Tales from the Deck(hand)

I'm about 4 months into my job as a deckhand for the Chicago Water Taxi and I have to say, it has been a learning experience. I am sore after every shift. I have bruises on my legs, arms and even my toes (as a rule...try not to drop a ramp on your foot). I am tired, a lot. But all in all I am quite happy. I have met interesting people, I am getting tanned and in shape, and I'm even making some friends.

I seem to get assigned to shifts on my own. Gives me a positive feeling that they think I can handle all the tourists and commuters and money and closing out the shift and tying up the boat by myself. The captains do help me out and for that I'm thankful. Everyone is really nice and most of the captains were deckhands once themselves so they know what we are going through. The boss says people enjoy working with me and that I'm doing a great job and he hopes I'm having fun. Some days are more fun than others. The weather has gotten warmer so we can wear shorts, which is nice, but some of those hot, humid days are tough. I did a double shift last Saturday on a boat with no generator, which meant the head (bathroom) wasn't working, we couldn't use the POS system, and after the sun went down it was a bit dark. It was also hot and the poor captain couldn't even cool down because there was no fan in the pilot house.

I've seen fireworks off of Navy Pier and seen some spectacular sunrises and sunsets from the water.

I've seen John Wayne's boat "Pilgrim" floating up and down the river.

I've waved at hundreds of people and would venture to guess that my picture is taken at least 50 times per day.

I've watched bridges open for sailboats and learned that the tugboats pushing the barges down the river have a very strong wake.

I've been a part of the "Blessing of the Fleet" Ceremony.

I've made friends with some commuters and some other people who like to just ride the boat on weekends. I've had some people angry with me when I tell them their child can't stand on the seats or that our boat isn't going to a certain location at a certain time. I've also learned not to take any of this personally. (The standing issue is safety, the location issue is scheduling...if you can't read a schedule, then I'm sorry).

I've done fire drills, security drills, safety drills, first aid drills, pumping out drills, and man overboard  drills.

I've had dreams about work.

At least once a day I hear someone say "I've lived in Chicago all my life and I never knew this existed."

I've been interviewed.

I've watched the captains get filmed for shows or commercials.

I've made the day of a little boy who wanted a ride for his birthday and we let him ride for free.

I've seen them filming for Chicago Fire, the new Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson movie "Rampage," and even saw a "red carpet barge" for the new Transformers movie.

I've watched the fireworks barge make it's way out to Navy Pier every Wednesday night.

I've been cold, I've been hot, I've been soaked by rain and swept snow off of decks.

I've watched the Chicago Cubs Kris Bryant hit balls into the river.

I've watched a helicopter lift heavy construction pieces onto a building.

I've gain confidence in jumping a gap to get onto a dock, or climbing over a railing onto the roof of a boat.

I've learned that no matter what time of night or morning, there is always someone else on the bus or the el.

I've been offered tips, beer, and one little girl even shared her french fries with me.

I've had more comments made about my safety vest than any other piece of clothing I've ever worn.

I've fist bumped hundreds of people.

I've said "Good Morning, Good Evening, Happy Friday and Watch Your Step" more times than I can count.

It's been a great 4 months. I can't wait to see what the next months bring.

Shy or Polite?

As most of you know I love to cook. I love all things culinary, including TV cooking shows such as, "Chopped", "Cutthroat Kitchen", and "Top Chef." I have favorite contestants and root them on. I've even had chances to eat at some of their restaurants. One of my favorite chefs is C. J. Jacobson or BigCeej as he's known on Instagram and Twitter. I was excited when we moved to L.A. because he had just opened a restaurant there and was hoping we could go for my birthday or something. Just a few months after we got there, C. J. got an opportunity to work with Rich Melman's "Lettuce Entertain You" group back here in Chicago. He did so well, he opened a restaurant back here in Chicago. Now that I have moved back to the city, I have been waiting to eat at his new place "Ema" and maybe catch a glimpse of him or get a picture with him and also to taste his delicious food.

Now here's the funny, hand to head moment that happened to me last Tuesday night. I had finished my evening shift on the boat and walked to the corner of Grand/Rush to catch the Grand Avenue bus home. The bus comes around 10pm and it's not too crowded so I grab a seat in the back and listen to my music and unwind from the day. I don't usually pay much attention to the other people getting on or off the bus, but 3 stops after I got on, a very tall (over 6' 5") man gets on the bus. I look because he is so tall, I also look because I'll be damned if it isn't C. J. Jacobson himself! He walks the length of the bus and sits down directly across from me. I am rendered speechless. In my mind I'm going through what to do next, do I stare at him until he looks at me? Do I tap him on the shoulder? Do I sneak a picture of him? Do I scream out "OH MY GOD I LOVE YOU!?" But I didn't do anything. He was also listening to music on his phone and busy texting. I really, really, really, really wanted to say something but I couldn't. Sure, I could talk to Derek Hough at Dancing With The Stars, I could say "Hi" to Jon Hamm in the hallway at CBS before a taping of the Craig Ferguson show, but a cooking idol? I was silent. He stayed on the bus for longer than I thought and even though he was right in front of me when he was waiting to get off at a stop, I still stayed silent. When he left, I spent the rest of my bus ride shaking my head and smiling. I also sent a tweet out saying I thought he was on my bus and that I hate being shy...he retweeted it a few hours later.

Relaying this story to others, trying to get feedback on whether or not I was stupid or shy or crazy, most people said I actually did the right thing. I was actually being respectful. C. J. Jacobson is a person, just like everyone else and he was riding the bus, just like everyone else. Had he been in his restaurant or at a book signing, then THAT would have been the time to show my admiration or ask for a photo. This time he was just another Chicagoan, riding the Grand Avenue bus, texting friends and listening to music, trying to get someplace on a Tuesday night.