Now that Miss Gracie is here and things have settled down somewhat, we're getting down to the business of summer!  Here are Larry and Christine on the back of Beach Bound (which we were - we're on our way to Ocean Beach and Houser's Hideaway for dinner - woo hoo!!!).

The view from my perch on board:

Carl and me at The Hideaway:

We had an amazing dinner followed by drinkies at Houser's Bar.  We didn't feel like staying in OB, but didn't feel like going right home either.  So we headed back to the top of our canal and then floated around the Bay under the stars drinking red wine for another hour or so ....we didn't get home until 1:00am....much to our sitter's surprise because we rarely stay out past 11:30.  This was late for us!  Can't believe I didn't have a hangover.  Doesn't seem right, but what the hell.  And here's a pic of me and the kids on our gorgeous Saturday afternoon sail.  It was supposed to be horrible all day, but the sun came out around 3:30 and off we went.  Short, but very sweet.

Today I Magic Eraser'd the cockpit so Larry can wax it.  I also Never Dull'd all the stainless up top.  Looks pretty good if I do say so myself.  Larry has a couple of plumbing/tubing (not really sure) projects to do today (including the waxing of the super clean cockpit).  Next week (beginning the 9th) we're on vacation.....AGAIN!!!  We'll start with some Thai food down at the Club on Friday night.  Saturday AM is the prepping of the Flying Scots (I'm racing in the Women's Championship on Sunday).  Saturday night is the Clambake - my favorite of all the Club's parties.  Sunday am is the race and then Sunday afternoon we're off to Sailor's Haven.  We'll stay there until Tuesday morning and then sail back west to Atlantique.  We'll stay at Atlantique until Thursday when we'll probably go home for a night.  By then, I'll be happy for a color TV and air conditioning.  Friday we'll probably head back out to Hemlock.  I'm very much looking forward to the trip.  Hopefully Mr. Sun will cooperate.  Until next time.

Larry had the week off.  We began with the raft up in Hemlock and ended with two days in Atlantique.  We spent Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (and to be honest, most of Thursday) getting Miss Gracie organized (to a small degree) and clean (she's immaculate - on the inside).  Larry changed out the halyards, moved the roller furling, removed the extra stay that the roller furling had formerly been attached to, removed the scary alcohol stove (we'll give this to Mike Duffy if he'd like to have it) and installed our new Seacook Stove.  I'm an excellent cook, but sailboats were not made for cooking.  You cook in the glory of your own kitchen and then "bring with".  Baking brownies on a sailboat?  Me thinks I have better things to do.  We also pulled the trigger and bought a brand new propane Magma.  For when we're in a marina, we have our Weber Q, which we love.  So out went the stove and in it's place we have a square cooler and a place to store dry goods.  It works for us. 

The weather was a funny thing this week.  We had a great day in Hemlock, then it was kind of crappy until Thursday afternoon went the front that had been hanging around slid through.  We jumped on and headed over to Atlantique.  We had no trouble getting a slip and Thursday night was gorgeous.  Friday was beautiful as well, although the ocean was too rough.  We heard later that 6 had drowned over the last 4 days.  I found out by phone that the BYC beat Unqua.....YES!!!  Friday night at Atlantique began with some fun.  We ran into Harry and Jane Manko and I had a cocktail with them while Larry BBQ'd.  They were happy to have company and so were we.  Later, Larry went for a drinkie while the kids and I walked around the dock to visit with all their friends.  Unfortunately, the nice evening ended up being really annoying because people at Atlantique just drink too much.  It's such a shame.   Frankly, I just don't get it.  Why bother coming?  They screw their dishes into the pilings, set up the TV and then sit on the dock watching TV and drinking....doesn't this defeat the whole purpose of boating?  Anyway, we were kept up until 1:00AM by screaming drunks.  I guess the only way to withstand Atlantique is to have air conditioning.  This way you can close the hatches and shut out the noise.  We alas, poor slobs, have good old fashioned hatches, screens and fresh air.  By Saturday morning, we'd had enough.  We left by 10:00am and had a gorgeous sail home.  Really, really nice.  We headed straight to the BYC and spent the entire day.  It was very relaxing and continued the vacation.  Today, it just poured and poured and poured.  Much thunder and lightening as well.  Larry went down to the Club and I took the kids to see Get Smart which was very funny.  I enjoyed much more than I though I was going to. 

This week, I begin cleaning up the stainless.  I'll vacuum down below and shop for some more supplies that have become an apparent necessity in the last few days.  Until next time.

For us, as a family, it was our maiden voyage in the Great South Bay.  As life would have it, we were freaks trying to get everything done with two small children seemingly dismantling everything just as we had finished organizing it all....and so it goes.  We shoved off around 2:00 (only two hours late and in the grand scheme of things - no biggie).  We motored over to save some time, plus we're just LOVING our new Yanmar.  We rafted up with friends and settled in for a lovely afternoon.  I stayed on board and Larry took the kids over to the flats with the other Dad's and kiddies.  I watched and it was beautiful.  The light is gorgeous there.  The bodies are just shadows dancing and the light is reflected off the water. 

We later dinked over to the rendevous "headquarters" for a cocktal party.  Saw an old friend who's recently engaged.  I'm happy for them.  She seems wonderful.  He's a thoughtful and kind young man.  It was good to see them.  Plus, the cocktails were NICE.  Pain Killers!  Never had one of those before.  Deeeeeelightful!  We headed back around 7:30 and everyone just chilled.  Good conversations, a few more beers.  My daughter read all the kids an entire chapter book.  They hung on her every word.  Had some fun with glow necklaces.   We threw out a third anchor for peace of mind - we had five rafted together.  We never budged.  In like flint.  Super, super foggy this morning, blazing hot - basically just miserable.  So after a water balloon fight among 5 zodiacs, we hoisted anchor and had a nice sail home.  We only put out the jib which was all we needed.

Miss Gracie rocks.

Miss Gracie is home.  Thank goodness.  The boys had a great trip back.  Not a lot of wind and fair skies.  They motor-sailed much of the way and had a ton of laughs.  They caught two bluefish, saw dolphins and pelicans and just had a very good time.  They pulled in around 7:00 and I had lasagne and cocktails ready.

We are so relieved to just have her home.  I've spent the week cleaning her down below.  I had no idea just HOW dirty she was.  I've spent two days on the salon and I'm still not done.  We're taking her over to Hemlock Heading tomorrow night, which is exciting and I'm so looking forward to an evening away.  One of the crew took some amazing photos which he's going to forward soon.  I'll be sure to post them, but for now, here she is pulling in to port: