unlike the long awaited kiss at the doorstep ending our first date, some things come to us for the first time without much fuss or memory. Does anyone remember their first spelling test? How about the very first picture they drew in kindergarten? Really now, does anyone remember the first time they walked three steps.
Then, there are those times that we…
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Added by Marlene A. Sassaman on April 4, 2009 at 7:39pm —
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Harry NIllson said it best in his story/song, "The Point" : we hear what we want to hear. . .
How many times have we 'sailorettes' told our significant other something that they totally don't hear or acknowledge. From the first day my husband, Dan, and I met nearly 30 years ago I said I wanted to sail alone around the world. After all, I had just bought my first boat and read Robin Graham's book the Dove. I knew what I wanted. To this day, as I finally commit to making the dream a…
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Added by Marlene A. Sassaman on March 25, 2009 at 4:32am —
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Just when I think I have my life under control I find myself racing from project to project.
First there is the opportunity to increase my blog postings to three per week. Why? because I am transiting into a career as a writer. Writer's must write. In addition to writing up the questions for an upcoming interview I am writing an article to enter in a contest. Second, there is the need to enhance my writing with research. People want facts, not just about me, but about others, about…
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Added by Marlene A. Sassaman on March 21, 2009 at 11:24pm —
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Being a born and bred Jersey girl it is embarrassing to admit it wasn't until the summer of 2006 that I figured out where Sandy Hook is and why it is called Sandy Hook. After all, I spent most of my summers growing up at the Jersey shore. Asbury Park was a favorite Friday night spot for the family to stroll the boardwalk, grab the rings on the once famous merry-go-round, and spend endless hours in the penny arcade. These were the days way before Bruce Springsteen presented his paradoxical…
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Added by Marlene A. Sassaman on March 17, 2009 at 11:00pm —
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And, sometimes it is the other way around; or perhaps it is a cyclical event. We had a perfectly beautful sail on Friday night followed by a great day of practice boat handling skills on Saturday, ending on Sunday evening in utter frustration as I put waypoints and plotted a route on the GPS. If I am to make land fall at Sandy Point, New Jersey this summer I need to be a whiz at programming the gps. Folks that use them act like it is a simple push of the button.
But, which button?.…
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Added by Marlene A. Sassaman on March 15, 2009 at 9:16pm —
6 Comments
With 7 women on board, SPRAY, performed flawlessly this evening. I can't believe how much easier and easier she gets to sail. Sure, I still have to be careful around hard objects as with driving any vehicle. But truly, the extra money she cost is worth it. The roller furling jib and screacher eliminate foredeck crew, except for the occasional, oops, whoops, something is caught on the watch --a ma- call- it. By our next outing, of course, everyone will know to call the watch --a ma-- call - it…
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Added by Marlene A. Sassaman on March 13, 2009 at 11:26pm —
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Although I declared my intent to sail to New York Haror several weeks ago. Yesterday, I took the first step toward making it a reality. After 5 hours or scrub a dub-dub, SPRAY, my vessel of choice, is at least in a condition to note any areas in need of repair. Two mini dings, next to each other show about a 1 inch chip in the gelcoat. Then, there are the stress cracks around a few of the fittings, some ring-dings in need of replacement and that itsy bitsy sink drain that is filled with all…
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Added by Marlene A. Sassaman on March 1, 2009 at 8:47pm —
8 Comments
It is a good thing my addiction is to sailing, a sport that entices me with a constant challenge. Sometimes the challenge is to get a crew together. Other times, it is a challenge to teach the crew. Still other times, the challenge is to train me. Whatever the challenge sailing keeps me motivated to sail some more.
Three days a week I host dockside chats. Two on my F28 tri and one on a Lindenberg 28. With springtime on her doorstep it is expected our dockside chats will morph into…
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Added by Marlene A. Sassaman on February 23, 2009 at 12:00am —
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This question was posed by a new e-friend. It seemed generic enough to post on the blog. Being new to Sea Knots I thought I could set up my own personal blog. If I can would someone be kind enough to explain how to do so. In the meantime, I clicked Blogs on the toolbar and it led me to this site. Anyway, here is the answer to the question, 'what brought me to want to sail solo?'
Answer: Reading Robin Graham's book, the Dove.
I often sail and race with others; on my boat or…
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Added by Marlene A. Sassaman on February 4, 2009 at 11:42pm —
6 Comments