Sunday 21 March 2021

Message from UPS Friday indicated that delivery of new chart plotter would be delayed a day. From what? No date had been declared. Then was told it would be Monday. It was delivered yesterday. The FedUPS gangs are doing a bang-up job delivering on high demand, but perhaps getting a bit frazzled.

Strangely enough wiring for latest electronics is well advanced. Third to last bit requires Jan transferring all her clothing and toiletries from several lockers onto bed, then putting them back. She loves doing this. She won't let me move her stuff due disaster that results. Some of us have organizational skills and some don't. Second to last is running wire from cockpit to connections under deck. Last thing is mounting and plugging in MFD and trying to figure out why it doesn't work.

Monday

MFD delivery required signature and wasn't actually left as originally supposed. UPS doesn't allow pickup at their office so had to wait until today. Actually came, but last bit of wiring shipped to West Marine store still on FedEx truck somewhere. Jan's prescription glasses, due today, also in limbo.

Jan passed her driving test (on smaller front right spare tire due a flat), but couldn't get the license because they wanted to see her passport. This is the same DMV (different location) that scanned that document into their system in order for her to get a learner's permit. We returned to boat, got passport and went back to original office where they asked her why she was trying to show it to them - your bureaucracy at work for you. License is only good for one year and was, as turns out, just so much monkey motion as it was an unnecessary precaution for her to get covid vaccination.. another extraneous piece of flotsam for the scrapbook.

Hung out at Panera Bread Co. eating bagels and ingesting caffeine hoping that various threads come together today to get wire, glasses and plotter. When computer, ipad and phone updates were completed went to hang out at Bob Lee's Tire Company while tire, which couldn't be fixed, was replaced.

Tuesday

Because old plotter had buttons, knobs and such on one side, new MFD is a smidge too small for extra wide cutout in old Navpod, so new must be purchased. It's on backorder. Defender promises drop-ship from manufacturer to prevent waiting until second coming. Considering that two other shipments are past promised arrival, boding is inauspicious.

Wednesday

Returned to PCP for test results that imply I'll make it. Good to hear there's still life in the carcass. Jan now scheduled for full workup and referral to get annual mammogram.

Thursday

Second new/old printer arrived from eBay and prints fine, but scans with a shadow, readable. Good enough for government work... but then what isn't? Propane tank finally adapted as requested with easy-on connector, but without safety valve. Possibly newish rule (we've been away for a decade) exempts boats from this security required on all other LPG tanks (how do they know?.. we could lie). Is this Florida's new plan to reduce boat blight in anchorages? That and apparently flow could be interrupted as boat heels, so we get special dispensation.

Friday

Need to cap this off and send, otherwise it could drag on forever and get really nutty.

How about this thought: School zone ordinances demand drivers slow down. Few realize actual reasons for this. Well, here you go. People who create these rules continually interact with children. This obviously has a deleterious effect on their attitudes about these little unquenchably self-centered, black holes of neediness and irritation. On the driver end of the equation, as everyone knows, points are given and he who gets the most points wins. Having cars slow keeps them in the zones for longer, allows them to sneak up on unsuspecting agile ones (very young or slow juveniles award fewer or even negative points) and quick handling for aiming is easier from slower speed. Of course, the downside is that administrators get compensated by volume of students and there's no guarantee that the troublesome ones, you know, kids who think for themselves, ask difficult questions and resist indoctrination, will be the ones lost. Such are the vagaries of life, but crikey, it's good fun.

Jack & Jan

P.S. Please send outraged rants to disgraceful.twaddle@gmail.com. Vociferous, shocked indignation is the goal here. Don't disappoint me. Jan had nothing to do with the last paragraph.