Diary for Second Quarter 2005
Diary for Second Quarter 2005
04/01/05
Jennifer Leitham’s Trio played at Charlie O’s last Tuesday, March 29th, and Scott, Naomi, and I were there.
We were able to get reservation at the Piano Bar, and arrived just before the group was starting. We ordered dinner and ate it there as they started to play.
There was a very supportive group of Jennifer fans there, and we enjoyed the performance. We had to leave after her second set.
She was also going to play the Bass there at Charlie O’s Wednesday night in the Scott Whitfield Quintet, and we wanted to attend that too, but I couldn’t get out.
You can check Jennifer’s itinerary at http://jennifer@jenniferleitham.com
4/03/05
What a weekend! Scott was on spring break vacation, the boat was running good, and the weather looked like it might be OK, so we decided to sail to Avalon.
I had to take care of some medical appointments Thursday morning, but I was able to get away that afternoon. Scott drove to the Fly Away lot in Van Nuys, and I picked him up there .
I called the Avalon Harbor to find out if they had moorings available and they said they did, but a Red Flag was flying. One Red Flag means there is a small craft warning for hazardous seas. We decided to check on it again Friday.
The Flyer Trio plays at Busters Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, so we went to Busters Thursday night. There wasn't many people there so we were able to get a table up front and center. We had a good time dancing and enjoying the show.
 |
 |
The wind wasn't blowing Friday morning, but the Weather Service was still predicting winds of 15 to 25 MPH at sea. We spent the morning cleaning the boat and preparing her for the trip anyway. I called the Avalon Harbor again about two o'clock, and they said that the Harbor was calm, and the seas had a light chop. The Red Flag was still flying though. I asked if there was still any moorings, and they said that there was some, but it was filling fast. I decided to go.
We left the Harbor about three o'clock, and I filed a float plan with Vessel Assist.
The boat was running good at 3000 RPM which gave us about 15 to 17 knots of cruising speed. We were over half way to Avalon after an hour when the Starboard engine suddenly jumped to 5000 RPM. I throttled back and realized that the Starboard prop wasn't turning. Scott took the helm and I went down and checked the drive. The bolts that fasten the V Drive to the Propeller shaft had sheared!
That has happened to me before a number of years ago, but I think it has been almost ten years since the last time it happend. We turned around and headed back to Long Beach on the Port engine. I notified Vessel Assist of the situation, and gave them my position, speed and bearing from the GPS. It was then four o'clock and it would take us two hours to get back to the dock. The Sea was getting rough, and the boat was rocking and rolling.. We checked in with Vessel Assist periodically. We got back to the dock without any further problems, and I had a glass of Gin.
We went to Busters again that night, and relaxed, but we were both tired from the days adventure, so we went back to the boat early.
 |
We surveyed the situation Saturday morning. Scott noticed the bilge pump had a different sound when it ran, so he opened the hatch to check it out, and discovered that the bilge was full of oil. He checked the oil level on the port engine and it was two quarts low.
when I checked the damage to the starboard drive, I saw that there was still pieces of the bolts still in the V Drive connector, so I had to remove it from the transmission to be able to remove them. I took the job of removing the V Drive, and Scott had the pleasant duty of cleaning up the bilge.
I got the V Drive out and we removed the remains of the bolts, we got the V Drive connected to the transmission and a couple of new bolts on the V Drive to Shaft connection. Scott also got the oily bilge down to a level that we could leave the pump off.
We quit at six o'clock and got cleaned up. I made some goulash for dinner.
We got to the Observation Bar about nine thirty. James King as Elvis was performing. There was a nice crowd there. We managed to find a table near the dance floor, and James was singing some good dance music, so we danced quite a bit. I also joined the other girls dancing to the faster stuff. We left at the last break.
 |
 |
We got the rest of the bolts on the V drive to shaft connection on Sunday morning, and tested it. The shaft was wobbling which indicated that something was out of line, so we shut it down and quit for the weekend.
We were late getting to the Observation Bar Sunday afternoon, but managed to get an hour of Chris and Lisa. We had fun dancing.
 |
 |
We both needed to go home at a decent hour so I drove to the Resraurant in the Sportsman’s Lodge in Studio City for dinner. It was then a short trip to Scotts car in Van Nuys. We both got home early enough.
04/12/05
I think my friends are getting are getting tired of my reports of problems and disasters as I am getting tired writing about them, but unfortunately I had another disaster this last weekend. I broke my foot. I could blame my heels, but it was just poor judgment that did me in. More about that later.
Last weekend was the Long Beach Toyota Grand Prix that runs by about 100 yards from my boat. The noise is so deafening that I usually stay away on that weekend, but I wanted to go there Friday to see if I could correct the misalignment of the prop shaft.
I unbolted the V Drive from the Prop shat, and the V Drive from the Transmission, and cleaned all the surfaces to make sure there wasn't any goop throwing the alignment off. I bolted the V Drive to the Transmission, then I rotated the prop shaft to see if that wobbled, and it didn't. I brought the shaft and drive interfaces together, and they seemed to align perfectly, so I bolted them together, and tested it. It wobbled! OK, so it is now a job for the Pros.
Scott and I had planned to go to San Diego if we couldn't take the boat anywhere, so he drove to the Union Station after work, left his car there and took the Metro to Long Beach. He managed to walk around the race track, dragging his suitcase behind him to the boat.
I had planned to BBQ some pork chops for dinner, but the north wind was blowing so hard I couldn't keep the BBQ on so we went to Busters for dinner.
We went to the back room for dancing to the Flyers after dinner, and had a ball as usual.
 |
 |
We wanted to take the eleven o'clock Amtrak to San Diego Saturday morning, but I had not packed yet, and it was almost eleven by the time I packed, dressed, and fixed my face. I drove to Union Station, and we took the twelve twenty train. That train does not originate in LA and there would be lots of people already on the train and a problem getting coach class seats together, so we got business class tickets instead. The business class was pretty full too, but we found two together. We got some pizza, beer and wine for lunch and settled in. It was a nice ride to San Diego.
 |
We had a reservation at the EZ8 Motel in Old Town that was within walking distance of the Trolley. We made a stop at a liquor store for beer, wine and gin on our walk to the Motel.
We had a drink and a little nap in our room, then got ready to go out for dinner at Anthony's Restaurant, and a night at the SRO.
The Trolley back into town left us off about three blocks for Anthony's and we started down the street. About a block from Anthony's we had to cross the street, and waited for the walk light with a bunch of other people. I stepped off the curb, and fell down. The curb was about 18 inches high from the street, and I had miscalculated it's height. I think there was actually a storm drain there.
I felt a pain in my foot, but I wasn't hurt otherwise. Scott helped me the rest of the way across the street and the walk to Anthony's. We had a short wait for our table, and I had a delicious Cajun Catfish.
I was having a problem walking, but the pain wasn't real bad. Scott wanted me to go to emergency, or at least back to the room, but I insisted that we continue our plans for the evening at the SRO, so we took a taxi there after getting someone to translate Fifth and Elm to our driver who wanted to take us to Fifth and M.
There were a few T* Girls there when we arrive about nine o'clock, and a bunch came in later. It looks like the SRO is a favorite hangout for T* Girls every Saturday night, not just the Girls Night Out on the first and third Saturdays of the month.
I was in the mood for some gin and the SRO is the place to get a good Gin Martini. They have doubles for about five dollars.
The bartenders and clientele are always friendly, and the music system plays our kind of music. It was an enjoyable evening, but I was needing to get some rest. We left when I tried to kiss the bartender after my second double Martini. It was just as the crowd started to get interesting too.
We took a cab back to the Motel. I crashed as soon as I got into bed.
 |
 |
Sunday morning my foot was really starting to bother me. Scott called a nearby Drug Store to find out if they had crutches, and they did. We packed up and checked out. we called a cab and had him take us to the Drug Store on the way to the Amtrak Station. Scott got the crutches and we got tickets for the next train to LA.
We only needed Coach Class this time because we were able to get aboard first with the other disabled/senior passengers, and got a good pair of seats on the Ocean side. It was a nice trip back to Union Station.
Scott arraigned for a handicapped cart to drive us to the parking lot elevator, and our cars were near each other and near the elevator.
 |
I was able to drive home with no problems.
I called my primary care Doctor Monday morning, and she sent me to the hospital for an x-ray. It showed a break in my little toe. I called a Podiatrist and saw him this morning (Tuesday) . The Podiatrist put me in a cast which I will be in for about the next month.
So I guess I will have to rely on others to drive me, and I will be wearing slacks, no heels, and no dancing until about the end of next month. Bummer, but this will pass.
04/18/05
Thanks to Scott, I was able to get to the boat and out one night anyway.
I am not able to drive safely with the cast and boot on my right foot, so my sweet honey, Scott drove us down Saturday morning. We took my car because I still had all my luggage from San Diego in the trunk.
We relaxed Saturday afternoon. We had some Pork Chops, and red beans and rice for dinner, then went to the Observation Bar to listen to James King sing.
We tried to dance a slow one, but my boot kept getting in the way, so I gave up on that. We stayed until almost midnight then went back to the boat and I crashed. It was a long day for me.
We put on our work clothes Sunday morning to see if we could tweak the Starboard V Drive connection. We (Scott mostly) tried rotating the connection 180 degrees to see if that worked, and it helped a lot, but there was still a slight wobble. I had just read an article in Sea Magazine about all the crazy things that can be caused by a damaged prop, and the diver had told me that the starboard prop had some damage, so fixing that will be the next thing to try.
We ran both engines for a while to make sure there was lubrication in the cylinders. The engines are both working great, so all I need now is to get the props taken care of and I am ready to go again. I am feeling good about the boat right now. I think I can take care of the remaining problems without it costing too much.
My foot was really bothering me, and I didn't want to make the walk from the parking lot to the Queen Mary for Chris and Lisa Sunday afternoon. Scott had brought a DVD of the Movie "The Wedding Singer", so we watched that after a late lunch.
My friend Katt was going to perform with a Shakespeare Company on the Queen Mary Sunday night, but I still wasn’t in any shape to make the walk, and we needed to get up the hill and home at a decent hour, so we left for home a little after seven. W e stopped at an Italian restaurant near my house for dinner, and I was home by nine.
 |
04/25/05 Diary
I still have the cast and boot on my right foot, so transportation to the boat Saturday was courtesy of Scott driving again.
I get tired dragging that injured foot around, so I stayed home Friday night, and we drove to the boat late Saturday morning.
The NOAA weather forecasts were very uncertain about the possibility of rain this weekend, but we decided to go anyway. I was getting cabin fever staying home all week. Life's a bitch when you have to depend on others to drive you around. I can't even get to my local bar that is just around the corner from my house.
As it turned out, there was only three brief showers Saturday night and Sunday.
Valerie visited us for a while Saturday afternoon. We didn't go out Saturday night, because I was tired. Scott had brought a DVD of the movie "SpaceBalls" and we watched that.
Sunday morning we did a few maintenance chores on the boat, and Robin came by on Sunday afternoon to help me get over the depression I have been experiencing lately. She is such a sweetheart. One of the issues that we talked about was my uncertainty about Genital Reassignment Surgery. She will be going to Montreal for hers in June, and I have been discussing the possibility of GRS with Marie Keller. Marie is the Gender counselor for both of us.
Scott and I went to the Observation Bar later Sunday afternoon for Chris and Lisa. Lisa had the day off, so Chris had the lady keyboardist that leads the band he plays with on Saturday nights at the Run Away Bay Bar in Torance. She is very good musician and a charming Lady.
I had two Martinis, and got totally wasted. Poor Scott had to help me to the front entrance, and then get the car and help me in. We went back to the boat and I laid down for a nap.
Scott woke me up at seven o’clock. We had planned to have some left over Pork Loin ribs for dinner, and go home by seven, but it was too late and we decided to leave right away then have dinner somewhere near my home. We ended up having Pizza at a restaurant near home, and I got home about ten o’clock.
 |
 |
 |
 |
05/02/05 Diary
I am still on the disabled list.
Scott picked me up Friday night. The poor guy was so busy filling in for drivers that had quit, that he didn't get time off for lunch, so we went to a local restaurant for dinner before leaving town.
We didn't have any problem getting to Long Beach, and arrived a little after nine. We decided to not go out though, because we were both tired. Me from dragging my cast around all day, and Scott from dragging a bunch of kids around all day.
Scott brought a DVD of the Apollo 13 Movie and we watched that, then went to bed.
We checked out the Props that my diver had removed for refurbishing and left in the aft deck Saturday morning. The starboard one had big dings in it but the port one looked fine. Unfortunately, the prop shop called this morning to tell me that the port prop needs replacing because of electrolysis that turns metal to sponge. The shop thinks that the Starboard one can be repaired.
We did our grocery, drug, booze and marine store shopping at noon. We had a late lunch, a nap and then just relaxed until dinner time. We started watching the first Harry Potter movie after dinner, and decided to stay on the boat and watch the movie rather than getting dressed to go out. My foot was bothering me from all the walking and shopping we did earlier, so I needed to stay off it.
Sunday morning was a nice, sunny and lazy time.
We went to the Observation Bar that afternoon for Chris and Lisa. We sat at the bar to talk to Evon. He told us that Michelle had been in Friday night for a while. I wish we had known, because I haven't seen her in a few weeks, and would have made the effort to go there.
There was a group of girls celebrating a birthday, and having a good time. The birthday girl was drunk out of her mind and kept falling down. They coaxed me up to the dance floor for a few minutes, but I didn't want to get in the path of the falling down girl. I couldn't actually dance anyway, all I could do was shuffle my foot around to the music.
We left the Ship when the music stopped, and drove to the Reef for dinner. The Matri D' knows us and gave us our usual booth. We split a Caesar Salad and a 14 ounce prime rib dinner. The portions at the Reef are so large that half a serving is plenty.
We went back to the boat to pack up, and change for the trip home. It's always a sad time to leave and go back to our hum drum week day lives.
 |
 |
05/10/05 Diary
Two more days until I get my cast off (I hope). Scott has been driving me to the boat every weekend, and my room mate has been driving me around town, but it’s been a drag (pun intended).
Scott picked me up Friday night about six o’clock and we went to a local restaurant for dinner before bucking the traffic to Long Beach. That worked out pretty well. No significant traffic problems.
We watched a movie (Star wars II) on the boat before going to bed.
We (mainly Scott) did some maintenance chores Saturday morning, then went shopping for some essential food items, i.e. beer and gin.
We went to the Observation Bar Saturday night. James King was doing his Elvis thing. We had a good time. I had a couple of martinis that turned out to be one too many. I was feeling no pain when we left.
There was something not set right on the camera, and we couldn’t take any pictures that night.
 |
We left the boat early Sunday afternoon to get home for Mothers Day. I usually get something from the Cats for my room mate, and make her dinner.
05/17/05 Diary
As I wrote last week, I was supposed to have the cast off last Thursday, but the X-rays showed that the bone did not heal, so they put another cast on and I was told no walking for two more weeks. I was a good girl and stayed home last weekend. I asked Scott to go to check the boat out, and he spent the weekend there. He invited some of our local friends to join him, but I guess they already had plans, because he had to do the weekend solo.
I asked Scott to write the Diary entry for this week, and the dear man did a good job. I hope you find this interesting. I have inserted a (few notes) to identify some of the places he talks about.
Scott’s weekend in Long Beach without me:
Hello all. With Marianne still out of action, it was up to me to fill in as Acting Captain of the m/v My World.
I left home early enough to catch the Flyaway bus for LAX Airport, then on to Long Beach via the MTA Metro Rail. I reached the marina at about noon and opened up the boat. I did a few light maintenance items, including an engine test to see if there was any wobble on the port shaft at the output of the V-drive. The diver had installed the props, a repaired one stbd., and a new prop for the port side. There was a slight vibration in the port side, which could be normal. Further tests will be needed. ( The diver had a problem getting the new port prop installed and was concerned that it might have been damaged when he was puting it on.)
I had lunch and then took the Pine Avenue Link shuttle into town to get to an ATM. Long Beach Transit operates free shuttle services for the downtown area. The Pine Avenue Link runs from the North end of downtown, to the Aquarium, then Rainbow Lagoon, and to Shoreline Village, near the Marina.
There's also Passport buses, the A and D Buses travel from the Catalina landing, to the East along Ocean Blvd., 2nd St. through Belmont Shore, and Naples. The A and D routes split. The A goes to Alamitos Bay Landing where Buster's, a Marine Store, the Blues Cruises dock, and Lots of other places to eat and drink are located. The D bus goes to Los Altos.
The C Passport buses run between downtown and the Queen Mary and The Reef.
All lines connect at the Transit Mall at the corner of Pine Ave. and First St., including the Blue Line Metro train to L.A., and the other LB Transit busses.
After I'd been to the bank I got on a bus and stopped at Hamburger Mary's. (Hamburger Marys is a GLBT Bar and Restaurant on the corner of Broadway and Alamitos. You can recognize it by the rainbow flags flying). I had a Sierra Nevada and watched the action. There were line-dance lessons in progress. This is a real fun place, there's always something going on.
I hiked back to the boat and crashed for a bit.
By about six o’clock when the Queen Mary would sound her horn, I realized that NO ONE was going to join me for the evening, and I was on my own. I decided on Bubba Gump Shrimp at the Pike for dinner. It's a small restaurant based on the Forrest Gump movie, and I've wanted to try it for a long time. (The Pike is an area on Shoreline Drive near the Marina that was an amusement park years ago. It has been developed into upscale apartments, Restaurants, and an arcade).
After dinner I took the Link to the Transit Mall to catch the Passport C to the Queen Mary Observation Bar. James King as Elvis was doing his usual thing. The place was only half full, though. I thought that was very unusual for a Saturday night. The waitress who knows us, asked me if I wanted my usual Sammy and a Martini for Marianne. I had to tell her that she wasn't coming :(
A little after ten o’clock I returned to the boat. I had a long wait at Transit Mall for the connection to the Marina. A concert at the Performing Arts enter had just let out, and all the streets were a solid, unmoving gridlock. The bus finally came and I got back to the boat just before midnight.
Sunday morning I got up a little before nine, and walked to Hamburger Mary's again. I've wanted to try out their Sunday Brunch. It's $14, and it's all you can eat, including bottomless champagne. They have a drag show, but that doesn’t start until later, and I didn't see it. They call themselves the Brunchettes.
Hamburger Marys is always fun, the staff is friendly, there is music in the air, videos, a full bar, dance floor, a game room, and a couple of smoking patios, one has tables and gas heaters.
I returned to the boat for a bit, then went on to Shoreline Village. I walked around all the little shops, then got on the Link for Rainbow Pier to have a ride on the Rainbow Rocket. It's a speedboat ride that takes you out beyond the outer breakwater, and it is FAST! I got sprayed pretty good! Check out their Web Site.
It was getting late, so I took the Link back to the boat. I showered off the salt I got sprayed with, changed and grilled a couple of burgers, and had a glass of Merlot for the last salute to the old QM at six o’clock. Then I packed up, closed up the ship, and began the bus-and-train odyssey that would return me home.
Marianne and I stayed in touch with our cell phones, and my internet terminal so we could e-mail each other throughout the weekend, but it's just not the same without my sweetie.
Next weekend will be the 22nd. annual GLBT Pride Festival in Long Beach. If any of you will be in town for this, contact Marianne and/or me. Check out the Web Site.
See ya next week!
From Marianne.
I will not be able to be at the Long Beach Pride Festival for my annual open house on the boat this weekend. However, Scott will be there, and he will be happy to have you visit him on the boat when he is aboard. He also plans to spend some time at the Festival, so please call him on his cell phone to let him know you are coming and/or invite him to join you at the festival. He will be alone all weekend and will appreciate the company.
His cell phone number is 805-304-3278, and his e-mail address is KE6HGB@WEBTV.NET.
05/25/05 Diary
I asked Scott to write the weekly diary again this week. Hopefully, I will be able to spend next weekend with him on the boat.
Hugs, Marianne
Hello all again. I hope you've all had a great week.
Another weekend alone on the boat, without my sweet Marianne.
The 22nd. Annual Lesbian and Gay Pride Festival in Long Beach was this weekend. I took the Metrolink from Simi Valley to Union Station and then the MTA Metro Rail to Long Beach Friday night. I was late getting cleaned up from the workday and was worried about having dinner before the kitchens closed, but I made it to the Bubba Gump Shrimp restaurant at the Pike and had their Shrimp Pasta.
I decided to stay at the Pike for the evening. I was going to try the Gameworks arcade, but they wanted $10 just to get inside. Same with the V2O Night Club! I started back to the boat as I was really tired anyway, but I did try out the new Ferris Wheel. The view from the top is incredible.
I returned to the boat and crashed.
Saturday morning I woke up real early for some unknown reason, made coffee, and started watching the Forrest Gump DVD that I bought at the restaurant. I made some breakfast and got out our flags for the boat. I put the U S flag and the Rainbow flag on the outriggers, where they blew all day.
No one called or e-mailed by noon that they'd like to visit or join me, so I took off for the Pride Festival. It takes up all of the Marina Green Park next to the Marina, and is the 3rd biggest in the country. There's multiple stages with all kinds of music, hip-hop, Latin, Country, there's a Dance tent, the Coffee House, the Interfaith Stage, and of course the Main Stage which has the major headliners. There's food and drink booths everywhere.
 |
 (My World's dock is just to the left of the building in the background) |
I was getting hungry after walking around the grounds, so I got on the shuttle, and went to the California Pizza Kitchen at the Pike and had a nice big plate full of spaghetti, and a Sierra Nevada beer. Fair food just isn't my bag.
I went back to the boat for a short nap, then went back in the fair for a little longer. Looks like they've done away with the KARIOKE stage they had last year. Bummer!
I came back to the boat and grilled a couple burgers for dinner. I got cleaned up and now was trying to figure out where to go. I didn't go back in the fair because I cannot walk for long periods at a time. A little over a year ago I broke my foot, and they're both real sensitive. So I wanted to just sit and listen to music, so I went to the QM. There was a new band called "Let The Good Times Roll" playing in the Observation Bar. I was told it'd be Top 40, but they were more like slow jazz. The place was near-deserted.
I left on the 10:40 shuttle back into town, and found Jun, one of the Observation Bar bartenders on the bus. We talked for awhile about the dwindling business there on the ship. Once again, it seems like the whole operation is in trouble. Jun told me that he used to serve between 300 to 400 drinks in a single shift, this night he only did 15! The bus rolled into Transit Mall and we said goodbye.
I needed the Pine Avenue Link to return to the Marina. The A bus showed up first, and I knew that would take me there too, just at the other end. So I got on that. I got off at Hamburger Mary's. There was a line of people waiting to get inside that went around the whole parking lot. It was at it's occupant limit so no one was allowed in until someone left. I returned to the boat.
Sunday morning I woke up a little later than before. I decided not to return to the Pride as my feet were really sore. I guess I kinda overdid it Saturday. The walk from the dock to the nearest entrance gate, plus walking around inside the fair was more than I could do. I made breakfast, and just relaxed with TV and internet. Marianne's cellphone doesn't work well from her home, so we e-mailed a lot back and forth to stay in touch.
I made a lunch of hamburger and beer, then began cleaning up the boat. I hosed off the bird-doodie that some thoughtful seagull left on the windshields, as well as the kitty-cat paw prints left on the side decks, and the fo'c'sle deck. Being Acting Captain is a big job!
I WILL have my Marianne back next week, even if I have to put Krazy Glue on the break in that bone!!! It's getting really sad and depressing without my love.
At 4 PM I had the m/v My World shut down and locked up, then began the walk to Shoreline Village to catch the Pine Avenue Link bus for Transit Mall to get on the Blue Line train for L.A. I had budgeted 3 hours to go from the boat to Union Station, as the Amtrak I had to be on leaves at 7. It's a good thing too, as it took almost an hour to go from the boat to Transit Mall, a distance that could've been walked in less time. The traffic downtown was a total mess. The left turn from Shoreline Drive onto Pine Ave alone took about 6 signal light cycles.
Amtrak showed up right on time and I boarded. Usually the lounge car is open and serving right after departure, but this evening there was this lady who just didn't seem to care about the people, or her job. She took FOREVER to organize and get set up, and was really taking her own sweet time. The conductor finally went in there and gave her a little pep-talk or something, because the bar finally opened. We could hear the anger as he took her aside there.
Something worked because I was very politely served my pizza and a bottle of Stone Pale Ale, with dispatch. I took it back to my seat, ate and drank, and just relaxed as the train hurried me back home.
 |
Marianne has her next appointment with the foot doctor on Friday morning to see if the break has finished healing. So on Friday morning at nine thirty Pacific Daylight, I ask all of you readers out there to CROSS YOUR FINGERS!!! That cast needs to go!
Take care, all of you. It's been nice chatting with all of you these past 2 weeks, but I REALLY want my sweet Marianne back!!!
05/31/05 Diary
I finally got that damn cast off. The Podiatrist said the bone was healed, but it was very weak, and will not be back to normal for several months. He also said that he would have to screw it together if I broke it again. The foot is still swollen and tender so Scott has been trying to keep me off it. I am a unruly patient, and he had to actually sit on me to keep me from dancing.
Scott took the train to Long Beach Friday night. He has been keeping the boat in good condition while I have been mending. He went to Hamburger Marys friday night.
I didn't get down until Saturday morning because I had a number of things that needed to be done at home. I had not been able to do anything while I was in the cast and I couldn't drive. Scott saw me drive into the parking lot and came running up the dock, grabbed me and almost raped me on the spot. The poor guy had been without sex for three weeks, but I made him wait until after lunch.
We went to Busters Saturday night for dinner and the Flyers band. We were able to get a table up front. I didn't dance at all, but Scott was able to do the Electric Slide Line Dance during the band's break when they play a video with some Country Western music.
We stayed for the second set. Everyone had a great time.
We crashed when we got back to the boat.
 |
Scott did a pre-launch checkout Sunday morning in preparation for going out on a test run with the new props. He started the engines, and they are running good now.
I wanted to check for prop vibration on the Port engine, because the diver said he had a problem getting the new prop on the shaft. It had a lot of vibration when it was put into gear at idle speed. We increased the engine speed up to 1000 RPM and it got worse, so we shut it down.
The starboard prop had been repaired by the shop. There was very little vibration, but the Shaft still has a little wobble in it.
I have to take the boat for an inspection by the Marina this month. The old wooden dock is going to be replaced with a new concrete dock. The Mariana wants to be sure that all the boats are operational prior to moving us to a temporary dock in July. My boat should be able to run the short distance to the Marina Office for the inspection. I may need to have it hauled out to fix the prop and shaft problems.
We went to hear Chris and Lisa at the Observation Bar Sunday afternoon. I really wanted to dance to Santana’s Smooth, but Scott wouldn’t let me. He sat on me to hold me down when I wanted to get out on the dance floor.
There are guided tours of the Queen Mary about every half hour coming through the Observation Bar, and we thought it would be fun to pretend that we were Disney Land automated dummies. Scott does it really well, but I wasn’t able to pull it off.
 |
 |
We went back to the boat at six, and had dinner, then we went to Hamburger Marys for KARIOKE. There were a lot of people signed up to sing. Scott was able to sing after about an hour, and did Wonderful. It would have been a long wait to sing again so we went back to the boat to watch some movies.
 |
We watched Young Doctors in Love and O’ Brother where art thou. We didn’t get to bed until almost four a.m..
Monday was just a lazy day. We had a late Breakfast and an early dinner. I took Scott to the Union Station so he could take the seven o’clock Amtrak home.
There is probably a lot of stuff that I forgot, but I need to get this posted now. I am going to the boat this Friday morning to start preparing it for the inspection on the 11 Th.
06/06/05 Diary
I drove to the boat Friday noon and Scott came Friday night on the Metro. We had some left over chili for dinner, then went to Busters.
Busters was more crowded than usual. The Flyers were celebrating their twenty sixth year at busters and there were a lot of people that have been coming to enjoy them for about the same length of time. We had to sit in the side room until the break, when a good table became free. I danced a couple of semi slow ones. We stayed until about midnight.
 |
We did some boat repairs on Saturday after going to the Marine store to pick up some parts and safety equipment. We cleaned the bilge in preparation for the inspection next Saturday, and fixed a hot water line leak.
We had a steak dinner on board then went to the Observation Bar on the RMS Queen Mary. It was a James King doing Elvis night, and the place was packed. There were no empty tabled in the room, and I needed to sit because my foot is still bothering me. A group that are regular followers of James King found two chairs for us at one of their tables next to the dance floor.
We had a good time. I was able to dance with Scott when there was a slow one, but he did not want me to dance to the faster ones. I did shuffle to one that wasn't too fast. We left After the second set because my foot was bothering me.
 |
 |
I wanted to take the boat out for a little test run Sunday morning. Scott did the pre-launch checkout and started the engines from the bridge while I checked for vibration in the Props.
I think there are more spirits on my boat than Gin, Vodka, and Scotch. The vibrations in the propeller shafts that were there in both engines a week ago were gone this weekend! I had scheduled an appointment for a haul out to fix the vibration in the port prop, and called my mechanic to come to align the Starboard shaft. I asked Scott to come down from the bridge to verify that it was running smooth, and he agreed that the vibration was gone, but then he told me that it felt like the bolts connecting the V-Drive to the Transmission were loose. I checked and agreed they were loose. I tightened all six.
My first thought was that the mechanic had been there and fixed both, and was coming back to finish the job and left the bolts loose. I also thought that maybe the diver that installed the props came back, found the problem and fixed it. I called both the mechanic and the diver on Monday to thank them, but they said that they hadn't been there yet. I asked the mechanic to come this week anyway to verify that the props and shafts are aligned and safe, or fix them if the boat spirits have returned and thrown everything cockeyed again.
The Mechanics checked both engines out yesterday , and called me this morning (Thursday the 9th). He said that everything was operating properly. No wobble, no vibration, and no oil loss. I think I will just accept the fact that there are gremlins or the spirit of previous owners at work.
We drove the boat to the gas dock and the pump out dock, had lunch and took a nap Sunday afternoon, then packed up and left the boat to the whims of the gremlins.
We decided to have dinner at the Cafe D' in West Hollywood. Randy, the host and bartender greeted us warmly. He asked me where I have been the past several months, and I told him my sad tale of broken bones and broken boats. The waiter also welcomed us back, and remembered what we drank. I had two good martinis, and Scott had his Sam Adams.
I drove us to the Fly Away lot where he had left his car Friday night, said our good-byes, and I was home in bed by eleven o'clock.
06/13/05 Diary
I have a tendency to do too much with this gimpy foot so it swells up and that I can't get a shoe on, and it hurts if I do get the shoe on, so Scott and I stayed home on the boat Friday night and watched "The Aviator" from a DVD on my Laptop Computer. He noticed that one of the Night Club scenes had been shot in the Observation Bar on the Queen Mary. We could tell because of the distinctive lamps and railings there.
My boat inspection was scheduled for nine thirty Saturday morning, so we got up early, had breakfast then prepared the boat. There was no problem at the Marina office dock. Everything that was suppose to work was working. I had been really nervous about the inspection, because I thought we might get some gung-ho Coast Guard Auxiliary person that would check everything, but the nice Marina Staff Lady just checked the running lights, and the bilge. I think she recognized me.
I wanted to take a high speed test run after the inspection was over, and we headed out to the harbor. She ran fine at 3000 RPM. I checked for vibration in both engines and they seemed OK. I did notice some vapors coming from under the exhaust manifold of the port engine, but there was no visible oil leakage. We went back to the dock after about a half hour.
Later, Scott noticed that the bilge pump discharge was oily. We checked the bilge and saw that the port engine had been leaking oil. I was very depressed. It was one of those "oh fuck!" moments. The engine was still hot, so we decided to wait until Sunday when the engine was cool to check it out.
We took the Link bus to the Bubba Gump Shrimp restaurant next to the Aquarium for lunch. The theme of the restaurant is based on the movie "Forrest Gump". It's only about three blocks from the Marina, but the parking is expensive and I didn't want to aggravate my tender hoof. Scott has been there a couple times, but it was the first time for me. Its a fun place, and the food is good, but I think it's a little over priced. I had a small New Orleans Style shrimp and rice dish for $16. It's a bit of a tourist place.
We took the Link bus to the Pine Square theater after lunch and saw Star Wars Episode III.
Back at the boat we had a short nap, then I cooked a couple of steaks for dinner.
We went to the Observation Bar Saturday night. Our friends from Arcadia were there and invited us to join them. James King was doing Elvis. I really wanted to dance to his "Mustang Sally", but Scott did not want me screwing my foot up again, so I just danced to some of the more moderate songs, and the slow ones with him.
It was a fun party. there were some crazy people there in pirate costumes. I guess they were at some kind of costume party that spilled over to the OB.
We left about twelve thirty and went back to the boat and crashed. It had been a long day.
 |
 |
We put our grubby clothes on Sunday morning to see if we could find where the oil is coming from.
There was some oil pooled on the top of the intake manifold that seemed to be coming from the carburetor, so I checked the bolts to see if they were loose. They were OK. There was also a pool of oil on one of the engine mounts in the area where I saw the vapors coming from Saturday. It's near the oil dip stick, so that could be the source also. We left the oil where we found it, and I will get the mechanic there to check it out.
We got cleaned up and went to the Observation Bar for Chris and Lisa about three thirty. They are drawing a good crowd lately. We stayed until six o'clock and had an enjoyable afternoon as always.
We had dinner on the boat, packed and left. I drove Scott to his car at the Fly Away lot, then went home.
 |
 |
06/23/05 Diary
I had an appointment to meet someone from Harpurs Marine Friday morning to check out the engine that's loosing oil, and Fred, one of their mechanics showed up. I have not been too confident about Fred's diagnostic abilities in the past. We took the boat out and I took her up to 3000 RPM which is cruising speed. Fred was below checking the engine. He came up to the bridge after about a minute and told me that oil was coming out of both valve covers. He told me to go look so I did, and he was right. We slowed down and went back to the slip. Fred said that the valve cover gaskets needed replacing, and if that didn't fix it, then the problem was Blow Back. I asked him what that was, and he said that the piston rings were shot and the power was blowing into the oil pan causing the oil pressure to go very high. I would have to have the engine rebuilt.
I called Tom Harpur that afternoon and asked him if there wasn't a more straight forward way to determine if the problem was "Blow Back". He had checked the cylinder compression not to long ago, and told me that the engine was tight. I asked him to check it again before I start throwing money into replacing things that didn't need replacing. He said that he would, and that's where my boat problems stand at his time.
Scott came to the boat Friday night. we had dinner on the boat, watched a movie, and I got drunk.
I haven't been able to wear a dress for two months, because I have been afraid to wear high heels and I didn't think I had a pair of safe shoes that would go with a dress. I looked through my shoe locker and found a pair of 1" heel red hush puppies, so I got out my red dress with the long skirt to hide my miserable legs and we went to the Observation Bar Saturday night. The LA Lions were playing. They are pretty good, but they rarely play a slow song that we can dance to. We left about midnight.
 |
 |
Sunday was Father's day, and Scott had to leave about noon to get home in time to go out for dinner with his Dad. I didn't need to be anywhere for Father's day. I took Scott to the Blue line station, and went back to the boat for a nap.
After my nap, I showered and dressed to go to the QM for Chris and Lisa. They were on break when I got there. They were sitting with some of their friends. Their friends turned out to be very nice, and invited me to dance with them. We had a good time.
I left early because I didn't want to drink too much. It was Evon's Birthday, and I gave him a card with a nice tip in it.
 |
I had some dinner on the boat, and went to Hamburger Marys about 8:30. There wasn't anyone at the bar, and very few people inside at all. There were some people on the patio though. Shed was setting up for the KARIOKE.
I sat at the bar. I was wearing my long red wig. I was on my second glass of Merlot by the time Shed had set up the KARIOKE and had started singing. I wanted a picture with him and just enough to drink to go out on the floor and join him in whatever song he was singing. I can't remember what the song was, but I got the picture, and left.
I went back to the boat, and crashed.
 |
I went home Monday afternoon with a hangover.
Tuesday night is KARIOKI night at the Lodge, and I met Scott there a little before it starts at nine o'clock. Naomi and her date arrived as Scott was singing to me. We had a good visit. scott was able to sing three songs by ten thirty, then we left.
 |
06/30/05 Diary
Scott is on a Summer School schedule for a few weeks, so he gets off about two o'clock on weekdays, and can get to the boat by six. Michelle was able to get out Friday also, so we ended up meeting her at (where else) the Observation Bar about nine thirty. There was a soft Jazz group playing, and the music had a slow beat, but it was fine for slow dancing. Scott danced with both of us, and Michelle and I danced to the faster ones.
 |
 |
 |
Scott took me to Sir Winstons for my Birthday Saturday night. We stopped at Sir Winston's Bar before dinner for a drink and to get caught up on the latest inside information on the Queen Mary from Alan the Bar Tender. They are not going to have Fire Works behind the Queen Mary this year because the City wanted the outfit that runs the ship to pay for all the security involved which would have doubled their cost. I think the result is going to be a disaster for the City, the Marina, and the QM. It is usually pretty wild in the parking lots, and the Marina park on the fourth, because people are setting off their own fire works while watching the Queen Mary's fire works. I just hope it doesn't cause vandalism in the Marina if the city isn't going to provide security. I saw a man get killed by a gang one fourth of July several years ago. I do not plan on being there this year.
The dinner at Sir Winstons was fine, but a little different and not quite as elegant as it used to be. We went to the Observation bar after dinner. The same soft Jazz group was playing. The room was packed, and we couldn’t get to the dance floor, so we had one dance next to our table, then left after a drink.
 |
 |
 |
We did some maintenance on the boat Sunday morning. We had an early dinner, and watched a DVD movie of Phantom Of The Opera. I drove Scott to the Fly Away lot and went home.
HOME
Go to diary index
Go to the latest Diary entry
Go to the First Quarter 2005 Diary
Get your own Free Home Page