How can you have your pudding if you don't eat your meat?

It has just come to my attention that many of the folks from Great Bridge back in December didn't know that the footage has started coming out. Wait. Did we not post this all over Facebook? and YouTube? and our Twitter feed? Well, maybe we're neglecting our Twitter feed. But still. Oh well. For those who STILL haven't seen it, here's the first installment:

Definately some fine work on the part of the marines there. I know you guys just like dressing up and playing badasses.. its okay. Sailors, likewise, did a great job. But I've covered this all before, go back to December and read all about it.

BT

This week is proving to be meeting after meeting - and I love it! Suddenly I'm inundated with planning processes and conferences and meetings - all in the name of making 2011 our best season yet. Stand by for more as it becomes available.

AND ON THAT NOTE...

We have our great grand Board of Directors meeting coming up this weekend. Not that its anything but a beach mansion in the Outer Banks (granted, it's January) filled with the NHS best and brightest talking about our most ambitious season ever. Should be some interesting posts to follow.

NNNN

I can feel it coming in the air tonight...

Yeah that's right - Phil Collins. There are some classics that overcome their corniness in context. Okay, maybe that wasn't one of them.

The Board Meeting of Board Meetings is fast approaching. For anyone who still doesn't understand why we're going to the Outer Banks in January - think of a large luxurious beach mansion, the wide open spaces of the National Seashore, stockpiles of drinks and munchies, and all the most creative, industrious people you've ever put together in one place. Set them in relative isolation in that environment, and let them crack away at some of the most ambitious NHS projects ever. The result is sure to be one exciting 2011 season for NHS.

Remember, the meeting is open to anyone who wants to attend and share in our craziness. The more opinions, the better the result. And since our board normally communicates and conducts its business via email, these face-to-face meetings have become pretty rare in the last year.

BT

Yesterday's fierce rant hasn't yet served its purpose - I don't think anyone actually read the entry. But nevertheless, inactivity frustrates me. Wherever you go to the source of a problem, you can be assured it is getting worse in the absence of activity. Just as ships and men rot in port, idle hands are the devil's playthings, - fill in your favorite saying here - , most initiatives wither and die with inactivity. The thing that bothers me about the Downtown Norfolk waterfront is that all of those non-profits - including Virginia - have vast numbers of volunteers ready to go, if someone would only lead them. But as it is, the inactivity keeps those otherwise ardent supporters at home, fighting off criticism on the internet.

Sad, really. When I walk around down there - and I know nothing has changed, nothing is growing. But to see assets - valuable assets - built in the name of public charity, all sitting idly, NOT accomplishing their mission, and not even trying to - it bothers me.

BT

After all this discussion about inactivity, I'm sure there is someone who is going to chime in and complain that NHS has been rather inactive for the last month. But that assumption is incorrect. True, I've not been writing much, but that's because much of what I'd otherwise write about is up for consideration at the Board Meeting, and therefore out of bounds for the time being. We've got two hot ticket projects - including one GIANT project - in the works, and I'll be cranking out the blog entries as soon as everything has been decided. Stay tuned.

NNNN

In anticipation of the NHS Board meeting

A little late for the campaign season perhaps, but still very relevant:

Stand by for heavy rolls as NHS comes about

Okay, you're all probably getting sick of this, but there's a lot going on and I can't say anything until our board meeting on the 22-23rd. What I can say is that if you're curious, you should go. And even if you can't - stay tuned to our website on the 24th for more information.

BT

In the meantime, while I have to remain mute about everything, have a laugh:



Just didn't want everyone in the public thinking all deployment videos were as bad as the recent newsworthy clips from Enterprise.

NNNN

Winter Doldrums

Right about now - the post holiday stupor - is what I consider to be my doldrums for the year. The weather outside isn't too bad right now, but that hasn't stopped me from using it as an excuse not to work on the boats. I find that I'd rather stay inside reading and eating, planning things, writing things, and generally keeping sedentary. Sad, yes, I know. I still PT - once a week - but I'm just not easily motivated to physical action right now.

Of course this will pass, and there's really nothing that DEMANDS my immediate attention. And I did spend every other hour shovelling snow right after Christmas (it never snows in Tidewater, does it Elmer?) to keep the boats and strucutres safe and sound. Laziness can be - on occassion, I suppose, in moderation, with proper supervision - a good thing. I just have to be careful not to let it last too long.

BT

I've successfully turned over the duties of Web Administrator (yes, there will be no more back and forth follies yelling at myself wearing different hats) to Alex Lutz. Instead, I plan to focus on drawing connections from Lutz in Bruno (horrible movie, but it has its purpose I suppose) to our very own Lutz in Multi-Media. Although I know many of you don't get the humor there, trust me, you should be laughing. Oh well.

Alex has the complex job of heading up the virtual rennovations I just don't have time for, as well as bringing onboard a programmer or two. I look very much forward to seeing the product of her work when the new website launches just after our Board Meeting on the 23rd.

BT

In case you're getting sick of having to wait until after our Board Meeting to find out precisely what it is we're up to, you could always take a drive down to Avon NC, have a lovely winter weekend in the Outer Banks, and find out then and there all the big things we're hatching. Just saying.

NNNN

Whats up - aside from my weight?

So as I alluded to yesterday, all of the spaces at the Dockyard are now occupied with projects. Many of our followers would recognize Monomoys 1, 2 and 3, No. 1 in winter layup, Nos. 2 and 3 undergoing an extensive restoration. Those who hang out around the waterfront would readily notice the Bandit 15 - one of the small daysailers in our "dinghy" squadron. She's in for centerboard repairs.

But in the Lofting Bay we have another project that I got a jump on in the inclement weather at kept me - and continues to keep me - from work on our outdoor projects. That project brings us into the realm of miniatures, as it's a scale model of the US Sloop of War Hornet built in 1805. Anyone who has been at the Dockyard lately is laughing at my use of the term miniature - as the Hornet is being built in 1:12 scale - that's 1 inch to the foot - making the model's hull about 9 feet long and 30 inches wide. Overall, the model completely rigged will be 16 feet long and 12 feet tall. The model is a waterline form, meaning the only parts being built are those that would show above her waterline, so she can be placed on any flat surface. Oh, and sorry kids, but she's static display only.

The model is being assembled rapidly, with a finish goal at the end of February - so don't expect a work of art in modelmaking here. Despite the haste in assembling her, she'll no doubt be an interesting asset, joining some of our new programming and make the rounds of the region in the coming year as a static display. More about that program after our Board Meeting on the 23rd of this month. I promise there is a method to my madness.

BT

In other news, Monomoys No. 2 and 3 have weathered the elements well so far, and our extended efforts at stabilization have actually caused both boats to regain some of their original shapes. Granted, we'll have more work to do to get them back into original shape when we start re-framing, but it is nice to see the 'auto correct' feature hard at work. We'll re-start the major overhaul efforts with keelson dissasembly and re-framing in March - we need the weather to cooperate for that. We have a bead on some seasoned timber for stems and sternposts, and it'll be ready for shaping around that time as well. No. 3 is currently expected to be ready for service in July 2011, while No. 2 might be a little while longer, as her repairs will likely be a bit more protracted.

Monomoy No. 1 has issues with deteriorating gunwales - which we assume are original to the boat. Replacing these will be difficult, as they are teak and formed to the boat without lamination - something that we aren't really prepared to do. I'll have a better look at them in the spring and have a better idea on a timeline to conduct the repairs. As they are, they're still serviceable so we'll use them as long as we can.

BT

I've received several emails about the Board Meeting on the 22nd and 23rd. No, you don't have to be an NHS member to attend. Yes, there are free overnight accommodations. I'll start sending out the address for directions next week, but for your trip planning, use Avon NC - its a small town in the Outer Banks. I'm excited and looking forward to meeting several people there, as well as getting some good work done.

NNNN

Happy 2011! Let's have a meeting!

Well, after a long and, if I do say so myself, well deserved hiatus, we're back in business. Of course this doesn't mean I wasn't working away in the Dockyard, it just means I haven't been telling you about it.

First things first. The Board of Directors has called a rare in person meeting on January 22-23 in Avon, NC (yes, that's the Outer Banks). The agenda is slammed and should be very interesting, with several new projects (including one HUGE new program) topping off an endless laundry list of housekeeping items. The meeting has been opened to anyone who wants to go, though only the Board members themselves will be voting. But there are many NHS and non-NHS types whose input is much appreciated, and you're most welcome at the proceedings. Send me an email if you want to go and need information and directions.

BT

Next, the Lofting Bay is occupied by parts for one of the new programs. No, I won't go into detail but it's lots of fun to walk out and see all of our shops filled to capacity, with four boats in the yard under tents etc. Everything has been surviving the weather admirably, and with the exception of dealing with Snowmageddon 2010 (which wasn't all THAT bad) everything has been rather quiet so far. I anticipate starting up Wednesday night working sessions again soon, with the stipulation that all volunteers keep mum about the new material until the projects are made public. I'll put those notices out on Facebook - I don't think it'll be this week but it should happen next Wednesday.

SO, lots going on. But with limited time to write at the moment, I'll jump back on and outline the plan of attack for 2011 later tonight.

NNNN