Journal #2/ 10-17-02

Just got done feedin' about a million ducks at a water canal in Venice. We stayed up 'till about 6:00 in the mornin' & then crashed on Venice beach. We got up at about 9:30 or so. It sucked puttin' my bike together last night when we got here (not that I did any of the work)- but then we biked a little & ended up just comin' back & takin' a bus over here. We got off as soon as Brett noticed the library. The one he always went to.Then we biked to the beach, & then biked to a 24 hr grocery. We got some food & as we sat eating it, this guy gave us 10 bucks. He said he & his girl have "been there". He was real nice. (We also met a man on the train, he called himself T.R. He was a funny guy w/tons of stories. He gave us 6 bucks for food & an envelope w/his address & stamps to mail him the money back!) Then we biked around the marinas. SO beautiful! We found Augustino's boat! We sat by the marina Brett & Kit lived at w/their boat & talked about- well, first he reminisced for a while- & then we talked about all the **** we could do. Gettin' a sailboat, jobs, livin' on it, gettin' Runty out here, buyin' Inka (The female Rottweiler I had wanted at the time). My mom visiting. I hadn't seen much of the place & it was night & my first impression was that I loved it. It was a good first night here. This mornin' we signed up for a free meal tomorrow & we're goin' over to the library soon.

I emailed my mom 'cause she emailed me from a friend's computer. We went to the Marina Del Rey library instead & while I was lookin' at Andy Warhol books, & we were both waiting for the computer, I guess Brett overheard 2 men talkin' about a guy that's moving & needs to sell his sailboat immediately $2,000 or less. It's a 32' & so we went to go look at it- not talkin' to the guy yet- & it's huge! & beautiful. We're both ecstatic. (The picture to the right is what it looked like when we first saw it. Although it was basically used as storage for lots of garbage, we saw the beautiful boat it used to be...& wished to be again) Now we're at the showers by the marina. Brett remembered the code & he's takin' his shower now. I'll take mine next if the code is the same for the women's. We have to try & look our best & go some how find that man & talk to him. I'm worried we won't find him. Then- I have to call my mom. I have to tell her about it & ask to have the $600.00 that's in my/her credit union wired to me. We can safely offer this guy $1,600.00 & still have money for 1 month's rent. But we'll both have to get jobs right away & geez! This is happening way too fast! It's so good though. I keep remembering now & again that I'm hungry. We haven't eaten anything, but half a sandwich each this mornin'. I NEED COFFEE! Oh- & we don't even know if we can have a slip ( a place to "park" the boat) here, 'cause we're not residents. & who knows if that costs more!? All I do know is that I prayed, & I know that whatever happens, happens for the best. I just wish I knew what's supposed to happen!

We went back over to the boat & Brett talked to the man. He stepped out & I smiled. He was a big man, dark hair, Hawaiian-print shirt not buttoned up all the way, slacks, no shoes, & stogie in hand. Looked like he was in the mafia. Anyway, I'm gonna' try & make this real short- we don't have enough. The guy wants $2,000. But we could still offer him $1,600.00. We have to make sure the boat can stay in the slip, or I dunno' what. The engine's shot. So that sucks real bad & a lot of people are lookin' at it right now. Some kid was there while we were & he was waitin' to look at the boat. We left & ate & talked about what to do. The slip costs 320/400 or somethin', & we'd need insurance & a month's rent. The guy- Don- said if we come tomorrow & give him 1,000, he'll sign it over to us. We'd mail him the rest. Then we went over to Augustino's boat again & I watched Brett walk down & over & he was soon in the boat. I smiled & laughed to myself, imagining Augustino bein' like, "Come on in!" & he was. Brett came right back up to get me & we brought all our **** down & Aug. made us Chai green tea & fed us dates. We talked to him about the boat & he gave us some info. Now- our second day here- we're sleeping in a sailboat! It's one Aug. sold to a friend & it's across from his. The friend won't be here tonight. Aug. even offered to make a duplicate of the key if we need to sleep here more than one night. Of course, we won't let that happen. (We did) We want this boat so bad! I wish it could just work out. It's an amazing deal. Goodnight.