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As part of our effort to profile more authors within the LGBT community, we present Kim Lee Brown. Kim (pictured right) and her partner Jazzymyne (left) sailed from California to Mazatlan, Mexico with their cat, and they worked together on Two Fools and a Cat, a book about the journey.
A little background on Kim, Jazzymyne and their life together:
Kim was born in the deep south of the United States has traveled extensively across America, China and Mexico. She has visited Canada and Europe as well. Having studied Archaeology/Anthropology at Millsaps College and University of Jiaotong/X'an in China she continues fossil hunting. She has worked with several small publications and published one short story. This is the first completed novel with several more on the way. The author loves to tell stories, surf, sail and oil paint. She can often be found headed to the beach in her red 1965 Mustang with a surfboard on top. She is owned by an adorable Ragdoll cat named Smokey.
Jazzymyne was born in Florida but grew up in Connecticut. She has traveled around the US and Mexico. She has a B.S. in Elementary Education from Montana State University. She loves to do various crafts, including wood burning, watercolor painting, knitting, graphic design and cross stitch. She loves to spend time at the beach, sightsee and attend theater performances. One of her favorite pastimes is playing games on the Wii or on the computer. She loves animals and currently is owned by a beautiful black cat named Cocoa.
Kim and Jazzymyne met in 2001 and have been together ever since. They each have children from previous relationships, Kim has a son and a daughter and one granddaughter, Jazzymyne has a son and a daughter. They have traveled together to Memphis, Tennessee, Louisiana and to various places in Mississippi. They go fishing together, fossil hunting, go to casinos, watch plays at local theaters and visit museums. They made the voyage aboard the Ballerina from California to Mazatlan Mexico and then moved to Florida where they now reside. They love going to the beach, Kim surfs and Jazzymyne rides a boogie board. They both love animals and have owned birds, dogs, cats, hamsters and fish. Currently they own two cats. Kim is an extraordinary woman, she restores antique cars, built a house from blueprints she and Jazzymyne designed, builds and restores furniture, is a great cook, an artist and a fantastic storyteller. Jazzymyne is dedicated to promoting Kim's work, has spent many hours creating the cover of the book for both the e-book and the paperback. She is very passionate and puts her heart into whatever task that needs to be done. Jazzymyne and Kim work together on Kim's books, as Jazzymyne is a very skilled typist, which allows Kim to dictate her story aloud for Jazzymyne to type on the computer. They are working on the next book that is due to be published before the end of this year.
Two Fools and a Cat is currently available in paperback and e-book format. Barnes & Noble and Books A Million have the book available in paperback, and Amazon has both the paperback and digital versions. Check out the excerpt from Two Fools and a Cat below:
Introduction
Adventures begin with dreams. If a person is fortunate enough to live a dream and if that dream turns into an adventure, that person should consider themselves blessed indeed. I am such a person and in this book I will outline my dream and recount the adventure that ensued from it. I pray that this is only the beginning of many more to come. The main part of this story will be taken directly from the Ballerina Yacht Log with excerpts from a personal diary Jazzy kept while on route. Enjoy the trip.
My name is Kim Lee Brown. My partner who made the voyage with me is Jazzymyne Jannye Brown. The cat's name is Smokey. I was fifty five years old and Jazzy was forty one when we left California. The cat refuses to tell. The boat is documented under the name Ballerina. She is a Cheoy Lee Offshore 40’. She was designed by Philip Rhodes and constructed in 1976.I bought her in Long Beach, California in early 2010. She was built in traditional style with a lot of teak inside and out. She is yawl rigged with a full keel. I actually wanted a single mast but they are hard to find in the forty foot range. I was not too concerned as many people never use the mizzen and I know of a few people who have removed them altogether. When I do use the mizzen, she is a beauty to see sailing in all her glory. She was made for long voyages and is comfortable to live in. After everything was settled from the purchase, I moved her to a slip in San Pedro, California where I learned to sail and made ready for this trip. I have harbored the notion of owning a sailboat and traveling to unknown destinations since I was a child. Sometimes I think I should have allowed it to remain hidden in my memory, and other times I wish I could do it all over again.
We left California on 1/1/11 and headed south.
DAY ONE
Today is January first, New Years Day. I never make resolutions for the coming year. I just thank fate for allowing me another chance to live. It is easy to be thankful when you feel your life is full and you can make plans for tomorrow. I have plans and they were on my mind when I arose to greet the day. The sun breached the horizon and pushed back the mists of night but no one was there to witness the spectacle but me. Sunlight danced across the water beckoning me to join her in a frolic across the waves. If not for being of mortal birth I would have shed my selfish desire to sail and joined her in a waltz. Closing my eyes I felt the kiss of temptation and her invisible fingers playing in my hair. Not now my love. I have a quest.
Ignoring her as best I can, I stand alone on the deck. I grasp my steaming coffee close for comfort and reflect that California is not as warm as I was lead to believe. Summer wasn't bad and I still wear shorts and sandals most of the time. But this morning I also have on my M&M Surf School sweatshirt. I moved to southern California with the mistaken impression that it was always warm here. Perhaps farther inland people enjoy warmer clime but on the water my bones always ache. My temptress has now left the sea and begun her accustomed pilgrimage to other shores. I take a long last stroll through the marina I have called my home for the past year. Everything is pristine as usual. This has to be the most beautiful place I have ever lived. Even in winter everything is manicured and blooming.
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It's no wonder that many filmmakers choose to shoot on this location. Being close to Hollywood the marina is perfect to shoot scenes depicting waterfront episodes. Several times upon entering our marina I have seen signs making it appear that we are in Miami or some other seaside locale. Often the parking area by my slip would be blocked off to allow moviemakers to set up their trailers and equipment. I was even caught in a chase scene one day as I passed a shoot on my scooter. As I was leaving the marina, trucks with lights and cameras turned into the parking area at full speed filming two cars bent on having an accident before my eyes. I have no idea what the scene was for or even if it will make the cut. The only reason I can find to leave here is the nagging in my heart to see new places. I am sure there are many more beautiful spots out there. I just need to find them.
Excitement overwhelms my thoughts and it's difficult for me to stay focused on any one thing. This is the day I will embark on an adventure I have dreamed about my entire life. I wish Jazzy could share my enthusiasm. She is uneasy about the trip. We have spent almost ten years getting to know one another. She knows that I am gifted at fixing things and I have a knack for making things work with whatever materials are at hand. She also knows that I brought a good number of tools and spare parts. I have stocked the boat with enough fresh food to last several days and enough canned and dry goods to feed us both for months. I know if we run out somewhere at sea or in a place with no people, it will be difficult to take on more provisions. I worked late last night double checking the engine, navigation equipment and supplies. The only thing left undone is filling the fuel tanks. My plan is to do that on the way out. Now that morning is here, we are both ready to get started. However, the fuel dock hasn't opened yet. I know it will open later. This is a holiday and there will be a lot of boaters out to enjoy a day off work. The dock is always ready to supply them fuel. I cook an early breakfast of oatmeal for myself and Jazzy when she gets up. We both sit topside and have more coffee while we wait. After relaxing a while we remove the sail covers and make sure everything is stowed in its designated place. On a boat everything has a place and in order to prevent accidents and crowding it is necessary to stow things properly.
When we finish readying the boat, I see people moving around near the office. I leave Jazzy with her coffee and seek someone to take my keys and check us out. One of the grounds keepers whom I know gladly takes my key and wishes us safe passage and fair winds. Returning to the boat, I back out of my slip for the last time and ease over to the fuel dock. This will be our last stop in California. When I tied off at the pier I had my mind on other things and opened the wrong deck cap. Before I realized what I was doing I put fuel into the fresh water tank. Luckily I had topped off those tanks the night before so not much fuel went in. It just came back out the vent in front of me. I felt like a fool but luckily no damage was done. I flushed it with fresh water without contaminating the system and proceeded to fill the tanks. I suppose an accident before we even leave should have been a sign for what we were about to get into but we were committed. By 10:00 am we were clear of the marina and passing Angel's Gate Lighthouse into the Pacific Ocean.
I recall the first time I passed the lighthouse at the helm of the Ballerina. A few days after my first sailing lesson I called "Q" and asked if he was able to go out with me for another lesson. Quetzal "Q" Silver was the person responsible for my owning this boat and the person who taught me to sail. He worked at a yacht brokerage in San Pedro, California. When I met "Q" for the first time I almost laughed. He was exactly what I expected. He was wearing a loose button front shirt, baggy shorts and sandals. His hair was long, curly and he had hair on his face. With his deep tan he could have been a poster child for California surfers. This particular day he was busy at work and couldn't come so I decided to try it alone. I had to start sometime and I already knew the basics.
I untied the Ballerina from her cleats and eased her through the marina with great caution. I was both terrified and exhilarated. I knew there was fuel in the tank so I passed the fuel dock and headed for Angel's Gate Lighthouse. This was my entrance to the ocean. From the marina where my slip is, the only access is through the same channel used by cruise ships, cargo vessels and other boaters. Between the marina and the lighthouse is an area that is seldom crowded. There is a floating bait shop where seals like to lounge and windsurfers dot the water on weekends but most of the time it makes a good spot to switch from power to sails. As soon as I reach it I raise mainsail. I decided not to change the original configuration of lines when I bought the boat. Many people run the lines to the helm so they can all be controlled from one place. It takes more time the way she was designed but I enjoy the extra effort. Once the mainsail is up and I am back at the helm I shut off the engine and find myself at the mercy of the wind and sea. I furl the jib and feel the Ballerina come to life as the sails take a deep breath. The wind is strong and I move past the lighthouse under full sail. About the time I think I am alone I hear my cell phone ringing. It's "Q". He saw me leaving the marina.
"Kim, where are you?”
"I just passed the lighthouse." I replied, with a big smile on my face.
"Are you alone?”
"Yes”
"Are your sails up?”
"Yes.”
"Call when you get back and I will catch your lines." was his only reply.
Everything about that day was perfect. The winds were steady. Very few people were out and I was finally sailing my own boat. There is no way to describe the elation I felt. I was in control of my destiny. I harnessed nature itself and took her for a ride. Dolphins swam alongside and made the only sound other than the water rushing beneath the hull. As I sailed up the coast I recalled the words from a movie I had recently seen.
"I was born for this!”
On my way back to the marina I called "Q" as he requested. Approaching the first pier I could see him standing alone watching my every move. He hailed me as I carefully maneuvered The Ballerina through the narrow passageways to let me know he was there. I watched him appear again briefly at the end of each pier as I passed. When I reached my slip at the back of the marina he was there to meet me and catch the dock lines as promised. He was not alone. Others had gathered to help and meet the crazy woman who takes out a "forty footer" by herself. I soon became the talk of the marina and everyone spoke as I came by. I was accepted into the family of mariners. This will be the last time I pass Angel's Gate but the memories will last forever.
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Today there is no wind so I start the engine without raising the sails. It's an unremarkable start to a trip I have longed to make my entire life. We maintained 6 knots throughout the morning. With the engine running in this calm sea there isn't much to do other than watch things slowly come and go over the horizon. I keep a watch out for dolphins but it seems they are taking a day off. I decide to continue under power and hope the wind picks up enough to sail soon.
I love to sit at the helm and watch the other boats pass. Owning a sailboat is like being a part of a family. Being a cruiser is an even smaller group within the family. People on passing vessels wave and shout out to us when we chance to meet. I am proud of The Ballerina. She is a classic yacht and beautiful on the water. She is forty feet long on the deck and almost eleven feet wide. She has a full keel with most of her bulk below the waterline so she isn't affected by the wind when sailing. She has two masts, one amid ship and one aft. The main mast reaches fifty three feet above the waterline. The mizzen mast is shorter and located behind the rudder post which makes her a yawl rigged yacht. Above and below she is painted white with blue paint around the ports. The decks, rails and grab bars are all teak. The canvas, including the trailing edge of the jib (the front sail) is blue to match the paint around the ports.
Angel's Gate Lighthouse sits at the entrance to the Port of LA. It is one of the largest ports in the world. There are always large shipping vessels and cruise ships coming and going through the area. They have the right of way as I am much more able to adjust my course even under sail. I give them a wide berth and set our course to ESE. There has been no wind all day and by dark we are only halfway to San Diego. We are far out from shore so I decide to drift while I rest some. I can see San Clemente Island in the distance. We are about halfway between it and Santa Catalina Island.
When I go below I discover the cat got sick in the bed. He doesn't like sailing and the sound of the engine scares him. Even in the marina, if a boat passes he finds a place to hide. I think it's because the engines vibrate the hull of our boat. Most of the boat is under water and anything that disturbs it can be felt inside. We decide to keep the bedroom door shut from now on in hopes of keeping him out of there. There is no one else out here tonight so I set the radar and nap off and on till about 2:00 am. About that time the wind starts picking up. It's time to start another day.
DAY TWO
During the early part of the night, while I was napping, we drifted back toward Catalina Island. We lost some ground and I need to figure out a way to sail at night safely and still get some rest. This is my first time night sailing and I plan to continue doing so for most of the trip. I don't want to anchor out every night even though there are a lot of places to put in. Before leaving California I bought a book to accompany my charts that lists all of the known anchorages and settlements along the Mexican coast. When the other boaters in the marina heard that I was planning on an extended cruise they all wanted to share their experiences and give me advice. The best help came just a few days before setting out and it was in the form of this book. It will prove to be an asset when I do need to rest. By 2:30 am, I'm able to put the jib out. It's still dark so I wait for sunup to raise the mainsail. Still, with this wind we are making up for lost time. By 6:00 am, I feel better being able to see some distance and raise the mainsail. The wind has really picked up. The boat is doing well now so I make breakfast and relax a few minutes.
I decided with the wind in my favor to engage the wind vane. Our vane is an old one made by a company named Autohelm. The device mounts on the back of the boat. It has a large rudder to steer the boat and a part that sticks into the air to catch the wind. When it's set up properly, the vane will adjust the tiller to compensate for a shift in the wind. When the sails are properly trimmed, the boat balanced and the vane set, the boat will almost sail itself. I haven't had a chance to fine tune it so I spend a lot of time moving aft and making small adjustments. It's cold out but if I can set it all up, it will allow me to spend more time in the cabin where it's warm. As the day progresses, the winds continue to increase. I am hoping that things will calm down some after dark. There has been a low pressure system hanging off the coast of central California for several days but I am in hopes of quickly moving far enough south to avoid any rough weather. By evening the winds have increased to 40 knots.
The swells are getting bigger and are now 6 feet and above. I am concerned about too much stress on the boat at full sail even though we are making good time. After dark I realize things are not going to get better. The weather is so rough that I am worried about being swept overboard while topside. I take a dock line and tie one end around my waist and the other end to the helm. Safely secured to the boat I am able to reef the mainsail. I have storm sails onboard but it's too late to change them out. The mainsail is made to allow part of the sail to be pulled in and tied down in high wind conditions. With less sail exposed there is less strain on the boat. With the wind this strong I decide to pull it in to the second point and pull in some of the jib. The wind vane isn't doing any good steering the boat so I work my way aft and tie it off. All I can do now is hold on and fight this storm. The boat is doing well but this storm is strong. I know that as long as it lasts I have no choice but to stay topside and keep things under control. I am thankful for the books on sailing and experience I gained while in California. I know the boat was built for this and all I have to do is stay awake and see that my job is done.
I love the feeling of being a sailor. One day while I was out with a friend, two new acquaintances asked if they could go out with me to see how my boat handled. I was eager to gain experience and knowledge from experts. Both of these men had been sailing for many years. The older gentleman owned a small boat that he had sailed for some time. He looked exactly like I expected an "old salt" to look. He was tall, slender and tough looking. His short grey hair and beard stood stark against his leathery tanned skin. He had a personal air about him that encouraged confidence. His name was Doug and the younger man's name was Dave Hoops. It was impossible not to like Hoops. He was handsome and had the look of a true outdoorsman. Always eager to help and share, I was glad he chose to befriend me. Hoops had just purchased a boat of his own. He was unable to go out as his boat needed many repairs. He worked as a chef in the marina where his boat was berthed to support himself and his boat. I have often heard people describe a boat as a hole in the ocean into which you toss money. Some days I see what they mean and wonder how he does it on a cooks salary. I gratefully accepted their requests and within a few days they arrived at my boat prepared for sailing.
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The wind was strong and the swells past the lighthouse were in the four foot range. As soon as we were clear of the marina they raised all three sails and manned the sheets and winches. I took the helm. Most of the day we tacked back and forth between the shore and breakers heading south towards Long Beach. The breakers continue for several miles south of San Pedro and prevent the ocean swells from disturbing the water in the harbor. There were several other boats out and commercial vessels dotted the area, however we still had plenty of room to navigate.
Sailboats gain their power from the wind but the wind doesn't always blow in the direction necessary to move you the way you want to go. In order to make the most of whatever wind is present the sails must be maneuvered into position with the use of lines called sheets. Sometimes the sails must be moved from one side of the boat to the other and this is called tacking. On our way back to the marina we decided to make one final tack out past the lighthouse. This would allow us to make a run into the harbor at a high enough speed that we would not need to tack again before reaching the marina. We moved out past Angel's Gate and turned the boat around. We came back through the channel at nine knots with the water over the starboard rail. To my left I could hear the waves breaking on the sea wall. When I looked over my shoulder, I could see white foam reaching into the sky vying for a place among the clouds. The older of the two men was braced on the port side with a big smile on his face, "This is what this ole girl was made for." The glow on his face warmed me to my soul and I was never afraid of what my boat could do. It was up to me to handle her with the firm hand of love that bonds two souls and makes them one. I spent a year in California doing just that. What I am facing now is the roughest water I have ever seen but we know what to do.
If something were to happen to me, Jazzy would be lost. She has no idea how anything on this boat works and doesn't want to learn. In the long run it may be better for us this way. Out here on the ocean is no place to learn. I stay busy day and night. I am glad Jazzy has her sleeping pills. It is really rough out here. I am also thankful that she is sleeping in the V-berth. At least she can't fall out of the bed. The V-berth is in the front of the boat. The bed reaches almost wall to wall. The small area between it and the cabinets is packed with pillows. Still, I would rather be out here than in the nose of this boat right now.
Most of the night I watch the waves crashing all around us. I try to cut through them in a way that rocks the boat the least and still allows me some control. Looking over the front of the boat, I watch the bow disappear into the water and wait for the spray to reach me at the helm. The rails disappear under the onslaught of water all the way to the cabin. By the time the angry sea slaps me in the face, the bow reappears. It reaches for the rain filled sky seeking freedom from the depths that seek to drown it and all I can see is the clouded sky and rain. We will not be defeated.
I have no time to be afraid. I know what needs to be done and I simply do it. The Ballerina and I are one and will prevail over this onslaught. I understand now why so many people give up cruising in sailboats after a few days at sea. I have been told stories about people who made a trial run at sea and after only a few days return to the marina and sell their boat. We will be out here for a long time and this is about the worse I expect. I am glad we are facing this weather near the beginning of the voyage. Things will get better soon. I am tired, sick and worried that if Jazzy knew what we were going through she might choose for me to put her ashore next time we are near land. It must be bad down there. I can hear things falling and an occasional curse from her. The wheel will no longer lock against the storm so when I have to go below decks I tie the helm with a line and made it quick. Jazzy is still not comfortable with the boat so it is left to me to make coffee, cook and still manage sailing. At times like this rations are short. It is OK with me as I would have been alone if not for her and the cat. I didn't see Smokey all day but I know he isn't foolish enough to go above decks in a storm. He will turn up soon. He never liked sailing and I am sure he is frightened but I can't stay below with him.
Jazzy's Journal
I am not sure that I am ready to embark on this adventure with Kim but I am more afraid to be left behind. It was a last minute decision to come but I knew if I stayed behind it might be months before I hear from her again. I don't know how anything on this boat works so I allow Kim to do the cooking. I have never seen a stove that pivots before but she says it will stay level when we are under sail. How far will this boat lean?
There was no wind when we left San Pedro. If we have to use the engine very much I hope she doesn't run out of fuel. I have no idea how far we can go or where we will get more. It was a beautiful day to start out even if it was cool. I watched the harbor disappear into the distance and wondered how long the trip would last. I watched the islands in the distance. It looks like they never move. Distance can fool you out here. We have turkey sandwiches for lunch and ravioli for dinner. Kim bought several cans of ravioli because it's easy to fix and I love it. I get cold so I take my pooh blanket above deck and lay on the cushions in the sun. It felt good on my face and I nodded off for a bit. Kim woke me up begging for a cigarette and it's gotten cold out. I bring her a cigarette and we smoke on deck till it gets too cold for me. I move below deck and watch a movie. It's nice to have a television and all the movies on board. About seven thirty I took my medications and went to bed.
The next morning really sucks. We are caught in a storm. The waves are at least five feet high and the boat is bouncing and rocking. Everything is falling off the counters and cupboard doors are opening with stuff flying out. Today is like living in a horror movie. What did I think I was doing getting on this boat? I have a cold and don't feel well. I have oatmeal for breakfast. Meals are the only sane thing about this experience so far. I am frustrated and scared. I am reading as much as I can using Kim's kindle reader. I have read seven chapters of a book and don't even know the name of it. I didn't bother to get out of my jammies this morning and wore them all day. I keep my sweatshirt on over the rest and have my pooh blanket around me to stay warm. I have given up trying to put things away. The floor is littered with everything that isn't tied down. Kim made Mac-n-Cheese and is soaked from being outside in the storm. I insisted she use my winter boots to keep her feet warm and dry. She accepts the idea and after donning them she heads back out to face the weather. It is seven pm, the storm is raging and I am going back to bed.
