Single Screw

There are fewer and fewer single screw tugboats around these days. And a captain who knows how to operate them is another rarity. However, there is the legendary Captain Silva, a good friend of mine, and master of most anything afloat, including these old boats with a single propeller and lots of history. Thus, he and I traveled to visit one of the smaller incarnations of such nautical engineering just the other day, a boat he operates from time to time, named the Thomas Brown. This tug was in drydock for some love and affection as you can see below:

tbrnaThe guys are working to reattach the bow fender, which is no easy task given that it has to be bent and pulled fast to the shape of the hull. Here is a shot of stern:

tbrnbYou can see the scale of the hull and that single propeller by comparing both to the man standing on the right. The propeller is about six feet in diameter, which may sound large, but is actually small as things go in these matters. This boat has an engine that develops a mere 850 horsepower. Here’s a closer look at that prop.

tbrndIt’s all shiny and clean for today. Won’t be long before this boat is back in the water, towing barges, nudging larger vessel to the dock, and roaming the harbor in search of work. The Thomas Brown is a handsome boat, one that features traditional lines that passed down from the earliest of vessels. It’s also the last of a breed. Single screw boats are simply not built anymore. So, when this one is finished, it’ll be lost to the scrapper’s torch. But not yet! There’s still work to be done.

Published in: on May 30, 2009 at 11:49 am  Leave a Comment  
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Noodler’s Apache Sunset

Noodler’s Apache Sunset fountain pen ink represents a new level in expressive writing. Readers of this blog know that I use Mont Blanc fountain pens for my first drafts. To this point, I’ve stuck with Mont Blanc ink, using blue for most prose and red for emphasis and margin notes. Well, the red was starting to annoy my eye. It is powerful, which was my original reason for using it. However, it’s become a bit overbearing in places where a lesser amount of attention is warranted. Thus, I went on the hunt for another color. I searched the fountainpennetwork.com message board and discovered the following review of Noodler’s Apache Sunset. Click HERE.

Therefore, an inquiry was made to the Fountain Pen Hospital and a subsequent order placed. The ink arrived a day later, I loaded it into a pen and gave it a try. The following photo does no justice to the ink. (Sorry, but photographing ink is beyond my ability. Stick with the link above to see a better test.)

apachsunstFor the past several days I’ve employed this ink to great effect. The yellow stands strong on the page and the orange overtones draw the eye without the school marm’s scolding of the red.

Noodler’s produces many different kinds and colors of ink. If you prefer a fountain pen, give these inks a try. You will not be disappointed. Also, I’d like to thank all the members of the fountainpennetwork.com for their helpful reviews and information on the subject.

Published in: on May 16, 2009 at 6:07 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Writing Letters

Letter writing seems to have fallen off in this age of email and the text message. (Forget stuff like twitter, facebook, and such). However, there are still those people out there who take pen in hand (or typewriter or word processor) and scribe a message to someone. I happen to be one of these people, employing my fountain pens to good use. For stationary these days I’ve taken to recycling old nautical charts that are out of date. I have the good fortune to have made the acquaintance of several people with whom I exchange letters regularly. They are an excellent way to concentrate your thoughts, learn something new, and enjoy a friendship.

But if you want to see a master letter craftsperson, check out The Missive Maven’s blog. Here is a direct link: http://missivemaven.blogspot.com/. She corresponds with many people from around the globe and encourages others to write to her. Plus, her letters are written on various types of paper, her stamps are varied and interesting, and she uses all manner of writing instruments and inks. The creativity shown here is stunningly impressive. Take a look at her blog. I’m sure you’ll find it fascinating and perhaps inspirational. Maybe you’ll write to that old friend, college roommate, or favorite relative as a result.

Besides, isn’t it a thrill to get something in the mail? Of course! I send literally hundreds of postcards each year, but that’s the subject for another post soon. In the mean time, get a pen, some paper, and write. It’s good for your brain and your relationships, whatever they may be.

Published in: on May 9, 2009 at 3:04 am  Comments (2)  
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One Small Room

Imagine yourself living in one small room. This is your bedroom, your bathroom, your kitchen, your laundry… every function of your existence, with the exception of your employment, takes place here. I forced myself to consider this possibility while working on a new character for a story idea that’s been rattling around inside my head.

There are stories of such people, sometimes many people, crammed into a room in dire circumstances. However, in the course of this story, the character chooses to live this way. He has a room in a building and he makes it his home with all the functions described above. Furthermore, he has the place crammed with odd things he collects from time to time. There are books, slips of paper, pieces of cartons and boxes, a few bottle caps, a few glass bottles, a broken necklace, various torn shoelaces… on the list goes. All these things from building blocks of this character, revealing different things about him in his pursuit of someone else.

This has been a fun exercise, considering what it would be like living in not much more than a box. What you could do without, what you wouldn’t give up. Give it a try. It will make you think.

Published in: on April 21, 2009 at 12:38 am  Comments (1)  
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