China Lights Regatta

6.9.09

For the past few weeks now, I have joined the crew of Toy to sail in the China Lights regattas held on Tuesday nights throughout the summer. The China Light races are focused on educating and encouraging women crew members. For a boat to participate in the China Light races, their must be at least one women on board. This week my boat (Toy) had four: myself, Patty, Roz, and Alyssa (aka Hammy or Al).

Since there was so much wind tonight, it was really important that we work together to keep the boat going in the right direction and at the fastest speed. Despite a few close collision calls with other boats, we did a great job. In fact, we placed 3rd in our class of about 8 or 9 boats. Throughout the race I tried my best to remember Patty's motto for the night: "one hand for the boat and one hand for yourself". Basically, she was warning us to keep one hand on the boat at all times due to the high winds and even higher waves that bopped Dave's 30 foot Catalina up and down during the entire length of the race.

The Adam E. Cornelius

Here are some of my crew mates: Roz and Alyssa.

The Spinnaker Fleet

Alyssa Looking Out to Sea/See What She Can See

Sunset on Lake Erie
(Do you see the sailboat?)

Random Side Note: What do you get when you mix a daredevil, a waterfall, and a kayak? Please watch the video in the upper right corner of this website to find out for yourself.

Peonies & Irises

6.8.09

Ever since I was little, my mother's peonies have always fascinated me. I remember looking at their buds for the first time and realizing they were covered with sugar ants. I ran over to my mother to warn her of what I had observed she looked at me and said, "Sheila, don't be afraid of those little ants. The flowers need them to eat the sweet sap that covers their buds and keeps them from opening." From that summer on, I remember staring respectively at the little ants as they scurried around the delicate, round peony buds.

The bud is so tight that you would never expect the number of petals to be so numerous as it really is.

My mother has pink and red peonies as well. The red ones have not opened yet but the pink ones are well on their way.

The center of the pink peonies have a slight yellow tint to them; this makes them look orange.

My mother has several purple irises in her garden.

Looking Up

Ice Breakers Regatta

6.7.09

Alyssa (aka Hammy) invited me to crew with her in the Ice Breakers Regatta today. We sailed on Toy, a 30 foot Catalina (this picture of the boat looks similar but is not exact) with five other crew members including: Dave (our skipper), Patty, Roz, Joe, and Suzie. Despite an hour delayed start due to a lack of wind, the race was quite fast paced and enjoyable. Alyssa and I made a great port jib sheet team; she manned the winch handle and I pulled in the line. After the race, we joined the rest of the sailors at the Buffalo Yacht Club for dinner and awards. Toy came in 6th out 11 boats.

Overall, I'm really glad that Alyssa invited me to join her. I do not have much experience sailing larger boats and it is great to learn new sailing techniques. The crew was very welcoming, friendly, and very patient. I'm thinking about going again this Tuesday night for the weekly China Lights race. These races are meant to encourage women to sail. Each participating boat must have at least one women on board.

Buffalo's Skyline from Lake Erie

Me and Alyssa (aka Hammy)

Buffalo's Skyway

Looking up at the main sail and boom from the deck.

Floating Sail Boats

Here, Roz and Dave are waiting for the race to start. A lack of wind caused the raced to be delayed by one hour.

When there is no wind, it is fun to "raft" up with other sail boats.

Rounding the Starting Line
(If you look closely you will see the buoy boat at the far left.)

We did not know for sure but we think this boat is strictly for public cruises. It reminded me of an ancient Japanese fishing boat.

Toy placed 6 out of 11 in its class for the Ice Breakers Regatta. This most likely pushed us up to 3rd place overall.

Aunt Rita Turns 93

6.6.09

My family celebrated the 93rd birthday of my great Aunt Rita and the 50th birthday of my Uncle Rob. We were all thrilled to shower them both love and wish them continued good health.

From left to right: my mother, Aunt Debbie, Aunt Diane, and Aunt Rita.

My Father and I

The Hensen siblings from left to right: my mother, Uncle Rob, and Aunt Diane.

Cheers to Aunt Rita and Uncle Rob!

Cheers, or as they say in Japan, "Kampai"!

Aunt Debbie and Uncle Kent

Jaime's Visit

5.29.09

My cousin Jaime from Fargo, North Dakota arrived in Buffalo on May 20 to spend some time with family before starting her new job as a laboratory research assistant. It was great to great to spend time with her; since she has always lived so far away, this was the first time I could actually get to know her.

Besides introducing her to my favorite friends, restaurants, and hang outs, my father and I decided that she absolutely had to see Niagara Falls, Canada. We took her on the Maid of the Mist and Journey Behind the Falls. We also went to Clifton Hill, Niagara on the Lake, and the Butterfly Conservatory. It was a busy day but we all had a great time.

As it is the spring, there were thousands of gulls nesting along the gorge walls and flying in and out of the mist. If my memory serves me, 20% of the world's population of Bonaparte Gulls visit this region during nesting season.

Side View of the Canadian Horseshoe Falls

The Canadian Horseshoe Falls

Foamy Water

Jaime and My Father

Puffy Rain Ponchos

Double-crested Cormorants waiting for their lunch.

Tulips in Queen Victoria Park
(near the Horseshoe Falls)

Green and Black Poison Frog from Central America

Marbled Tree Frog from South America

Poisonous Frogs from Central and South America

It was warm and humid in the conservatory; hence, my father fell asleep.

Jaime

A butterfly landed on my father's leg!

Jaime and I in the Butterfly Conservatory.