Wow, I’m really excited about this one.
I just learned about a new blog feature here on WordPress–in addition to writing posts at home from my laptop or on the road from my iPhone, I can now actually create a new post by phone! For a talker like me, this is great news. I can’t wait to try it. Now, when it’s late and I’ve got so much to say, I can refrain from harrassing my family and friends, call my blog and talk to it instead!
Sweet.
First blog-by-phone post coming soon! Stay tuned!
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I recently invited Amanda Stanton, a commercial fishing wife and mother whose husband has recently gone to sea, to write a guest post for Highliners and Homecomings. She did not disappoint! Please enjoy her contribution below. Thanks, Amanda!
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By Amanda Stanton
In the days leading up to departure, Mike and I resemble a well orchestrated tornado. Somehow all of the projects we had planned to complete in the Spring are suddenly crammed into the week before he leaves for Alaska. In an effort to lower the stress I can see radiating from the top of Mike’s head, I immediately adopt a Superwoman attitude. No need to show me how to fill the lawnmower with gas, I can certainly figure that out myself. Sure, I can load up the truck with scraps left over from the latest boat project and take it to the dump. Yes, I can organize any remaining bills and pressure wash the driveway while changing diapers, reading bedtime stories, cooking dinner, sorting laundry and generally losing my mind.
After waving goodbye to Mike and his crew from the dock, my son and I return to our home and find it to be achingly quiet. I try to stick with our regular bedtime routine and act as normal as possible for little Jacob. Only after he is sleeping soundly in his crib do I wander around the house realizing the mess I have been left with and feel a sudden wave of panic. I’m alone and overwhelmed.
I spend the next few days going through the motions before finally getting my bearings. After a particularly productive day I was even inspired to open the garage and drag out the lawn mower. Feeling empowered and confident, I am Superwoman once more. I locate the pull cord to start the mower and with a final sigh of triumph, draw the handle away from the base, tug sharply on the cord and nearly fall over backward as it rips away from the base. I stare at the cord dangling freely from my hand and retreat to the house to promptly call a lawn service. Even a super hero has her trusty sidekick.
Posted in Commercial Fishing Family, Commercial Fishing Mom, Commercial Fishing Wives | Tagged Commercial Fishing Family, Commercial Fishing Mom, commercial fishing wife | 4 Comments »
I’ve been so excited about discovering Plinky that I thought I’d better attempt my first reply to a prompt.
One of my favorite summer memories–among many–is from childhood, when my parents rented a condo (Solimar Sands) in Santa Barbara each summer.
Mom drove my sisters and me all the way south to California by herself in our red Subaru station wagon, and we excitedly moved into our new digs for the week. We got to eat mini-boxes of cereal and watch Price is Right each morning, then spent our afternoons alternating between swimming in the condo pool and boogie boarding in the Pacific Ocean across the street.
Dad arrived to the condo as soon as he was finished fishing for halibut and blackcod in Alaska, and then our family summer vacation was complete.
We also ate chocolate croissants, windsurfed, and visited our Carpinteria cousins, who introduced us to the tastiness of barbecued tri-tip and let us ride their old horse.
Posted in Commercial Fishing, Commercial Fishing Family, Commercial Fishing Kids, Plinky | Tagged Commercial Fishing Family, Plinky | 1 Comment »
I discovered the following awesome WordPress notice today while checking my blog stats….
Do you ever think “Ugh, I’d totally write a new blog post, if I just had something to say?” Or maybe, “I’m sick and tired of writer’s block but I don’t know what to do about it!”
We’ve all been there — those days when the light bulb seems dim, if not burned out. To give you a little creative push and get that writerly mojo flowing again…
…Each weekday, Plinky provides a prompt — like a question or a challenge — and you type in an answer. To keep it interesting, prompts are a mixed bag of fun commands (“Write a haiku about the last meal you ate”) to more thoughtful questions (“What is your favorite summer memory?”)
Plinky will work with a variety of blog hosts. If you have a blog, it works with a variety of blog hosts. If you don’t have a blog but enjoy writing, just sign up and start having fun with the prompts and meeting other writers!
I can’t wait to get started with Plinky. I signed up the moment after I read the above notice. Writing prompts are fun, and so is reading the work of others, especially on like subjects. If you sign up for it too, let me know so we can connect on Plinky!
Posted in Plinky, Writing, Writing Mothers | Tagged Plinky, Writing | Leave a Comment »
Have a fillet of wild salmon from the Copper River, the waters of Southeast Alaska or elsewhere and don’t know what to do with it? Check out some of these recipes!
via Vis Seafoods
Posted in Commercial Fishing | Leave a Comment »
One of my best friends of 30 years, Beth, has *finally* started a blog. She is an excellent writer and an astute observer of the human condition—whatever that condition may be, and whomever it may belong to.
I’ve been struggling lately with the thought of leaving my 3-and-4-year-olds for the first time EVER, for two nights, at the end of July.
Beth’s post on the subject made me smile and feel braver. Check it out!
via My Silly Monkeys
Posted in Commercial Fishing | 2 Comments »
The boat left yesterday on a windy, cold, dreary November June morning. I taught Jazzercise as scheduled early that morning, because I figured it was better to get up and moving first thing and get the endorphins running rather than moping around the house, watching George pack his bags and finalize his office work.
When we got to the boat, the crew was in a great mood and just hanging out, waiting for G to arrive and give the order to throw the lines off.
Here on the home front, the kids and I are doing fine. We went to gymnastics and Jazzercise again today, and their beloved babysitter, Allison, also came over. To round out the evening, we received visits from Grandma and Grandpa.
Tomorrow we plan to hit a local strawberry festival, go on a wagon ride, and eat some strawberry sundaes… weather permitting, of course.
So…so far, so good. Love you, G. Get that quota and come home quick.
Posted in Commercial Fishing Family, Commercial Fishing Kids, Commercial Fishing Mom, Commercial Fishing Wives, Halibut and Blackcod Longlining Season | Tagged Commercial Fishing Family, Commercial Fishing Mom, Halibut and Blackcod Season, Jazzercise | Leave a Comment »
It’s the night before G, the boat, and crew all leave to go catch the rest of the blackcod and halibut quota in the far reaches of Alaska. I’m trying to not feel sorry for myself and to keep well aware of the fact that this is what we do…and have done for five generations…and we aren’t the only ones.
Many boats are leaving right now for the salmon season, the albacore season, or are already long gone. There are many wives, children, and girlfriends that feel sad right now because they’ll be without their loved ones for a few months.
Developing a summer plan for the children and me has been a big help. Our plans include:
Each time I start to feel sad, I just remind myself that I’m not alone whether in my home, in my circle of friends and activities, or in my particular situation as the wife and mother in a commercial fishing family. It’s time to be strong for the kids and cheerful and optimistic for G.
Tryin’ my best, as always… and like everyone else does, too.
Posted in Commercial Fishing Captain, Commercial Fishing Family, Commercial Fishing Kids, Commercial Fishing Mom, Halibut and Blackcod Longlining Season | Tagged Commercial Fishing Families, Commercial Fishing Mom, commercial fishing wife, longlining | 4 Comments »
I was incredibly honored today to find I’d been included in a list entitled “Writers to Check Out” by none other than Christina Katz, the author of Writer Mama, Get Known Before the Book Deal, and the e-book Author Mama. This is a huge surprise! My most sincere thanks to Christina; this is no small thing, and I am so very grateful!
We are actually leaving tomorrow to “find the sun.” Of course, now that we’ve actually planned a small get-away to get out of the rain, the weather here is supposedly going to be sunny and hot. We shall see. I won’t believe it until I hear about it!
Before we left, I thought I’d let all inquiring minds know that my new desk–called the Manager’s Desk–has finally been assembled. I decided that instead of giving George one more thing to do, I’d ask a good friend of our family to come help a girl out. He came over and got the thing set up in record time. Not many 26-year-olds can actually decipher manuals and assemble things quickly and correctly these days, so thank you, John! Your work is much appreciated by this mommy writer and I feel awesome each time I sit down at my new desk.
Now, like any good Manager would do, I’ll need to compile performance reports for my employees—otherwise known as my family. How does one evaluate the performance of a three-year-old, a four-year-old, and a husband? Actually, come to think of it, I believe it’s me who is the employee! Sure hope they don’t evaluate me anytime soon! :-)
Freshly painted combo fishing vessel, Vis. (Rhymes with "fleece.")
Yes, I set the glass of wine there on purpose this time! :-)
Posted in Commercial Fishing, Commercial Fishing Family, Commercial Fishing Mom | Tagged Commercial Fishing Family, Commercial Fishing Mom | Leave a Comment »
George has spent the last month down at the harbor where the boat has been hauled out in dry dock. In addition to painting when thunder storms aren’t raging, G has been hard at work installing a brand new auto pilot, new engine controls, a shaft alley bilge pump, and miscellaneous other projects.
George is a genius at reading manuals, understanding assembly, and has amazing spacial reasoning skills. I’ve never seen a project he couldn’t (or didn’t) complete whether it was remodeling a bathroom, leveling a yard, putting trim on a basement, or figuring out taxes and crew shares.
Even so, he wasn’t thrilled when my new “Manager’s Desk” was delivered recently… in a million pieces.
“I’m pretty tired of manuals and assembling things,” he said. Considering what he’s been doing on the boat all month, who could blame him?
Here’s where we are:
Posted in Commercial Fishing, Commercial Fishing Captain, Commercial Fishing Family, Commercial Fishing Mom | Tagged Commercial Fishing Captain, Commercial Fishing Family, Commercial Fishing Mom | 2 Comments »
Our family's combination vessel works all year long fishing for halibut, blackcod, salmon, albacore, and Dungeness crab.
Click on the boat to access Jen's website.
Deck Boss The Brig Jueautek
