Friday, June 25, 2010

An Update On Our Lives~We Love You All


Hi Everybody, I missed you guys. I am really busy right now, and I know I haven't been here like I should, but I'm really trying. Let me explain: As of this past Monday morning at 6am, our boat and Our Captain were hired by BP. Through the Vessels of Opportunity Program, a way they are compensating the Captains for lack of fishing, and it took them awhile, to finally get it that no one will fight this battle harder than our local Captains. Out of towners have been sent back to wherever they came from, and Our Captain, and all his buddies, are fighting it tooth and nail.
Assignment name? Are you ready? Are you sure your ready?
*
*
*
okay here it comes
*
*
*
*
*
*







TURTLEBOAT! You got tears in those eyes yet?

That's right BP hired our Captain for animal rescue.
There's a reason we haven't told you yet though....nothing yet, just recoveries ( you understand the difference right, I'm sorry, ya'll but we tell the truth here remember). He's really trying, he wanted me to wait to tell you until we have saved at least one, but I can't hold it in anymore.
Our small vessel is camouflage think (Marine Corps to the max), and the sea turtles, as I have mentioned many times, come right up to it. They think it's a bed of seaweed floating, that contains food. Our hopes are way up there that this will work.
Today is day 5, nothing yet, but you can bet your bottom dollar, there is not a soul on this earth that would try harder than he is.

Long hours, before dawn, till after dark. Here's how it will work. John sees a turtle, bird, dolphin, otter, anything, and he contains it, rounds it up, you follow me, and IMMS comes and gets it, rehabilitates it, and then moves it to a choice of lots of aquariums in the nation. Pulling them out, yep! Say a prayer for Strike force 3 and the Turtleboat tonight.
Swim, swim, swim, fly, fly, fly.....to Captain John, to Captain John...
They are a lot of rules to this: I have to make adequate food to have on board for a full day for the crew, shade, sunscreen, first aid, lots of id badges, light clothing in color and weight. This is a small boat, with no ac, and the heat index today on the water is 110+. They check this all too, for example if they catch sunburn men on the boat, or no Gatorade, water, sugar, food, we are done, and The Captain is responsible. It's a lot of work for me too. Sometimes from 5am till 1 or 2 in the morning, because I work, and I can't do my stuff until the guys are in. I can do this, if we can just save one or two, or maybe three, or if we could find that pod of 200 could you imagine? The grocery shopping and toting alone can be tough, I mean I only have so much refrigator, so I have to go about every other day or so.
Rewards are plentiful, though My Captain is spoiling me rotten.
They also went around, our Captains, who know what they are doing here in these waters, and fixed all the booms, but ain't no tar balls anymore, it's rolling in again. I can hear the helicopters right now, must be close. Did you see the waves in Pensacola? That area, and Gulf Shores/Orange Beach/Perdido has taken a hard hit. Jimmy, Kenny, and Zac (Buffett, Chesney and Brown) are holding a Relief benefit concert there next week. Will you please dial in for those folks, their lives are devastated.
I also want to take a moment to remember Captain Rookie Kruse. There was no depression, drugs, alcohol, financial problems (yet), regardless of what the article I am about to link you to says about demons. The only demon was that our Gulf is dead. No kidding, dead.
Captain Rookie, was the one of the best Captains, and Fisherman, to ever walk the docks of Orange Beach, AL. He will truly live on forever in the memories of every passenger of his boat. Captain John and I are heartbroken, and I just want you guys to understand how real it is to these men. Due South, Captain Rookie, Due South! If you don't know it click
HERE to read the story.




You know there's one thing about luck, good or bad, when it rains it pours.


Thankfully, our rain is a run of good right now. Guess what ya'll?




They called 7:30am this morning, and they offered him a permanent Captain's position on the boat he worked on a couple of weeks ago. Our lives have changed in a moment, from despair to elation. I am so proud, they gave the crew aboard the boat the option of who would be the new Captain, and they picked ours. So, I will officially say it.. I support the Oil Field, because it supports me now. Naysayers, save it, don't even waste your time. What would you do? We have two weeks to get a Captain trained for the Turtleboat, and we already have a few in mind, men that haven't gotten work yet? Guaranteed he will be from our waters.




I love you all, and I will squeeze time in to visit you all really soon, I miss being a part of your everyday lives, every single one of you!




This is suppose to be a really positive post, but there's just one little thing sticking in the back of my mind that I am worried about.


Not now, please not now? Next year, we will deal with it, but this year, we are a little busy. Okay, Thanks!

We love you all,


Captain John and his Bumpkin On A Swing

18 comments:

DSS said...

Ahhhh...this post warms my heart!! What a wonderful mission to be chosen for :) I just know there will be many creatures finding their way to Captain John and his men looking for help!! Please keep us posted. My thoughts are with you always...all of you. I cannot even begin to imagine what it would be like to be there...in the middle of it all. Seeing pictures, and watching TV, are nothing like being there I know.

And my sincere condolences on the loss of your friend :( This tragedy is devastating in so many ways.

xoxo, T

Meg said...

Ohhhh I love that they names him turtle!!! Save my turtles! I am so sorry to hear about your friend...that is just horrible. My thoughts and prays are with you both!!! Keep you the amazing work!

Meg xoxo

Gorgeous Glam said...

Wow, that is a lot going on in your worlds! I am happy to hear that things are making some progress and BP is employing the captains. Keeping my fingers crossed for all the animals/fish and tortugas! xoxo

Barefoot in the Park said...

i just got tears in my eyes ... go captain john go! (sorry for the lack of commenting. every time i click to write something i get emotional im so upset by it all ... and just have been unable to.) we're praying for y'all!

Barefoot in the Park said...

ps today are happy tears. i'm glad they are finally figuring out to let locals help!

Screen Door Prep said...

This is definitely a post that brings both a smile to my face & tears to my eyes. I'm heartbroken over the whole senseless tragedy, & my mind has been wandering to the possibility of what inclement weather could do...let's hope&pray that there won't be any more devastation to come out of all of this!

(I do love your blog, BTW!)

Trish {Pink Preppy Lilly Lover} said...

Thank you for the happy phone call this morning sweetheart, we can't wait to talk to you two over the weekend. You know my heart is just leaping with joy for you both, this is going to change things forever for you! Good things happen to good people, but extraordinary things happen to *extraordinary people* like YOU BOTH! Love you my dear friend xoxo Talk soon!

debra@dustjacket said...

Hey sweetie, wow Captain is right in the middle of it. You guys rock, keep up the great work. I'm am so happy that you both have had some great fortune with this mess that has taken over your lives.

I am so so sorry to hear about your friend, very sad times indeed.

Keep it up, in my thoughts,
xxoxoxox DJ

Lori said...

I think of you and John often ~ but what great news ~ I am so happy for you both. Tell the naysayers to go to he## ~ you gotta do what you gotta do. So sorry to hear about your friend. Have a happy week-end Lisa. xo

Splenderosa said...

All right! This rocks. So so sorry about your friend who died. Pray the storm blows itself somewhere else, pray. love you, Marsha

Chris said...

Head west, storm, head west. I heard that if it does threaten the area it would shut down collection and remediation operations for days, we don't have that kind of time.

Wow, they sure require a lot of safety precautions....if only they had thought of that befo.....nevermind;)

MCW said...

I am so excited for the Captin' and his crew...I know they are going to do tons of good!

Charlotte said...

He's doing such an amazing thing!! I know you are so proud!! So sorry to hear the tragedy of your friend. This situation just keeps getting worse and worse.

Thanks for sharing!!!

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

Big huge fat prayers going up for the turtles AND you guys@ I'm so so happy that something positive is happening for ya'll! And stay away dirty hurricanes!!

Rawknrobyn.blogspot.com said...

I am so proud of you and the Captain! You truly inspire! It's about time BP got the experts to take care of business. Hang on, little turtles, hang on! The Bumpkin and the Captain are headed your way to save you!
Lots of love.
xoRobyn

Hazel from Hazel Loves Design said...

Your are so inspiring!! This post brought tears to my eyes!! My heart is with you in all that you are working for! Congratulations for being someone who is making a difference!

:) Hazel

Unknown said...

Wow! Your post left me speechless. So glad the turtles have you on their side. Wish I could do something to help you and Captain John. Blessings to you and yours.

Elle said...

Oh honey... I'm sitting here crying both happy and sad crying but mostly happy and thankful! Thank you to you and captain and the crew for doing work I wouldn't even know how to do... thank you for sacrificing all of your free time to feed and care and provide for the crew... thank you thank you thank you!

I love you bumpkin... you hug all those fiserhmen for me and especially that wonderful captain of yours... and kiss your pups for us! Can I send you something? ziplock bags, sunblock, hats... anything?