If everything is going well - you've obviously overlooked something.

The previous owners of our boat had left it "as is" for quite some time (3 years I think). There were pots and pans, old linens, clothing, towels, toilet paper, cups, and soda along with miscellaneous boat parts and tools throughout the boat. In the galley lay a sign reading "If everything is going well you've obviously overlooked something." We had a laugh and thought it was a neat sign. Through our 5 years of living onboard we have realized it is not just a funny saying but a very true one.


Everytime we get the boat straightened up and organized something on the boat breaks or needs repairing. In order to fix whatever it is, all the tools and boards and things need to be brought out of their hiding place and into our main salon. This makes the boat very hard to live in for a day or two with just two people. But then whatever needed fixing is fixed and we clean up and wait for the next event to occur.


Our latest event concerned our infamous air conditioner. Yep - once again. Josh had cleaned up and repaired the aft cabin for Will. Will really enjoyed his personal piece of The Nineveh and took to sleeping there during the night without protest (he still feeds 2 or 3 times at night but that's another story). Everything was really looking great and Josh and I were thinking we could really get use to living in New Orleans (we still don't know if we'll be staying in New Orleans or moving to Knoxville, but that is a different story for another posting).


Then Josh is sick for a week, then I get sick and the air conditioner stops working. Thank goodness Josh is feeling better! Josh believes he knows the problem (the pipes need cleaning) so Will and I get out of the boat and Josh gets to work. We aren't use to brackish water and the constant maintenance of the water pipes. So this seemed like a plausible reason for the air conditioner to not work. Cleaning the pipes didn't help.


So we make the best of it for the night, turning on our portable air conditioner in the forward cabin. We try to entertain Will as best we can in our v-berth. The next day Josh continues to work on the air conditioner - being quite fluent in working on it we are both positive he will fix it. Unfortunately even after replacing a number of things that had gone bad and cleaning out the raw water intake strainer (which had little clams growing in it) the air conditioner did not work. Will and I traveled around town checking out the playgrounds and malls keeping him as cool and active as possible. I am completely worn out as is Josh. That night he tells me that the bilge pump is broken. I ask "the automatic or the manual?" to which he replies "both." Oy.


For a week we are without air conditioning and work to keep Will cool and happy. We have two air conditioner guys come out to repair it. The first started to tell Josh about other air conditioners we should look into while he is working on ours. He makes no headway in fixing it. The second guy rings in success by finding the internal breaker has gone bad. Apparently marine air conditioners do not need it and it's a nuisance so its removed and our air conditioner roars to life bringing cool, dry air into our boat. Ahhhh.


Now, onto the bilge pump . . . Josh finds that the pump itself is bad. He goes and gets a new one with an internal float switch (which seems like a great idea) and after checking it and hooking it up it doesn't work. The float switch doesn't work and nothing is turning on. So he has to unhook everything and go back out and get another one. He decides to get one without an internal float switch and installs it and Hazaa! it works.


I would like to point out that through all of this Will was a complete trouper and brought even more joy to Josh and I. We would be so exhausted and frustrated with everything and Will would smile or murmur something or do a dance and Josh and I would smile and laugh and just be filled with happiness. No matter what the circumstances, being together just makes everything better. I have learned so much from Will.

Rainy Weekend

The great thing about rain is that it usually signals a time of cooler temperatures here in New Orleans. Another thing about rain is that it always exposes leaks within the boat - ones that are new, ones that we thought were fixed and ones that we've known about. Apparently we must appease the Rain Gods by some sacrifice; these sacrifices end up being linens, towels, and books not to mention our own comfort sometimes.

I was awoken at 3am first by Will - then by my knee being cold and wet. A past leak decided to rear its ugly head in our forward cabin while we were sleeping. The best time for a surprise.

Josh let me sleep in and took care of Will - and some of our books that were soaked by the nights rain as well. Josh has salvaged them. Such a fantastic man!

Rain Gods be appeased!

August '09

Hey Everyone!

Here's an update on Will and the Wright family:

We are still in New Orleans and on The Nineveh. Although it's a rather large sailboat, it is now seeming a little small since three walking and playing people live aboard. Will is definitely energetic and interested in every aspect of the boat. He's already figured out how to get into the engine compartment and is increasingly interested in our propane switch above the stove (he can get there by climbing onto the bench and reaching over the divider while on his tippy-toes). But not to worry! While one of us cooks, the other distracts Will from playing with this important switch.

Will is now 13 1/2 months and can say "Dada, Momma, What's this?, and this?, duck, fish, uh oh, yeah, shoes, hello" and he is able to say how old he is by holding up his index finger. He can find his nose if you ask him as well as his feet, belly button and hair. He is starting to imitate the sounds the animals make from his book "Moo, Baa, La La La." And he is usually on the move when not figuring out how something goes together (by tearing it apart). We are finding more and more music Will likes to dance to: Dee-lite "Groove is in the Heart," Blind Melon "No Rain," Prince and of course Sting and The Police.

As for ourselves we are still waiting to see how the wind blows for The Nineveh. We may stay in New Orleans if a job presents itself, or we may move on inland to Knoxville, TN - we're kind of in limbo right now. We are also looking at a larger boat or at condos . . . we might become land lovers. But, it's hard to think of leaving the boat or living on one so I won't until we have to.

We are enjoying ourselves however and have been able to travel to see family and have our family come down. My parents came in from Baltimore for a long weekend and had a great time with Will. Will even said "I love you" to my mom - it's the only time he has said it.

Luckily we survived the heat of New Orleans through these travels since our air conditioner broke while it was in the 100s for two weeks - we have had many woes with this A/C and with the manufacturer. After two months we were able to get it fixed and are now enjoying the 85 or so degree weather in New Orleans. We can finally enjoy New Orleans during the day!

Here are a few pictures of Will from the last month and a half:

Will at the local brand name mogul coffee shop. He just climbed into one of the chairs and we had to take a photo.

Will in Destin, FL. He just picked up one of our toothbrushes and started brushing. We will have to get him his own.

Will standing in the aft cabin of The Nineveh - soon to be his own bedroom.

I didn't pose him for this photo.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WILL!

Happy Birthday to Will! He turned one year on Monday July 13th. He got his very own little cupcake and number one candle (I couldn't help myself). We will try lighting it next year. Will was a little timid with his cup cake at first but then he dove right on in!

So happy about chocolate, icing and cake! (oh, and sugar, lots and lots of sugar)

He is such a little gentleman! Fortunately the sugar didn't give his nap schedule a whirl. He got his cupcake at noon and still napped at 2ish. Not too bad (I was so worried!)

Will and Music - in Knoxville

The Nineveh got into her new slip in Slidell, Louisiana on June 12th and we've had quite a ride since then. We will have to update and fill in the blanks shortly, but as for now here is a video of Will rockin' out to the Police.

We found out he really liked Sting and the Police when we had dinner with friends at the Crown and Goose in Knoxville, Tennessee (Thanks Sean, Sara, Shannon, Mike, Sam, Robyn, Carter, and Chris!). Their greatest hits (I suppose) was playing and Will just kept dancing and smiling and just carrying on. Once something else played he calmed down . . . so Will likes the Police and Sting.

The Grand Canyon

We had to pass through Bakersfield, CA on our way to the Grand Canyon. While in Bakersfield, Will fell asleep and then crossed his legs!

While in Williams, AZ (1 hour south of the Grand Canyon) Will got into the toilet paper. The first of many times I'm sure!

I got the wear the backpack this time around and Will kept leaning over and getting my attention and smiling. Whatta cutie!

The Wright Family at the Grand Canyon!

Grand Canyon panoramic - you can see the Colorado river on the east and west sides.

Close-up of the Colorado River.

I got a little adventurous and Josh caught me!

Will loves playing under tables. He caught me taking his photo and now he is out to get me!

The aftermath of eating/smearing a strawberry!

San Francisco - We forgot the flowers for our hair

San Francisco was a lot of fun - and a lot of work! We had the most samples to give out here: 38! And we did it all in one day. So we had to go have fun and play downtown. We had the famous sourdough bread and walked the waterfront. From the Fishermans Wharf to the Port of San Francisco - which is quite a walk. We took the trolley back - and Will made eyes at a young lady. I think he made her day!

Alcatraz - pretty depressing. There were "Alcatraz" onsies that had inmate numbers on them and everything. They are cute, but I didn't want Will to start going down the wrong path . . .

The Wright Family. Will loves this backpack - he will put his feet against the bar and push up and stand straight. He likes to turn his body all to one side to get a better look at what is around him.

The sea lions are crazy! I'm glad we didn't bring the Nineveh up to dock here!

While in San Francisco we visited the seminary in Berkley. We all took the tour - a personal tour - and Josh was able to sit in on a class. Then we shared the Eucharist and had dinner with the whole graduating class. While Josh took the class Will and I played outside near a fountain. It was a beautiful day and everyone was so nice and inviting. I have never felt so welcome at a new school/place before!