Happy Birthday, Maddie!

My niece, Maddie, whom I have mentioned in prior blog entries [ Meet Hurricane Maddie and New Year In North Carolina] turned 2 today and I am in Greensboro, North Carolina to help celebrate the occasion. I arrived this past Friday after a very long, 2 day drive to get here. On day 1, I stopped after 9 and 1/2 hours and spent the night at a Red Roof outside of Savannah, Georgia just as it started pouring down rain. I then finished up the meandering route the next day arriving around 2 in the afternoon. My Dad, Tracy, and his wife, Barbara, had already arrived from Indiana to spend the weekend and were in the process of babysitting the birthday girl. Maddie was a little shy when I first walked in but came around pretty quickly and soon I was her new favorite person. We played with stickers, found "Nemo", and tried out the backyard swingset. My sister-in-law, Jolene, and my brother, Keith, arrived home from work and after Maddie's exercise session at Little Gym, we picked up some pizza for a quick easy dinner and I soon called it a night.

Saturday was the birthday party. Divided into 2 separate events, the first half of the day was spent at a nearby park with lots of toddlers, snacks, and a giant, jungle animal cake. The nearby play area kept the little ones busy and water balloons and squirt bottles kept them cooled off in the record-breaking heat. By noon, the party dwindled to family-only and we headed back to the house. Keith and my Dad had smoked a pork butt the night before that was now finishing to fall-apart, smoky tenderness in the crockpot. Along with home-made cole-slaw, marinated cucumbers, 7-layer salad, maple baked beans, and fresh slices of vine-ripe German Johnson tomatoes topped with Keith's home-made mozzarella, basil, and a drizzle of olive oil - we had quite the spread for lunch. Maddie opened presents and then in a state of sensory overload and pure exhaustion finally went down for a nap while the adults lounged around in the living room conversing. After another round of cake, the already dwindled party dwindled even further bringing an end to the day's festivities.

Sunday was an easy relaxed day starting off with a quick trip to the local farmer's market for tomatoes, peaches, fresh baked bread, and other tasty treats. Lunch back at the house consisted of gourmet BLT's on the newly acquired bread with huge slices of shoulder bacon baked to perfection, crisp lettuce, and more vine-ripe tomatoes straight from someone's garden accompanied by a side dish of heirloom red peppers stuffed with shredded smoked pork, corn, onion, jalepeno, and white cheddar cheese. You wouldn't think after all that we would need to eat again for the rest of the day, but beef ribs were rubbed and thrown into the smoker and attended to for 3 hours for a yummy supper along with buttered, corn on the cob and sliced tomatoes and cucumbers.
Monday morning rolled around and as Maddie went to daycare and Keith and Jolene to work, my Dad and Barb headed back to Indiana. I took a walk, treated myself to lunch and then did a little Wal-mart shopping. The highlight of the day was yet to come when everyone arrived back at the house and after a quick dinner, Maddie blew out the candles on her cake. The cake itself was fabulous in looks, texture, and taste having come from the Delicious Bakery, but was nothing compared to witnessing the pure glee and excitement bubbling out of my 2-year old niece as she sang happy birthday to herself.
I am very glad that I was here to share and witness Maddie turning 2.

Happy Birthday, Maddie!

(& many more...)

Shade

During the summer months in the Keys, the temperature very rarely drops below 90...even overnight! Shade becomes very important. Walking through the marina I always choose the shadiest route, but what do you do out in the mooring field when there is no shade to be found?
You just have to make your own!
Or in our case, you hire a great canvas guy to come out and measure and fit the boat with customized shade. This is Garth from Custom Canvas and he did some work for us [new black vinyl cushions inside the boat] when we first arrived in Marathon. So, he was the person we called when it was time to shade the boat.
For the most part, we had been using tarps for shade...draping them over the booms and securing them with bungee cords, but the tarps degrade quickly in the harsh UV rays and start to flake and make a huge mess. Plus, they never fit just right and can make quite a bit of noise flapping around.

The new awning is made of a material called STAMOID and is supposed to last for at least 10 years. It is highly durable, light-weight, UV resistant, extremely waterproof, and easy to clean. The awning is 2 peices that zip together on either side of the mast and the sides have flaps that drop down to keep out the rising and setting sun.

Keeping the sun off the deck keeps the boat from heating up inside and keeps it much cooler.

If you look closely at the cockpit, you'll noticed we added shade to that as well with a black, mesh fabric that blocks out 60% of the sun's rays yet lets the breeze pass through. It runs through a track on the bimini top and snaps in at the bottom for a neat, snug fit.

We're really enjoying our newest boat improvement because now we've got it made in the shade living in the Florida Keys ...and we'll just leave all that sun for the tourists.

My Old Kentucky Home

Jeff and I just recently made a roadtrip to our home port of Louisville, KY. According to MapQuest, it was a 1201 mile drive from the marina to Jeff's mamma's front door. We opted to drive it straight through to save time and left Monday, June 28th around 4:30 in the afternoon. The night went on without incident as we stopped periodically for food, gas, and dog walking and we took turns sleeping in the back seat...much to the dog's dismay since that meant he was allocated to the front seat and not quite as comfortable. We were less than 2 miles from the Kentucky state line when the car over-heated for the first time. I was driving, Jeff was sleeping, and the temperature light came on and sounded an alarm. We pulled over, assessed the situation, and decided we could limp on to the rest area a mile or so away.
Welcome to Kentucky!
We parked in the shade and popped the hood. Nothing was smoking or spewing so we waited a few minutes for it to cool while Jeff cruised neighboring vehicles asking for antifreeze. He was told there was a truck stop a mile or so away and surely they would have something there. We got back on the interstate, blinkers a'blazing, and made it to the next stop. Antifreeze was purchased and after a bit more cooling, we were back on the road. The car was still running hot, but we made it safely to Louisville and could deal with the problem later.
We arrived at Denise's around 4:30 in the afternoon - a full 24 hours in the car! We relaxed for a bit and let the dog run around in the fenced in backyard while we checked out the newly renovated house. Since the last time we had been to the house, walls had been knocked out to create a new, open floor plan. The kitchen, once small and cramped was now bright and roomy with new appliances and a large bar/island. The once unfinished steps to the basement had been reconfigured and carpeted to lead down to the new workout room. The formal dining room was moved to the seldom used front room of the house. Both spare bedrooms had a new look and the master bedroom was made more private and bigger by changing the entrance and adding on to the back of the house.
The house looked great!

As we brought our things in the house and started to settle into our newly redecorated bedroom, Jeff found his mail...a package he had ordered before leaving the Keys and had sent to Louisville.
He opened it up and then donned his new...
...HAIR!
What a hoot!
What every bald guy needs...Flair Hair.
It does keep the sun off his head and it's good for a chuckle every time some unsuspecting person does a double take.

After catching up with Kelly and Denise over a few refreshments in the backyard, we had some dinner and then off to bed for some desperately needed sleep.
We slept late the next day and then started in on some of things that we intended to get done. One of the reasons for driving was so that Jeff could hand deliver the 2 pieces of yard art that he had acquired for Denise's Birthday/Mother's Day presents. After a trip to Home Depot for supplies, poles were pounded into the ground. A quick call was made to borrow a hacksaw to finish up the job...which Steve and Lisa Lindell graciously delivered...and the art work was mounted in the hosta bed in the backyard. Steve and Lisa hung around for a bit while we all reviewed Jeff's handiwork.
Aunt Karen arrived and after a pleasant evening hanging out in the backyard, we had a yummy dinner of slow simmered pot roast with carrots and mashed potatoes.
The next day brought more small chores to be accomplished. First a crack was filled in the patio and then Jeff headed to his Dad's to visit and flush the radiator. Denise prepared a delicious meatloaf for dinner and we played a somewhat noisy game of cards afterward.
The next day, the plan was to color the patio with a semi-transparent stain to brighten it up, camouflage the crack, and give it a fresh look. First step was to apply a coat of primer. While it was drying, Jeff and I made a trip to Bardstown Rd. where he visited a friend and I walked to Dot Fox, a quaint yet funky boutique, to purchase some new Rainbow Sandals. On our way back, we stopped and grabbed a sack of White Castles...because you can't just get them anywhere, you know! After a quick stop at Mom's Music to gather a few guitar supplies, we were back to finish the patio.
Once at the house, we all grabbed rollers and started to work. When my friend, Angela, called to say she was driving up the street I handed my roller to Kelly so he could take over where I left off along the edge. The color went on well and dried to a subtle, smooth finish.
Next, we sat back to admire our work and catch up with Angela who had just driven from Dayton. Sloppy Joe's were on the menu for dinner and we spent a nice evening with good conversion, Jeff playing guitar, and a pesky crossword puzzle that we all put our heads together [along with Google] to finish.

The weekend was a whirlwind of activity with a family cook-out and a pool party.
My Dad and his wife, Barbara, attended the family gathering as did Jeff's Aunt Sheila and Uncle Bill and Aunt Karen. The meal was fabulous with grilled chicken and tomato-basil italian sausages accompanied by my baked mac & cheese, fresh green beans slowed cooked in the crockpot with onion and country ham, summer slaw, and deviled eggs. To top that all off, Barbara made not just one, but 2, decadently rich desserts: a dark chocolate flour-less torte and chocolate pecan bars. It was a great meal and a quiet evening spent in good company.

The pool party on the other hand...not so quiet.
Hosted by Mike and Leslie Kenney at their home in Prospect, the pool party proved itself to be an exercise in drinking and debauchery - although also in good company. In attendance were Coley and Karin McDevitt, Meg and Dave Drummond, and the newly wedded Craig and Karen Kinney as well as Jeff and I and Angela. Everyone brought a little something to contribute to the party. Jeff brought Yuengling beer all the way from Florida. I picked up a delicious cheese torte from Doll's Market and a bottle of Prosecco. Meg and Dave made red, white, and blue jello shots. And never to be outdone, Coley juiced an entire watermelon with several limes to create a watermelon lime-aid that became an enticing mixer for a very, hot day in July. There were lot's of snacks and a fully stocked bar.
And the pool felt great!
Mike claimed early on that no one ever gets in the pool during pool parties, but within minutes of arriving, Jeff was diving in.
And he wasn't the only one.
Mike and Leslie's yellow lab puppy, Stella [The Yella] made quite a big splash when she was finally released from captivity and allowed to join the party.
After several rounds of Coley's watermelon lime-ade "Surprise" drinks [You wanted vodka? Surprise! It's rum. Or maybe it's the other way around...] everyone ended up in pool. After lots of laughs and a few toasts, dinner was served: a fabulous spread of cold dishes and salads. Easy, tasty, and cool.

The long, holiday weekend wrapped up with another family cookout at Dan and Allison's where Jeff got to spend some time with niece, Lainey, and nephew, Lincoln. Lincoln was a little shy, but Lainey was not, and both enjoyed checking out Jeff's station wagon. We had burgers and dogs on the grill and called it a night.

Our last night in town was spent with Tommy and Allyson Cooper on their 50 ft. Gibson Executive houseboat with guests Everett and Jimmy having snacks and cocktails but not going anywhere. When the boat rocked slightly side to side, it felt odd to be on a boat after being on dry land for over a week. Shortly after sunset, we headed for bed with plans to get on the road in the not so bright yet early morning.

We barely made it into Tennessee before the sun was high in the sky and the car was overheating again. The day before leaving for the long trip home, we had taken the car to Valvoline and had the oil changed, the radiator flushed, a headlight replaced, and all the fluids checked...apparently to no avail. We exited at Lavergne and found a Midas station where they diagnosed the problem as a broken fan clutch, fixed it, and sent us on our way. Within 5 miles down the road, the car was overheating again. We turned around and had a new water pump and thermostat installed. A test drive proved the car to be in no better shape. The mechanics spent a little more time exhausting every possible option with no results. 8 hours and $611.42 later, we decided staying there any longer was only a huge waste of time and we moved on down the road. The car was mostly fine while doing 50-55. It was going uphill that proved to be challenging. We crawled through the mountains at 20 miles an hour in the emergency lane with the blinkers on and we each breathed a sigh of relief at the top of each summit. Completely exhausted from the stressful driving, we pulled over in Dalton, Georgia for a bite of dinner and a break. We noticed a GM dealership on our way to Steak n' Shake and opted to spend the night at a nearby Travelodge and take the car to be serviced again first thing in the morning rather than risk breaking down in the middle of the night in the middle of nowhere...or worse yet, smack in the middle of ghetto Atlanta.
Jeff was up early and the first one in line at the service station. He left the car and walked back to the room where we hung out in the AC and napped and read the morning away. At 11:15 they called about the car and said it was fixed. It was merely a vacuum problem that they flushed out...no charge!
So we were back on the road. 15 minutes later we're overheating again. It was an extremely hot day and we were in the hills of Georgia. The only thing to do was trudge on through. Ac off. Windows open. 50 m.p.h. Once the sun set, we were able to go 60. In the middle of the night, I pushed it up to 70. We arrived at the marina at 5 a.m. Friday morning. We were happy to be home and there will be no more roadtrips for the station wagon.

We had a great time while visiting our old Kentucky home but it was impossible in the short time we were there to see everyone we wanted to see or spend any length of time with the people we did get to visit. For that I apologize and extend the invitation that you all are always welcome to come visit us in the Keys where you will have our undivided attention. Doesn't that sound like fun?

Mr. & Mrs. Watson, I Presume

This past week, our friends Craig and Karen from Kentucky, traveled to Key West to tie the knot. They were married on Monday with an intimate ceremony on the beach in between rain showers.
Come Thursday, they were headed back to Fort Lauderdale for a couple of nights before catching a plane back to the 'Ville and Jeff talked them into stopping at the S/V Exposure and spending the night. Jeff prepared for their arrival by making them an extra large welcome greeting with a can of spray paint and a tarp. The boys had been teasing Craig that he would hereby be known as "Mr. Watson," that being Karen's former last name - since she's the one who presumably will be wearing the pants in their new family. Hence, the giant-sized jab.

Upon arrival, we showed the newlyweds the boat and around the marina. We eventually made our way to the tiki hut where we sat and caught up as we looked out across the harbor and enjoyed the substantial breeze we were having. We decided a dinghy tour was in order and loaded into the boat. Because of the wind, the harbor was a little choppy so we decided to head into Sister's Creek for a calmer ride. Then we took the right hand turn into the smaller, mangrove-lined Whiskey creek.
We stopped briefly at the S/V Perseverance, anchored at a fork in the waterway, where the dog got a drink of water and both Craig and Jeff went for a refreshing swim.
Then it was time for a little exploring.

We set off to the left of the fork, since neither Jeff or I had ever been that direction and wended our way back through the mangroves. Very soon, the path got smaller and the water got shallower. We lifted the motor and pulled our way through using the overhanging branches. We made our way to a large opening only to find ourselves in about 3 inches of water. Across the way someone had marked an entrance/exit and we aimed for it by walking the boat through the shallow lagoon. Even though the water was only a few inches deep, while treading through it we sank almost to our knees in the ooey, gooey marl and seagrass. We made it to the other side only to find the waterway too narrow for the dinghy to pass through the exposed roots. So, it was back the way we came and out the mangrove paths. We made it back to the harbor with a few cuts and scrapes and a dinghy full of broken branches and plant debris. If I'd have known we were headed out for a deep woods safari I'd have packed a cooler and taken the camera, but I guess some of the best adventures are those impromptu ones that just happen.

By now, it was time to feed our guests some dinner and we headed to Lencho's for the all-you-can-eat mahi fish fry. The boys munched on big slabs of crispy fried dolphin while us girls stole tiny bites and nibbled on our own mexican fare. Then it was back to the boat where Jeff broke out his guitar and serenaded us in the cockpit.

Soon it was time to turn in. Jeff had to work Friday, I was volunteering at DRC, and the "Watson's" had a 3 hour drive ahead of them to FLL.
We said our good-byes in the morning and parted ways.
It was great seeing Craig & Karen - happy as clams in their newly wedded bliss!
We truly enjoyed being part of their Keys experience.

Weekend in Key West

This past weekend, my friend, Deborah, came to Key West for a visit. Deborah and I have known each other since we were in 5th grade which makes her my longest running friendship - going on 30 years now. She brought her Dad, Charlie [aka Chop], whom I also have known for 30 years. She was meeting up with a couple who used to be her neighbors in Lakeland, FL, Mary Sue and George, who came down to Key West to celebrate their wedding anniversary. Also joining her was another couple whom Deborah has known since her early college days in Costa Rico, Rich and Carol who currently reside in nearby Islamorada at the Sea Base Boy Scout Facility. I had met both couples before, so when Deb called and asked if I'd like to come down and join them I thought it sounded like a good time. I arrived at The Grand just a little after 4pm where I found everyone gathered and waiting to get the evening started. We started off walking towards Duvall St.
Since it was Charlie's [picture left] first time, he had a list of some of the more touristy destinations that he wanted to visit. First stop was Margaritaville. We all ordered fruity, frozen drinks and Charlie shopped for souvenirs. Next was Fat Tuesday's for another round of fruity, frozen drinks. Then Captain Tony's for a Pirate Punch, The White Tarpon for a Key Lime Martini, and then to Mallory Square to watch the sunset. Afterward, we crossed The Hog's Breath Saloon off of Charlie's list where more drinks and souvenirs were purchased and then it was time for a bite to eat. Fogarty's was nearby and looked inviting with all of it's outdoor seating and we ordered appetizers and split a couple of sandwiches. After filling our bellies, we hailed a cab and headed back to the hotel to turn in for the night.

The next morning had us setting off to finish up the list at the Southernmost Point with a stop at the Southernmost Beach Cafe for bloody mary's. After that, we dropped in the outdoor bar at La Te Da for more bloody mary's for some and iced tea for me. Then a slice of pizza was in order and a walk back to the hotel.


The highlight of the weekend was still to come. Rich had made a phone call early in the day to a friend with a sailboat and asked if he was willing to take us out for a sunset cruise. The cool thing about it was I knew the owner of the boat and his wife, as they had been residents in Boot Key Harbor last year. I was looking forward to seeing Julie and Hammer again...as well as his dog, Stevie, and her cat, Toni.

We met up at the Jewel of Athena around 6:30 with bags of ice and a bottle of rum, dropped the lines, and pushed off from the dock. After a short bit of motoring, the sails were hoisted and the motor silenced as we sailed by Mallory Square and past several other boats out for the same reason we were.

We had good wind and great time. Hammer even let me take the helm for a bit. We returned to the docks just after dark and Hammer brought out his guitar and serenaded us with several songs.

We eventually made our leave and headed to The Rum Barrel for a late-night bite to eat...I had the patty melt and it was fabulous.
And I don't even feel guilty about the late night indulgence since we walked all the way back to the hotel afterward.

I returned to Marathon early this Monday morning to do the Cruiser's Net [VHF Channel 68 @ 9am] and put my feet up for a bit.
Deb and her Dad will by stopping by Marathon tomorrow on their way back to the mainland and I look forward to their visit.

Thanks for the invite, Deb!
It was fun.

Friday is Monday?

Jeff just recently received a promotion at his job in the City Marina and is now the official Assistant Ports Director...that puts him as second man in charge around here.
With the promotion came a change of schedule. He'll be working 4 - 10 hour days from 8am to 6pm - Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday with the rest of the three days off.
As far as working on the weekends goes, pretty much, here in the Keys, there is no difference in a weekday and a weekend - you can find just as much to do and see on one day of the week as any other, so it doesn't have the same blah, I-might-miss-out-on something feeling as it might have up on the mainland.
It's nice having him off for the 3 days and I am hoping that it will give us an opportunity to do some stuff around the Keys we haven't done yet, but the schedule is taking some getting used to. Monday after work is now "Friday Night" and when Friday rolls around and it's time to head to shore in the early am, it sure feels like Monday morning.

So...
Congratulations, Jeff!
And...
Friday is Monday and Monday is Friday...pass it on.

Water...Good & Bad

Water is a very important aspect of life. Water covers 71% of the Earth and makes up 60-70% of the human body. If it weren't for water, there would be no boats and I wouldn't be living on the S/V Exposure in the middle of the Florida Keys. But a boat needs more than just the water it floats in...there's drinking water, dishes water, shower water, ice-making water, dog bathing water, toilet flushing water...and it all needs to get to the boat somehow. Some boats are equipped with water-makers or desalinators which take the sea water and filter the salt out of it to make it fit for human consumption. The S/V Exposure has a water-maker, but it is currently in it's "pickled" state keeping it preserved for future use when water is not as readily available. The filters are expensive and we would run through them pretty quickly in the silty water of the harbor. So we haul all of our water to the boat. The City Marina has a dinghy water dock where you can fill up your water receptacle for 5 cents a gallon...pretty cheap considering what has to be done to get running water here. All of our water comes from the mainland...there is NO fresh water available in the Keys that doesn't come through a pipe down US1. We do have emergency desalination plants in case of hurricane or being cut off from the mainland, but they have not proven to be cost-effective enough to run all the time. We used to haul our water in 6 gallon jugs, providing us with 12 gallons per trip but since the launching of the new dinghy, we have come up with a better plan.

Just last week, I invited my girlfriend, Megan, to drive with me to Tavernier to procur a 55-gallon barrel. I had called ahead of time and made sure the place was open and asked what had been in the barrels and would it be safe for the application of hauling water. The guy assured me that all of his barrels had held non-toxic substances ranging from concentrated fruit juice to ascorbic acid. Megan and I stopped along the way for a little water-front dining [Ah, ha! The importance of water again!] at Whale Harbor where she had the shrimp po' boy and I had the skirt steak quesadilla. Both of which were absolutely delicious and the view was magnificent. After lunch, we took a few minutes for a snap shot or 2 and then continued on up US1.
I found Glander Boats after passing it once and making a u-turn. Then a barrel was purchased and shoved into the backseat of my car and Megan and I headed for home.

The barrel got a good rinse upon it's arrival at the marina and then sat overnight to soak with a bit of bleach. The next day we were ready for our first big water run and loaded the barrel into the dinghy.
After a few minutes of filling, we were ready to go. Jeff had previously ordered a transfer pump to get the water from the barrel into the water tanks of the sailboat.

It worked like a charm.

We made one more trip the following day and put the barrel away for the time being. The plan will be to run a full load once a week and that should keep our tanks topped off with fresh water.
Water is good.

But water can be bad.
Too much water in the wrong place can sink a boat, and that's almost what happened to us yesterday.
It was Sunday morning and we were all prepared to spend a lazy day, reading books and lounging about. We were so set on it, that I didn't even get up when my phone rang at a little after 9am. Jeff didn't budge when his phone rang shortly after that...and again right after that. Then came a knock on the boat and Jeff got up to see who it was. It was Austin from the city marina and we had a problem. The 19ft. O-Day sailboat that Jeff had purchased over the winter was full of water and near close to sinking. We had had some rain lately, and knew the boat probably needed to be bailed out since it has no door and the cockpit drains are no longer working but Jeff had been by the tiny sailboat on Friday and all had seemed well. So we motored over in the dinghy with a battery and a bilge pump and set to getting the water out. The boat had so much water in it that we were afraid to step onto it and remained on the dinghy and tossed the pump in. I am sorry to say, I didn't take my camera, but the water was well over the kicker plate in the rear and up over the writing on the sides.
We pumped a lot of water for a very long time. So long in fact, we decided to leave it sit and go get a cooler full of ice so we could have a refreshing beverage while we waited for the water to recede. Several times while sitting there, we both smelled a dead fish...somewhere. Perhaps in the nearby mangroves? As we circled the boat to leave, I took a look inside and found the culprit. It was definitely a dead fish in the cabin and it looked big! So not only did we get a cooler of ice, but we grabbed a net and pokey pole and with much reluctance, headed back to address the dead fish.
Upon our return, the water had receded enough where it was safe for Jeff to step on to the boat. He tried getting the fish into the net but it was just too big and broke the net. Jeff had to resort to reaching in and grabbing the deceased beast by the tail and hauling it out. The thing was monstrous once you could see it all. It was a 45+ lb. tarpon and at least 3 feet long.
It must have jumped in the cockpit and in an attempt to escape made his way into the cabin. Tarpon are considered a sport-fish and although they are no good to eat, they are very popular to fish for because of the grand fight they put up when in the throes of capture. They are all bone, muscle, and fins.
This particular tarpon was no less the fighter and in his thrashing for freedom, he broke off 2 of the the thru-hull fittings inside the cabin creating 2 holes in the bottom of the boat which copious amounts of water where now pouring through.
That was why it seemed we were pumping out water for such a long time as it was coming in almost as fast.
Jeff went back for tools and a couple of wooden plugs and temporarily sealed the hole.

We were going to wait a little while before restoring the baby sailboat as we are still tired from our last restoration job but it looks as if we have no choice. We are pulling the boat out of the water today and after a bit of drying out, it will be the next project...so stay tuned for that one!

Thanks to everyone who called and were concerned about the sinking boat and thanks to Denise for providing the pictures of the tiny sailboat used on this blog.