Tip-a-Few Schedule for 2008

For those just peaking in, one of the reasons our table is so close is due to our monthly Tip-a-Few events. It is a time each month that - whenever possible - we gather to spend time together. The Tip-a-Few schedule for 2008 was, in large part, determined during the recent Boxing Day event at Cruz & Ann's house. Several brothers were out of town but we left slots open for them to sponsor the monthly gathering.

Here is the schedule:
January - (open)
February - (open)
March - Piper
April - El Maestro
May - Pilot
June - Boats
July - Country Boy
August - (Captain) Rocket Boy
September - Upwind [Labor Day raft up]
October - Blue Stache
November - Floater
December - Cruz [Boxing Day]

Please inform Rocket Boy or Upwind of any changes or details to the schedule.

Additionally, there has been some talk with brothers of the new Solomons Island Table about having a joint raft up for the July 4th, 2008, weekend. Please keep this in mind as the possibility is explored.

White Boxing Day

Boxing Day, the day after Christmas. A public holiday in most countries but not observed much in the United States. While it originated as a day to give gifts to employees and poor people, it has turned into something completely different for the brothers of the Chesapeake Bay table: a day to relieve oneself of gifts that are less than desirable. The process is accomplished through a White Elephant gift exchange. Perhaps we should call it White Boxing Day.

Boxing Day has become a tradition for the table. Held each year at the home of Brother Cruz and Captive Ann, just behind the dunes of the Chesapeake Bay’s southern shore. It also serves to bring the table together for the December Tip-a-few: a monthly social gathering for our table. This year’s event was a stormy one: a developing nor’easter had caused the barometric pressure to drop and brought 30 to 40 knot winds down the Bay from the north just as the brothers were arriving for the afternoon event.

As we entered the house, the first thing to assault the senses was the aroma of the feast being prepared by Ann. Wine and beer started to flow as the crowd continued to grow. Unfortunately, some in our table were missing: Diana was home sick; Briesegalet was out of the country; Floater & Jackie were in Louisiana with family for the holidays and Limey & Holly are cruising in Florida, waiting for the space shuttle's next launch. While they were missed, our gathering was still a warm one. We exchanged stories of the holiday just gone by as Ann continued to prepare food...a lot of food!

After feasting in mid-afternoon, before the main event started, we were able to get everyone together for some group shots which you see here. [AJ had to leave early so I inserted her picture with the other captives]






Then it was on to the main event! The various gifts were assembled and everyone started searching their pockets for the small slips of paper that designated their turn in selecting a gift. The gifts and hijinks were varied and many. Some walked away with useful gifts - El Maestro selected a needed wallet - while others (yours truly included) held their heads in their hands over what had came out of the box that was selected.

When it was all over, night had fallen as it does so early at this time of the year. Not everyone had the next day off so various couples started making their way home. The wind had shifted to the northwest as the nor’easter headed up the coast and pulled colder air in on its back side. No one had been affected by the storm outside as we enjoyed each others company and the revelry that always accompanies our gatherings.

Additional pictures can be viewed on the picture site for the Chesapeake Bay table.

Induction of the Solomons table

Last Week-End, Saturday December 8th, was the birthday of the Solomons table, with a starting crew of 8 brothers. Seven established tables (eight with the new Solomons table) attended the event. There were brothers and captives from San Antonio (TX), Houston (TX), Chesapeake Bay (Hampton Roads, VA), New York (NY), Savannah (GA), our neighbour to the north - the Potomac table (MD), and the table of the Keys in Florida which was represented by the new table's sponsor, Snapper King.

One might dare say that the event was organized so well that even the military could not have done a better job. The visiting brothers tried their best to introduce a little disorganization, but were not very successful!

In any event, not only was the week-end very successful, but the quality of this new group of brothers is very impressive and there is no doubt that this table will soon be another jewel in our brotherhood.

>> Happy birthday, Solomons! <<

PS : You can see a lot more photos in the photo album of the Solomons table

Brother from Lübeck

Mid-November...usually a slower time of the year for the Chesapeake Bay Table: Boating time is diminished as the days grow perceptually shorter and frequent cold-weather systems churn up the waters of the Bay and its tributaries. Then, too, are the year-end holidays when we make plans to spend time with our families. But November 2007 was shaping up to be a busy one for our Table: As noted elsewhere on this Blog, the Statsraad Lehmkuhl had come to port the week before the [United States] Thanksgiving holiday with a reception for our brothers from Savannah a few nights later. We had also received word that brother Heinz Scheel from the Lübeck-Travemünde Table of Germany would be coming to visit the next week. Travelling with his captive, Brigitte, it was a part of their US Brotherhood tour which had started with the New York Table earlier in the month.

Heinz & Brigitte were treated to a Chesapeake Bay sunset as they drove into the area across the Chesapeake Bay/Bridge Tunnel late in the afternoon on Monday, November 19th. They were received at the home of our Captain that evening.

Tuesday shaped up to be a beautiful day for touring the area. It was my pleasure to be their tour guide. Arriving late for the beginning of our tour, I found Heinz in the grip of a cold. Not to be deterred by his rhinovirus, Heinz insisted on making the best of his time. After conferring with the couple, we started our tour of the area by heading to the south shore of the Bay. Heinz was amazed at the way we string our utility lines (electric, telephone, cable TV, etc.) on poles rather than bury them underground. I also learned that in Germany, the homes are not constructed of wood as they are here in the States.

At the Bay, we turned the car east and travelled toward the Atlantic ocean stopping along the way to enjoy a late lunch of fried scallops at the Surf Rider restaurant at Taylor's Landing Marina. The tour continued through First Landing State Park before heading south along Atlantic Avenue to the tourist area of the Virginia Beach oceanfront. After a brief walk along the boardwalk, Heinz asked to return to the car as his energy level was running low. Our final stop was at the Norfolk Botanical Gardens where we watched the sunset before returning to Captain Rocket Boy's house for a reception by the Table. Good food, camaraderie and a healthy dose of rhum brought some color back to Heinz's face. It had been a good day.

Where Tuesday had been the land tour, Wednesday was scheduled for the water tour. All brothers who could break from work met at Bay Point Marina and boarded Orza late in the morning. The sun was shining brightly and the day had warmed nicely. Brother Cruz eased his magnificent vessel from the slip and we headed out of Little Creek inlet. Once we cleared the inlet, the small wheel of the large vessel was turned over to Heinz as we moved westward along the south shore of the Chesapeake Bay. Once past Fort Wool, we headed toward the Elizabeth River. Having served in the German Navy, Heinz was keenly interested in the naval hardware in-port at the Norfolk Naval Base. He was especially impressed by the two Nimitz class aircraft carriers that were in port.

We moved down to the southern branch of the river and picked up brother Boats at his place of business. Then, Orza started the journey back, stopping briefly for a close inspection of the battleship Wisconsin. Brother Cruz brought Orza so close that he was asked to move away by a security guard on the main deck of the battleship. Assuring the guard he would do so, Cruz continued along the Wisconsin's hull to its bow where he made a stunning turn before heading out of the basin. We returned home at sunset and the crew dispersed. Heinz & Brigitte headed to the home of Cruz & Ann for lodging as they were scheduled to spend their first U.S. Thanksgiving with Ann's family the next day.

While I was not with them on Thursday, word has it they enjoyed the splendid event and were more than sufficiently fed. They departed for the Savannah Table on Friday morning and, after experiencing the U.S. version of the Autobahn (I-95), arrived there late in the day.