FCAP Outer Banks

My work took me to the Outer Banks this week.

Most buildings we work at are rather mundane. But sometimes, we get to see interesting stuff. Since there are a number of museums, visitor centers, and an aquarium along the ocean - this week's work was far more interesting then usual.

Here's an enigma machine recovered from a WWII German submarine sunk off the NC Coast (at the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum).

 

While at the Roanoke Aquarium, I happened to be in the pump room area above the main tank when they were feeding the sharks. She (the shark, not the girl) is 8 feet long and about 400 pounds.

 

This is the old Coast Guard Life Saving Station at the south end of the Bonner Bridge, currently under restoration.

 

And I was able to get a good deal (State Govt. rates - $63 a night) at the First Colony Inn.

 

Of course, not everything is all so peachy keen for State employees.

This is the NC Ferry service bunk house on Ocracoke Island. The crews stay here when they have to dock the ferrys overnight when they can't get back to Hatteras Island (due to weather, emergencies, etc.). Yeah - it's a dump.

 

Just so you don't get the wrong idea - it's not sight seeing. We started work a little before 8:00 this morning and didn't get back till about 6:30. We put in a solid 10+ hour workday today.

Tomorrow I've got a lot scheduled as well. And then the drive back to Raleigh.

I'm looking forward to getting home.

Bermuda Cruise

New York City

First day of the Bermuda cruise.

Up at 0600. On the road to the airport before 0700.

Easy check in and an easy flight to New York City.

Used SuperShuttle to get from the airport to the cruise ship terminal – well worth the $15 per person price.

Met up with the sister and brother-in-law and their friends (Dave and Jane) for dinner.

The ship was late leaving NY. 2000 instead of the schedule 1600. Which was fine with me since it gave us a sunset view of Manhattan as we sailed out of NYC.

Unfortunately, I’m having a serious sinus / allergy attack. Dave gave me some Tylenol-Sinus which he had – and it’s helping.

Still – am getting ready to go to bed – and it’s before 2200. I hope this darn stopped up head clears up. It farking hurts.

At Sea

Nice quiet calm water. Chilly weather though – you need a sweater when out on deck.

Nuke got in late last night and, being a bit tipsy (what else is new?), wanted to talk and talk about the people he had met and a couple of ladies he danced with and so on. I fell asleep listening to him talk on and on.

Morning coffee delivered to the room around 0700. Sitting on the balcony drinking my morning coffee – I saw – A Whale!

I saw a fluke / fin break the water not more than 50 – 60 feet right in front of my balcony. Then again. I said out loud “ WT? – Is that a whale?” – Nuke gets up – and just as he gets to the balcony – she surfaces again and breaths. Yep – that’s a whale – NOT a porpoise. We watched as she kept on going past the ship – surfacing and blowing.

How cool.

Then, just a little while later, there was a pod of dolphins – again – not but about 50 or so feet off the balcony.

Nice little show to wake up to. How cool is that?

At Sea Day 2

Did nothing.

Well, outside of dinning. And attending the ship’s shows. And reading a couple of books from the ship’s library.

Good dinner conversation.

Bermuda Day 1

What a pretty island. Very upscale and proper.

Nuke and I bought the bus / ferry transportation pass. Rode the bus from the Ship to Hamilton where we changed busses and went from Hamilton to St. George.

St. George, I think, is the oldest settlement on the island. Had lunch there. My GOD the prices are high in Bermuda. Not just at fancy places – but everywhere. I’m talking New York City prices – like $10 hamburgers at local burger joints. We had a simple lunch – Nuke had a burger, I had a slice of quiche – water – and 1 beer for Nuke. Total was about $35. Yikes!

Rode the ferry back from St. George to the ship.

Dinner and then some reading for me. Nuke, of course, closes down the bars at night on board the ship. LOL

Bermuda Day 2

Rode the ferry from the ship into Hamilton. Walked around and looked at the sights. Really nice little town. Bought some Cuban cigars for Chip. Spent some time sitting in the main park in Hamilton and just people watched. Took the direct ferry back to the ship.

Back at the ship, I walked around the Royal Naval Dockyard. The buildings have been restored and converted to shops and restaurants. Bought a print at the Bermuda Arts Center (very good local artists btw).

Back on board – dinner – good conversation as usual, and some more reading.

Nuke continues to help the ship’s economic stimulus by frequenting the various bars on board.

Bermuda Day 3

I took the bus to the beaches just to have a look. Yep – the sand has a very light pink tint to it. Then I walked a couple of hours along the center of the island on the hiking trail which is the old railroad bed.

Caught another bus into Hamilton and looked around a little more. Ferry back to the ship about a couple hours before we were to leave.

Day at Sea

Saw another pod of dolphins.

Finished the second book.

Took in a couple shows and listened to some of the musicians on board. Went to the crew’s talent show - which are always kind of cute.

Last dinner on board and more good conversation.

New York – Raleigh

Got up early to watch us sail into New York. Very overcast and some rain – not quite as impressive as when we sailed out. But still – pretty awesome.

The shuttle driver called us on the cell phone to let us know he was at the pier. That’s pretty nice having the van waiting for you – instead of the other way around.

BTW – I recommend SuperShuttle. It worked great for us on this trip.

The flight was smooth and a little ahead of schedule back to Raleigh.

When I got home – waiting for me on the back deck – this pot of flowers had opened up during the week.

All in all – a nice vacation.

And BTW - my sinus are still acting up. The pressure change on the flight back did a number on them - and my ears. Which are totally stopped up.

Oh well - life isn't perfect. But it can get pretty close sometimes.

Wolfpack Club Meeting

 

Went to the Lee County Wolfpack Club meeting last night.

Had a good time and enjoyed listening to the various coaches speak. The main speakers were Bobby Purcell, long time head of the Wolfpack Club, and Sidney Lowe, head basketball coach.

We didn’t stay afterwards for the meet and mingle part – Nuke has a shoulder fracture and was hurting pretty bad. Plus, it already lasted a couple hours and I was tired and wanted to get home.

Here's a pretty accurate joke I heard:

Q - What does a Carolina fan and a State fan have in common?

A - Neither of them went to UNC.

I've mentioned numerious times in this Journal about how NC State has big time football aspirations.

Bobby Purcell reported to us that we had about 25,000 attend the Spring Football Game last month. Nothing like they get at Nebraska or Ohio State (yet!) for their spring games - but here's the telling factoid -

Add up the Spring Football Game attendence for UNC + Duke + East Carolina + Wake Forest. Their combined attendence is less that for our (NC State) practice game.

Now - if we could only get better than a 6 and 6 season . . . . .

LOL

Food

The meeting was held at Ron’s Barn Restaurant. First time I've been there. Pretty standard local BBQ and fried seafood buffet. OK - but nothing you’d go out of your way for. The right kind of place for this type of gathering.

Carolina Hurricanes

Got home in time to see the third period and the overtime of the 'Canes - 'Bruins playoff game.

I'm not a big Hockey fan - but that was a furiously played period and overtime. It was exciting to watch. You could tell from the TV that the 'Canes fans had the RBC rocking.

Toys

I live in a pretty solid middle class neighborhood.

Current economic situation notwithstanding, most of my neighbors have disposable income.

There's several swimming pools - a couple homes even have tennis courts.

All the kids get new cars or trucks when they turn 16 or 17.

The yards are seriously landscaped. Some professionally installed and maintained. Except for mine of course.

John Deere lawn tractors. Lots of boats and jet skis in the garages and driveways.

You know - Toys.

So this week - in front of Dick and Nancy's house - appeared this:

 

 

 

Now - I like playing "keeping up with the Jones's" as much as anybody.

But how the hell am I supposed to top that!?!

Jeeeez . . . .

Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei

Watched The Wrestler tonight - dvd - Netflix.

Destined to in the AFI top 100.