Now We're Sailing

Mags and I completed our Basic Keelboat sailing lesson at the Coconut Grove Sailing Club.  I was unable to post a video here but we've got it posted on YouTube.  It's only one minute long but I'll remember this for a lifetime. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grqhlBjVm9g&feature=channel

Thank You Jimmy

Shopping for a Christmas gift for my wife and I was easy this year.  Two tickets to Jimmy Buffett at the American Airlines Arena.  What a sweet time.  We were three rows up from the corner of the stage and about 20 feet from Pat Riley.  We even ran into "Little Rob" from St. Thomas University.  The show was great and my date was hot! 

Happy Birthday Nat

My little one turned 5 recently (ok two months ago so shoot me for being late).  She made the duo a trio and the show has never stopped.  She's got Coppertone skin and ocean blue eyes.  She loves her hamster and hates soccer.  Heck she even has a hairdo named after her.  She's so special to all of us and we wish her a Happy Birthday.

The Blue Steel pose ripped off from Zoolander!

It's been too long

This is just a quick post to let you know that I have not been shipwrecked or shanghaied. December was a busy month with the usual holiday events and a road trip to The mountains of North Carolina in search of snow. We found some (but not much). January has Vic returning to sailing and Kat in soccer. I've been battling the flu for two weeks but should be in the clear now. Next week we head to Jimmy Buffett in order to renew our membership to Margaritaville. More posts to come. Happy new year everyone!

Mother Ocean Herald Article

Well my favorite little marine consignment shop in the Keys has finally made it big.  Check out the article from the Miami Herald.   http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/11/18/v-print/2508413/ahoy-bargain-hunters-marine-consignment.html  In case you were wondering I was the consignee who ok'd selling the model brigantine sailboat for $60.  After 20 years in Miami I finally made into the Herald (sorta!)  I actually found out about the article after delivering a new load of items to Reuven yesterday.  Stop by and ask about the salt n pepper shakers or large brass portholes.   Very cool stuff.  Best wishes to Lysa and Reuven. 

The Story of Burdines - Seth Bramson

http://www.miamiherald.com/video/index.html?media_id=120576751

Mr. Bramson was one of my favorite professors from St. Thomas University.  He was recently interviewed by the Miami Herald about his latest book.  Burdines was a South Florida icon.  I'll never forget my mother-in-law pronouncing it "Bur-Dee-Ness" with the thickest Cuban accent.

Mother Ocean Marine Consignment - Update

Like Hannibal Smith said... "I love it when a plan comes together!"  I received this week my first return on investment from Mother Ocean.  My oldest daughter even said "High five dude... and you owe me $30 dollars."  Ok we're not talking about four digit figures but it's enough to keep my interests moving forward.  Certainly a first installment towards next summer's adventure (or even a down payment on a sailboat I have my eye on).  With the cooler weather comes garage sales and the buys have been really good.  My next consignment will include several wooden model sailboats, a tandem kayak and a turn-of-the-century ship lamp.  My best score was a set of bronze ship portholes (rectangular and round) plus various teak blocks & tackle.  I cleaned up several of the bronze pieces and have been varnishing the teak wood.  Check back in a few days for pictures.  And yes Vic... you'll get your cut!

Perfect Day

Great little video from the Miami Herald.

http://www.miamiherald.com/video/index.html?media_id=119036751

Happy Birthday to My Sister

Happy Birthday Lisette!  You were here recently and we had a great time catching up.  I was not able to call you yesterday being that it was Halloween (and crazy).  It's always been an issue but there's hope.  Senator Rob Kane (R) from CT has proposed changing Halloween from the 31st to the last Saturday in October.  I say yes! We love you and wish you many more birthdays.

And no that's not me sitting in the chair.  That's my older brother Ed. Good looks run in the Moore blood!

Reflections on Turning 40

Today I turned 40.  I’ll be pleased if I could say with any certainty that I’m at the exact midpoint of my life.  I’ve been on a steady road of reflection as the months turned into weeks and the days into hours marching toward that milestone day.    I could review the weight of my mistakes or my little triumphs but I thought better and decided to record some of my distinct earlier memories.  Here’s what I remember.  

Some of my earliest memories include being alone in my crib staring at the wooden Disney character cut outs hanging on my wall, the comfort of wearing pajamas with feet and the fear of monsters under the bed.  The cool feeling of my security blanket and favorite “doggy” stuffed animal that was passed on from my older siblings.  My mother taking me to the Bay School and her wild garden that surrounded the house.  The first time a trout started tugging at the end of my line and how I had the bones mounted on a wooden display board for show-n-tell at school.    Picking the offertory candelabras clean of wax drippings while in Mass which was a family affair so as long as my mother’s back was turned. Watching my father pray on his knees on the hard Mission clay floors.  The whistle sounds and steam coming from my mother’s pressure cooker and her idea that syrup on cornflakes was a good replacement for when we were out of milk.  Standing on the edge of our driveway with my brother & father throwing hard pine cones at the row of metal mailboxes across the street.  The thrill of riding in my grandfather’s green mustang and how he always kept a steady supply of mini candy bars in his trunk.  Or the bags of used tennis balls he’d give us and how my brother and I would have tennis ball wars in the darkened hallway of our house.  My sister swinging me around her hips when I was four or five.  My grandmother taking me to buy my first pair of Levi 501’s from Dick Bruhns in Salinas and meeting Mr. Bruhn who later gave me my first job at 13.  Giving my sister my weekly allowance to buy candy and the great taste of chewy coke bottle gummy bears.  The very first day of T-ball practice down at the middle school lower fields and never hitting a home run but being good enough to make the All-Stars team my final year.  The thrill of sneaking over the school fence and rushing over to the Mission Ranch general store in order to buy Fun Dip packets and ice cold Coca Cola in a bottle.  Exploring the tidal pools down at the Carmel Beach and hearing my mother screaming to stay away from the edge.  The driftwood bonfires with smores, popping seaweed, fireworks on the Fourth of July and the way the white sand would bark when you walked on it barefoot.  The smell of pine and the pollen that would coat the cars in yellow dust every spring.   The day my brother started building me a fort in the oak tree behind our rear patio and how that simple structure later became my castle.  The dozen cats that were always around; Mama, Moco, Angel just to name a few.  Going for hours long hikes in the woods surrounding my house and feeling totally free, alone and independent. Dreading going to school with kids that always seemed older than I.

Summer road trips to Mexico in the VW van, peeing in a Sprite bottle because dad “Had to get through to Guyamas before dark.” Spending hours in the hotel pool while dad got caught up on his sleep.  My parents portable suitcase bar complete with cork screw, jigger, cocktail shaker and strainer.  The excitement of reach my grandparents house in Guadalajara.  Eating refried beans, conchas and freshly made hot chocolate for breakfast.  Never drinking the water straight out of the tap and telling my parents (to their horror) that I wanted to shine shoes in the street for pocket money.  Real piñatas that you had to hit blind folded in order to get the candy and everyone enjoying 5 pm tequila shots with salted cucumber slices and peanuts.   The smell of Papi’s pipe tobacco and Mami’s warm hugs.

I remember middle school dances and trying to break dance.  My Levi jacket covered with pins from Def Leppard, Van Halen and AC/DC.  Cursing the purple corduroy bell bottom hand-me-downs I was forced to wear once a week and always scheduling P.E. as my first class so I could change into OP shorts even in the dead of winter. Playing Dungeons and Dragons until 5 am and falling in love with the girls from the local Presbyterian church.   Sleep away summer camp at Santa Clara and scoring my first kiss.  Losing my first fist fight but not my last.  Joining the water polo team and making a lifelong friend who called me today to say happy birthday. 

Of course I’ve many more great memories from the past 40 years but I’ll save those for another post.  Thank you to my wonderful wife, amazing kids, loving family and dedicated friends.  I appreciate all that you have meant to me.  Here’s to the next 40 years!