Fiesta al Gomez



This is Gomez

On Tuesday, it was Gomez with us for the Dodge.  On Thursday, it was Gomez, Cap'n Dan, and my coworker Joseph over at our place for a Zzyzx Road Kitchen dinner party.  On Sunday, it was Gomez' turn to host, along with Bernadine, who Gomez lives with and helps take care of.  We were warmly welcomed into a great, big, old house with art everywhere.  Then Gomez went nuts.  Three different types of mimosas--orange, pomegranate, and mango--plus another pack of Bombardier ale.  To eat, scrambled eggs and chorizo, seasoned bacon, and potatoes...even tho' Gomez is vegetarian.  We ate out on the patio with the lake in the distance.  By the time we were done, we were so full we all wanted to nap.

On the lake, everyone really can get along.

Overcoming our drowsiness, Bev and I went down to the Center for the Public Sail.  Lots of people and lots of boats were on the lake to enjoy a fine afternoon.  After hanging out only briefly, Bev and I boarded the Admirable with Gomez and the usual crew of John and Tim, plus Laura (aka "Tinkerbell").  It was a casual cruise.  I did very little, and the wind was as shifty as ever.  Although there were 'patrons,' there were so many volunteers it had a sort of clubhouse vibe.  Comfortable.

Gomez (facing away), John (in back), Tim, and Laura aboard the Admirable

Just another classic CWB moment

and another

Back at the dock, the 'club' retired to John's Daisy.  Gomez brought out the morning's leftovers and disguised the mimosas as "tea" in mugs.  Summer social at the Center.  Bev and I mostly just relaxed as John told of cruising adventures involving friendly otters and intelligent whales.  We were slated to go out on the Amie, but it was Bev's turn to be tired.  We headed home.

Cap'n John and guests, enjoying "tea."

Then we got stuck for over an hour just short of our homeward exit when they closed the entirety of southbound I-5.  Bev and I eventually learned that there was a three-car accident that was the end of a shootout and chase that had started at a community event in Seward Park:  It wasn't just a crash scene, it was a crime scene.  Eventually they opened up one lane, and we all squeaked through.  Tho' I was now exhausted and thirsty, it had been a good day.  Thanks, Gomez!

Lake Union Wooden Boat Festival 2012

The Lavengro says, "Welcome back."

Day One, Saturday, 6/30:  My Happy Place.  It all feels comfortable and familiar.  Eldon walks around and officiates as always, and Aislinn gives me a big hug as I check in.  As Pirate Lou starts making the rounds, it's as much about saying "Good to see you again" with the coffee drinkers aboard the Orion as it is about hooking kids for story time.  I'm convinced by Dan the man that the One Reel relationship may not be so bad.  If it means not only more people knowing about (and donating to) the CWB but also a possible vision for the 4th of July that completely encircles Lake Union, how can one argue?  Even the boats are old friends:  Adventuress is the biggest, Opus is the cutest, and Silva Bans is the one I want to commandeer.  At noon, I maintain my rep for being first patron at the beer garden, the manager from Jillian's grinning and saying, "Back again so soon?"

The Pirates of Christmas

Tell me where my show is, so that I may shoot it.

Saturday, December 10, 2011.  It is a misty day in Seattle, worthy of Scotland.  The CWB, NW Seaport, and others have put together a holiday event with a maritime feel called Cookies, Crafts, and Carols.  In the Center's Boat House, there are cards to make and cookies to decorate.  On the bottom deck of the Virginia V, our good man from Farm Boat has a few crates of winter crops, while above there is hot chocolate and a space for music.  Nearby, the Adventuress adds some tall ship flavor.  I have been called to make the usual story time piratical, cuz what quite says Christmas cheer like tales of brutal broadsides?

Scene of the action

It's a loose gathering.  When we get there, there's no main sense of organization--no schedule, pamphlets only available an hour into the event.  I am there with Zanne, my "captive" in her 'royal' costume as "Lady Pennyroyal," and revealed handsome cabin boy "Button" Bev, in largely improvised garb except for the bodice custom-fitted (via duct tape) by Zanne.  My first task is to simply figure out what in tarnation I'm doing.  All the signs (literally, signs) point to my usual venue, the Arthur Foss, but the volunteer nominally in command in the galley has no clue of when or where.  She SAYS I am a more likely the captain of the boat...conquered without a shot fired, as it should be!  I am wondering, however, how I can coax any audience outside in this weather.  I'm sent in search of the inevitable Eldon Tam for direction, but he's nowhere to be found.  While I'm chasing a chain of command that does not in fact exist, Zanne starts mingling.  Bev is entertained but cold.

Teamwork

After a hot coffee, one small nip of Gosling's from my flask, and a lot of directionless running around, my crew and I land at the boathouse, and the strategy becomes natural.  Same as it ever was:  Play the crowd, drum support.  I set my own time at 2:30.  Be there and spread the word!  Now I'm back in the groove:  First ye scare 'em, then ye get down on their level, then ye speak in subtle tones, and then they're entranced into service.  Glass-bottomed tankards couldn't stop this press gang.  Or would that be glass-bottomed sippy cups?

The pirate and his daughter

There isn't much to storm.  All I do is get up from our table at the Boathouse and make a short ruckus, and suddenly I'm the Pied Pirate once again.  Zanne keeps the procession moving, while Bev goes ahead.  There are too many of 'em to squish into the Foss' galley, so it's onto the aft deck again, wet be damned.

'Ello up there!

I ask the crowd what they want first, Blackbeard or Santa Claus.  The call for Teach is universal, so with nary a look at my usual book it's burning fuses, Charleston, and the battle of Ocracoke.  Zanne plays foil and commentator--improvised banter that draws laughs from the adults.  Bev sits nearby or stands in back, somewhere between sentry and part of the audience.  It's not my best version of the Blackbeard tale, but I've got support; it's a fabulous team effort.  Then I lay on 'em "The Pirate's Night Before Christmas."  But I'm gonna be a tease here:  I'll post that text soon, yaharr.

Then, costume and all, the three of us embark on a quest for an Outback Steakhouse, which oddly takes miles to find.  Supersized Snow Cap, quesadilla, and comedown.  Good show, mateys.

All the professional pictures here are courtesy of Mitch Reinitz at eMeLaR Photography.  Thanks, bro, great stuff.

And the Admirable behind (nice shot, eh?)

Toe Rails

Toe rail:  a very low wood or metal strip that runs around the edge of the deck of a boat between the bow and the stern.

I arrived at the Center well short of 10:00, which is when it technically "opens" on a weekend.  I was the first to run the communal, much-storied coffee pot.  Yet Martin was already at work on the Betsy D.  We had already sanded.  Now it was time to paint.  First we had to mask off, so it was foot after foot of blue tape, for which I would like to offer thanks to the inventor as it makes so much more obvious where one has applied white paint and where one has not.  Martin showed me how to get marine paint the proper consistency, then we got on the gloves and got busy.  For me, painting was very relaxed, focused activity, and Martin was able to very calmly coach this newbie on how to make more out of less paint and smooth the whole thing out.  We did toe rails, we did gunwales, and we did hatches.  The weather held.  Then I used this homemade device that spins the paintbrush in the thinner to get it clean.  In spite of this clever technology, my pants still got splattered.