A Four letter word - Don't make me use it!

TWIC - TWIC - TWIC- TWIC !!!! Why should I even blog about this is when all of you dear friends have heard nothing but this nasty four letter word spoken too many times by me? I guess I'm at the point of just venting it out. This four letter word as been so much a part of my life for about a year. So much has lead up to it; there was such a build up to it. We all knew it wasn't going to be pleasant, but than Feb. 28th we went live - and - well - it was anticlimactic. Everything we had prepared ourselves for - all the worst case scenarios that were going to happen....... Nothing really did. Sure you had a couple things go on, but they were nothing compared to what we had all worked up in our minds. I will say that it is an exhausting four letter word. There have been many days, many long days and lots of phone calls when I'm not at work. I know all of us have been doing our best to "do it" right, but there are a handful of people that want to make our jobs difficult. This sounds terrible, but I really want to vent out who the person/people who are doing it.....and feel I can't in case they happen to read my blog and I don't want this certain thing to escalate more than it really needs to be. My big complaint about this particular situation is: if someone had a problem with a particular system in place why didn't they just come to me and see how it could be worked on to improve if needed. Instead they felt they needed to call the Coast Guard (USCG) and make a much bigger deal out of it than it is. We are all doing our best and want to make this an easy procedure to put in place. I just don't get it. I've always believed that if you have a problem with someone/something you go to the source first. 99% of the time it can easily be fixed and everyone walks away happy. In the event it can't be worked out you go to the next "higher" level to resolve the situation. UGH I'm just frustrated with this. It amazes me the maturity level of "these"men who could be my father - that is just my opinion though. After this past week I am convinced that this four letter word (TWIC!) doesn't have to be difficult. There are people that just want to make it difficult. I don't get it. We all knew it was coming; yet some thought it wouldn't really happen and when it did they were not prepared and now have only hurt themselves by waiting until the last minute. I don't think I have ever said the word NO so many times in one hour, one day, one week. It's almost become a reflex. I even found myself not listen to what someone was asking me and just answering NO. It wasn't even a question about TWIC; it wasn't even a yes or no question. It is good that I'm not a parent......my kid/kids wouldn't be allowed to do anything - it would be NO to everything (Mom what time is dinner...NO, Mom can I help you...NO, Mom love you...NO). I've really need to work on it before my Sunday School class.
Anyway, that is my rant - my venting that I just had to get out. All I can look forward to is a TWICless day, and day where I don't get TWICed off; possibly (as my friend said to me) a TWICerific day.

The Little Things

I started writing something up about the little things that bring joy to my life, but began having trouble making up any real list of multiple items. There were a few, but I felt I needed more than what I could come up with. I didn't post it. I'll include it towards the end of this though and hope you can enjoy it. It may be short - life is just amusing me more and more these days. It could have to do with my mind being spun. Thank goodness for laughter to get through the craziness.

It is difficult for me to come up with any other topic than what has consumed my life for the past couple months. I will be so happy when it is behind me. Oh my goodness - TWIC TWIC TWIC TWIC TWIC - is all I can think of; all I can talk about. Most of you who are around me know what I'm talking about. For those few that haven't been tortured by my talking about it....it's an I.D. type card that everyone will have to have in order to come into any marine terminal. A complete back ground check is run on you by Homeland Security/government and if you have a card you are supposedly not a threat. This Saturday (Feb.28th) it's done. You either have one or you don't. If you don't you are not coming in. I really need to learn how to say that in Spanish. My Spanish isn't good enough to correctly word/say that sentence. Oh...those truckers.

I wish I had something inspiring to say. I wish I had something creative to write. I wish I didn't have TWIC on the brain. I apologize for boring you, but I just had to vent it out.

Now here's my little attempt at not having a heavy mind:
Lately I've been really amused by the little things. There have been observations / moments that just crack me up. I just had to share them and hope you can be as amused. I will never be observant as the genius late Mr. George Carlin. I can only hope that everyone else can fine laughter and joy in every day life and your surroundings.

• The Discount Bridal Store in Albany is now Wholesale Plumbing Supply. What if you could combine both stores? Think about it...imagine it. A lot of things can be made from / designed with PVC pipe. PVC bridal fashion.
• One of the new E-Trade commercials has one of the baby's singing Mister Mister's "Broken Wings". Just proved the 80's will never go away.
• My older cat Screwball who disliked me the majority of her life (she's around 17 now) has become a cuddle/lap cat this past year. All it took was for her to get sick, have surgery and cost me more then anyone should pay for a pet. Go figure...should I have done that sooner?
• I saw a cute Pit Bull dog in a truck next to me at a stop light and the man driving thought I was checking him out and not the dog. It made me laugh when he started "car flirting" with me at each light.
• There is an auto warranty company that keeps calling me. When I hit the "number" to actually talk to a person; the minute I say I want to ask a question they hang up on me. This has happened three times now. Are they training these solicitors to just hang up as their version for customer service? It's crazy they want to sell me something and hang up rather than answer a question. Don't get it - just have to laugh.

Dr. Seuss tackles the waterfront

How is this possible that Dr. Seuss could tackle the the waterfront world? Well for now I'm going to refer to him as Captain Seuss. As I was waiting for containers to arrive to load to the ship I was working....I began to sound like Captain Seuss when someone asked me where the containers were. Thus Gray Ships and Cans (the maritime version of Green Eggs and Ham) was born.

Quickly for those who won't know certain terminology that I'll use; I'll give a few definitions.
Cans = containers
Haz = hazardous cargo
Motors = refrigerated containers have motors on one end; this motor has to face the "outlet" to plug them in.
Forward = front of the ship
Aft = back of the ship
I believe that covers anything that may be confusing for those not in my crazy ship world. Lastly, the ships I work go to Hawaii. That will explain the ending. I believe Gray Ships and Cans is still a work in progress, but this what I have at this time. Enjoy.

Gray Ships and Cans

by Capt. Seuss (a.k.a. Tammie)

They are not here, they are not there, they are not anywhere

I will not load them in a hatch, I will not load them near the stack
I do not like gray ships and cans, I do not like the ones I plan
I cannot load the haz right there, I cannot load the haz anywhere!
Oh where to load it, oh where to stow it, I cannot load that can
Which way to face them, oh where to place them
Motors forward, motors aft, just load the cans on the back
You use Mahalo and Aloha, why must you choose those words?
Thank you and hello is all I'll give you in return
I do not like gray ships and cans, I do not like the ones I plan

Again, this was just something creative that came to me while working. For the record (for those who work with me or are my customer) I love what I do. Without those gray ships and cans.....well I just can't see what else I'd ever do. Ships may be a "container curse" at times, but shipping is a true blessing. I hope the humor can be seen in this Captain Seuss inspiration.

Aloha

Well it's been a week since I got home from my vacation to Kona, Hawaii. The Big Island is big, is amazing, is a place I'm happy to have experienced (even if I only saw 1/3 of it this time). That's right....this time. I'll will definitely choose to go back again. Now just a side note; this being my 4th entry, I will attempt to post photos through out it. I'm attempting this feat to prove to my dear friend Beth that "yes I can...I think I can...".

This vacation was my first "get away" vacation in over a year. I forgot how nice that can be. I used my vacation club/timeshare for the first time. The Kona Airport was something that I have never seen before. Due to the amazing weather the airport is basically all open, the "gates" are outside, you sit out under the sun awaiting your flight.

Hee Haw...I figured out to get a photo on this thing and where I wanted it to be...I think I can.

Anyway, like I said I stayed at my one of my timeshare locations. The condo was amazing. It was so beautiful and (I kid you not) bigger than my 1st apartment. There were two bathrooms; I've never had two bathrooms. Silly that something like that would make me smile. It was also so nice having a full kitchen. I did a little grocery shopping when I got there and would cook breakfast everyday. It was fun to be able to do that. There was a large lanai (balcony for all of us mainlanders). I'd sit out there in the morning drinking my coffee just staring at the ocean.

I think I saw some of the most beautiful sunsets ever. I was able to catch a few of them on my lanai

and also from my friend's house. What a view they have.

To have that view every night while you eat dinner....oh my. GOD's beauty is all over this island.

I mainly relaxed, spent time with my friends (thank you Jeff & Nori for being great hosts and tour guides) and did sight seeing. There is just so much history on the Big Island. I saw one of the smallest churches ever; I think it probably only holds about 10 people and according to the sign has "one mass only Sat 7:30pm".

The 1st church in Hawaii is also on that island. It was pretty cool to go inside and see all that it was. I was also amazed at how many different climates were in this one small place (ok bigger than all the other Hawaiian islands, but it is an island). Again I only saw a 1/3 of it, but I was in 85 degree dryish weather, then very green light rain yet warm weather and then what I never expected the snow. Yep the snow. I never knew that it snowed anywhere on the Hawaiian islands, but there is a mountain top at 14k feet elevation.

Amazing....beautiful. It was a great day and a coastal drive I'll never forget.

So vacation in Kona, Hawaii was great. If any of you get chance I recommend checking this island out. In closing I'll end with a few other memorable photos.

Do you blog even when there is nothing worth talking about?

Ok, so that was quite a long title....but do you blog even when nothing is worth talking about? I'm new to this, but what is really going on in my life that anyone would want to read. I realized that the last time was 12/31 and now it's a few weeks into January.
The past few weeks have basically been my same old thing...work, work, work. Last week was not the best, but it is over. I need to just let it go, but then that has always been one of my weaknesses. The worse part is...I need to let it go because I'm on vacation as of last night. YES, vacation!!! I am looking forward to getting away. 2008 I may have taken my vacation time, but didn't go anywhere. You've got to love that "use it or lose it" concept. So in 2009, I am going to take the time to take care of myself (especially for my own sanity) and get away/leave town/heck leave the state. So now with that said; come Monday it is Aloha baby!!! I leave for Kona, Hawaii - beaches, ocean and the Aloha mind set. When I come back...then I will have something worthy of blogging about.
Excuse the ramble, but I felt the pressure to post something since I now have a blog.
Mahalo to anyone who reads this. (you like that...I'm already working on my Hawaiian words)

Old versus Older

So for some reason this is what came to me at 4am this morning. Came to me; that is funny. Of course I've been thinking about this. I'm going to be 37! Should I be worried, scared, indifferent, etc.? Maybe all those things. I have no idea why turning 30 was so traumatic for me and 37 seems to be no big deal. A friend of mine made a good point and helped change my attitude around. I find it amazing that a word can make you feel different inside; change your out look. Old versus Older. I was finding myself saying that "I'm old" when I could not remember something or muscle/bones ached, etc. All the stuff that happens to all of us. Especially the fact that we all have times when we can't remember something. Heck I've always had a problem with that. Come on...the best is when you go to a room and don't remember why you went there. But then on the other hand I seem to always have useless 80's information in my head. Yippee for big hair bands and one hit wonders. Anyway, I'm getting off my point. As I found myself saying "I'm old" and honestly was feeling it. I felt run down; I felt OLD. Then this friend of mine told me to stop saying that or I would "be" old. That I needed to look at it/believe it; that I'm just getting older. We all get older, but it doesn't mean that we still can't be active and live life to its fullest; no matter what our age (the number) is. I began to think about this and then started just saying it, "I'm getting older". Just changing the word was making a difference in how I felt, in how I was living my life and I honestly believe even in my health. I felt better! So basically my rambling has to do with we are not old; we are all just getting older. Age really is just a number and we are as old or older (however you want to look at it) as we want to perceive ourselves. So bring it on 37, I'm just getting older.

A New Year is coming

So to try and get with the times and being that a new year is coming....I thought I'd give this blog thing a shot. The more I think about it; these times we live in have become us sharing our lives and thoughts through a web page. It doesn't seem so long ago when I actual would write someone a letter. Remember those days?!?

Not too exciting for my first post, but it is my first try at this.

I hope that the coming year (go 2009) is amazing for everyone. I know I'm looking forward to the adventures that lay ahead for me. I think with that I'll go and let this be a beginning to my getting on board with the blog world.