Our bad influences, the reason for the madness, are still out doing and exploring and it makes Ryan and I very happy to see them still “cruising”, it gives us hope, goals, and inspiration. When we grow up we wanna be like you! After receiving a nice long email equipped with beautiful pictures I have been inspired to give an ode to an ode.
When asked ‘How did two people from OKLAHOMA?! end up here?’ we always reply ‘Our friends crazy parents convinced us we could.’
Thanks guys! We love you!
So here is an update on us. It is not action packed or real interesting but it is our lives as we know them right now.
Ryan has moved jobs. Which doesn’t mean much has changed but with the new job he has his “own” boat and crew. He now leaves from the East end of the island and visits St. John daily instead of Buck Island. He was sad to leave his ferry boat but is glad to have done it for the reasons he did. He currently still works “The Cat” on the weekends and fills in when his other schedule permits. I believe him to be a bit of a workaholic but as long as he still enjoys the job I will keep silent. 
(Really I want him to take days off so that I 
have a playmate, but <sigh> I will have to continue to bribe others until he sees the light.) So really nothing much has changed in the world of Ryan The fact that he has a different crew shirt and has to leave the boat earlier in the morning to get to work are the biggest differences. He fact that he loves his job and loves the work are still the same.
Sissy is much the same, she is still the spoiled smelly little gremlin that you last saw. 
A little older, a little chubbier, and a little more set in her ways. (Much like her parents. 
) She still enjoys the beach and a swim in the mornings which works out great for Ryan and I when we are in a hurry and in our work clothes <another sigh>. But the things we do for our hairy companions. When not on the beach 
Sis prefers to be on the boat, we go ‘to town’ some evenings for a beer and visit with friends and she whines and pulls and wants to go back to the dinghy, I guess she is a true salty dog.
Me? I have put the brakes on working seven days a week. I woke up tired and cranky and in a rush for work one day (okay so it was more like a month) and decided ‘Rain on this, I’m in Paradise!’ so I now work about 3 days a week at my job with the Tour Company/Ferry and spend the other days painting and reading. Okay so maybe I spend a larger part cleaning, doing laundry, grocery shopping, running errands, taking the dog for walks on the beach, taking naps, playing on the internet and well playing in general. But I have finished a couple paintings, put pictures into a gallery in Oklahoma, got more pictures ready, made jewelry for said gallery and today I wrote this. I would say progress has been made! Oh yeah and I guess the biggest news and most time consuming project was acquiring 
my 100 ton master mariner license. I am now a legal menace on the water. I have one last endorsement to get and have classes next week. I currently don’t have any plans for my license and mainly went to classes for the knowledge but I have had several offers for part time work and fill in jobs once season gets into full swing.
And that my friends is a summary of our lives. Hurricane season is coming to an end and we are thankful that it was a relatively quiet one without any danger to us. We are excited to see some boats that we know returning to the harbor and hope to catch up with some of you soon.
Missing you all back home and sending happy thoughts and love to each of you this approaching holiday season.
