Thread: It's Like Shuffling a Deck of Cards

Originally Posted by icedog

Progress report:

I passed the course with flying colors. I am now USCG certified Lifeboatman. The next course, Able Seaman begins October 5th.

I was the oldest one in the class.

Congratulations!

That last sentence probably explains the first.

When I was teaching German at university, my most successful students were, without exception, the "non-traditional" students, i.e. people who knew what they wanted and were working to get it themselves. Kids these days!

JimR beat me to it, Congrats Brad and God Bless! Go out there and kick it in the ass!

congratulations!

My dear Brad,

Losing that job might have been the best thing that happened to you professionally.

Because now you can follow your heart.

So sail. Sail away.

And thank life for sending you a gift.

Regards,

Obie

Thanks everyone! Really, thank you for the kind words of support.

I doubt I will ever be retiring. The way I see it, if I will have to work until I die, I'd rather die at sea than in a cubicle or stocking the shelves at Home Depot.

Originally Posted by icedog

So tomorrow morning at 0830 I start my first class at SUNY Maritime College. It will be the first time in a couple years I have a reason to even get out of bed in the morning. I doubt I will get any sleep tonight.

I wonder why I would post this.

What time did you get up to shave?


Congrats on the new vocation!

The school is in Fort Schuyler, a Civil War fort that was abandoned in 1870. It is directly beneath the THroggs Neck Bridge: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Schuyler,_Bronx
It is an awesome place. It is open to the public. If you like museums with alot of ship models, this is the most impressive I've seen.

I can make it from home to the fort in just about an hour.

Aside from the subject material, I learned alot of great stuff about the huge granite fortress. for instance, all th granite stone of which the fort is constructed came from Connecticut.

Here's a question some of you military history buffs may be able to answer(When the instructor asked my class, I got it right).

Question: The second level is accessible only by a number of beautiful spiral stone (of course) staircases. The spirals are all clockwise, that is they lead up to the left as you go from ground to second level. Why?

They are swirled that direction in order to place at a disadvantage attacking swordsmen who were most often right-handed when they are coming up the stairs, as their swords are more likely to be hampered by the central column.














(I cheated and had to look up that information! But quite interesting!)

Originally Posted by Seraphim

They are swirled that direction in order to place at a disadvantage attacking swordsmen who were most often right-handed when they are coming up the stairs, as their swords are more likely to be hampered by the central column.
(I cheated and had to look up that information! But quite interesting!)

Well you found the correct answer. I brought Scarlett there last Sunday to walk around. I demonstrated the effectiveness of the clockwise spiral. Fort Schuyler is pentagonal in shape and subsequently the model for the Pentagon. I will be back for the next class beginning October 5th. If anyone would like to meet me there I'd be honored to buy you dinner at the Mess Deck.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Did you look into going to the merchant Marine Academy? If you want to be capt. on a large vessel that's the easiest way. Trying to work your way up is a long haul. If you want to be a master on a small boat like a tug or tow vessel I guess that might be the best bet for you as its easier. Mostly experience and tests for that. Good luck.

A close friend of mine chose the academy path here in the UK , he;'s about 33ish now , I look at him and the places he's travelled to and wish I'd chose another career :-)

I wish you aw the best for your new career .


cheers Garry