6 June 2009

We returned to Florida for the big graduation weekend for our incredibly handsome and brilliant nephew, Rob Wagenseil. When Rob was about 8 years old, he asked me if being the Valedictorian of his High School Class would help him get into college. Well, YEAH.

He then inquired if he achieved this goal would we get him a laptop computer for graduation. So this was obviously a goal that was established at an early age. When Rob was about 11 he called one day to tell me that his high school did not designate a valedictorian any longer…not sure why that decision was made, but we don’t make the rules. We agreed that if he finished in the top 5 of his class, we still had a deal.

Somewhere along the way, Rob figured out that the President of the Class is the guy who gives the commencement speech and leads his class into and out of the ceremony. He also does an incredible amount of work throughout the year raising money, organizing community activities like blood drives, and excelling in his schoolwork along the way. So that was Rob’s role in his graduation. He delivered a superb speech and walked the stage at the top of his class. In addition, Rob is very active in the leadership of the Lemon Bay High School Theater Group. This year, they were selected to perform as one of 7 theater groups for an international competition. It’s a very big honor – one that requires their attention (and fund raising efforts) for the next month until the competition.

It was a busy weekend between graduation, graduation parties and a BBQ at our house. In top of that, the car broke down, and Mom was in the emergency room right before we arrived…just another weekend in our crazy world.

Thankfully, the car got fixed, Mom is okay – for the time being, and we returned to 80 degree weather in Seattle. All is good with the world.

The bow thruster repair guy came – took the batteries – and brought new ones the following day. Yes, it looks like it’s a battery issue. That’s a good thing – the alternatives were all more time intensive for getting parts, and probably more expensive. Well that part wasn’t true. Batteries are just a tad pricey on a boat. Oh yeah – it’s a BOAT (Break Out Another Thousand).

We even got a call today from someone telling us they found a long-lost fender from last fall (they already replaced it). It almost closes a chapter for the s/v
Cutthroat and just maybe it’s time to move on. Anyway, that’s the plan. We should be departing Shilshole Marina on Monday. The “crew” Kathryne and Charlie arrive on Saturday. We will spend Sunday showing them around Seattle, do some final provisioning, return the rental car on Monday morning and cast off from the dock shortly thereafter – amidst very little fanfare. We will head south towards Olympia, WA.

After that, we’ll let you know…as soon as we do. The past few days has shown us beautiful views of the mountain range on the Olympic Peninsula. The 80 degree weather has since departed and it’s downright cold again. There are more and more people on the docks here – anticipating the arrival of summer!

Fair winds and following seas from the Pacific Northwest…

BTW – there are more pictures in the Gallery for your review.

Elise and Roger

s/v Cutthroat