Author: andrew

Family, Friends, and other Shinnfans,

I’m amazed at the response to yesterday’s post. That’s the most comments we’ve ever had on a single post. We’ll have to play guessing games more often. I don’t think the award comment transmitted all the way, but I’ll be sending the winner (Jon) a full-color picture of me, taken by the best photographer out here on the CGC Bear. That’s right, it’s a self-portrait taken at 9:45 p.m. (sunset) just a few minutes ago. He also has an all-expenses paid stay at the Shinn Hotel in sleepy, quaint little Reedley, Calif.

I exercised on the flight deck after work was finished today, then played some golf. A few guys got an entire garbage can full of used golf balls from a course just before we left, so we were just drivin’ the balls way out into the ocean. Very fun stuff. All to the tune of nature’s beautiful sunset. The water today was flat calm, and it’s hard not to enjoy being at sea during a lovely sunset with the water glistening around you in silky smooth undulations. It’s a sight that, for all its sameness, I never tire of looking at. Some porpoises came to play in our wake right about sunset. That was a cool sight, too.

Fair winds and following seas,

Andrew

Anyone know what the above acronym means? First person to post the correct answer in a comment will get a treat. 🙂

Not much happened today. I took some decent photos, the boat’s internet was down for most of the day, and I didn’t hear from Lisa. She doesn’t have internet access at our new house yet, so I assume that for the next few days she’ll be electronically silent. That’s a real downer for me, as I live always for her next e-mail.

Meals around here are hit and miss. Lunch was a miss. I had to supplement the meal (cabbage, the worst canned sqaush I’ve ever tasted, and some other assorted inedibles) with two pieces of cake just to make my calorie count for the afternoon. Dinner was a hit. Ribs and homemade macaroni and cheese* and some darn fine cornbread.

Saw the sun for the first time in a while this afternoon. I went out on the flight deck after working hours to do a little weight training and enjoy the sun and the sea spray. Now, at 9:35 p.m., the sun is probably still up, but I’m not going to go outside and see it because my body feels like it’s almost bedtime, and I don’t want to shatter that illusion.

I played Ghost Recon 2 this evening with the guys I live with. They’re pretty good. They play all the time because there’s not a lot else to do when you’re off work.

Off to bed I go! I may try to read a short mystery story from a compilation I brought (thanks Jill!).

Sweet Dreams,

Andrew

*Well, ok, it was ship-made, not home-made.

I miss home, too. But more than anything I miss Lisa. As God’s been knitting us together into One Flesh, it hurts when that flesh is ripped apart or separated. It’s not meant to do that.

Some people have asked where I am. Unfortunately, due to operational security, I can’t tell you where I am or specifically where I’ll be or when. But I can tell you that it’s very blue out here, with lots of waves and the occasional school of dolphins. Wikipedia has this to say about dolphins: “In some cultures like in Ancient Greece they were treated with welcome; a ship spotting dolphins riding in their wake was considered a good omen for a smooth voyage. There have been reports of dolphins protecting swimmers against sharks by swimming circles around the swimmers.”

We also saw a dead whale the other day. It was like a big chunk of meat floating in the water. Not as exciting as it may sound.

No, Amanda, the CGC Bear is homeported in Portmouth, Virginia. Unless something really strange happens, we won’t be coming to Boston.

In other news, Fred’s Place has decided to run a photo essay series on the CGC Bear’s journey. You can find it on their main page, or by clicking here. Enjoy the photos!
Signing off,
Andrew

I miss home!

Although things are starting to take shape here, I’m realizing more and more that I really miss home. Please keep me in your prayers I continue to try to get settled in this familiar yet new place.

~Lisa

My first weekend on the Coast Guard Cutter Bear has been a restful one. It’s a shorter weekend for two reasons: 1) we set our clocks ahead by several hours to avoid having to change them gradually and 2) The workweek on a cutter underway starts when the workday ends early on Saturday, instead of on Friday. The shorter weekend is good, though. With only 270 feet of steel to stand on and limited storage space, entertainment options must be creatively created. Aside from the obvious large stock of movies on board, the CGC Bear opened the Driving Range for the first time ever yesterday. It consists of a couple of golf clubs and tees, a garbage can full of used golf balls begged from a golf course in Virginia, and a freestanding vertical net to hit the balls into on the flight deck. Pretty cool stuff.

For dinner tonight we had steak and potatoes with ice cream sandwiches later for dessert. Last night was pizza and an assortment of fried goodies like jalapeno poppers. The engineering department served the meal to give the mess cooks and Food Service Specialists a night off. Good Stuff.

Bed time is creeping up, even if my body doesn’t feel like sleep yet.

Cheers,

Andrew

Well, today has been a relaxing day filled with laundry and dinner with my brother and cousin Susan. It has been nice to have nothing pressing to do. I’m sure next week will bring many things to keep me busy! 🙂

Monday the trailer will be delivered and we are having a moving ‘party’ in the evening (7pm) to get things into the house. I’m going to treat everyone who helps to root beer floats after everything is done.

I wish you all blessings.

Lisa

You’ve ever experienced. Rock, roll, rock, roll, all to the throbbing drone of two big diesel engines. Crash, bang! Stuff flying around at a regular rhythm. The song’s great…. until it’s five days old. Then you stop bangin’ your head and start trying to walk straight.

Not a pretty sight.

We just finished eating lunch at Burger King in Bakersfield. There are 100 miles left on our cross-country voyage. 100 miles seems like nothing when one has already traveled 3,150 miles.

Thank you for your prayers as we’ve traveled. We’ve had a great trip!

Lisa

*The trailer will be delivered on Monday morning, so I’ll have the weekend to relax.

So begins our last day of traveling across this beautiful country. We are driving in the middle of the desert and have reflected on how amazing the geography of the USA is SO different. Each part has a beauty all its own. Last night, we enjoyed driving into the sunset as we approached Flagstaff, AZ. I hope my pictures (on the F100) turn out!

We left Greg & Tammy’s house yesterday morning and were ready to be in California. I think that’s what inspired the thoughts of driving straight through to Reedley. Despite the long day yesterday, I’m glad we only have 6 hours today!

I am looking forward to seeing our kitty boys and having a house in which to live. If all goes well, the trailer with our belongings will be delivered late this afternoon and will be unloaded tomorrow. I would like to get settled and have some down time as the last month or so has been a little stressful. As I think about getting settled in Reedley and trying to start a new life there, I am constantly reminded of two things. (1) I am thankful for our incredible friends we left behind in the Boston area. We truly were blessed to have a special community that functioned a lot like a family at times. I miss them so much already. AND (2) God is faithful and has provided Andrew and I with SO many good things. In these times of uncertainty, I need to trust He will provide as He sees fit.

I leave you with these thoughts and an odometer reading of 2,944!

Lisa

Had a good time at Greg’s house. We were road demons yesterday and drove about 1200 miles. We wanted to drive all the way home but decided not to. We stopped in Laughlin, NV for night and had a good night’s rest. Our last leg will seem like peanuts compared to the day before. The Saturn has done very well on the road. It is getting about 39 miles to the gallon. I’ve had a good time together with Lisa but it’s time to be done. I would not want to drive this road in the near future!

Signing off, Brad

P.S. According to Steve Raymond, we should arrive in Reedley around 3 PM. We’ll make it to Brian’s playoff game this afternoon.