Hello

You found me.

This blog -- BOOM BOOM II -- is part of a greater effort called "Bill and Judy's Excellent Adventure."  Another part of the ADVENTURE is "Italy at Last."  What started as separate efforts seem to be coming together now.

I'm always looking for Mac modifications, perusing Mac blogs and forums and Facebook pages to find ideas for changes and improvements.  It seems like this blog will have two focuses:  one being journaling of our experiences and trips, and the other explaining the modifications I've found that we've adapted to BB2.

We are part of the NCSail.ORG group who include in their yearly activities two "pirate sails" to Cape Lookout, heading out from Beaufort NC.  Members are widespread, around the Triangle and Wilmington and the NC coast.  Many members have their boats in slips in Oriental.  We keep BB2 in our driveway :o)

The other half of the "we" I keep referring to is my husband Bill.  My plan for BOOM BOOM II is to journal experiences on our new 2008 MacGregor 26M.  A major part of these first years on a new boat is personalizing it and making it more comfortable.  And a key factor to comfort on a boat is STORAGE.  There is never enough of it, most assuredly not on a 26' long, 8' wide boat. 

This year, 2013, I've been sticking close to home, and to Harry.  Harry is our 16 year old Jack Russell.  He's the white one in the photo.  Two years ago we lost his brother (litter mate) to a copperhead.  Eleven bites.  17 lb. dog.  It was awful.  We not only had to deal with our grief, but we had to watch Harry deal with his.  It broke my heart every day for a really long time.  

In these last two years, it is amazing how much Harry has aged.  He still has his moments when he runs around like a 2 year old.  But there is a lot more down time.  His legs, especially his hind quarters, are weak and he's very unsteady on his legs.  We carry him up and down the stairs in the morning and at night, when he's most aching and stiff from arthritis and just old bones, like us.

Harry was always more dependent on me than Marcus was.  Different personalities.  But now I'm Harry's new Marcus.  He's obsessive about my presence and attention, and if I don't give it to him he'll let me know by "arguing" with me.  Now when we board him it's not good.  He gets so anxious that I'm not around (and neither is his brother), that he works himself up to a dangerous state.  After picking him up from boarding last year, he started having spinal spasms.  I was so upset, felt so guilty.  The next time we boarded him the vet gave him something to "relax" him.  Uh huh.  It was not happy to see.  So I've given up some of my summer this year; not a big deal compared to the 16 years of joy he's given us.

So here we go.  I hope you enjoy.  Maybe you'll find some ideas to use on your yacht.

Fair winds, fellow sailors.