Daily Post from The Port Of New Barcelona

[Eduardo Blomar 1679]

Eduardo here,



I couldn't get Ernie's show on my phone for some unknown reason so I fired up the laptop and VOILA!



While here, I feel I am at a point in the Port's development where I can dedicate a time each morning to post here and provide some kind of real, stable contact at this 'Forum'.  I have been Living The Dream for a half a year now and each day is an adventure.  My only visitors have been friends who helped me move up here and my Brother spent a couple of days (twice) but hasn't made it back because he's moving into a new apartment soon.



Wind was heavy yesterday and is expected to continue again today with gusts up to 50 mph.  Smoke from the Rye fire occluded the Sun big time and gave me a headache.  I hope it isn't as heavy today as I have to complete the plywood sheathing on my storage building before the Monsoon rains start.  I have an area started that will act as a water catchment and I will be staking 12' x 15' tarps around it to see how much I can get in one Season.



Every time I come here I see guests logged in. I heartily invite you to create an account and post what you think.



I'm going to go now and make breakfast and then listen to Dr. Phranq.



Tired of the Rat Race?



I have a hammock with your name on it - right over there in the shade.



EB 1679

[Eduardo Blomar 1679]

Arrrr.



15 scallywags read what I wrote but remained mute.



My first reaction is to scream "PUSSIES!!!" but I'll hold my tongue and just keep on keepin' on.



I Just don't get it.



I try so hard to be a good person banding with other good people but it seems that Openness, Friendliness, Personal Integrity, and Benevolence are LOST ARTS.



There is no civility among thieves, is there?



p.s. THE PRECARIAT IS REAL.



Once I have the space cleared, I WILL BE BUILDING A PROTOTYPE TO SCALE.  I don't care if it's stone or wood, night will come when I will go to bed down in an upper berth and look out the window high above the Desert...



and smile.



EB 1679

[Eduardo Blomar 1679]

Up early this morning as I need to sail into Phoenix to take care of some business and replace a broken solar panel. Any Pirates out there wishing to Parlay tomorrow - let's have breakfast! I will be at The Brass Rail at 36th Street and Thomas Rd in the morning. Send me a Private Message if you want to meet up.



EB 1679

[Eduardo Blomar 1679]

Rough seas and lack of connectivity prevented me from posting until my return here at Home Port.



The docks need an upgrade as we received damage upon entrance.  Minor repairs have us seaworthy again at first light.  The Crew was so tired after unloading we knocked off and left it for Monday.



Severe winds smashed another window while we were gone.  I'm doing another plywood run tomorrow so I will have to add that to the list.  I want to get the Storage enclosed 100% before the rains come as "Monsoon Season" officially started last Monday.  None in sight yet but I know it's coming.



I have a lot of scheduled work for this week so I better get to it.



Thanks for all the enthusiastic support! (sarc)



EB 1679

[Eduardo Blomar 1679]

The Crew is aghast at the fear being exhibited in The World from the Black Plague Chinese Communist Coronavirus.  Supplies were limited and many ports were closed altogether.  It was voted that we double up on all provisions we could obtain and we are safely home once again.  Very little wind damage this time as we are told it was fairly mild windwise but that made it hot.  



Got to meet up with fellow Pirate Oyate and break bread with him on the way back.  He says efforts at his Home Port in Ash Fork, Arizona are coming along nicely.  He had the luxury to start with a shipping container and has a door and window put in now.  Must be nice.  He likes it except the metal shields his communication devices from operating inside.  I'm happy with my Wooden Ship.



It looks like conditions here are brutal to plants brought in so far due to the clarity of the air and the altitude.  I'm still working on infrastructure and dealing with closed County offices and hadn't planned on planting any seeds other than shade trees until next spring.  I hope they do better that the drooping plants we have going now.  They are the second set of 'test plants' because almost everything I brought up to begin with is long dead.  Next step is putting 40% shade cloth over them.  I'll let you know.



Found a man in Flagstaff that sold me a 10 oz bar of silver for $220.  Best price I've been able to find.  Wouldn't mind getting ten more...



I like my bunk on board ship but it's nice to be at Home Port.  I sleep better when not tossing with the Sea.



I pray your health is good.  We piled on the citrus for the Vitamin C and have plenty of D3 and zinc.  Keep your immune system boosted and eat well.



Practice with that cutlass!



Arr.



EB 1679

[Eduardo Blomar 1679]

Wind is blustery enough it makes it difficult to work with plywood today.  Quitting that project early as I need some more 2x4s anyway to frame the Storage Building Back Door.



I have receipts to search for and other assorted inside duties I can occupy my time with and don't feel like digging rocks out of the road anyways.



LUNCH!



These posts are beginning to feel like notes in a bottle - tossed into the riptide...



EB 1679

[Eduardo Blomar 1679]

A short 1 hour run across to a neighboring tree-laden island gained us the lumber needed to finish Storage - plus some slats that look to be perfect for stairs leading to the Observation Post.  Also scored some fresh meat and dinner will be a feast tonight!



Always a plate here for you,



EB 1678

[Eduardo Blomar 1679]

Finally - a day with little to no wind.



With 30% chance of rain Thursday & Friday and no wind to deter me I think I will refurbish the roof.  I had two leaks last time and want to address them.



I also have the plywood & lumber needed to put a cover between the residence and storage, giving me another sixty or so square feet to work under when it does rain - plus the shade factor.  That side of the residence won't heat up in the afternoon anymore.



What a beautiful day.



EB 1679

[Eduardo Blomar 1679]

Arrrr... ow!



I feel good about the amount of work completed in the last two days but my fingers hurt again.  My Father had arthritis and I fear I may follow in his footsteps.



Thank God for aspirin.



That and a Day of Rest that I look forward to more and more each week.  Lord knows the value of The Sabbath and so do I - physically, mentally, and spiritually.



I anticipated the temperature drop and have a nice fire going this morning, and chose tea instead of coffee for a change.  Rain chance has dropped to 20% (which means I WILL get some) but that's ok since I have a new roof and I should have Storage sealed by midmorning.  



Paradise is not so much a specific location but more a frame of mind.  God has given me this place and there is no other nowhere I'd rather be.



I'm already there.



EB 1679

[Eduardo Blomar 1679]

If you only knew.

[Eduardo Blomar 1679]

Hard labor must be reinforced with proper rest and recreation.  

 

We set sail for The Mainland and took Liberty in Phoenix for the Independence Day Celebration.



Met and broke bread with other Pirates and are taking an extra day to laze about before we return to Home Port.  



This trip was also needed to resupply the water cache as we still haven't determined if our well is going to pan out or not.  In excavating the hole we hit a rock shelf that must be cut because of the size of the piece.  That will happen this week.  Even if the well doesn't pan out, we will have one hell of a hole for a Root Cellar, and I will build The Bunkhouse (with a big Community Kitchen) over that site.



My First Mate is a gambler so I have agreed to accompany him to The Casino to try our luck.  I have no gold but I do have some silver so I will see if I can't remedy that situation.  A good win would supply me with more lumber before we return.  Can't get enough building materials at this point.  That's the beauty of visiting a Big City - they discard perfectly good materials in vast quantities.  It's just taking the time and travelling to collect it all up - and it's FREE.  A Pirate can't ask for better.



We need more Crew!



We have enough rock excavated to begin constructing The Lighthouse but everyone has a full work order list so that project is on hold for now.  Nobody has touched the roads for a week and we still have no animal enclosures yet.  I WANT FRESH EGGS.  A chicken coop is DEFINITELY on order for this month if I have to drop everything and build it myself (as usual).  Canned meat is good and tasty, but getting old.



I pray you had a good Holiday and hope for someone reading this to reply someday  :lol: ,



EB 1679

[Eduardo Blomar 1679]

Home once again.



Rumors of "Civil War" moved the Crew to pitch in and purchase a Brass Cannon, Balls, and Powder for the Tower overlooking the Harbor before returning.  A Cadre was selected to review security measures for The Port and make changes wherever necessary.



We also got rid of all our paper before returning, and converted it all into silver.  Not only do we not trust any paper issued by any 'Realm', thought of stamping our own coin in silver with The Jolly Roger on it to use as currency tickled every last one of us.  Blacksmith said "No problem - just give me the metal and the image you want on it!"



Coming soon.



EB 1679

[Eduardo Blomar 1679]

A light, cool breeze just after sundown was the most pleasant setting for rest last evening.  Satisfaction from another full day of construction fed my appetite and I ate an extra portion of chicken and wild rice soup.  I switched the bedding from winter to summer cloth and was vastly more comfortable, and I slept in until well after sunup.



Problems with the generator was found to simply be an automatic shutoff switch when the oil level gets low.



Facepalm.  :lol:



Today I tackle "stairs".  Straight or spiral?  



EB 1679

[Eduardo Blomar 1679]

No day at The Port is more treasured than The Sabbath.



God knows I couldn't survive this task without a Day of Rest and Reflection each week.



May you be as blessed as I am to know Him.



EB 1679

[Eduardo Blomar 1679]

For the last two days we have been inundated by a small, flying bug that resembles what hatches out when you don't protect flour.Tthey come out just before Sundown (in the hundreds) and persist until midmorning of the next day, when they die out.  I hope it doesn't last much longer as it has taken a considerable amount of time to clear the room one is to sleep in and it's costing sleep time.



I finished the roof to extend the kitchen and will be moving walls today.  Never got to even start the stairs, but it looks like where I want it a spiral staircase will work well and look good too.



Three times this week it looked like we might get rain, but each time it went around us and the cistern is almost empty.  Monsoon my ass.  Rain would be so much simpler than making a run to haul water from the nearby island with a freshwater lake.



Preparations to attend the Jackalope Festival are on the mind as it is two weeks away.  Fortune smiles on us as we are less than fifty nautical miles from Baca Meadows and I can't wait to see old friends again.



Another Day In Paradise,



EB 1679