What to do?

I'm not sure exactly what's going on, to be perfectly honest. I've kept this blog going with more or less daily posts, for something like 3 years, with a year or so prior of my previous blog, which I had to shut down d/t work issues.  Lately?  I'm just not posting.  Part of it has been work-related, in that onboard I have been working hellish hours, under a lot of stress and when I get off, I also have a lot of things to do and simply want to spend time with my wife, children and friends.  Whatever the case, this blog has suffered greatly in the past several months and I find myself questioning the validity of keeping it open.

I think about the fact that over the years it has served several purposes, more than admirably. I've had a place ot keep my family and friends up to date with my worldly wanderings.  I've had a place to vent, a place to be creative.  I've met some WONDERFUL people as a direct result of this blog. One of them, LL, has become part of my extended family.  We LOVE her and our vacations together have been a huge treat.  Man, can she cook the vittles, too:)  I've received, advise, gifts, cool links, GREAT reading recommendations, a chance to write and coorespond with the wonderful and creative folks at FTTW (we still email and they are still, all, drop-dead funny), and the chance to explore other people's writing and lives-something I will always cherish, no matter if I keep writing, or not.  Even as a non-blogger, I will always read, especially those on my blogroll, that I've been reading for years, now. 

So, I know blogs come and blogs go.  I don't know if mine will go, yet.

AND, in a pathetic attempt to update anyone who reads here, but doesn't follow me on Twitter -I'm in Colombia, not far offshore from Cartagena, or Baranquilla, take your pick.  I'm working my ass off, it's hot, humid, sunny and mostly very rough.  I've still got ten fingers, ten toes and my sense of humor (which really was never any good, but it's still here).

Who needs a spoonful of sugar?

We're finally back in operation as of last night. Worked a LONG, 17-hr shift then was woken up early this morning after a crappy, four hour nap to deal with all sorts of shit-problems everyone else is having, that I HAVE TO SOLVE, RIGHT NOW.  I am not a happy camper.  Maybe before half the day is gone, I MIGHT get to work on my own issues.  Gee, it's good to be back at work. 

In other news, I ate a tablespoon of instant coffee this morning, just to wake up enough to be able to think straight.  It actually tasted good.  Is that a bad sign?

Back in the saddle, again

I'm fully immersed in the work now.  The operation isn't actually up and running, which is a blessing as I have a rather complicated workflow to set up and prosecute.  After nearly 2 full days onboard, I'm still reading emails and handover notes, trying to get a handle on what is supposed to be done for this project.  Damn.

Yesterday, after just getting here, I get an email requesting I choose flights home.  Going to be a very short and fast trip.

I'm suddenly getting solicited to review products on my blog, offers for free shit and whatnot.  I've got mixed feelings on this.  Any comments?  I started my (largely ignored, lately) review blog to let people know when I come across a product I feel strongly about, not to get free shit and promote (or trash-talk) just anything.  Let me amend that statement.  I haven't ignored the review blog, I just haven't come across anything l feel strongly about, lately.  Well, I did manage to drink a little good beer over the break and have been kicking around the idea of reviewing my favorite brew pub and their yummy beers...KBC, KBC, KBC....

Heard on Twitter (from Tony Robbins) that Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson is going to begin offering tickets for commercial space flight next year.  I think I have finally found a reason to be very wealthy.  Tickets to space would fall somewhere between a new deer rifle and a new fishing pole.

Finally, as nice as it is to be working back in my home quadrant of the globe, it looks to get even better-there is a good chance I'll be starting up a multi-ship operation back in US waters at the end of the year, or early next year :)

home away from home

And THIS is the place I'm "stuck" at...

Kicking back in Colombia

Its amazing that I've let the blog go so long without an update of some sorts.  All I can say is that my break was WAY too short and I simply needed to spend time with my family and get a bit of work done, too.

I'm currently kicking back in Cartagena, Colombia in a 5-star resort on the beach.  I'm sitting in a GIANT, tented lobby/balcony, overlooking the pool and the beach right now, contemplating whether or not to get a drink, or something to eat before I take a nap in the gentle ocean breeze that's making me very, very sleepy.  A siesta is definitely in order.

I ended up here after missing a connection in Houston at crew-x, which in turn, caused me to miss the boat out to my ship.  Sooo, I spent a pleasant night and day in Bogota, then flew here last night.  I spent some time with the offgoing crew, who turned up a few hours after me, last night.  They were too eager to party and figuring I was heading to work this morning, I begged off and crashed in the hammock swinging on my balcony, overlooking the ocean.  During the night, a storm blew in and blowing rain forced me back into my suite.  Poor me.

Actually, as nice as it is here (and man, is it fucking NICE), it just isn't that enjoyable without my wife here to enjoy it with me.  Ocassionally, I end up, through some twist of fate, in places like this, but it sucks being alone.  Eating, drinking and wandering around on your own is, in a word, lonely.  Honey, if you read this, I really wish you were here.  I would rather be at work than sitting in a place like this, by myself :(

ps. 5-star resorts in Cartagena are not fucking cheap.  Six bucks for a 6000ml bottle of water!  Don't even ask about beer...