Deadliest Catch Premier, Tonight!

Trust me, I am not the Deadliest Fan, or even the Deadliest Groupie. Although I met several people that might qualify this weekend. I just like the show. A lot! And it's on tonight! Woot!

Here's my favorite pic from Catchcon...

Usually, I can't get within 20 feet of a smoker without the lungs bailing on me. While I was fully prepared to hold my breath, I didn't get even a whiff of Edgar's smoke. I did get a hug, though. Hi Norm! Hi Matt!

*giddy*

I may be a Deadliest Geek!

AG out!

Catchcon 2011

So this year, I set up my iphone to get the alert when Catchcon opened for reservations. And it worked so well, that I signed TOG up for a ticket as well! While he likes the show, he's not quite the fan that I am! Well, at least he wasn't until Saturday! The pic above is the cardboard cut out they have when you walk in. Discovery channel takes your picture for free and processes it in black and white and then you can snag it on line the next day! Don't we look salty?

We both enjoyed the boat tours. This is onboard the Wizard. I'm standing next to the coiler!

Here's TOG aboard the Northwestern with Matt, Norm and Edgar!

One of the best things though is meeting the Captains and the crews out on the dock after the relay races and before the crew panel. This is Captain Elliott who is not famous yet, but will be. He's one of the new captains this year and is very cocky. We'll see how he does!

This is Captain Scott of the Seabrooke! We had a few moments to talk about Alaska and how he likes it and how I was raised there and now live here. I think he doesn't quite get how close Seattle is to all the good stuff, like fishing and mountains! Anyway, he was great to talk with and I'm going to be rooting for the Seabrooke this season! Keep your eye on this guy!

I finally got to meet Wild Bill who is quite tall! I was not surprised to look down and find him with flip flops on! He is definitely a warm weather dude! And very cuddly!

I got to meet Captain Keith again who I think totally gets a bad rap on the show. During the deckhand panel, they all agreed that you have to be an ass to be in the wheelhouse. I think the show has shown a lot of Keith's warm side as well. And he has a great smile!

And I finally got to meet Mike Fourtner who is even taller than Wild Bill! Last year, I saw him let Wild Bill in when he arrived late to Catchcon... Mike gave him a bad time about being on Cancun time!

Just like last year, I could not get close to anyone with the last name of Hillstrand.

It was a fun day and I was really glad TOG enjoyed himself as much as I did! It's not every day you get to meet people you really admire. I have to admit that being raised in Alaska and meeting my dad's friends and hunting companions, I knew a lot of guys like these, salty language, uncomplaining, intolerant of slackers. They really resonate with me. For me, it's why the show works so well!

And much thanks to Discovery Channel for putting on Catchcon. Making the show so accessible to the fans is just an excellent thing to do!

In other news...

I had a power surge in my office last week. It blew the hard drive on my work computer, the network adapters on my laptop and the internal workings of my router. Good times!

I still have half a box of lemons left!

This is how Chihuahuas help when you are shampooing carpets. Thanks for sitting quietly in the chair ladies!

What's up in your life?

AG out!

PS ~ Did I mention I'm going to Catch Con 2011!!!

Deadliest Catch Debacle

Three of the five captains above, have quit the show over a contract dispute. Andy and Jonathon Hillstrand are in the actual dispute with Discovery and Sig Hansen left in a show of solidarity.

With only two weeks left until the start of crabbing season there are only a few things I'm sure of:

1. There's more to the story than what is being said.

2. Things will likely change rapidly over the next couple weeks... either in renegotiation/settlement with the existing captains, or in rapid recruitment of new captains to fill out the show. And that's assuming Wild Bill and Captain Keith don't walk too.

3. It's unlikely Discovery would close the show as it is their show with the greatest revenue.

4. Without giving any details, Edgar Hansen posted on facebook that they needed everyone's support right now and

No matter what direction this goes, I figure it's going to be a wild ride.

Hang on!

AG out!

Tap, tap...yawn

Good morning...

I'm tired. Feeding two people and bathing two people and medicating two people... well, like I said before, only one person gets well taken care of, and it's not me. But I'm on schedule with all of K3's meds and cleaning. Myself, not so much.

Today is her follow up appt with the surgeon. Hopefully, she's well on the mend.

In the meantime, I'm putting in weird hours at my job, not visiting other people's blogs and sleeping sporadically.

And watching Deadliest Catch! 'Cause that's a must!

Picture taken at CatchCon 2010.

Yawn...

AG out!

CatchCon 2010 - Deadlist Catch ala Seattle!

What a busy weekend! Here's my CatchCon experience... I'll start off with two words:

Amazing!

Lines!

On one hand it was the dream experience... the captains are here, the boats are here, there's fun and games and this air of excitement that everyone feels...

And then there's the lines... a good 45 minutes to get in the door and register, an hour and a half wait to get on the Wizard and Northwestern. Lines for food, not enough seating for the panel discussions. I think because they had so few people last year, they didn't anticipate the crowd this year. There folks from all over the US and overseas there.

There was also a bit of chaos (thankfully). The rules for captain's autographs at the end of the day were: you could choose one captain and get one item autographed. So much for my hope of getting an item autographed by each of them to auction off at my agency's auction this year... And the thought of standing in those lines made my think I would just take off early and go home to K3. Then, after the captain's panel, all the captains were out on the pier and frankly... they were mobbed, politely mobbed. People were getting pictures, autographs, hugs... And I participated. I desperately wanted to be there, and I desperately wanted to get home and be with K3. So I took advantage of the opportunity...! here's my photo odyssey!

The captain's panel was awesome! Thank goodness for my 24-300 lens because I assure you, I was all the way in the back! The captains were unedited, salty and hilarious...

Just like I hoped they would be... They had fantastic stories about Cap'n Phil and each other and the pranks that never make the show. Totally entertaining!

Afterwards, I went outside and waited for my shot at a boat tour...

This is out on the pier... the space needle looks to be the same height as the mast from the Wizard (left), but it's much taller!

And this is where I was able to get two ladies from Oregon to save my place in line while I photo stalked captains and crew...!

Captain Keith... who was taller than I thought!

Jake from the Northwestern, who was thinner than I thought, and really nice!

Captain Sig!!!!!

And then... you get to the front of the line and onto the boats. It's surreal because you see these boats on the show with waves coming over the deck and ice all over them... did you know it takes like $80,000 in fuel to bring them down to Seattle?

Anyway... suddenly, there you are standing on the deck! And they have deckhands there waiting to have their picture taken with you! And you feel like you know them because you've been watching them forever! They also had helpers on the boats that you just hand your camera to and then you walk up and get your picture taken...

So here I am on the Wizard!

I did not know Paul, on the left... but I remember when Lynn, on the right was a greenhorn, maybe two seasons ago. And now I'm standing there getting my picture taken with him....!

On to the Northwestern, where I totally geeked out. Do not scroll down unless you're okay with that!

You've been warned!

I felt like I was gonna pop! Here I am ON THE NORTHWESTERN!!!! Standing between Nick and Matt!

When I saw Nick (on the right) I just blurted out "Oh my gosh, it's really you!" and hugged him! Poor guy. And Matt must have thought I was a loser because I couldn't even look at him!

Thankfully, when the lady taking the shot said I looked like an idiot (paraphrasing), Nick said it was cool to take one where I was actually able to compose myself...

Thusly!

So there you have it! A pretty cool experience all in all! I'm really glad I went! The Discovery channel crew and the captains and the deck hands were awesome! And in case you're interested, they had the best iced tea ever there. The cookies were pretty good too!

AG out!

Crabs, Bones and CatchCon

K3 is doing better today. She vomited blood again last night... it seems to be inevitable after each surgery when it drains down her throat. But she slept well afterwards and seems to be a little livelier this morning.

The surgeon was not able to put the newest implant where he wanted it and had to put it one tooth socket over. When he pulled back her gums, the bone in the spot he wanted lacked integrity and so he did another graft next to the implant with donor tissue and membrane. We will see what the dentist says about constructing the teeth on top of the implant or if we'll have to consider future implants where the bone graft is now. I think we're all ready to be done with this process... but particularly K3.

Catch Con is later today and I'm kind of excited and kind of dreading leaving K3 and kind of hoping it's as cool as can be. I was emailing with my Aunt (Hi AC!) yesterday and she reminded me that my cousin, AC's oldest son, had survived the sinking of the crab boat he was working on. That would have been back in about 1984...? Unfortunately, he did not survive a motorcycle accident a year later which broke everyone's heart. He was one of those super charismatic people that had that little extra gleam in his eye and a zest for life. He was very vivid and I remember him fondly...

Anyway... I'll be thinking about him at CatchCon today. And K3... And taking lots of pictures! (and loading up on extra asthma meds just in case!)

Have a great weekend!

AG out!

CatchCon! Oh Baby!

The guesses yesterday were excellent! So I'm spilling!

Yes, I'm a huge fan of Deadliest Catch and have been for years. It brings back many memories of Alaska... partly because of the weather, and partly because my dad hung out with guys like this when he was an assistant hunting guide in his spare time. And then there's my dad; very much a "suck it up and get the job done" kind of guy. I still have the mental scars from helping him process moose and other semi edible critters!

Anyway... back to Deadliest Catch. Last year they started this event called CatchCon (Catch Conference).

It's here is Seattle where most of boats live in the off season. Last year, I thought anyone could go. But no. They limit the number of spaces so that everyone can experience all phases of the glory that is CatchCon. I so wanted to go... but didn't get to because it was full by the time I figured out I had to have an invitation.

This year, I was ready. I joined the fan club, the facebook page, upgraded my greenhorn credentials. I knew they were going to open the registration soon. Unfortunately, they did it during one of my meetings at work. It filled up in mere minutes. I got back to my desk and realized I was a two time loser.

I was very sad.

Then, about a week later, out of nowhere, I got a text on my phone from Discovery Channel. Space available... did I still want to go?

Um...yeah! I got back to them so fast there was smoke coming off the Blackberry!

Baby! I'm going to CatchCon!!!!

I get to meet the captains, and get autographs, and go on the boats, and take pictures.... Woo Hoo!!!!

I'm going to CatchCon!

And then... wanh wanh wah (music of doom).... I realized that it was the day after K3's surgery. I've never left her after a surgery. Euphoria turned to guilt and despair. I came home and told K2 and K3 my great news... and sad ending.

K2 is hoping, I'm hoping... that she doesn't have to work Saturday afternoon and she can sit with K3 so I can go to CatchCon for a few hours.

And my little K3?

"Mom, I'll be totally wiped out on pain meds. I'll probably sleep the whole time you're gone. You have to go to CatchCon!"

Is that a sweet kid, or what?

Baby... it looks like I'm going to CatchCon! (maybe)

AG out!

This and That Thursday

• My boss has been gone all week and it's blessedly quiet at work
• I think I may need a new pair of shoes, but I'm not sure
• I find the news more and more depressing to watch
• Ann Coulter makes me crazy
• I really need new tires for my car
• My MarioKart skills are improving (barely)
• I'm totally digging the kids being home from Arizona
• They brought lemons, tangerines and grapefruit back with them
• Mmmm, lemon cake!
• The new Photoshop looks much different than the one I'm barely functional on...
• iMom is coming over tonight for hair color and a nice chat! (this time for sure!)
• My house is a disaster!
• Deadliest Catch "CatchCon" event is coming up again. I'd love to score tickets!
• I've got the whole love/hate relationship going on with my hair

And now to go get ready for work...

What's on your list today?

You're soaking in it

Thanks to the probiotics my friend KT at work recommended, I am keeping one of the antibiotics down. The lab work came back and the infection is indeed MRSA. It is sensitive to the antibiotic I'm currently taking.

Unfortunately, Dr. M (who calls daily to check on me) believes there is still a pocket of infection. After several conversations, I believe he subscribes to the school of thought "Load your weapons! If it won't surrender, we're going in after it!" This is a very new and unattractive side to his character.

On the other hand, TOG says I should let him Ginsu my arm if that would resolve the issue. I suppose it's a better option than letting the MRSA go all medieval on me... but still...

I want to believe the antibiotics will work, but most of all, I would like my arm back. Hot packing it all weekend leaves a lot to be desired.

Off to boil my clothes and bleach the washing machine.

AG out!

PS~ Thank goodness I have the Olympics to distract me! Who would have thought the US would do so well... Um, Baroness? Sorry about the hockey thing. It was an accident.

PPS~ Deadliest Catch marathon anyone? RIP Captain Phil!