new year’s log
“Tradition states that the first entry of the new year in the official log in CG and Navy must be in verse and rhyme.”
So, here’s to tradition…
Zero one January two thousand one two.
Eight glasses for the old year and eight for the new.
Clear, windless day; low tide at o8h14,
The river has that beautiful blue-brown, cold sheen.
Hair making good knots, rolled out of my berth,
Dismayed by the thickening of the girth
After bubbly and beer and something chateau,
Feeling like sierra hotel india tango
It’s already into the forenoon watch
When I go to the galley to assess the debauch
Staring at all of the bottles in front of me
Feeling a bit post-frontal lobotomy
Semper ready for the challenge!
It’s not too bad, rank it code orange.
Monitoring 13 while the kettle does boil…
So, where are my friends moving cargo, people and oil?
Clearing the nav station of sketches and cat,
I scan AIS to see where everyone’s at.
There’s xx at the anchorage and xx on the KV
And look at the ships coming in from sea!
Can’t wait to tell Tuggie who’s going by now!
Containerships, tankers, tugs and their scows,
Ferries and fishingboats and tour boats galore,
A honeyboat, and the boats of the Army Corps
Icebreakers and buoy tenders, and medium response
A sailboat, some kayaks, and hopefully, clearance.
A cruiseship. No ro-ro’s. The dredgers are at bay.
Do harbor charlie and fireboat get overtime pay?
Are the survey boats working? are the line boats out?
They’re not on AIS so I can’t see their routes.
I could do this all day, but muster midmess
To wish all of you for 2012: the best!
Thank you, CaptJJ for telling me about this tradition!
And thank you Ed, whose ship’s log is featured here in the official CG blog, Compass,
Look here for more new year’s logs of the CG ashore! Both afloat & ashore: fascinating reads.
what is your log entry for today?
¡wow! thank you, west38! it looks so beautifully zen! click on her lovely blog to see the art of needle and thread in perfection: that corner is art.
Happy New Year Bowsprite!!! I love learning about these traditions!!! Makes me feel like I’m finally getting to know my beloved harbor and rivers!
How can you possibly feel like sierra hotel india tango and then write this delightful post?
Outstanding start to the new year!
Now back to cleaning the kitchen…
Holed-up in the hills but not far from the boats
The New Year has come, a light snow from sky floats
The lake frozen solid beckons once, twice and thrice
To strap on the blades – and glide, stride and slice
And if winds from the North calm just a bit
Maybe some speed will come of it
But playing on small water is becoming a bore
Dreaming of blue hills far from the shore
Two thousand and twelve is maybe the year
To return to first loves without malice or fear
Hey, these are wonderful. Some of the rhymes pushed the envelope a bit, but I loved laughing over your words this morning. Yes, watercolors. I found a big, Samsonite, rolling briefcase at an estate sale. The head of a department at SDSU used it until it sagged and bagged delightfully. I have presqueezed colors into old “sets.” And The thing has room for two pallets as well as all the other stuff one needs. Even paper. But today the fog has rolled in thickly so no painting.
Yes, hope is the best gift we can give ourselves. Hugs at ya….
Naval Tradition also dictates the striking of SIXTEEN bells at midnight upon the ship’s bell.
Hey, I recognize that Champagne label. Great rhyme Bowsprite! And Happy New Year to you and yours as well.
Thanks for including kayaks in the procession! 🙂 A delightful post in both word and picture as always…
Our best wishes to you for a wonderful 2012!! — Vlad & Johna
happy happy happy new year and “splitte mine bramsejl” from the seaweat aunt in DK Looking forward to follow the wonderfull drawings on your blog in 2012
Happy New year!
Gelukkig Nieuwjaar!
Godt NytÅr
Happy New Year !
I wake from the mist of my personal fog
And stumble on Bowsprite’s New Year’s Day blog,
Wondering what wind from the north or the south
Has left all these shavings of wood in my mouth
And scattered these bottles and glasses around
And left me reluctant to hear any sound,
When here is her fleet in full parade dress
In ranks on the page at their colorful best,
Riding the waves of her iambs and rhymes
Like columns of type on the front of The Times,
And then, there’s that couplet, sweet as a mango –
This girl’s the bravo echo sierra tango.
[…] wouldn’t dream of missing Bowsprite‘s lead, so here […]
[…] of the girthAfter bubbly and beer and something chateau, Feeling like sierra hotel india tangosee the full post on Bowsprite: A New York Harbor SketchbookTheodore Clement Steele, The Boatman, 1884Theodore Clement Steele (September 11, 1847-July 24, 1926) […]
i love the cat monitoring AIS . . .
I had a few occasions to help write the New Year’s poem while onboard the boats.. Do you know how hard it is to find a rhyme for COMSUBLANT or COMSUBRON SIX?
As for ringing the ship’s bell “eight bells for the old year, eight for the new”…..it was hard to do while underwater — the bell was in some locker, someplace…securely lashed in. It wasn’t something you’d want rolling around on the deck during “angles and dangles.”
Happy New Year to all!
[…] Bowsprite writes, sketches, and rhymes about all things nautical. Check out her delightfully poetic “New Year’s Log”—and note the many comments from working sea dogs. Bowsprite knows whereof she speaks: She […]
Dear Christina,
Happy New Year! We nominated you for a Versatile Blogger Award—you can read about it, and why we picked you, here: http://windagainstcurrent.com/2012/01/04/versatile-blogger-award/
Warm regards,
Vlad and Johna
(windagainstcurrent.com)
Hi Seafaring spryte, was great to meet you at 92Y Tribeca at my gig w/ Las Rubias. Fascinating website you have here! -Drum man
Christina I love that poem and all the illustrations. You will have a great year now after such a wonderful start. Bonne et Heureuse Année !
Great illustrations.. Cheers!!
George Marikas
Nautical Training & Education
http://danielgallegosartpologist.wordpress.com/2012/01/21/tug-and-smoke/
Another one with you in mind Bowsprite!
Happy New Year!
Daniel
I believe the prevailing wisdom for your particular vintage of ink is “Paint Now”.
Sonoma, St. Estephe, Hudson…