Been Hanging on The Computer Writing Stories

Nothing Too New Here!

Spent the last several days rewriting one of The Adventures of Nonie and Papa series into a small book highly illustrated with photographs. The learning curve has been a bit steep with the publishing software, Publisher, that comes with Microsoft Office 2007.

The challenge is getting it printed. The local internet does not have "Publisher" on it's beautiful MACs. So I'm in a sort of intersystem limbo. The local printer wants to send it off island, Guam to be exact. This will take a month. OH, for a Kinko's! month. Great news, local cruisers have a printing set-up that fits our needs. Linda and I have made editorial changes to the text and layout and will print the latest version on 9.9.09.

This is the cover of the new book titled, Playful Sea Lions of Los Ilotes. Available soon at Amazon.co, tee hee.



Don't forget to -

Wander The World -Wonder The World TM

Who Are Creola and Spicey?

Who is Creola?

Creola is a pretty blue sailboat that Nonie and Papa sail on the oceans. She is six years old and is 49 feet long. Creola was made on an island in the Pacific Ocean called Taiwan. You can find Taiwan on your map.

Why Did You Name Her Creola?

When you get a new boat you have to give her a name just like you give a new baby a name. Many people have asked Nonie and Papa why we named our boat Creola. We tell them that Creola means to create and we like to create. But, the real reason is because we like a song called Creola, by a man named Jimmy Buffett. The song is about leading a spicy kind of life. So, that’s why she is called Creola.


This is Andre. Andre is driving Creola. Creola has a big steering wheel that is made out shiny silver metal. Andre drove her right between an island and the land. It was a little scary, but he did a really good job.





Here is another pictures of Creola. We are sailing her in the Sea of Cortez in Mexico. You might have found the Sea of Cortez on your map before.

Who Is Spicey?

Look carefully at the picture of Creola. Do you see a little white boat being towed behind her? That’s Spicey, our trusty dinghy. Spicey is only ten feet long, has a 15 horsepower outboard and she goes really fast.




We take Spicey to the beach and to docks whenever we are not sailing Creola.

























We named her Spicey because she can go really fast and helps find interesting places. She helps take us to places where we can scuba dive and snorkel.

Finally, here is a recent photo of Creola. She is on a mooring at Sam's Tours in Koror, Palau. Beautiful, isn't it?

Who Are Nonie and Papa

Who Are Nonie and Papa?

Who is Nonie?

Nonie grew up on a ranch in central California. She used to swim in the irrigation canals and catch crawdads. Here she developed the love for animals, because there were many chickens, rabbits, sheep, cats and dogs on the ranch. Nonie learned to sail boats on a lake in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Nonie has six brothers and sisters and she has three children of her own, but they are older now. Nonie loves her nine grandchildren and is married to Papa.


Nonie is a teacher. She taught children in third grade, fourth grade, fifth grade and sixth grade. She taught gifted children and special education children. Nonie has worked in Alternative Education with students at the high school level and with students and parents who home school. Nonie has taught swimming to hundreds of people from 3 months of age to over 60 years old.


Nonie loves to scuba dive, snorkle, cook, sail and visit new and different places around the world. She has sailed in the Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America and the South Pacific She can’t wait to take Nonie and Papa’s boat, Creola, around the world.

Who Is Papa?

Papa grew up in the central valley of California, too. He played in the river delta, made forts and caught crawdads. Here he developed his love for the water and the soil. He learned to sail boats in the San Francisco Bay. He does not have any brothers and sisters, but has three children like Nonie. His children are older now. He has been married to Nonie for over 22 years and loves his nine grandchildren.

Papa was a teacher of high school biology, chemistry, and landscaping. He was a principal. He wrote materials and provided training for educational leaders for twelve years in California. Papa believes in coaching one another so we all get better. He was a director of secondary education in a school district in California. He has written two books, lots of poetry and is learning how to paint with watercolor.

Papa loves to scuba dive, especially with Nonie. He loves to snorkel, sail, paint, write, photograph and visit new places around the world. He has sailed in the Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America and sailing Creola, Nonie's and Papa's boat, in the South Pacific Islands.

Professional Resumes available on request.

The Adventures of Nonie and Papa are:

* A collection of stories from the travels of Nonie and Papa aboard the sailing vessel Creola

The dinghy, Spicey, at anchor in a hoa in Rangiroa, second largest atoll in the world

* stories written for young people from preschool through early teens.

Chute Flying aboard Phoenix in Rangiroa

* stories for teachers wishing to enrich the curriculum with geography, culture, nature, history and adventure

Papa overlooks Machu Picchu in Peru

* stories for parents and grandparents who wish to entertain,
expand experiences and broaden the interests of children

The "Bone Yard" of Japanese planes destroyed in World War II. Taroa Island, Maloelap, Marshall Islands

*stories that touch the heart and spirit

Miguelito, the wayward Galapagos Tortoise, Bahia Carquez, Ecuador