Kermit's Blog

Momentum Update

2010-02-07T14:28:00.000-08:00

Momentum, our Dehler Sprinta Sport 23' sailboat, is looking sharp these days. Here's a list of what's been done. We've ended up spending a lot more time doing improvements over sailing, but now that the season is beginning, she's all ready for the beer can series at South Beach.

Recent improvements:
1. Got the PHRF rating with the new main = 198.
2. Replaced the rollers on the jib cars.
3. New Pineapple Sails mainsail! Very exciting. Debated with Kame Richards to put hooks on the jib and pull the headfoil off. Ended up leaving the jibs and getting a new...
4. Harken headfoil system! Most expensive piece of plastic ever. But it makes life so much easier.
5. The 1973 Sears Ted Williams sputtered to an unfortunate demise during the move from Redwood City to South Beach. So we got a 1992 Johnson 15 and had it serviced at Marine Outboard in Sausalito. We were glad to hear that these are one of the mechanic's favorite little motors. His only critique is that 15hp is overkill for a 23 footer.
6. One of the biggest projects was redoing the interior teak trim and windows. Now, it looks fantastic and doesn't leak a drop.
7. The red cot covers for the aluminum frame cots are a great addition.
8. Replaced the gas tank with a jerry can type that sits belowdecks, where it's supposed to.
9. Rebuilt the traveler car and got a few new lines like the traveler car line and dock lines.
10. With fantasies of camping at Angel Island and up in the delta, got new anchor chain and a billion feet of rode.
11. Got a nice new Sony stereo which we still have to put in.

Finally... geotagging blog posts from Blogger

2009-03-31T09:53:00.001-07:00

Testing blog post geotagging with draft.blogger.com. I am currently blogging from Mountain View, CA.

Gratuity

2008-10-03T04:44:00.000-07:00

I am grateful for my parents, who brought me into this world, and can take me out of it. I’m grateful to Bill Cosby, who planted the idea in my head at a young age that chocolate cake for breakfast is a wonderful way to start the day. I am grateful to Peter, for being the man I never thought I’d meet (but secretly always knew I would meet one day). I am grateful for Patricia, for guiding me through the great, green, greasy Limpopo, all set about with fever trees. I am grateful to Jana, for sticking by my side through thick and thin. You are a true friend. I am grateful to Linda, who taught me about gratuity lists and on being a warrior. I am grateful to Rebecca, who can take an idea and spin it, add a hundred layers to it, and make it all happen. I am grateful to Anne for her undying compassion for animals. I am grateful to Estela and Clem, for reminding me about the importance of family. Thank you Pepi, for seven of the most wonderful years of my life, and may your adventures continue. I will never forget what we learned together and the fun we had. Thank you to Chris for setting my standards for boatbuilding to unattainable heights. I will be there to smash the champagne over the hull when your vessel goes in the water. Thank you to my brother, Kissyfur, for teaching me about riding three wheelers, and that I must negotiate for your months-old Easter chocolate, because if I just take it from your supply when you’re not looking, you’ll notice later and I’ll have to pay you a quarter. Thanks to Reggie, for reminding me not to settle when there’s a world of opportunity out there, and for summoning up the courage to take the leap. Greta for always making me laugh. Thanks to Gina for your wisdom and sensibility. Malaika for Rambette, which is the true essence of Malaika summed up on one skin-tight camouflage minidress. Thanks to Sarah and Zach, for taking the traditional path, and showing that it can be fun. Thanks to Nini, for mentoring me and being a person I want to emulate in my life. Thanks to Kurt for telling me to go study in Poland, and showing me that you never really have to grow up, even if you’re a Hoover Institution economist. Thank you to Dominique for the way you see the good side of things, even when we forgot to turn off the water and it’s been on for hours. Thank you to Sue, who planted the idea in my head to ride dressage in the Olympics. Thank you to Jay, for being my first true partner in life. I am grateful for Sean, for showing me about productivity in the wee hours of the night, and for your indelible desire to help people. Thanks to Steve for your wit. I am grateful to Karin, who has got to be the most realistically positive person the world around. Thanks to Kailen the Gaucho, who’s reminded me that work is not just a place to work, but also to show off each other’s trucks in the garage. I am grateful to Will who unknowingly taught me a lot about myself. Thank you to Frances…one day, I’m going to be voting for you, I’m sure. Danke Grossmutti, fuer deine wunderbare Ausdruecken und dass du mir gezeigt hast, wie teuer alles ist! Und dass man Liebe in jeden Alter finden kann. Thank you to Bobuko, Ham and Fritz, for showing me your creature-wisdom and putting up with my experiments to test your intelligence. Thank you to Luna for romping around the cross country course with me. Thank you to Mark Capelli, for opening my eyes to the diversity of life and the adaptability of creatures, including man. I hope for your career that the state of our world for the past 8 years will finally begin a new chapter. I am grateful for art that invokes passion, bright color, texture and touch, the sensation of biting into a fresh passion fruit, the red sand dunes of Namibia, smelling Carmex and being mentally transported to Mattsee, feeling the wind whip my face as I gallop on horseback along Goleta beach, watching the dolphins surf the waves. I am grateful for having seen and felt poverty, deep lows in life, and not taking the sustained high I’ve been in for the past year for granted. I am grateful for my health, for without that, not all my adventures would’ve been possible. I’m grateful for those who I’ve known who have died, for in their passing they have reminded me to live every day to its fullest.

The weight of the world is on my head

2008-08-05T19:15:00.000-07:00

View Larger Map

Your Connection to Mountaintop Removal for Coal

2008-06-19T15:57:00.000-07:00

Pin this badge on your site.

US Hot Springs

2007-10-23T17:43:00.001-07:00

View Larger Map

Isla del Coronado Beach Cleanup

2007-10-15T17:26:00.000-07:00

Regina had the brilliant idea to clean up the shoreline while snorkeling. Reggie you are so Green.

Note: you might have to zoom out to see the imagery, but the video makes it worthwhile.

View Larger Map

2007-09-05T11:25:00.001-07:00

Meet Jaleo

2007-09-05T10:32:00.000-07:00

I've started half-leasing a wonderful horse at Stanford Red Barn. He's a 10 year old Andalusian, recently brought over from Germany. He was born in Spain. He fits right into my international family. He's been a gelding as of 2 months. He's trained to 4th level, much higher than me, so he'll be a great teacher for me.

Moving Momentum

2007-08-29T10:44:00.000-07:00

View Larger Map

Momentum

2006-09-23T11:09:00.000-07:00

I've added a little vessel to my collection of toys. It's a Dehler Sprinta Sport 23, made by Brighton boatworks in Canada. It needs a lot of work Here's the list:

New Stanchion Base on left side near the gate, some deck work
new stanchion bases all around
secure the bow pulpit
open bow storage - break the little lock with bolt cutter
Seal windows
Cut new wood interior out of teak or mahogany
Sand floorboards
Build cockpit entry step
Add sealant around cockpit electronics
Grease up the winches
New cots with foam filler (gave cots to expert canvasworker Mark Gibbs)
Re0-paint the name on the topsides
Buy new lines or soak the usable ones in soapy water
Paint the gas can black
Throw the outboard overboard, get new outboard or none at all for sidetie
Consider getting roller furling or tiller pilot

We arrived in Orlando and had a late night dinner

2006-06-29T22:38:00.000-07:00

mmm mmmm chicken fried STEAK!

Two trips to Mexico

2006-06-21T23:48:00.001-07:00

First to Playa del Carmen
But I couldn't get enough! so off to Loreto, Baja

Spice Gang came to town

2006-03-29T23:46:00.000-08:00

For their latest and greatest, click here

On the Bobsled run at night

2006-01-10T20:33:00.000-08:00

Gondola to Seegrube

2006-01-10T20:32:00.000-08:00

Seegrube, 2243 meters or so

2006-01-10T20:30:00.000-08:00

View of Patscherkofel with downtown Innsbruck in the foreground

2006-01-10T20:25:00.000-08:00

2006-01-10T20:24:00.000-08:00

Austria over New Years 2006

2006-01-10T20:14:00.000-08:00

If you want to drool over some pictures of Winter Wonderland -- here is Axamer Lizum, site of the 64 and 76 Winter Olympics.

Pictures

2005-12-15T12:57:00.000-08:00

Here is a picture of Luna! As you can see, she's quite a character, and she loves treats.

Hello World

2005-12-15T12:53:00.000-08:00

this is my first entry to my blog, called Kermit's Blog. I will mostly be posting images here.