Aye, mateys, here I be!
First off, congrats te yer dear Johnny. Were glad te hear he won the SAG award. Deservin' he be.

Should thro the ol' Oscar race wide op'n!
Now... on te me "grand adventures". Spent Saturday night in Ventura (ah, the delightful Motel 6

) and head'd out te the Lady bright and early Sunday. Ask'd meself the whole time I were drivin' 2 hour up te Ventura what on Earth I were doin'. It were rainin' somethin' fierce and I were afear'd the harbor would close and the sails be cancell'd. Ah, but when I saw the masts o' the Lady o'er the top o' the buildin's at Harbor Village Sunday morn, I remember'd why I were doin' it - - I be in love with that fair brig!
Stood in line te check-in in the pourin' rain with a few oth'r crazy souls - all laughin' at ourselves fer our insanity. We had a fair good crowd come sail time, but not so crowd'd as normal (which I were happy fer). We set out well beyond the breakwater and the seas were right choppy, with big swells tossin' us to and fro. Ah, but the sight o' the Ventura coastline were a beautiful thing with the green hills and heavy clouds coverin' their tops - look'd like I'd imagine Tortuga or parts o' Jamaica would. The rain pound'd us all morn and it were great fun fer me. A few o' me fellow voyagers took ill durin' the sail and had te spend their time bent o'er the leeward rail (leeward be the direction the wind be blowin' to, so as not te have yer "dolphin food" return te hit ye in the face as ye spill it). Add'd te the authenticity o' the experience, if ye ask me. Proud te say, me friends, that I did not feel sick at all, even with the churnin' seas.

A natural I be, says I.

Did not get te help with the riggin' so much as I'd have lik'd on the morn sail, but that were okay - it were hard enough te keep me footin' with the Lady movin' like she were. Came away with wet socks thanks te a few waves comin' up thru the scuppers and soakin' me shoes. Fun, says I! Close te returnin' te dock, I were holdin' on te a set o' thumbnails I print'd o' the pictures sent off the the Lady's website and I show'd 'em te Dawn, what be the website editor helpin' aboard the Lady currently. She were thrill'd te see I'd brung 'em and said she'd heard all about how great they be from the site's publish'r. She check'd with the First Mate fer permission, then invit'd me te remain aboard between the sails te have lunch with the crew and show me pictures te the lot o' 'em. Oh, but I were excit'd by that!!
So, I spent me lunch below deck in the main hold, rain poundin' again upon deck, sharin' a bite with the crew and talkin' about me pictures. Pleas'd as anythin' by 'em, they were! Askin' fer prints and CDs and such. Got te talkin' with one o' the crew and found out he also be doin' a bit o' crewin' fer a vintage racecar I've taken pictures of in the past - do hope te see him at the track sometime! Cool! Ah, it were a delight, friends, a pure delight.
So, I stay'd aboard until the next sail, when the seas were much calmer (tho a few voyagers still took sick) and the rain eas'd greatly. Durin' that sail, they set te havin' the passeng'rs help with the riggin' durin' the battle (which they'd ne'er allow'd durin' previous battle sails), so I took te the fore top brace and spent me whole sail thar, haulin' and easin' the riggin' as required. Me fing'rs be cramp'd and I've a few little rope burns te show fer me work. In truth, I be exhaust'd today - and happy fer it, too!
Were told durin' that sail that I am te consid'r meself an official memb'r o' the Lady Washington crew!!

Huzzah!! I be told that I be welcome aboard anytime I wish at no charge, particularly if I bring me camera. Yipee!!

So, when the Lady be returnin' te these wat'rs ag'in, come end o' the year, I shall be takin' 'em up on this fine offer. A photographic sailor, I be, and a damnably proud one!!
Oh, me mateys, I be o'er the moon with happiness aft'r this last sail!! I were sad te have te part with the Lady fer nigh 7 month 'til her return, but I shall be first in line te board her upon her return!
Me pictures still be not up on the website yet, but it be in the works. Shall alert ye soon as I find 'em thar.
Huzzah!! I be part o' the Lady's fair crew!! I ask ye, what could be bett'r?!?
