Captain's Orders
Yeoman First Rivrdog here. I just spoke with Cap'n Jim, and he has orders...
He passes his sincere thanks to all who've been asking about him, but his situation is unchanged: he's holed up safely up NW of Houston, with no phone, internet, TV or electricity. He has a battery-powered radio, and can get the newsradio on AM out of Houston.
The Cap'n believes that he still has a boat afloat in Galveston Bay. He is VERY encouraged by that prospect, but he is a realist: there are as many as 3 million people that fled Houston and Galveston between him and the Sloop New Dawn. He knows that he won't be going back aboard ship for a few days.
In the meantime, he hopes to scoot over a few miles to a house he knows where they have telephone service, and get on the dial-up and blog some.
In the meantime, the Cap'n posts these Orders:
Don't call him on his cell phone. He is on an austerity program at the moment, being on a leave of absence from work, and can't hack the $1.40/minute for calling. He will do all his communicating through his Yeoman (me).
So, pass along the words you want sent in the comments, and I will write a short list of very short messages and pass them to the Cap'n on the occasion of the very short call I have with him couple times a day.
That is all.
For the Cap'n,
Rivrdog, listening, out.
Trying to find out how my favorite Galveston barque is doing. Anyone know how Elissa has fared through all this?
schoonerbillofrights.blogspot.com
Posted by: Kim Carver | September 24, 2005 at 08:58 PM
Just this:
Relieved you and critters OK.
Excited and hopeful for New Dawn possibilities.
Paul
Posted by: Light & Dark | September 24, 2005 at 11:20 PM
Thankyou for the update Riverdog
Posted by: Tammy | September 24, 2005 at 11:26 PM
RD,
Drop me an email and I'll send you some pre-paid calling card codes for him to use for the short-haul. I pickup these cards at Costco and it only comes out to about 4 cents a minute. He can use them at payphones (if they work), but they put a 30 cent surcharge on payphone calls, and/or cell phones for regular price. The number you call is an 800 number, so you don't have to put any money in payphones to make the call.
I'll give him my current card (700 minutes) which I've already started using - I still have well over 600 minutes available. The card was only $20, so I'm not worried about it. I'd rather have him able to reach those he needs to without worrying about the cost.
Since I don't know what email addresses you'll be sending me (and since I'm posting this on a public forum), please contact me through either thenationofriflemen.com or bootandsabers.com.
Thanks!
Mike
Posted by: 308Mike | September 24, 2005 at 11:44 PM
Glad the storm wasn't as bad as expected and Jim likely has New Dawn to come home to. Will keep him and New Dawn in our prayers.
Posted by: Aquila | September 25, 2005 at 03:40 AM
It seems our prayers and thoughts have paid off, glad you are well and safe. Thinking of you and the felines. Love Charlie
Posted by: Charlie | September 25, 2005 at 07:31 AM
308Mike: very generous offer for the Cap'n, and I'll pass it along later this am when I try to contact him, but can those codes really be used to RECEIVE incoming calls on a cellphone?
Will contact you on B&S. I'm Rivrdog there also.
Posted by: Rivrdog | September 25, 2005 at 08:16 AM
Kim Carver:
Don't know about the barque. When I tried to bring up the website, their server was down.
But, the ship predates frail computers, and undoubtedly survived worse than Rita with canvas on her spars, so I'd be hopeful.
Posted by: Rivrdog | September 25, 2005 at 08:21 AM
I got nothing much to say except, thanks, Lord.It looks as if we've dodged a big one.
Here in Hunt County, Texas, we barely caught the edge of the rain.
Posted by: Peter | September 25, 2005 at 09:27 AM
Thanks Yeoman RD for the update. Perhaps we can help Jim by sending some $$ through the paypal link too. Tell him that he, the furry ones and the Dawn are in my thoughts and we are here to help in whatever way we can in the refit.
Posted by: MK | September 25, 2005 at 11:06 AM
RD,
Regarding the incoming cell calls, nope. That all depends on his mobile plan. But he can use them from pay phones or even where he's staying without costing either of them any money. Depending on how long the pay phones have been at a location, their wires might be unaffected by a general outage. Most of the newer residential phones plug into the wall, older phones get their power right from the phone company circuit, which is why you might still have phone service even during a power outage (if you have an older phone).
Mike
Posted by: 308Mike | September 25, 2005 at 12:10 PM
So glad everything is ok!
Posted by: livey | September 25, 2005 at 09:32 PM