It's ME again! Yeah, I know, I've missed 2 days. Of course it was the weekend so I guess I'm allowed, especially since I'm on vacation anyway.

I've been playing with my wireless internet connection. That's, of course, what I use on the boat. The other day, I purchased a new phone and. . . . ., What a difference! The new phone is capable of using 1xrtt signal, ev-do, whatever that is. Downloading pages that I haven't downloaded in months, (means-no cookies from those pages left on my hardrive), and it's almost as fast as DSL. I'm ecstatic. I'll be able to do all the things that I want and "need" to do while I'm at work. I'm SO happy.

So, I'm going to go back to my playing around with all this electronics. There's nothing really happening anyway, so I don't have anything to tell you. I'm going to have a camera, and whatever needed to send pictures while I'm at work. I bet your just drooling with anticipation!

Later gator,

Doug

Now, this is day 2 of my blogging endeavors. It's taken me a big share of the last 24 hours just trying to get this site "up to snuff". Getting my site up and running, verifying to Google that I am indeed the owner, and submitting the "sitemap" and just trying to learn the nuts and bolts about having this blog page is NO simple thing. I would have never believed that it could be so difficult. But, of course, my tech education is ZILCH, to put it mildly.

The snow's flying, as they say here in the Midwest, and it doesn't look like it's going to let up till maybe next March, or so. Hopefully we'll get what we call an Indian Summer here though, before the Winter sets in for real. I was reminded today, while I was shoveling snow off the porch, and doing whatever it is we do around here to get ready for the Winter, that I would need to pack my "cold weather gear" when I get ready to catch the boat in a couple of weeks.

13Oct06 @ 1740

So, Now I've spent the whole day trying to figure out how to add a "sitemap" to my blog page. The sitemap is so Google can index the site and hopefully it would turn up in a keyword search. Guess what? I still haven't been able to add the sitemap. Talk about frustrating. What really gets ya is that some young kid could have probably done it in about 30 seconds!

But, I did add a telephone "book" to the site so that all my sailor buddies won't have to spend money on long distance information. Of course, they're going to have to be able to get online to access the "phone book", but, I can't provide everything.

It's been an interesting day, if you want to call it that. I've accomplished almost nothing with this Blog site. And, only 13 more days and I'll have to go back to work. But, I can get online very well on the boat and so I'll be able to keep you posted, and maybe take some "far-out" boat nerd type pictures that should keep some people interested in my Blog.

Time to get something to eat . . . . . . .

Hi,

My name is Douglas La Londe. I'm a Marine Pilot with American Steamship Company in Buffalo, NY. ASC, (American Steamship Company), is the largest US fleet operating on the Great Lakes. I've been working with this Company for 12 years "on a license", and considerably longer "unlicensed".

The intention I have in creating this Blog is to comment and report things I see, and hear, and do, while I'm at work, especially for the "fans" of Great Lakes Shipping, better known as the "Boat Nerds".

I will have pictures, on interesting scenes, including, (of course), Great Lakes vessels that others wouldn't be able to take, considering my vantage point as a working Pilot aboard a Great Lakes vessel.

Of course, I've never attempted this before, so bare with me, and I will try my utmost to do the best that I can.

I will also have poetry by Beverly La Londe that she has written especially for Great Lakes shipping and seaman. I may also present other poems by her and some other talented people in my family, namely, my wife Linda L. La Londe, and sister, Rene Butterfield.

Often times, I will advertise merchandise, especially shirts, jackets, sweaters, etc., that have been created with Great Lakes Vessel scenes on them, which my Dad Theodore H. La Londe first started making while he was a Pilot with American Steamship Company.

This should all prove very interesting and I hope that you will enjoy, and follow my Blog on a daily basis.

Until tomorrow, or when I can come up with another idea, (whichever comes first), I'm wishing you a GREAT day, and may God bless,

Yours,

Douglas La Londe
1st Mate,
M/V Indiana Harbor