Slow Leak

My car had a slow leak in the back passenger tire that became a fast leak. When I tried to get it patched Walmart told me it was because the rim was dented. So today I went to the junkyard to get a rim. The rim cost the same amount whether it had a tire on it or not! So Bill and I ( Thanks to Bill for taking me there and helping me find the wheels!) found a rim with a good tire on it that was still holding air..then I got to thinking about getting a second one...hmmm. Now I could replace that bicycle tire they call a temporary that was in my trunk with no air in it!!!

I bought two wheels today, both with excellant tires on them that still held air and had good tread. When I got back I took the two back tires off...I kept the one that was flat because it still had a good tire on it (remember the rim was dented) and I took the other off and replaced the temporary tire in the deep part of the trunk and lo' and behold!!! There was enough rust down there to deteriorate part of the temporary rim and the rest of the trunk!!!

Well I am not certain that the actual trunk was in danger of falling thru like spots on the ship...I just looked around quickly to make sure Katie had not seen this and come running with a needle gun ( a tool here on the ship used to remove rust that I think she has an obsession with! ) whewwww, I quickly breathed a sigh of relief remembering they were gone to the movies.

On second thought maybe I should let her get at it, then primer and coat it when they get done..what do you think? Nahhhh, its just Da Hoopty!

Why bother?

In about another month I will be packing again. I sometimes wonder why I ever bother to unpack. Maybe I can get me some of that luggage that just sits up straight after you carry it and it looks and functions like a dresser, hmmm. Maybe they can even make a mirror the same size as the bag that when you slide down the elongated handle ( like those ones that roll and have a telescoping handle when you go on planes) you can slide up the mirror in place. Wha-La! A small dresser complete with hidden slide-up mirror.

Better yet, make my 13 inch TV/vcr with a DVD/CD player also built into it (did I mention Bose Acoustic Speakers too?)...And have two rolling wheels at the back and a telescoping handle for those quick easy moves. Being 'carry on size' for this would be nice too.

Oh, OH! And maybe have one 'credit card' style card that you use for everything...Program it that way. Slide your card almost anywhere and pick which one you need: Passport info, license, American Express credit, Visa credit, Mastercard credit, bank debit...Just pick the one you need from the options screen. Then have it multi-task for sliding in your door at home to get in, slide in slot to get in car, slide in slot and push button to start car...At work you could also use it to ID yourself clocking/punching in and out at the timeclock.

I am sure all this will be coming shortly, its just that its not helping me now...now when I need it the most. So packing, traveling, and moving isn't so frustrating. Especially when you have done it so many times in the last 3 months.

After all this time I pretty much have it down to a science though...I use canvas or some other durable material for my 'soft luggage' (all my luggage are duffel bags and/or back packs) its more forgiving in moving stuff in it all the time. Fits more places on planes, trains, and buses too. I give everything away like Santa Claus and then keep the basic clothes and shoes (I have found this very liberating and most of the stuff I give away ends up being replaced by kind unsuspecting people at my next destination who never knew I just gave the same item away. Its usually to much trouble to travel with it, or mail it.

Books are easy to get rid of because I only have a few that I keep and the rest I usually have read them anyway.

Believe it or not I bought a business card holder (like a slim picture album) and I keep multiple cards of all sorts for different regions of my travels and then just swap them out in my small flip style credit card wallet.

For example, I have a Blockbuster (movie rentals) card for Mobile Alabama. I also have one for various other states, Canada, and a few other places that rent movies. So when I get to the Dominican republic I get out all the cards that are valid for use in that area and put all the other ones back in the card 'album' and I have 'prepared' my wallet for the next destination.

Somewhere after your thousandth mile, or second,third trip from home you start to get a little smart with this whole traveling thing.

My passport actually looks like those faded blue jeans that 'double' for church pants in a pinch. Yes, the original dark blue (or whatever color you want to call it) of my passport looks that worn out now...Of course it didn't help that I washed it at least on time I know of...And there is probably enough dried sweat in it to produce 'DNA Matching'.

I am very happy though, I have enjoyed my travels immensely and sooner or later my packing problems will be over...Apple will probably come out with an prototype called 'ipac' to put all these things together...AND play MP3's!

It will just take it forever to get down to a price I can afford!!!

Random thoughts and discoveries

I have made a 'discovery', a bag of Joyce Meyer tapes I found on the ship which I am now enjoying listening to. She has always seemed to be on a level I could understand clearly and doesn't go about fooling herself when it comes to self evaluation...I like that about her.

My own self evaluation has come up wanting, lacking. But I have in no way tried to build myself up into something I am not. Rather, I was told by a close friend that I expect to much of myself. It could be that I create to much undue stress thinking about all of the expectations I have in my mind, not including supposed expectations others may have of me.

I sincerely hope (if that is the case) that I move on from this stress because I can see where it could cause me a lot of indecision and doubt in every day life. I would like to think that I prepare myself for changes, expectations, trials by moving ahead in my actions - by making decisions to advance myself.

What am I rambling about?

I have made the decision to move on from the ship since technically my job is done here for now (not necessarily Mercy Ships). So now I need to to think about going to work at the IOC (Mercy Ships International Operations Center)in Texas or going home. In making one decision, I have created more decisions to be made.

Ahhh, that's life you say? Yes, I suppose it is...But it doesn't make it any easier.

From there, it creates thoughts of expectations for myself that diversify into the two different scenarios...But really, why should I concern and worry that far ahead when I haven't even decide which road I will be going down?

As another good friend said once, 'Tyrone, you think too much!'. hahahaha

Yes, sometimes I suppose I do.

Leaving?

Well let me tell you...Everybody is probably on there way out, exiting, leaving, moving on to either the IOC (International Operations Center), Anastasis, Africa Mercy or some point between here (Chickasaw Alabama) and home, their own home.

Most of the crew of the Caribbean Mercy will be gone by Monday the 6th. I have chosen this weekend to go home and visit my family (mom and dad, sister, brother in law, niece and nephew) and my home church, Valley Fellowship.

By doing this I have created some more quality time for me to be with family after being gone nearly 7 months to Europe and Africa essentially missing several birthdays and holidays...And I have also released myself from a weekend of 'goodbyes' of which I don't really enjoy participating in anyway. And more than likely I will see a lot of these people again. They only left the ship, not the whole organization.

For those of you that may be mad at me for ducking out...I hope you have safe travels.

I will return on Monday and start back to work getting ready for my next phase. Cleaning and organizing all my foods into smaller refrigerators and freezers, shopping, cooking, cleaning, menu planning, etc...For about 8 crew members that are 'left behind'. Nine including me. I will also be responsible for being on a rotation for a 24 hour 'watch' that will keep me restricted to the ship with certain checklist and maintenance points to mark off. Happily I will not be involved with any night watches!

There were a few 'goodbyes' I made sure happened before I left...And those were of a private nature anyway, not for public or shipwide 'news', but a personal farewell to those that may not be coming back, or be seen again anytime soon.

And a big thanks goes out to Jeff (my boss) Chief Steward - 2004*2005 - best one I ever had...Best wishes and prayers for you and your family. You made it the best for me!~

Fixin, Fittin, and Gettin things done!

Alright it seems we (the Anastasis) will be sailing to Liberia in about a week, hopefully. We have all our parts crucial for the engine to work...so now I can actually plan my flight ticket and have it purchased. But now instead of going to the Dominican Republic the Caribbean Mercy has some further repairs itself...so perhaps I will be seeing 'sweet home Alabama' once again before disappearing on a sail to Barahona.

I am getting things prepared already because there is a 20 kilo weight restriction which means just one bag at 44 pounds. Not a lot I will be taking with me since my chef/culinary attache case weighs about that much...and since the most of the knives and equipment will not 'carry on' I will be giving away my OTHER possessions (What? You think I would actually give anything away in my attache case, thats ludicrous!) like Santa Claus in about 3 weeks.

But of course, I love it! I like to travel light and with only the essentials...like most though if given the choice I would probably take extra if I could. Most of the things I will be getting rid of are about used up anyway. My clothes (stained and weather worn) have been with me for years...actually I would probably be embarrassed by them except that #1 I'm a guy, #2 most other missionaries tend to have the same 'fashion' culture as me, #3 Being a guy most of the time I just don't care...I'm not here to impress anyone and my work clothes are usually taken better care of than the rest of my clothes, simply because that's mostly what I do, work.

So I am fixin' to leave this ship at the end of the month, I am fittin' to start 'cleaning house', and I am gettin' a plane ticket!