Blog update - Literally.

I'm playing with the Blog and would love your input!
Why, you ask?  Why do you see an ad WAY down there?  And why do the boxes along the right side keep changing/moving/increasing/decreasing in size/number, etc?  WHY must I jack with it all?

Well here's the down-low:
As soon as we come up with our boat name, I want to start blogging about the process of buying/maintaining/using it.  You know, how we go about shopping for it, the buying process, decisions we face (new vs. used, cat vs monohull, etc), the repair process, and what we decide to use said boat for.  I think it would be cool if you could follow along and chime in on the decisions - and maybe even learn from our experiences.  And it would be even better if that blog could produce a wee bit of income.  (you don't exactly get rich, but I could stash it away for future boating adventures.  And as Gmaw always says: A penny saved is a penny earned!)

So here's where I am on the blog:

I'm researching ads and affiliate programs.  What are your thoughts on ads?  What are your thoughts on affiliate programs?  Do you know what an affiliate program IS?  Are these things annoying/distracting?  Or are they helpful?  I'm not sure about the ads, but am leaning strongly toward the affiliate program.  Why?  I think it would actually be helpful to you, my lovely readers.  When I mention something that I love, love, love - I can add a link for you to go check it out.  And if you love, love, love it - you can purchase it thru that link on my blog.  I'll get some change in my account (which will help fund the boat plans!) and you'll get something cool that has been tested by me.  Win/win, right?

Seriously - I want your input on this.  Pleeeeease :)

What's in a name?

Trying to name our currently non-existent boat.  It's harder than you'd think!

I need to have a website AND blog spot available...  And I don't want it to be cheesey.  (Although I am a total sucker for cheese!)

Here's the top 10 boat names of 2011 according to Boat US.  Obviously, I don't want a supercommon name.  You know us.  Any suggestions?

Where've I been hiding?

Wow - I haven't written in a while!  I've been reading along on all of those blogs I follow, I just haven't gotten to the participation portion of blogging lately...

So, why is that?  I guess I'm so bored with the day to day life of healing after surgery that I can't imagine anyone else would not be bored by it!  But here's an update - just so I can say I did it :)

Still healing.  Yes, the second surgery should've originally happened a week or so ago - but my body is not ready yet.  (In addition to being allergic to bandaids, latex, sulpha drugs, yadda yadda yadda - I am also apparently allergic to my stitches as they dissolve)  As soon as my body says so, I guess we'll do that second surgery :)  One more step toward being done with this cancer nonsense.

In the meantime, I'm searching for sailing schools.  I think I've found one I like in Fernandina Beach, FL.  Not much of a drive, beautiful water and close to friends so we won't need hotel rooms while we learn to sail.

So why are we learning to sail? We bought this condo with the knowledge that there will eventually be a dock built - and we are itching to get back on the water! We've narrowed the type of boat we want down to, most likely, a sailing catamaran.  Thus the obvious need to know how to sail.  I'm a big fan of On the Job Training, but something tells me that learning the basics would be handy.  That and all of the stories from the blogs I follow of other sailors that have both learned the hard way and those that have taken courses.  I say you can never have too much knowledge crammed into your noggin.

Now I just need to have the next surgery to get these tissue expanders out and the final implants put in -and heal from that, and we're off to the sailing lessons!  I'm hoping to start next spring (I'm pretty sure that pec muscles will be crucial in sailing...)  There are at least 2 courses we want to take - and most likely 3.  (ASA 101, 103 and probably 104 - but there are others that look cool too!)  These courses will not only help me feel more confident in the bigger boats, but pass some time and help me feel like we're working toward our goal while continuing on with life for the next (?) years.  (Ok, so we have a timeline, I just don't want to currently publish it)

What have you guys been up to?

Crack is whack! Cracked bricks, roof, windows,etc...

Just a quick update on the landlording business:

This is what we came home to after our July 4th vacay (more on that in a diff post!)

Someone decided to make the college rental a drive thru.  Thankfully it wasn't one of our renters - and they were not currently living in it.  They were not scheduled to move back in until this weekend.  That is getting pushed back a week, but expected to go smoothly.  Wish I had a pic of the car that smooshed into the bricks...  Driver was ok, and arrested from what we understand.

Off to enjoy my Saturday and leave the remodeling to some professionals.  :)

Happy Because:

I can paddle again.  Sure it's raining, and the channel behind our house is filled with rack from a storm and I couldn't actually get out to the river if I tried, but I can technically paddle again.  For a little while, before my chest gets too tired and starts to cramp.  (Trust me, you DO NOT want a boobie cramp.  Seriously - so. weird.)

I have amazingly good insurance.

I do not have to work.  There is no worry about where grocery money will come from or about how I'm going to pay my deductible for that awesome insurance.  Now that is something to be happy about.

I booked both the July 4th at the lake AND Christmas in Jamaica vacations!  Both with good friends.  Can't wait to sip a (small due to calories) drink and enjoy some plain old fun.

I Do Not have cancer.  And it left with a 1 way ticket, so I have no plans to have it visit ever again.

I have new boobs.  And while they are currently just tissue expanders, the real, softer than my natural ones implants will be inserted sometime in late July/early August.  And while I'm at it, discussions of fat removal on my thighs has begun.  I mean, you know, if I'm going to be under at the plastic surgeons office, why not wake up with new boobs AND without those horrid, hereditary saddle bags that have plagued me all my life.  I mean, seriously, I have to lose TWENTY pounds before those suckers go away.  And I'm not a big girl.  20lbs would make me a weak tooth pick.  But they've only disappeared once in my adulthood, and that took strict calorie counting and excessive wake boarding.  That makes me tired just thinking about it.  It's not like I don't already work out like crazy and eat healthy foods.  That's why god created plastic surgeons with lipo machines.

It's a quiet, rainy day at home today.  Perfect for reading or blogging or watching movies and cleaning house.    But it's Monday, so most people will have to work.  Not me :)   I'm off to read and clean house and watch a movie and have lunch with a great friend.  So see?  Happiness is always easy.  You just have to think about it a bit more some days.  :)