Memorial Day trip to Catalina.

Update for the family and friends who track our outings...

We had a nice Memorial Day Trip out to Catalina. It was waylaid by bad weather and we delayed the beginning a hole day to allow the water and weather to calm down. This was a very good thing. As there were several boats that got part way and turned back after fighting a headwind and rough seas for hour or two and seeing much more before them.

Family and vacation trips need to be "fair weather' events to be worth it. A few nasty and seasick crossings will take the joy out of it. By the time we did go we had a nice crossing. With only a few gray clouds. As we neared the island the sad event of the helicopter crash at two harbors took place. We were about 10 miles from the west end when there was a radio call from another boater to Coast Guard to report the helicopter down. Odd part was that the Coast Guard could not get hold of the fact that the event was on shore and then tell the lady to stop broadcasting. So finally got the lady to use her cell phone to call in and clear up the communications problem.

Would have been much better if she had called on Channel 9 to Harbor Patrol. But they were already Johny on the Spot with the local volunteer firemen and the sheriff. Thankfully a retired airline stewardess was close by and ran to the scene and helped to pull the survivors out and away from the fire. Tragic loss of life. Well covered in the news I hear. Three killed on impact. 3 survived and med-evac'ed out before we made it to Cat Harbor.

The Weather got better and better as the weekend progressed. We played ball on the dirt field and goofed around the boat on the Kayak and with the new Dinghy. Ryan was out with the older boys and the high speed toys. Thomas and his guest Hunter did all the fun kid stuff. Swim, play, play baseball, skip stones, eat candy and sodas. Good Stuff.

We tried out the new Dinghy. New design from West Marine was very stable. It has an Inflatable floor. Very cool. And fully deflates for take down and storage. Cool.

Mom and Dad did a good job of having a nice time. While Trisha went for a mountain bike ride I did manage to get out and fish a little. Thanks to Uncle Carl giving me a bucket of bait I was able to get us hooked up to a very lovely 22 inch Calico Bass. Fish Wish Granted.

And latter that night we all went over to the Reef for some dancing under the stars. Hoot! Really fun. Thomas (11) was braggin' to Hunter that he danced with an 18 year old. Memories of Catalina are like that.

The ride home seemed to have the best seas of all my crossings. So I ran at a nice speed of 16 to 17 knots. That reduced the rock and roll a little for Trish as we were faster than the corner swells that push up on the stern and give the boat an annoying off centerline push. Trisha does not like the roll when it gets to be that big.

But all and all a very nice Family vacation.

Keith <"><

Neighborhood Associations and Community/Neighborhood Councils

I believe that Community starts at the most local level.

• Caring about the neighbors;
• taking care of a Cat or Dog while they are away.
• helping out in some small way like rolling in the trash cans.
• About all the folks on your street;
• becoming a Block Captain.
• going out front to look when a car or house alarm goes off.
• participating in (or running) a Block Party
• Blocks around your home;
• joining in to better a local elementary school.
• joining in a Neighborhood Association. (ie Ven-MarNA)
• Helping your community at large;
• participating in the local city government agencies...
• local councils for Venice or Mar Vista.
• helping in the homeless programs.
• City wide;
• CD 11 - Bill Rosendahl's office
  and the upcoming city elections or re-election campaigns etc.
• or with party politics on a County or State level.

PURPOSE OF NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS
by the CITY CHARTER voted into Law 1999 by the City Council:
"To promote more citizen participation in government and make government more responsive to local needs, a citywide system of neighborhood councils, and a Department of Neighborhood Empowerment is created. Neighborhood councils shall include representatives of the many diverse interests in communities and shall have an advisory role on issues of concern to the neighborhood."

I have filed for re-election as the Zone 6 Director of Mar Vista Community Council. I have diligently attended the board meetings and been a participant of many of the committee meetings of the board. This does not leave a lot of time left over to be a leader in the Ven-Mar NA organization but I will continue to be a big booster for the group. I have set up the web sites and started (its') message board. I have been the editor for the last two newsletters.

I urge all of you to participate as you can at all of the local levels you can. That is what makes a community like ours extra special and a rewarding part of living here in Mar Vista. Most of you are Stakeholders in Venice or Mar Vista. Please come out and vote when that election comes up.

Sincerely, Your Neighbor,

Keith Lambert
Zone 6 Director for MVCC

As posted on http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VenMar/

Boat is ready for 2008

Keith and Trish are ready to ramble about on the boat Ramblin'

Fish Wish granted... The boat is "done"
That is finished being painted for now.

A boat is never finished. Always some things on the list of the fixes or fix up or something in need of service. But the paint job is looking great!

We are so looking forward to Memorial Day weekend and a nice family boating trip.

Peace and Calm seas to all of you.

Calamari on the dinner table.

Giant Squid. AKA Humboldt Squid AKA the Scourge of the West Coast.
“If you don’t eat them now, they may be the only coastal fishery left.”

If you go out on some of the California sport boats and get into these big guys... No Release. Bring home Calamari Steaks for all your friends and neighbors!



http://www.kqed.org/quest/television/view/774

Hit the Link to watch the video full size. Listen for the conclusion line.

KL. <”><

PS comment and share your recipe.

boating joke

Late one foggy night two boaters collide head on while trying to
navigate a narrow inlet channel. Both their boats were damaged,
disabled and slowly sinking.

As they each watched their boats slowly slip away beneath them, the
first boater said " You know, this is a sign that we should never take
life for granted and that we should live it to the fullest".

"You are right," said the other boater as he opened a cooler and
pulled out a bottle of bourbon whisky. Let's drink to living well for
the rest of our lives.

The first boater took the bottle and, after a big swig, handed it back
to the other boater who in turn quickly threw it into the river.

More than a little surprised the first boater exclaimed " You didn't
take a drink!?"

"Naw", said the other boater "I think I'll just wait for the Coast
Guard to show up."




There are more jokes on the MDRAnglers.com web site. I added a few Navy ones near the bottom.