Below are the 4 most recent journal entries recorded in Eclair Knight's LiveJournal:

Sunday, February 8th, 2004
7:59 am	Ancient Mariners Two nights ago, Friday, 06 FEB, I attended an evening social on board HMS SURPRISE. This is the ship used as the centerpiece of the movie "Master and Commander: Far Side of the World". The weather witches cast the right spells and danced around their bonfire in the correct manner to please the spirits, I know this to be true because we experienced a cool, crisp evening of fun and laughter without a cloud in the sky. I was very pleased that I'd made the decision to wear my heavy coat from Australia (if you ever get the chance to purchase a "Drize-a-Bone" brand coat...do so they're awesome), it kept me nice and warm. SURPRISE is a floating museum and is here in San Diego for only a few weeks. There are a lot of plaques on board that explain the history of sailing and the early days of naval warfare when broadside cannons and boarding parties were the main weapons of the day. I do look upon all these things with the eyes of an romantic and dare to dream that I would have been a good Sailor in a different life, in a different time. The ship is very small when compared to the massive lady of the seas I sail on now, but in her own way SURPRISE is every bit as complicated, if not more difficult to manage and maintain as any modern naval vessel. The respect and admiration that I have for my forefathers, the ancient mariners of old can do naught but grow and deepen every time I have the opportunity to peer into their world and recognize the skill and dedication they must have required to master their ships and sail them to the far side of the world. Saturday, 07 FEB. I attended the wedding of my friends Kevin and Cathy. Yet another perfect day, even more so than the evening before, and exactly what the Bride and Groom deserved as the day was a reflection of their love for each other. I wanted to offer a toast to the couple at the reception, but events moved too swiftly so I was passed over. Though they may never hear it, I offer it for others to read here: Throughout the ages of recorded history, ancient mariners have looked to the stars above for guidance. By picking out the brightest and most significant points in the heavenly sphere above they were able to chart their courses. My toast is to Kevin and Cathy, two people who have chosen to steer by the same star together, may you have fair winds and following seas as you sail toward distant horizons and new adventures together. (Raise glass and drink). (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Wednesday, May 7th, 2003
5:06 pm	Old habits People are funny, I don't necessarily mean 'haha' funny, but just curious in that we are all creatures of habit. Old habits die hard, and no matter where we go, nearly every one of us feels most comfortable acting out old habits we've had for years. It may be something as simple as tracking down a certain brand of peanut butter when we've had to do without for a while, or letting unread newspapers and magazines pile up on the coffee table, or supporting the company softball team after only being on the job for a week, or making a New Year's resolution to buy a pair of running shoes and get into better shape (only to spend all of our time being a couch potato and hide the new shoes in the closet so we won't feel as guilty). People are creatures of habit, whether or not these habits are good for us, or bad, we still take pleasure in following a comfortable rut we call our lives. We'd all like to change ourselves for the better, but that would take too much energy and dedication, so we just fall back on old habits and find we shut our eyes to the ways we could change and just become satisfied with the way we are and what we have. (Comment on this)
Thursday, April 10th, 2003
9:40 pm	Settled In Finally settled into my new apartment at long last. It seems like only yesterday that I was standing half a world a way wondering what I was going to do next. Thanks to the magic of international air travel, a couple of hundred bucks, two quick phone calls and a credit card purchase... I soon found myself back in the great Republic of TEXAS!! Stand up dammit...I said "TEXAS", and every one of you dam' yankees had better show the proper amount of respect, or I'll stomp over there and wup yer hides with a plow line. Sorry, got a bit carried away there for a second. Where was I .. Oh yes, TEXAS! I met an unpleasant car salesman who, after a long discussion, explained to me that if I didn't purchase my new truck from him that his family would go hungry... uh... mister, if you can't feed your family on what you make as a car salesman, may I suggest you find a new line of work? Trying to guilt-trip me into buying a truck from him was a bad idea, and you can win your bet if you think that I took my checkbook somewhere else. Ok, I've got to admit I've never bought a truck before, but I will say that I had a most pleasant experience at the next place I went. The salesman was positive, cheerful, friendly, and didn't try any high-pressure moves or tactics. Heck, except for the part when I had to write the big check, we had a right friendly time. Within 4-hours of the time I walked into the showroom, I was headed off the lot with my new truck and a smile on my face. I am definitely going back there again when its time to buy my next truck. Now, all that aside, driving from TEXAS to california is not an easy task, but if you've got a couple of "books on CD", the time and miles sure go by quicker. I listened to "The Jester", written by James Patterson and read by Cary Elwes (from "Princess Bride") and to "Prey" by Michael Crichton. Two very good books, and the 13-hours of "Prey"-unabridged, really helped. I highly recommend audio books as a way to ease the boredom of driving cross country. San Diego is a pretty big city, and I'm still trying to find my way around after my first week here. Thomas Brothers maps are wonderful for this purpose, but do remember to make the phone company provide you with a yellow pages so you can look up street addresses and then locate them on the maps. I forgot to get a yellow pages, so until I got my laptop on-line, I either had to borrow someone else's yellow pages, or just drive around and hope to find someplace that would sell whatever I was looking for at the time. Oh well, the rest of my household good should arrive soon, and then I'll be all set up. The final question I have to answer is what do I want to do with my tax refund this year? Do I invest it and recoup the value years from now after I retire, or do I use it to purchase a 34" HDTV and six-speaker home theater system?? Oooohh....tough choice.... let me think about it for a few more minutes. (7 Comments |Comment on this)
Wednesday, March 12th, 2003
1:18 pm	Scratchings on paper Like all journal keepers, I'm a bit apprehensive about making a good first entry. Not only does the first entry become the longest lasting within the entire journal, but it can set the mood for the journal and therefore needs to be given some thought and not just scribbled down in haste. There is definitely something to be said about the sound of a good pen scratching its way across a page of paper, and the tap-tap-tap of this keyboard somehow just does not convey the same feeling or sense of permanancy to that which I compose here today as compared to some of those great documents and manuscripts that were written so long ago by authors who had to get it right the first time because ink is forever. Definitely a bit of a doom and gloom entry for the start of a new journal, but alas that is my state of mind at the moment, so this is what it shall be. Time marches on and a glance at my wrist tells me I have to close and head off for another meeting. Thus endeth my first entry, not my greatest work ever, but that's not saying much, but by far not the least of the writings I have ever done. I shall endeavor to write more, and use this space to record those thoughts I wish to share with friends and others, and we shall see what becomes of this journal as it grows. (8 Comments |Comment on this)