The sun, which has been non existent here in the New York area the last few days, and has dampened my mood like a wet wash cloth, is trying to penetrate the stubborn cloud layer that won't totally disappear.
Like a bothersome rash....just go away.

With that being said, sailing wise, it's a beautiful day as we spent the afternoon traveling up the East River, through the Big Apple.
The tug following us is our escort tug, following close by in case of some mechanical failure that would cause our tug and barge to veer off toward the rocks.

The barge we are pushing is carrying 100,000 barrels of crude oil, and it would be a bit messy if the worst were to happen.

Our destination today was the exotic city of New Haven, Conn., so we spent much of our trip traveling through Long Island Sound.


I was determined to make this a happy day today.
No senseless worrying over nothing.
No thoughts of terrorists.
Not even going to think about about gas prices or college tuition's.
Nope, not today

No thoughts of OCD Captains who clean the counter by the coffee pot 25 times a day, just because.
No thoughts of Fox News.
No thoughts of crew members who really wish I had put TWO Bounce dryer sheets in with their cloths when I started the dryer.
No way, happy thoughts today.

No thoughts of tornado's or deck hands who alphabetize the can goods in the pantry.
No thoughts of a distant relative who had just recently passed.
No, going to take the day off.

No thoughts of my wife who is home on crutches trying to untangle our dog who got her leash wrapped around our tree and my wife's crutches keep sinking into the ever present vole holes in our lawn until she cast aside the crutches and shimmy's across the ground on her butt to untangle the leash.

Nope, happy day today....no worries.