A Night in the Hospital but No Grand Baby Yet!
Earlier this week, we all headed for the hospital when her contractions were 3-4 minutes apart. She labored all night and then...…
From The Home Office
My Foot Found the Hole in the Boat Floor!
Falling in the bilge can be very dangerous. There is metal, potentially some dirty, stinky, tetanus-laden water (after rain), and even rust. So, I am always hyper-vigilant. Except, apparently, when I am carrying groceries...…
I “Fired” an Adult Bully and Big Brother is Watching Me?!
A man who has written for us in the past sent an email last week boldly criticizing one of my children...…
Another Falling ON the Boat Accident! (Yes, really…)
I was pulling with all my might on a line to stop Tanny from going too far forward and I tripped on the boom, which was on the port side deck. Brian had warned us all to watch out for the boom. Heck, I'd been tip-toeing over it for three months. But, down I went and...…
Mac and Cheese and Bad Guitar Music, Please!
While toddler Jack was sitting at the table eating macaroni and cheese and green beans, I pulled out my guitar to practice. And, he was completely uninterested until...…
“You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out!” (Mason pulls a funny stunt on his dad!)
The only "treatment" was to tape up his eye to keep it shut while it heals. After that, he was raring to go have more fun so he raced to the truck for his airsoft rifle. And, that's when this happened...…
When You Give Your Grandkids Chocolate and Red Bull
Jack doesn't talk much yet but he gets his point across. He reached for the left-hand cabinet so I opened it. He then reached for a bag of chocolate covered raspberries. That's one of my favorites so there's no denying the kid inherited my good tastes...…
The Portable Toilet Explosion!
I'd previously used that toilet several times without incident. However, last weekend, due to warm weather, high humidity, Mercury in retrograde, movement of the Earth's magnetic pole, or just plain karma for something I naughty did or said, I found myself on the receiving end of...…
ALERT – Dirty Fingernails on the Keyboard!
Hmmm... When will my next hot shower be?…
Ugly Pancake Update (Groan!)
Several readers have written in asking for an update on “pancake,” my gelatinized blood clot that…
Sitting on a Bucking Bronco Toilet!
After a few days of very subtle nausea and a sore lower back (because I'm constantly trying to sit still while working and fighting the movement of the boat), I figured out the formula...…
Escaping from the Horrific, Excruciating, Deafening Race!
It sounds like a post-apocalyptic plague of gigantic bees are outside and there is no escape…
Amputees Are Usually Left for Dead … and Other Secrets I Learned in Search and Rescue Training!
You definitely won't see this stuff in a FEMA brochure!…
For Me, Volunteer Search and Rescue Training is Like a Really Serious Easter Egg Hunt. Here’s How YOU Can Do It, Too!
Did you know that if you stop breathing in a disaster situation with multiple casualties, you will probably NOT receive CPR? Read why here...…
The Floating Flu Folly
I actually don’t know if it was Influenza or something else but everyone in the floating…
What a PAIN in the NECK! Literally!!
Because of my current need for pain medication, my co-workers here have banned me from 1. Social media posts; 2. Accounting tasks; and 3. Late-night online shopping. Hmmm....…
Our Sailboat Has Been Demasted!
Don’t worry. We demasted it on purpose. Several months ago, we scheduled “No Tan Lines” to…
It’s a GIRL!!! Awe!!!! (Does anybody know what breed mix she is?!)
We are THRILLED to announce the newest edition to our family! This is our new Grandpuppy,…
Annoying Neighbors!
One example was an individual on the dock who had too much to drink one night, and walked down the dock, knocking on people's boats at midnight, asking for a cigarette. We don't smoke so I'm not sure why our boat...…
We Figured Out How to Get Free Dental Care… (But, It’s Kind of Expensive!)
We were absolutely THRILLED last weekend when, at a family dinner, our son, Frank, told us he'd been accepted at dental school! It's a local private school and, no, we're not paying for it because...…
The Size of My “Pancake” is Changing! (Update on my “falling off the boat” accident)
I stopped measuring the large, gelatinized blood clot in my upper thigh daily because I wasn't seeing any noticeable results...…
Best White Elephant Gift EVER! Plus, the HILARIOUS Saran Wrap Game!
I didn't think I could do much better this year but, sure enough, one gift was opened by our son and it caught my eye! It was a...…
“Buoy Bells?!” A Christmas-in-Florida Sing (and Laugh) Along written by the Naughty Elves at WritersWeekly and BookLocker!
Bet you guys and gals didn't know that WritersWeekly has amazingly talented songwriters in-house, didja? Ha ha ha... Introducing "Buoy Bells!" (Sing to the tune of Silver Bells.)…
When Your Nostril Hairs Instantly Freeze…
Jack was playing on the bed a moment ago and I asked Ali, "Is he going to fall off, or crawl off?" She said no. I guess he heard me because seconds later, this happened...…
“Save the neck for me, Clark!” (and updated pics from my falling-off-the-boat accident)
I'd LOVE to read about some of your favorite Christmas movies and traditions! Here are mine...…
OUR NEW GRANDDAUGHTER!! Does THIS Look Like a Newborn to You?! And, a Plane Crashed RIGHT HERE!
A new grand baby with a TON of hair, another on the way, and a plane crash!…
When an E.R. Doc Treats You Like a Junkie (and an updated pic of my deformed leg!)
After I refused an unnecessary head CT scan (I didn't hit my head!!), the doctor's demeanor completely changed...…
STILL GROTESQUELY SWOLLEN but the Doc Says I’m Not Gonna Die! (Includes a new photo!)
The large glob sticking out of my leg is a blood clot that is...…
LOOK! I HAVE 2 KNEES ON ONE LEG!! My First Major Liveaboard Accident… (includes grotesque pics!)
Wait until you see the Day 5 photo!…
Guess the Halloween Costume!
Please post your guesses in the comments box below the article. The first person to correctly guess each one will win a free book of his/her choice from BookLocker.com!…
Hurricane Michael: Boots on the Ground in the Aftermath – Part II (includes photos) – by Brian P. Whiddon
All of the previous hurricanes I helped with were bad. But, when I measure those against Michael’s sheer power and the size of the area impacted, this was definitely the worst I’ve ever seen...…
Hurricane Michael: Boots on the Ground in the Aftermath – by Brian P. Whiddon
Line crews were staged everywhere. All traffic lights were out. Trees were down in every yard. Houses were damaged. Some older homes no longer stood at all. Even state prisoners in their striped pajamas were out cutting trees and picking up debris, under the wary eyes of their armed guards...…
MENACING MICHAEL! See Our Hurricane Pics and Videos
On Monday morning, we woke up to the expected storm surge watch...…
Have You Been to a Paint-While-Drinking Place?
Well? How do you like my painting?? Please be honest!…
Who Needs a Baby Teether When You Have Board Books?
Heaven knows how much board book cardboard our children ingested over the years...…
THE HOY BOYS GO HOG WILD! How Much Ammo Did Mason (age 12) Need On His First Hog Hunting Trip?
I turned around, and saw a large, blonde hog at the feeder! In slow motion, I stepped back to my chair, and slowly lowered my phone to the floor...which knocked over my metal water container. CLANG!!!…
PART I: A Snake Fell On My Face! ON MY FACE!!!
I took a deep breath, reached over, and pulled the rifle a little closer. There. That was better. I looked out over the railing. Still black. I literally couldn't even see my hand in front of my face. And then...…
Back to (Floating) School!
I like school days because they are more structured, which brings us all comfort. However, when Tropical Storm Gordon sideswiped us on Labor Day, life on board Tanny was anything but structured!…
Coco the Dog Warns Us of Trouble to Come!
So many weird things were happening all at once and they all pointed to one inescapable fact. We were gonna GET IT!!…
We’re Melting … MELTING!!!
It's so beastly hot here that it's almost unbearable. Our shoes stick to the asphalt. Coco would rather her bladder burst than walk down the sunny, blazing dock to go potty...…
Major Repair Plans Go Awry!
Wednesday was going to be a BIG DAY! We were scheduled to take No Tan Lines…
Enjoying One Last Day at the Beach Before…
The ecological disaster currently happening in our backyard. …
When You Ask for an Outdoor Fan…and God Gives You a Waterspout Instead!
After wondering silently if I needed a second coating of antiperspirant, I fanned myself with my ipad cover, and whined out loud to Richard, "It's sooooo danged hot out here! Can you pretty please go inside and get the fan?" I guess the good Lord heard me because...…
Our 4 a.m. WAKE-UP CALL!
I had to weave and pitch like a drunkard to get back to our bedroom...…
When You Have a Pool, and a Small Child, Door Alarms are IMPERATIVE!
Waking your neighbors, and even the dead, is a-okay if it means keeping your child safe!…
