Trip 122 - Saturday Oct 24th

 

I failed to mention, one of the most avid readers of these ramblings has passed away. My uncle Erwin Gjerdingen at 92, fell asleep two weeks ago. A fine man without vice or bad habits, wonderful husband and father. Who worked beside my father for so very long as a mechanic.

When I was a snot nosed brat of ten, he was the only man kind enough to take me fishing. Twice. The only other person was my adopted grandmother, Emma Jones, who fished for bullheads from Lake John, beside the road with a cane pole.

He is missed.

We do not live, in an abiding world ...

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After a week of rain day and night, and another week of rain to follow, Saturday was a beautiful day to wrap the mast and cover Empty Pockets. Marcia was home and we went to Lake City for a nice home cooked breakfast and to further the cause of our Empty Pockets.

 

A while back I made an image like this. When, I am alone at home, I make spaghetti, or rice/peas, or rice/shrimp or whatever in quantity so I might have a week's worth of chow at hand - ready for the microwave at work, or at home. Three, maybe four, times a day.

Here is a sample of this week's fare. I fetch the leanest hamburger I can get, plop in a can of mushrooms for each pound (sometimes more) and prep the noodles. To which I toss in some Olive Oil for separation and taste. I do not add the sauce until ready to warm it up.

This week's batch was over 20 containers like this.

 

The staff at the marina was courteous enough to fulfill my request and place Empty Pockets in the patch of boats in the parking lot just like last year. Much appreciated fellows. (Ps: Beer, lotsa beer, helps.)

 

The lacquer whitened in the weather and now the previous application of my name can be clearly seen.

 

Proud she is, after thirty years. Finally officially named. The "Christening Party" will be heald during nice weather with the cheapest hotdogs and buns I can buy, smothered in onions and ketchup, and of course the cheapest champagne money will buy.

All who see the name, smile and chuckle. They too know, the feeling of empty pockets.

 

I reused the wrap from last year. Since the mast etc was placed in the same position, and if it did not shrink over the summer, it should fit okay. And it did. After plopping it back on, I doubt it could weather a third year.

Wrapped for the winter. I will fetch additional shrink wrap and enclose the front and back properly. For now, this was what we could do.

 

Going home. We had a good day together with our Empty Pockets.

I miss my wife when she is back out east. But for now, it is, what it is. Soon, we shall be together again. WIth our Empty Pockets.

Later ...