Stories from 1st Mate
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Rant of a (former) slave to fashion
1st Mate &bull Yesterday
Sometimes I feel like I was dropped here from another planet, or I'm lacking in some ultra female gene. At 10, I had a dream of being a fashion designer, fired by a vision of creating a counter-trend that would give women permission to be comfortable in their clothes. Then I… Full Story »
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Topics:
- Mexico
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Cachorritos del dia
1st Mate &bull Aug 28, 2010
Eight puppies are swarming all over the yard where our friend Miguel has his workshop and storage rental, the offspring of his guard dog Wendy. It's the one drawback to having a female guard dog, unless she gets neutered, which… Full Story »
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Topics:
- Germany
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Watching out for bad words
1st Mate &bull Aug 28, 2010
One of the things I love about learning Spanish: a whole new world of words. I collect words like a little kid collects shiny new marbles. But as I delve further into the language in my current classes with Loli… Full Story »
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Whither Frank?
1st Mate &bull Aug 26, 2010
Just as the summer doldrums become almost unbearable, it's time for our annual Storm Vigil. Let's have a big hand for Hurricane Frank. Three hundred thirty-one miles due south of Cabo San Lucas, Frank is spinning its way north/northwest, creeping… Full Story »
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Night moves
1st Mate &bull Aug 25, 2010
Last night the Capt spotted a couple of coatimundis racing through the parking lot, and my first reaction was a resolution not to let the dogs out at night without a chaperone anymore. I've seen skunks here a few times… Full Story »
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Topics:
- Race
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Poodle del dia
1st Mate &bull Aug 24, 2010
Kristin at San Carlos Canine Center, affectionately known as Wagmore, has collected yet another foundling dog looking for a good home. This one's a white French poodle, a very small full-grown female with a shy but sweet disposition, though protective… Full Story »
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Topics:
- France
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A touch of cabin fever
1st Mate &bull Aug 23, 2010
In summertime, our world tends to shrink down to four walls. It's the busiest season for our publishing business, and much of August and September we'll be bonded to our computers and the telephone, not all that eager to go… Full Story »
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Bugs and the Blue Flash
1st Mate &bull Aug 21, 2010
I was up at 4:15 this morning, reading the New York Times, cooking lentils and white bean soup. This time of year, when skies are overcast and hinting at rain, there's a fleeting moment before dawn when the whole world… Full Story »
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Whatever floats your boat
1st Mate &bull Aug 18, 2010
One of the high points of my week is the Tuesday Spanish conversation class with Lolita. It can only be called a class because she gently corrects us if we stray from proper grammar, and fills in the gaps when… Full Story »
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In the early morning rain
1st Mate &bull Aug 16, 2010
We've been having biblical skies this weekend, promising a good drenching, but not really delivering much. A couple of cloudbursts, some sprinkles. We're waiting with fingers crossed for the first real deluge, since the bricklayer who did the work on… Full Story »
