Happy Fourth of July!

I've spent the last few days in New Orleans' French Quarter with my Mom and Step-Dad.  We loved it.  So fun.  So  yummy.  So pretty.

We left New Orleans with some beignets and cafe au lait in our bellies and headed to Little Rock, Arkansas.  We're staying with my Step- Sister which has been so, so nice.  We haven't seen each other in sooooo long.  So long that it's almost criminal.  

I'm blogging from a computer for the first time in what feels like forever.

In other words, life is good.   

I'm hoping you have a wonderful Fourth of July.  I hope you catch some fireworks somewhere, I hope you have something off the BBQ, I hope you relax!

I'm going to try to be much better about being a blogger on the go!  The road trip goes on!

Nautie Randomness III

I don't have too many random things to say. That's pretty random. 

​It was an incredibly foggy trip from Alaska to Asia. I've said it before I'll say it again. Fog makes people crazy. 

​I haven't taken Big Bertha out at all this trip. What's wrong with me?!  I miss that old girl. I gotta get back in my groove!

When we were up in Alaska the Captain and some of the crew caught tons of fish!  We had fresh fish tacos and ceviche for dinner - yum!​

I am getting kinda into weather. I've been having fun printing out the weather maps and putting them up on the board to get a good feel for what's to come. Pretty much what came this trip was fog, rolling and then lots of wind. I'm looking for sunshine!

That's about it for this random post....where's the action?!  Where's the excitement?!  Oh boy...you're not the only one wondering this!  I've got some bold moves coming soon...so I'm saving up some energy...I'll keep you posted Nautie Friends!

Nautie Randomness.

I'm loving the West Coast.  Listening to the Seals bark as I passed under the Oakland Bay Bridge this morning made me realize how happy I am to be back in this neck of the woods!  I missed you Best Coast.

I'm finally getting my containership bearings.  The only downside I can see so far is very little port time.  The flip side is that I was pretty used to that.  I wanted to run an errand today and realized I had zero time to do it in.  Just a little downside.

My room here on the ship is an absolute disaster.  Maybe I should do something about that...

My scalp is rotting off.  I can't figure out if it's my shampoo, the water or old age.  Any suggestions?  

I've been using Josie Maran's Argan Daily Moisturizer with SPF 47.  My face is loving me for it.  I'd say it's pretty much the bomb and you should check it out.

Some of my shipmates went home from the West Coast.  It always amazes me how sad I get when shipmates leave.  (don't worry....I'll be over it in two days....and then I'll be sad when the next guys leave...)

Thank you so much for letting me share my losses with you.  You've been so patient, letting me get a feel for the new ship and if I'm honest.....avoiding the slow internet connection.  I heart you so hard!

morning sky

goodbye.

About twelve days ago I was somewhere south of Japan.  I was right off the coast and could see lights of fishing boats and some city lights in the distance.  I happened to look down closer at the water and saw that it was glowing blue with phosphorescence so, I grabbed my camera and raced to the stern to try to take some long term exposure photos of our wake. 

I could see the fishing lines in the water stirring up more glow, a lighthouse swooped around periodically and I frantically adjusted my camera settings scared I wasn’t going to be able to capture the moment.

I stood on the stern snapping away, oblivious that the moment would hold so much more meaning the next morning.

Back home in Hilo one of my dearest friends was quietly slipping away after suffering complications during surgery.

You know those people in your life you don’t have to keep in touch with?  Whose history is so intertwined with your own that distance and time changes nothing?  The people who keep you real by simply accepting the real you?  That was Caryn.

Pulling into Yokohama the next day I eagerly anticipated cell reception.  Sitting on the bow I got my first signal and received the news.  I hoped my sunglasses would hide my tears and got myself together in time to tie up the ship.  

Memories.  I’m lucky to have so many good ones.  Caryn doing my make up for junior prom – I requested mermaid eyes – and man did she deliver.  Sassy haircuts, hot pink streaks, platform heels and style.  Making sushi in the fellowship hall.  Gossiping in the bathroom.

It’s hard to say goodbye but, I’d say fluorescent blue waters off the coast of Japan is a pretty amazing send off.

I’m gonna miss you something fierce.

All Of The Feelings

I bet you all have been thinking, 'wow. Megan hasn't talked about her feelings in awhile'. Where's the crying in bars?  Where's the meowing?  I mean...could she possibly be turning into a well adjusted adult?  Nope. 

I am having all of the feelings. 

I figure, what's better than 'writing it out'?!

I hesitate to write about work in this lovely space. Which may seem incredibly stupid considering it's all I actually seem to write about. In all honesty though, I keep lots of important details to myself...like what ship I'm actually on...who my employment agency is...etc.  This is going to be an incredibly vague post, and for that I apologize greatly. 

When my ship was reflagged I struggled to find a new ship...you guys know this part. I looked high and low...and some may argue that I could have looked lower but, really?!  Who wants to look lower?!  

What I discovered when I was ship-less was that I had no seniority. I had been working for a company for years - they had no ship for me. I had been in the same group of people looking for work since I graduated (ahem, nine years ago). They too had no ship for me. 

I felt like I was on a fast track. I had been moving up right on schedule throughout my career. I really and truly thought there'd be a captains job for me in the next 1.5 years. 

Instead of looking lower and instead of borrowing money I made a drastic change.  I moved somewhere I felt I could build seniority.

When I lost my ship - and realized I had no seniority - it was almost sad to get my Captains license.

I shipped out as Second Mate. I'm happy to be here and lucky for me I've always enjoyed this position. I enjoy being the navigator. Not having to listen to bitching sailors and overtime disputes first thing in the morning as Chief Mate...I don't miss that. 

Except. You knew there was a but. 

I feel like I'm going backwards. It feels like everything I busted ass for just flew out the door. It's gone. I'm back to square one. 

Here I am, essentially starting over at the exact moment I've hit my ultimate goal. Where's the fanfare?  Where's the red carpet?  Where's the golden egg?

I know what you're thinking. You're young!  You've got tons of time ahead of you!  You're right...and sure, I'll sail Chief Mate again...and sure maybe even Captain. Except that's probably now years in the making. 

Here's what it truly boils down to. I'm a lady sailor. It's hard not to feel like my time at sea has an expiration date. Years in the making?  That would have worked just fine for me....five years ago. 

There's nothing to be done about it. Curve ball. So, I'll just enjoy my time. Hard to complain about cruising up the Yangtze River and eating Soba in Okinawa. What else is life but an adventure?

Vague Post

this photo doesn't have much to do with anything other than there is a ship...carrying ships...and I'm looking for one...

You know how people write these super vague posts on Facebook or Twitter or leave a super vague comment on an Instagram photo?  I'm about to do that to you...

I'm leaving first thing tomorrow for California where I'll be 'looking for a ship'.

I'm packing my car with my sea bag, and any item required for a lengthy stint away from home base.  I'm planning on a worst case scenario of one month before walking up a gangway somewhere but, I'm crossing my fingers (like, crossing them hard) that something pops up before then.  

This might be considered putting all my happiness eggs in one basket - or it could be considered taking a risk with happiness in mind.  The jury is still out.

If you want to better understand what I'm up to I can't recommend the book Looking For A Ship enough.  This book is about one of my Captains at Maine Maritime Academy and his hunt for a ship - and then later about his time aboard the vessel.  It's great and I actually just cracked it open again!

Via

If you'd like more specifics about what I'm up to (because of course there's more to the story) drop me a line and I'll shoot you a personal email!  I'm really just trying hard to not put all my work business out into the interwebz!  Thanks for your understanding.