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Growing up, my Grandfather had three pieces of advice that echoed in my ears from the time I was 5 years old until his death 2 years ago. 

1. Marry a good Catholic girl.

2. Join the Knights of Columbus.

3. Drive on the right hand side of the road.

Two of these wishes, I have completely ignored.  The third, i try to do my best with.  However, the second is the subject of which this blog addresses.  Grandpa was very proud to be a fourth degree Knight and wanted dearly for his children and grandchildren to be involved with and support the organization. 

Well, i found my way to fulfill this wish.... sort of.

The first friday of every month at 7:30pm, the local Knights of Columbus (1912 Winnie) hosts a Texas Holdem poker tournament.  It is $25 to enter and pizza and beer (tips encouraged) is supplied for free.  So September 3rd, if you're not busy (and not scared), I'll see you at the Knights of Columbus!

Summer is here.  Kids are out of school and into who knows what.  Well, here's a program that can teach them a skill that we'd all like to have.  Surfing dates back 100's of years to polynesia, however many don't realize that it's popularity really didn't take off until the early 1960's thanks in large part to movies and music like Gidget and The Beach Boys respectively.  Now it's an American institution and has rapidly spread to South America, Australia, New Zealand, and throughout the world.  Every Galvestonian, especially young ones, should give the sport a try. 

The problem is, without learning the basics, the initial difficulty can be frustrating to the point of resignation.  This is where Ohana Surf Camp can give you a leg (or two) up.  The camp is kid oriented and has lots of great instructors.  There is also always a lifeguard present when training so you don't have to worry about little Velsey or Tommy when you drop her or him off for the day.

So catch a wave!  For more information, visit Ohana's website.

There are a lot of things that we don't like to do and there are a lot of things that we don't like to do.  However, there are very few things that we don't like to do that we like to do.  Let me explain.

I am not a very great athlete.   It seems that I can either hold my own or flat out stink at various sports.  As a kid, I loved baseball and could field like a champ, however, I couldn't hit that stinking leather ball if my life depended on it.  so that was out.  I tried tennis and had the endurance to play 6 sets if i wanted to.  The problem was, I would lose 0-6 unless my opponent fell over dead.  I was that bad.  Then i tried swimming and i was really good at it.  I was fast and i could go all day.  The problem was, I hated it.  I loved competing.  I loved winning.  I just hated practicing every day.  In college, I boxed on the amateur level for a little while and was pretty good (but in that sport, you could fly a plane between the line between good and very good)  However, while training for boxing, i realized for the first time in my life that i was a very good runner.  I could dominate the casual runner on a 3 miles course.  Problem: I hate running.

When i saw that the Triathalon is coming back to Galveston (ironmanlonestar.com) this weekend, I started thinking about how dedicated these folks are to do all of the training and hard work.  What goes through these people's minds?  Why would they put themselves through all of this training for a t-shirt?  How hard do they have to work?  Well, some of these question were answered by my triathlete friend, (and by the way, triathlete winner!) Betty Massey.

Betty said that she started running when she was 48 and ran 11 marathons between 2000 and 2006.  After retiring from distance running, and being too competitive in nature to stop, she now does triathalon sprints.  Here you swim .5 mile, bike for 12 miles and run a 5K.  She trains for the triathalons by keeping in shape and then, 8 weeks in advance of the event, she does "two a days" combining two of the three sports training in one day. 

One thing I always wondered about was why a triathalon started with the swim.  I wouldn't want to get out of the water and jump right on a bike for the chaffing factor.  I have asked this question to a few people and the best answer i get is something about fatigue and drowning factor which i suppose offers some merit.

This weekend's Ironman Lonestar festivities will bring 6000 people from every state and around the world to the island.  So whether you're into sports or not, it should be a celebrated event in that it brings revenue and exposure to the island and island businesses.

So pretty much, from my competitive nature, this is the event for me.  All three things that i hate and am good at all wrapped up into one event that equals a 2 hour vomit fest.  I should start training for 2011 now!  BTW, if you are signed up for this tomorrow's sprint event, don't get your hopes up on being the first across the ribbon.

Betty Massey: "I intend to win!"
 

Islander By Choice will be writing a monthly column in Galveston Monthly.  This is the first of our entries You can pick up a Galveston Monthly free at many local locations.

April is the month that truly exemplifies spring in Galveston. It's not cold and it's not hot. It's a great time to get out of the winter funk and go out and see the island.

While you're out and about, whether you're a local or a visitor, you should put The Elissa and the Texas Seaport Museum on your list to visit. The Elissa is the Official Tall Ship of Texas, and is not only a floating museum, but one of the only ships of its kind to actually sail. She is a three-masted barque that was originally launched on October 27, 1877.

When you visit Elissa, it is hard to imagine that she was very close to being scrapped in Piraeus, Greece 40 years ago. In 1970, Elissa had been altered and had changed hands so many times - most recently by smugglers - she was hardly recognizable as the grand ship she was upon commissioning. It took a trained eye and a fortunate break of an existing builders plate to confirm that this floating vessel destined to be cut up in a Greek scrap yard was once the proud Elissa.

The acquisition and restoration processes were nothing short of remarkable. Because the port is what made Galveston the proud "Wall Street of the Southwest," the idea was to have a permanent symbol of Galveston's maritime heritage. Upon finding that Elissa had called on Galveston's port in 1883 and in 1886, the decision was made that she would call on Galveston once again - as home.

After purchasing the ship for $39,000 in 1975, the Galveston Historical Foundation (GHF) estimated it would take another $200,000 investment for her restoration. Shoring up the hull for a crossing of the Atlantic and refitting the masts, deck, and rigging in Galveston took many researchers, craftsman, and volunteers. Some of the techniques to rebuild her hadn't been used in decades.

To say the least, the budget was blown. Seven years and $4.5 million later, the GHF and Galveston had a tall ship that was the pinnacle of historic ship restoration.

Since Elissa's first modern sailing trip under her original square rigging on August 31, 1982, Elissa has called on ports in Corpus Christi, New Orleans, Miami, Charleston, Baltimore, and Washington DC. The apex of these modern voyages was a sail to New York Harbor in July of 1986 for the centennial anniversary and rededication of the Statue of Liberty. 

On the voyage home from New York, Elissa made a stop at the Mystic Seaport Museum. This museum is home to the 1841 whaling ship Charles W. Morgan. There was no way to know during that visit that the Charles W. Morgan would, in a much different way, call on Galveston 22 years later.

In 2007 the Morgan  began undergoing an extensive restoration and required live oak wood to make new framing ribs. Live oak is the perfect material for shipbuilding because of its strength, resistance to rot, and the sweeping curves of the tree.

In September, 2008 an abundance of live oaks became destined to make the journey to the Charles W. Morgan's aid when Hurricane Ike flooded Galveston with more saltwater than it had seen since the storm of 1900. The loss of Galveston's historic  live oaks had a silver lining in that some would be used for the preservation of another grand ship.

The upkeep of Elissa requires approximately 20,000 man (and woman) hours and costs an average of about $60,000 per year. Twice a year, all of the rigging is pine tared and the brightened wood is revarnished to protect against the elements. Once a year, all of the sails are removed and inspected for wear and repaired accordingly.

To do all of this work, GHF and the Texas Seaport Museum rely on many extremely dedicated volunteers. General volunteers are welcomed year round, however, for those who would like to work toward becoming a member of the crew of the Elissa, the training program begins in July and goes through March.

After dedicating 20 Saturdays towards training, volunteers will be a member of the crew that sails Elissa in the annual March sea trials. These daily sails, to many, are the reward for a year worth of hard work and dedication. However, if sweating your Saturdays away 100 feet in the air isn't your cup of tea, you can make a tax deductible financial contribution that will help preserve Elissa and the Texas Seaport Museum for generations to come.

The museum is the home for Elissa, but also offers a wealth of information about maritime history. A cannon from an original Texas Navy ship is featured there and has a great story of being lost and found numerous times. The four coins that are underneath Elissa's masts are revealed, a lesson in shrimping and shrimp netting is explained, the bell from the USS Galveston is on display, and you can find information on immigrants that came into Galveston's port seeking a new life in America.

Elissa and the Texas Seaport Museum are open every day from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Pier 21. On your next visit downtown, set aside a couple of hours to visit the museum and the majesty of Elissa. I know you'll be glad that you did.

Special thanks to John Schaumberg for contributing to this article.

I moved to Galveston on January 4th 2000.  I had never been to Galveston before and, literally, had picked it off the map.

I was remodeling houses in western North Carolina in the fall of 1999.  We had an early winter roll through and, added to that, I was working on top of a house on the very top of a mountain on top of a mountain range in Highlands, NC.  I recall getting to work one day and through thermal underwear, jeans, and a ski suit, I was freezing. I remember thinking "there has to be a better way"  and right then and there I decided that I was moving within 2 months.  I had 60 days to figure out where I was going.

Within a week, my list was down these 5 cities:  St. Augustine, Savannah, Charleston, Galveston, and Tuscon.  Notice an odd man out?  Tuscon made the list b/c it is out west and at that time, it had a good housing market.  The others are seaside communities that have a very good historic housing stock upon which to work.

I had friends in Charleston at the time and a room briefly became available.  For two weeks, I was moving to Charleston only to find out that the roomate who was going to move, was now going to stay.  Back to the drawing board.

In a weird way, I think I chose Galveston BECAUSE it was the one city on my list which I had never visited.  I think it is fair to say that, after telling my family of my plans, they thought i had totally lost it.  People were placing bets on how long this move would last.  My cousin and good friend, to my face, gave me 4 months.  Friends and family were telling me to move to Austin and Atlanta, and Ft. Lauderdale.  My sister-in-law's dad lived in Pasedena, TX and told me that if i'm moving to the area, I would like Clear Lake much better than Galveston.  But I had decided and I'd be damned if anyone was going to change my mind.

I can say that, 10 years later, moving to Galveston is among the best decisions of my life.  I met my wife here, started a business here, and began a life here.  There may come a time when we will call another place home.  Until then, I'm an Islander By Choice.

I lost a big piece of me this week.  Well, i lost a small piece of me.  Last thursday night, after much complaining to the Lady Culpepper and a call to one of our personal doctors (Katrina), we went to the hospital.  We get to the emergency room and they make me lay on a gurney that goes in and out of a doughnut that they refer to as the ct-scan machine while they pump me full of some drug that gives me hot flashes and make me feel like i'm peeing myself.  Fun.  Lets go back to the ER.

After a few hours of sleeping in the ER while pantamiming a pretzel, we were informed that I had an appendacitus append... my appendix was broken.  After they informed us that the only remedy was to rip the appendix from the binding of the book that is labeled M_F_CULPEPPER.  Here's about how the next conversation goes:

Doctors walking in on two pretzels sleeping: You have appendecitus.

Pretzel with problem:  Ok when do we need to come back?

Doctors: You don't need to we're going to operate right now.

Hot Pretzel:  You're going to take him right now?

Doctors: No, we're going to let you sleep like pretzels for another 8 hours and we'll operate on him in the morning.

Pretzel with problem:  Thanks so much.

In the recovery room, Adrienne came in to see me and said that the doctors said that everything went to plan.  After two days, a seizure, and a self inflicted enema, I was going home.  Now here i sit with time to blog and no excuse not to.

Oh yea and the missing piece we were told was cut up and sucked out of my body.  One less thing to donate to science I guess. 

Thank you honey for being my wife.

One nice thing i noticed this year on new years eve, is that people can't wear those stupid glasses that have the eye holes as zeros (see 2000 - 2009).  I guess if the chinese factory produced them for 2010, they would have to be heavily marketed to people who only have vision out of her right eye.  For this blessing on the last day of 2009, I am thankful.

09 was a curious year in a lot of ways.  I lost my grandfather, a friend in Mr. Antonelli, and a little bird named Chipper.  The weird thing is that they were all strangely connected to each other.

The return of the Galveston Beach Revue featuring the Galveston Bathing Beauties Contest was a huge success.  It was great weather and the quality of the contestants and their vintage suits surprised everyone.  This event is going to be even bigger and better on May 15th 2010.

We have dealt with really getting to the nuts and bolts of recovery both personally and as a city.  Personally, Adrienne and I bought a new (1876 new!) building to house Nautical Antiques in February.  We placed our first orders for inventory since the storm in August and are hoping for a Grand Opening sometime early in 2010.

As a city, we have an idea (albeit only an idea) of the amount of funds that the federal government is allocating for Galveston and the surrounding area.  It is apparent that the bulk of the actual recovery and the allocation of these federal funds is coming up.  How these monies are spent will shape the future of this city for at least the lifespans of its current residents.  (Please don't forget to register and plan to vote in the May election as it will be the most important election our fine city has seen in some time)

As a whole I will give 2009 a C+ but to be fair, for Galvestonians especially, it was dealt a losing hand by 2008.

As for 2010 and how it is going to go...  Well so far so good.  Ginger and Popeye (our chocolate labs) celebrate their birthdays today and we plan on taking them for a walk.

How was your 2009?

So yesterday started just like any other day.  I woke up and fed the dogs and I went back to bed.  Before I know it, the dogs are whining again as if they haven't eaten yet. 

Groggy Adrienne: Have you fed them yet?

Hero: Of course!

This question doesn't normally get asked because usually after their breakfast, the dogs are as willing as I am to go back to their visit with the sandman.  If asked though, I admit that I normally wouldn't know the answer anyway because when i get up to feed them, I really don't even wake up for it.  I'm in something of an induced sleepwalk and go through the routine while seeing through my eyelashes and using the force.  But the reason for my definitive "of course" response is that i had remembered it raining outside and bringing the dog dishes inside before going through the feeding ritual.

Disheveled Adrienne:  Well maybe something is wrong.

Hero:  We only have two pets and they are both right here whining so what could be wrong?

It was then that Adrienne checked the clock....

Curious Adrienne:  Are you sure you fed them?  It's only 4:45!

4:45... that can't be right.  I start thinking that maybe I really didn't fed them....and then with two words.....not even two words - one word and two letters.....everything started making sense (well not sense like physics but more like sense the electoral college makes).

Confused Adrienne:  Wait .... PM.?!?

Let me say that there were many times (my six years of college come to mind) that waking up at 5 in the afternoon would be nothing out of the ordinary.  But this was just a regular day.  we didn't stay up late the night before, we hadn't gone out drinking, I actually went to sleep at 9 pm!

Hero: This can't be correct.

After verification from the Willthing that our clocks had not gotten the Y2K virus and it actually was 5pm, we realized that the dogs weren't hungry, they just thought we were dead.
 

Ok here's the situation....  I'm an Islander by Choice.  I love Galveston.  I support Galveston.  And here i am, on one of the best tourist weekends and festivals that is Lone Star Bike Rally, encouraging people to go off the island?!?

Actually, I'm not.  If i had my druthers, every Galvestonian would be downtown drinking beer, eating sausage on a stick, and reading lips.  I love the Lone Star Rally! 

However, it has come to my attention that, in some cases, people can get their fill of it.  If and only if this case arises with you and yours, take the drive over the causeway and up to..... GULP.... Houston..... to see the Wings over Houston Air Show at Ellington Field.

They're going to have an AV-8 (Harrier) demonstration, (for all of you True Lies debunkers), A10's, a C-17, and many others.  The Heritage demo will feature war planes from the Doolittle Raiders, the European Theater, and the Korean / Vietnam era.  The encore is none other than the Blue Angels. 

If you've never seen this group of F/A-18's, you might want to go ahead and scribble it down on your bucket list because they are some sight to see in action.

Once again...... Don't go to this Event on October 31st and November 1st from 8:00 - 5:00!

On my way home a couple of weeks ago, I saw someone pruning and watering a live oak.  I thought: well good for them and good luck.  Yesterday I saw the same tree and its sprouting growth!  Here it is:

To compare, here's a picture of another tree in the east end:

Now you may say: "Its hard to compare two random trees; one may have been more saturated with salt"..... Possibly but not in this case. 

 In case you're still wondering, these are the same trees as above.