Captain Jerry Hoff

Episode 3
Captain Jerry Hoff shares tales from his life on the sea, an encounter with killer bees in Trinidad, his ideas on what makes a great leader, and his hobby- aerial drone photography.
Jerry Hoff Grew up as an “Air Force brat”. He joined the United States Marine Corps and served for three years and then got married and moved to Chicago. He has two daughters.
Jerry worked selling industrial machinery and then ran his own business repacking life rafts while racing sail boats and then decided to become a commercial mariner.
He worked as a ship captain in the oil industry for many years and three years ago became the captain of a commercial dredging ship, his current work is focused on beach re-nourishment aboard the Lindholm, off the coast of NY and NJ.
When not at sea, Jerry lives in Chicago and spends his time in the North Center neighborhood playing with dogs and holding court at the Grace and Leavitt Tavern.
Music Jamie Johnson - High Cost of Living, Mowin' Down the Roses; Ray Wiley Hubbard; Lucinda Williams - Drunken Angel (about Blaze Foley); Margo Price. Captain Jerry is a great man who might want to reduce his intake of mayonnaise relative to tuna by just a bit.

www.whatcanyoutellme.com
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Transcript

spk_0:   0:01
How you doing, Everybody? This is what can you tell me? The podcast today. We talked to Jerry Hoff, a sea captain who looks especially good with a bird on his shoulder. I got pictures to prove it. On the website, Captain Jerry shares a tailor's encounter with killer bees and Trinidad his ideas of what makes a great leader. And he gives us some insight into one of his hobbies. Aerial drone photography. Okay, Super excited today. I have Ah, swear to God legitimate sea Captain in my living room right now, Please. Welcome to the microphone, Captain Jerry Hoff. Good evening. How you doing? Doing well. Fantastic. So your captain, I am. Sometimes. Sometimes, uh what else are you? We better keep that a secret. Fair enough later. Always a gentleman. Oh, I like to share that. Sometimes it's nice. Tell me about early life. What? What got you to be the man who you are today with?

spk_1:   0:52
Okay. I'll do it chronologically was an Air Force brat. My dad was a strategic air Command pilot on B 52. So we grew up all over the place. I happen to be bored and fair. Johnny Cash Fan and Folsom, California nights. Not the prison in the hospital. Right? Ah, when I was very, very young. I joined the Marine Corps a month after my 17th birthday, and I was fortunate enough to go to see right away as a Marine detachment aboard a carrier. That was my introduction to the sea. I was still 17. Okay, um, probably the most formative thing in my life. Besides, marriage and Children was doing my time in the Marine Corps. Okay. And what years was this? 82. 83. Okay, I was stationed two years on. Ah, USS Ranger. CV 61 is the Marine detachment. We did a special job on the on the on the aircraft carrier itself on. And then when I got out, I went back to an infantry unit, First Battalion, ninth Marines Rah rah, the walking dead and, uh ah, it was Ah, I got out of the Marine Corps because I married a girl, a Chicago girl at 18 and she lived here in the neighborhood, and this is what brought me back back here. But that time of learning to cope and survive and the Marine Corps was really a formative thing for me because I was a bit unde estimated or undirected.

spk_0:   2:08
Okay, wild youth there just wasn't sure what you were doing. Exactly. What

spk_1:   2:14
sort of like that. And so that gave me some direction. And when I got out, of course I went to school and I did other jobs besides working at sea and worked in factories that were just a programmer and a systems administrator. And then, ah, went, went back off shore when the money got really, really good to good to ignore. So

spk_0:   2:32
and what So you got from Marines? Were you learning how to be a sea captain when you're in the Marines? Because that's kind of a Navy thing, right?

spk_1:   2:38
It's kind of a Navy thing. But even though I was stationed aboard the ship, we lived aboard the ship is ship's company we didn't have, except for being seagoing. We didn't have a nautical job there. Sure, there's that there was a job just like it on the beach. But we had to do it aboard the shipment, if that makes sense. No. Absolutely. Um and so I didn't I kind of fell into it later, accidentally, and I at the time I started a business in Chicago doing marine safety products, rafts and things like that. It was a long time sailboat racer in Chicago. Okay. And one day, out of the blue, I said, Well, I'm gonna go study foreigner myself. A very low level captain's license. You know, Matter of fact, it was like a 25 ton license, and I earned all that time racing sailboats in Chicago. Um, and then I had 100 ton. And then just on a fluke, I went out to visit my dad in Seattle, and his company shared a picnic area with a big offshore company called Crowley, and they would share picnic tables. And he knew a lot of people he worked for Todd shipyards.

spk_0:   3:38
Okay. Crowley like, grand crowd

spk_1:   3:40
earlier. Uh, no. No. Good. Not great. Crowds are unrelated. Crowd crowley Maritime. They got tugs and barges and I t bees and transit stuff, and I was just out visiting him, and we're driving home and got home. Somebody from Crowley called and said they knew I had credentials. Erlich, would your son like to go to Alaska for 45 days? Yeah. Okay.

spk_0:   4:02
All right. So I

spk_1:   4:02
went up on a tug and barge hauling fuel up, you know, through the illusions all the way up the in a way, way up north in Alaska. And that sort of started my commercial, you know, maritime the link for me And then as a fluke to it, we were on a boat down in four Crowley down in, um, the West Bank in New Orleans. I'm getting a boat repaired for Crowley, and that was the hub of the oil field on all these oil field ships had come in, and, boy, they just looked like hot rods. Boy, they were beautiful. 203 100 you know, for your foot three and 50 foot. And they were just built State of the art. They look so cool, you know? And of course, the oil fields was jumpin backing. It was real part of a boom. So I got on the phone, you know, with three phone calls, you know, three offers and luckily worked for went to work for a company which is still the one of the largest in the world called Schw Esther Edison's West Offshore, on which is based in Galliano, Louisiana, and ah, they kind of took me in that, that the business was blooming so much they would fast track people and they would do all their training and they would send you to all their school and fast tracking upto higher level license is very grateful to them for that. And that's That's how we started working my way through the big boats.

spk_0:   5:18
And you were so as you were getting your captain's license kind of up to that the point of you working commercially. You were just sailing for fun, and I was sailing

spk_1:   5:26
for fun, and I was working. I was actually selling machinery. Was with the last jobs I had has worked for a European company as, ah, North American sales manager, selling transfer lines. You know, if you wanted to make 450,000 Ford Explorer engine blocks every six months, we sold you a building full of machinery that did all that automated.

spk_0:   5:47
Got Jeff Ah, and then ah, for I guess the layman's understanding, like 25. You said a 25 ton vessel? No. Well, the size is that we're using.

spk_1:   6:00
That was a small one. You know,

spk_0:   6:02
these sales, but I mean small means what? Like, uh,

spk_1:   6:04
originally earned my first licensed, you know, running sail boats that were, you know, probably 27 toe 45 feet long and not what we're talking about. Vessels that are unlimited tonnage and and and varying lengths from 300 from a football field long to sometimes bigger, sometimes smaller and slightly smaller tonnage.

spk_0:   6:24
And that is like, what in tonnage? Why? Like, what's the not to be like? What's the biggest ship that you've steered before? We do say steering right. You don't drive a shift, you steer it, drive a ship. Oh, you Dr Helmer ship, you're still steering. OK, fair enough. So

spk_1:   6:38
I worked on a limited tenant vessel right now, but it's his dry. Wait, Tony, do you think it's about 9000 tons, Which is small when you look at something like an aircraft carrier, which is 105,000 tons? Okay, but they're suitable for the for the job that they that they work in their suitable sizes and suitable tonnage for the

spk_0:   6:56
task that they're designed. Sure so And what? Ah, what would be the task that you're currently Ah, you got your currently doing like what? What is Captain Jerry do it? Work every day.

spk_1:   7:06
We currently, um we're working primarily coastal along the East Coast, occasionally in the Gulf of Mexico. But our primary job is called beach Renourishment. As you know, even from in Chicago beaches Ah, get hit hard by natural erosion or a serious cycle of weather events, hurricanes, things like that. And particularly in the East Coast, New Jersey, New York, Long Island. They got really hard hit by Superstorm, Sandy. And so all those beaches got washed away and there's a lot of homes there. And so basically, what we do is we suck sand off the sea floor, OK? In a specific area. Um, the Army Corps engineer runs all the jobs of these areas where we call a borrow area, which is where they want us to take the sand from. We put these big giant arms down, you know, 70 80 90 feet down into the sea floor and suck the sand off the bottom like a big old vacuum cleaner. And

spk_0:   8:00
it was just a giant shot back on a ship that goes, except

spk_1:   8:03
for this shot back as 2 5000 horsepower locomotive engines run off each pump

spk_0:   8:09
that I love it that have about each the impeller of each of these things

spk_1:   8:13
were probably the housings are about probably 12 or 13 feet high. We could each pick it both climb inside of when I think I

spk_0:   8:20
could stand on my shoulders like we're in the circus. Exactly. Exactly. So then

spk_1:   8:24
what would do is we'll load up essentially a hopper or the dump truck part of the ship.

spk_0:   8:29
Okay? And how much of the ship is that? It's roughly what are we talking?

spk_1:   8:35
60 per 50 to 60% ownership of the space is allocated for that, and then we'll drive to a connection a pipeline that's built about 1/2 mile off shore, some between 1/2 a mile off the shore and one end of it, ah, will float what we have to pick it up with. Actually throw a hook at it, just like deadliest catch. We got a floating piece of Polly line, all right, throw a hook and grab it and then get a bigger piece of line and put it on a windless. And once this huge connection up, which is probably 36 inches in diameter on the inside connection. And then what? Well, ah, well, connect the hose to the ship, and then we'll take all that sand we have. This hopper will mix it with water. Okay, so it flows so it flows and we'll pump it that half a mile to a mile all the way to the beach. And bulldozers are just waiting there just to spread it all out. And it's very closely surveyed when you know they don't just pilot. So look tonight that's gonna be very closely surveyed and measured as to how much we're putting on the beach. And that's how you get a new beach.

spk_0:   9:36
And how long does, like, How long does it take the vacuum, the seafloor and Philip your hopper

spk_1:   9:42
without making it too complex? It varies from location location based upon the the nature of the sand and the way the geology is. And every year, some sand Zahra lot denser and heavier. Some scenes you encounter rocks and shells, sometimes munitions off the East coast, live

spk_0:   10:00
ammunition. Still, our life munitions, I should say That's right. That's terrifying. Did they, like, literally gets stuck in the vacuum or do Jesus Whose job is it to deal with that? Army Corps Engineers. My God, No, thanks.

spk_1:   10:12
So, anyway, generally, you know, we probably average on this last job. It was very easy. Santo, get on a boat and pump shore. And it would be about 45 minutes to load about 3000 cubic yards of a lot of sand. Yeah, and then 35 to 45 minutes to pump that onto the beach.

spk_0:   10:30
Okay. And so, 3000 cubic yards for the visual references. Like roughly how? Like how you like length with type of your hopper. Like what are we talking?

spk_1:   10:41
Well, that never measure. But I'd say the hopper is probably 100 feet long and it's probably saying is in there at least 30 feet deep. Just a guess. And how wide? Roughly. 0 25 30 feet would

spk_0:   10:55
so 25 30 by 100 by right. That's crazy, huh?

spk_1:   10:59
Imagine like a whole bunch, uh, semi trucks, you know, full of sand. You probably 25 of those full of sand.

spk_0:   11:06
Uh, I like it. I like it. Anything. Ah, anything interesting ever come out of said, Ah, vacuum or what's like the weirdest crap that's ever gone in there. You know, you get you

spk_1:   11:16
get sea creatures that get sucked up and then usually get mangled, but sometimes they'll make it through. Okay, um, we do run bomb grates when we're munitions prone areas. So this up, but the so they don't go through the the actual pump, they'll get stuck in the greats themselves,

spk_0:   11:31
which has my again I'd never wanted.

spk_1:   11:33
So we had 100 5 millimeter artillery shells stuck in there probably about three months ago. One of the's coast. Andi

spk_0:   11:40
How? I mean, did they could they guessed the maid how old it was. It was this newer, older. I mean, World War. No, it sze they

spk_1:   11:47
always attributed to World War Two. Either training or um, from course. You know, the German Navy was laying off the East Coast ports and attacking ships. So but a lot of training, Okay, it's worth most, but it's 50 caliber shells are an expended cartridges. You'll suck up quite a bit

spk_0:   12:06
and you get to keep any Where do they keep it all? No, no. I mean, like the empty shells that you know, like there's no case you get it. They don't want to keep it. Anything. Boo! Come on. Army. You could make like an awesome I feel like an awesome wine goblet. I think nowadays would be tough to

spk_1:   12:21
travel with. But we do keep sometimes, Well, gets a beautiful shells that'll come up through, and we'll keep those occasionally a piece of whale vertebrae. Oh, interim. We've had come up piece of whale bone, A nice big piece that's intact, and yet people keep my souvenirs. So

spk_0:   12:34
that's cool. I hope we're not breaking any international laws. No. Okay. Perfect. Not you see the other guy? It would never be, you know, but wait, technically is Captain isn't everything that happens on that ship. You're your problem that

spk_1:   12:45
there is a responsibility. Okay, um, so you just naturally, tryto work within the framework that say, you know, a lawful framework here at all times. You know, it's it's safe for us. Well, too. So there's really nothing we could do to break the law. Unless, um, we dig sand in the wrong spot. You pick it up and carry it from the Hamptons into New York, are you?

spk_0:   13:08
You're like, Sorry. I had,

spk_1:   13:09
um I spilled a bunch of fuel on the water is probably the worst thing. You could do it. So you always want to be very protective. Protective of the barman. Those are the most important guidelines we work within. Is this be careful with the environment?

spk_0:   13:22
So what size would your crew be then? I mean, when you're on said ship. What What would be of 14 to 16? Okay. And you guys spend How long on the on the ship of that?

spk_1:   13:30
Generally, we spent three weeks. We live aboard this ship the whole time, Okay. They weren't home for three weeks. So one of the nice things about you know, this job with this company is that I only work six months of the year.

spk_0:   13:40
Okay, but you're absolutely gone. It's not like you're coming home for the afternoon for lunch.

spk_1:   13:45
No, you live aboard, all right? And we've got everything we need. You know, we've got full time chefs. Um, we've got satellite TV and Internet. All the officers have satellite tv, Internet, interstate rooms,

spk_0:   13:55
and how the hell big is one state room. I mean, I worked on a cruise ship 20 years ago, and I was super lucky to have a room that was maybe eight feet by 10 feet. That was like luxury living. Relatively speaking, that's about the same. OK, captains have a little

spk_1:   14:08
more space because they'll have some administrative space tow work out Well, um, but it's still regardless. It's austere, you know. And but the important thing is is that it's clean, and so we do our best to keep it

spk_0:   14:20
clean. Do you at least get a porthole to get to see outside from Europe? Yes. Yeah. You know, I had an inner cabin where I just well, literally had metal walls, so I don't even get to stare out at sea. One of my buddies did, and it was like, the greatest thing I had ever experienced. We can get the

spk_1:   14:34
sunshine and which is that's how I know prefer to wake up. Is the sunshine coming porthole?

spk_0:   14:39
That's awesome. And so how long you been working for this company or doing this? Sort of Ah, specific. I've only

spk_1:   14:45
worked at this company doing this this application or this type of job for, ah, a couple of years almost three years ago, but I did a much longer term before this. I always worked in the oil field industry, which was completely different type of vessels, much higher tech, you know, dynamic positioning vessels that, you know, we could park the thing in a three meter circle for a month and 1/2 if we needed to, you know,

spk_0:   15:10
and it just has all the it knows how to do it. He

spk_1:   15:13
knows how to do it, you know, use all the measurement systems that are available, you know, GPS lasers bouncing off Riggs. And you could hook up a few holes to him and sit there and say

spk_0:   15:23
they were barely waiver back and forth and

spk_1:   15:25
goes back and forth a couple of feet. That's it. Three meters. So you know, that's your talking nine feet and mostly less than that. So

spk_0:   15:31
that's crazy. Tick technology's not exactly the old days of, ah, of whaling. Ship is nice, you

spk_1:   15:37
know, even though you had to manage the systems and manage the machinery, the computers that we used to do it really did make many parts of our job. He's here. Yeah, Whereas this what I do now, Um, when you go get on the hose, there's no positioning system you have to drive the boat manually. Yeah, this small ship Manly The whole time you're connected on

spk_0:   15:59
DSO, people haven't understanding. I mean, it's not like old school where we all think I mean literally. We'll think of like Moby Dick where it's a giant wooden wheel with some spoke sticking off of it like, Is this similar to my cruise ship? I was on where I and to be clear, I was an entertainer on a cruise ship. I had zero function in the running of a boat or a ship. But is it more like the joystick style and choices and buttons? It's a joystick, the

spk_1:   16:23
swinger rudders back and forth. And then, ah, it's CP Driven, which is controllable pitch, and so the engines will run a constant rpm. The perhaps will turn in a constant rpm. We just vary the pitch with a couple of levers. No, pull them all the way back in. The boat wants to go backwards. You pull them all the way forward. But what's unique is we have to split him a lot. We'll have one forward, one back to induce twist into the vessel toe, keep it in a certain position.

spk_0:   16:47
Got chips? Like, If you always want to be pointed north, for example, it's it's gonna you personally have to do that as opposed to your right. You can't. You can't Just said it for you,

spk_1:   17:00
but the old boats was that way. You're just basically, you set your heading and he set your position where you wanted it. Set up your reference systems and the boats stayed there 99.9% of time. Unless you had some anomaly or some, you know, either machinery anomaly or a weather anomaly. Okay. You know, the boats were designed Thio actually deal with a lot of that. Sure. You know

spk_0:   17:20
what's the great? I mean, are you guys stuck out there when it's bad weather? Do they kind of say no? This is unnecessary and useless. Let's get you in. I have

spk_1:   17:28
sailed through several hurricanes and

spk_0:   17:31
terrifying what's the You know what it

spk_1:   17:33
is is that it's ah, I was always comfortable in the sea worthiness of the vessel, so I wasn't terrified. Um, but other people were Yeah, you know, and so you just probably like an airline pilot is the same ways you have to make sure you have this air of confidence about you because that people will feed off of that. And if you, if you look afraid or you're not confident your vessel people are going to feed off of that, too, and it's go, it's gonna worry them. Um, so what It mostly is, it's just uncomfortable. For one. I don't care how big a ship you're on when the wind is blowing over 60 knots is very loud. Yeah, and you can hear anywhere. And of course, the Cesaire. Very, very bad. So it's hard for people to sleep soon as you get to sleep, they're getting rolled around. You know, your body is not used to having that kind of motion, but there's ways to adapt it. Or sometimes you just spend days just dealing with it. You know, it's nice when you know customers that you work for, say, all right, get the last load. Go in. Yeah, come on. I want to say Farber and one of the nice things about working off a Long Island in the Hamptons and in northern New Jersey was that were close to New York Harbor in Sandy Hook. So when we knew what the weather was gonna be bad for. Extended pretty time, and we couldn't do the job we were there for. We'll be able to go in an anchor in a sheltered harbor, which is really a nice or if we needed maintenance or repairs. You know, it was close. God,

spk_0:   18:51
Jeff, that's awesome. What was what's been your most fun job? Of all of them? Like anything, Even if it was, like one time or anything, just any particular,

spk_1:   19:01
um, I'd have to say it was a period of time. Um, more than one time and one. Remember when I was still a decade and I worked out on the Gulf of Mexico on a big anchor handler and I have two good friends that are still my friends of this day, and we always worked the same watch together. Doing the same job has able bodied seaman, you know, just ah, listen, rank and we just had a great time and we had tons of laughs. And then when I moved up the ladder and I ran my own ships, my most memorable period of time is having spent working in China. Dad from 2011 toe roughly 2016. And I had almost on all trainee crew. It wasn't all trainee crew, for all the ratings by the ratings will be in all the non officer ranks.

spk_0:   19:43
Got you. Where were you living in Trinidad or living out of Trinidad? Or are you still coming back and coming back and forth? So I would

spk_1:   19:48
stay on the ship for two months at a time and come home for a month. So But I had, um ah, Trini mates, Um, who came on, you know, local mates. And they turned out to be the just the best guys. And they taught me Maura, about leadership on being kind to people and showing restraint, but truly leadership, you know, they really they tell me I was a good captain for them. But I always tell them you guys did more for me than I ever did for you because they really, really taught me howto Or maybe it just sunk in at that time. How to deal with people and have good leadership and build. Ah, you know, have a happy crew. But still, they understood that you had a responsibility and they were responsive. and respectful of the hierarchy and they But they did their jobs. And basically, we had such a tight family on this ship. Nobody had to be a tyrant. I have horse somebody that's a tyrant on a ship. Um, that life was easy. I mean, we just lived good. We enjoyed each other's company. We were all adults. We came on, we got the job done because we want to go home to our loved ones. Yep. You know, and it was Ah, I miss those guys terribly. Boyd, I missed the food down there, too. And the music? Yeah. You know. So, uh, since we're talking about Trinidad, I thought of you, especially when I saw the picture in your podcast page of you attending your be highlights their short, sir, or anything on it.

spk_0:   21:06
No shoes that I think that day even. Yeah. And you can

spk_1:   21:09
appreciate this, but anyway, sort a little background in Central and South America, the prefer B is the Africanized honey bee, which we unfortunately refer to as

spk_0:   21:18
the killer be the killer bee little bee. Yeah,

spk_1:   21:21
um, and they can be more aggressive, but they're not. Yeah, not radically.

spk_0:   21:26
What was it the eighties where there was this light, they're going to take over America. I was terrified as a

spk_1:   21:31
youngster, you know, in third grade that the bees were gonna compass. So anyway, that's the predominant be on. And for all the reasons, that's ah, you know, their preferred by honey producers. So we'd come in in our ship, and we'd anchor in the harbor and Trinidad, and you'd get a traveling queen that would just light on a piece of cargo on your deck. And all of a sudden, she's surrounded by, you know, 200,000 of her of her clothes so they can't unload the piece of cargo because you don't want to disturb him. So eventually, what they do is they send a local beehive. Yes, fella, I don't know. What what,

spk_0:   22:04
uh, what is it? Well, your baby Esther. Yeah, I guess it would be an atheist. I should know that when he comes out, he's

spk_1:   22:11
wearing flip flops and shorts. No gloves, not love it. And he walked. He just walks slowly. Help to this. These massive of killer bees? Yeah, he's with a little portable beehive. He takes out a piece of honey comb and in a paintbrush out of the other pocket and eat slowly, just rushes her out of the vehicle, sets her back in that this little portable beehive on the ground in about five minutes. All that half a gazillion bees have all walked off the piece of cargo into the beehive, and he's off, and he's not a happier

spk_0:   22:42
he's got freebies. Well, not only does he have freebies, but your company may have had to pay him to do that. And then he's got bees or hives that he can now sell. It is an awesome If you're that guy, it's a win win. I'm still not that confident and might be keeping, but But I think eventually

spk_1:   22:57
we'll keep the docile bees. I do so want to come over and fly the drone when you're doing it. You know,

spk_0:   23:02
they might be freaked out. You know it is interesting, though when you are in a beehive, you can stand right in front of that thing. What people don't realize his bees aren't trying to sting you, right? They sting you when it's their last hope. This is the only thing they can do to protect their colony, and they don't care about themselves. It kind of is like a kamikaze pilot. Well, one could argue they probably didn't have the exact same choice. But in beehives, it really is just They're doing what's best for the hive, plain and simple, and so they'll bump into you and they'll just try and fly around you. But they will legitimately just fly past you. You can stand right in that entrance and you'll watch him zigzag around you so that they can just land drop off their cargo and they just take right off again because they've got a job. But it's those wasps and Hornets that give all those little credit. It's useless. I'm sure they do something. I just haven't figured it. I don't think they pollinate. I think they just

spk_1:   23:48
make people mad. Especially the end of summer. Yeah, Yeah. Interesting. No, that was my favorite time. I I wish every day I would get a phone call and I could go back and I could teach that mind. I've gotta hand pick those guys because really, I didn't have to do anything, Captain E. I just did paperwork because my guys handled. We're so good at handling every aspect of it. Yep, and I let them do it. I wanted them to be the best at the job. I want him to become the best boat drivers. And they did. They were really better boat handlers and me, you know, in a short in short order. So but it was very satisfying to see how they grew. And when people grow up differently down there, it's not easy. You know, the way they live in their villages and you work with a guy in a small village, you know, where we see, it's easy to give people orders on. It's easier for us for some people, not in that environment. Say, I need you to do this. I need to do that. And it was very difficult for them. One of the things that I have to help bring them along with us. They need to understand you have responsibility so you can ask in the way you want to ask. But they need to understand that that I'm gonna hold you responsible if it doesn't get done, Yeah, and to watch them grow and to do that and to earn people's respect on on the boat and developers leaders was the most satisfying thing I ever did. That's probably why it was such an important time for me.

spk_0:   25:14
Yeah, I think it's so important, especially if you have a good boss or you are a good boss, is how you communicate with your team. And it's something where you allow them to do their job and they allow you to do your job and everyone is supporting everyone, and it makes it so much better. I cannot say anything but the highest praise for the sergeant. I work for right now on the Police Department just absolutely incredible. And he really just he's there for us. We never are worried that he's going to throw us under the bus. So and I

spk_1:   25:44
worked for when I was coming up it before trying to Dad, you know, I had some really, really key forward of people that are still good friends of mine that were mentors and took me under their wing, who exhibited that same type of leadership skill, the same thing. They were never tyrants, you know, um, they earned your respect, and even if you didn't respect to be respected, the rink. And But they proved you They were competent and they were fair. And probably the operative phrase is being, You know, an officer on a ship has always shown restraint. Yep, it's so key, and I'm I'm sure you understand. Always show me state. If you have some issue with somebody, I would always give it 24 hours to think about it, to make sure all the emotion dripped out of the side of it. I always made sure was I learned to make sure it was always principle, not personality.

spk_0:   26:31
Yeah, so well, And that's the same with the job I'm doing right now. It's not. It's not personal, you know, Just because you're getting arrested doesn't mean I think any less of you as a human being. Somebody said you did something wrong. I have to do something about it. That is my job, you know, and it's it's I can still be a CZ polite and kind and courteous to you is necessary, and I will be forceful if it's absolutely necessary, and thankfully it really hasn't been much. But when it is, it's it is necessary, so it keeps everyone safer, as weird as That sounds right. I agree. Yeah, but showing restraint. Yeah. All right. And Ah, so Okay, so So you're Captain. That's going on. How many years now? 0 25 years. All right. So before you were a captain, I mean, when you're a kid, what did what did little Jerry want to be when he grew up? I

spk_1:   27:12
want me and I grew up on these strategic air command bases. I want to be a pilot. Okay, that's what I want to be Awesome. And, uh, but it just didn't just didn't turn out that way. Yeah, And eso. Hopefully I did, but

spk_0:   27:24
well, last I heard, Marines don't fly any. Thank you. You may have chosen. Ah, restrained, resupply fly. Plenty of stuff. Do they? Yeah. F a t s f 35 Marines. See 22. Sure. We have our own earwigs. What? So the navy isn't just like the transport as everyone likes. You have defensive? Yes. I hope my father in law's not listening. Fun story. He used to be a commander before he was a captain, I guess in the navy, that's how the ranks go. You go from right, Commander to Captain. Captain the captain

spk_1:   27:55
Rank is the equivalent of a full board colonel in the Marine Corps.

spk_0:   27:58
Okay, so in his case on his my wife's maiden name is Xander. So for about 10 years, her father was Commander Xander, which is the most amazing name, in my opinion, you could ever have. They were actually kind of bummed when he got promoted. Because they're like Captain Zander just doesn't have the same ring to it. Doesn't it like that? I can't imagine it was the worst payback. Be there. Yes. The marines fly. Okay, well, see, I learned something new today,

spk_1:   28:23
and we are. I will admit the Marines are a naval service. You know, if you look at the Marine Corps emblem, it says in a nice h me in court department, the Navy and our mission has always been to season secure advanced naval bases. So we are unable service. We're just not part of the Navy.

spk_0:   28:38
I love it. There's so many things I learned here. This is great rock. Semper fi. I got a couple of marines out. They're gonna appreciate that when one of these days, I'm going to put my bagpipes and play the Marine Corps him for you. You better. I will. It's a promise. It z promise. Uh, Okay, so let's see. Childhood. You wanted to be a pilot? Have you ever done any pilot flying? I have. Okay. Would you fly? I have. I flew up, actually,

spk_1:   28:59
when I was a kid in high school up in Anchorage, My best friend has dead. My best friend, My old best friend Kevin. Frisky. His dad was owned. Ah, outfit called Alaska Air Gate. And he had some cabins out on Lake Clark, which is one of the deepwater, deepest freshwater lakes in the and then in the world. I think it looks like a big, giant piece of turquoise when you fly over because it's all glacier fed. So he was falling out there quite often in the summertime. I would fly out with him and and he would let me fly the plane. I did take some lessons, You know, when I was young, but then, you know, my wife got on a different, a different path. And when I joined the service and was raising kids and adults Now, in retrospect, now that I'm the age I am, I wish I would wish I could go back and do it. But it's a little far out of reach of my age. I think so.

spk_0:   29:43
Come on. A little little private aircraft time hanging out. Doesn't like a pilot was silver. Here s O. You got the captain's bars, right? They won't know the difference. Uh, I am a hang glider pilot. I fly a hang glider and it is a ton of fun. It's also absolutely terrifying when you realize you are legitimately hanging on a kite in the middle of the air. But nothing is more incredible than being 3000 feet above the ground or higher and hearing on Lee Wind going over that win at wing. And there's no sound of an engine, there's just nothing. And you hear the light creaking of the glider as you're rocking back and forth and you're looking around at the world. It's truly uncredible experience. I tended by an ultra light. I think, uh, actually, what I really want to get is they do powered hang gliding, and you basically have a giant fan that goes off the back of it. And you it's it's on a trike, so it looks like a Ah. I guess the best way to describe it would be a fiberglass, um, rocket built for one or two. People know exactly what they like. And you put that fan on the back and it allows you to just take off and land at your will, which I think would be pretty awesome to have. No, I love it. I love being in the air, a level also being on a boat. I could

spk_1:   30:56
imagine how much he had the beautiful stuff you can see from the air. Will you do it? You have the same experience on ships, too. I don't think you have it so much off the Hamptons. But in other places that I've sailed, you just see some stunning things. And I've seen both ends of several rainbows. That's awesome. In ah, usually in ah Tao to Trinidad. I've seen that several times in the mountains in Trinidad are absolutely

spk_0:   31:18
stunning. That's great. Yeah, I did. When I worked on a cruise ship, we sailed over the Caribbean and it was a ton of fun. Uh, first week on board was exclusively literally taking classes to make sure you were in compliance with coastguard regulations and doing all the safety classes and make sure we know what we're doing. But after that, as an entertainer, it was just kind of having fun. But still knowing that there was while I had a cruise director who was my boss, there was always the captain. The captain told you what to do if he had to, and you don't. Thankfully, the captain rarely had to get involved with entertainment related things unless it was somebody doing something that was putting the ship at a danger, which I quite honestly can't think of Anything on entertainer may have done to do that. But it was just fascinating to see the world of truly, like, who ran the ship and who made it function. And I got to spend a small amount of time with a friend of mine who was She was the first female officer in the Israeli Navy back in the nineties, and she ended up becoming a, uh, first cap first mate. First, mate. Yeah. Yeah, first mate on the ship I was working on. And so she got to do a lot of the one you just visited in Israel is correct. Yeah. So I got to see her this summer when I was out in Israel and she went from that to now her and her husband run a music school. So, you know, some people go into Catholic and others go out of it, right?

spk_1:   32:35
Nice. Well, you know, I think that if you're I guess it's like being a mathematician. It could be a good be good at so many things. But if you're used to dealing with people, experience different situations and adapting, I think you've become It's nothing that anybody could ever put in a job description that they were looking for. But I think that a lot of those types of people like what you do and I d'oh makes it suitable for a lot more positions that would normally fit into our experience just because of how we deal with other people in situations

spk_0:   33:02
for sure. And I quite regularly get asked why I went from being in the circus toe, being a police officer, and I'm like, Well, like I still do circus. I still ask that question that it's it's crazy. It's a fun job. It's really every day is different, and I get to use a lot of the skills, and a lot of the reasons I wanted to be in the circus. Still in the police Department is weird. As that sounds, You really are helping people every day. When I was a performer, I helped people. I'll say in a sense, forget about life for a while and laugh and have a good time. And most of what you're doing as a police officer is legitimately helping people the amount of seconds you spend actually dealing with an arrest in the moments that happens. You know, if a TV show was Riel, uh, sorry. Let me put it better if a police TV show actually had an accurate description of what the average cop today was like and it was a 30 minute long TV show around 20 plus minutes of that show would be you driving around, you know, waiting for something to happen, so to speak, because that's ultimately what happens. You may be nearby. You may have to drive to it. Beyond that, though, it really is a lot of paperwork, and even the arrest itself will take usually mere seconds. And most people aren't fighting with you. They realized by the time the police have shown up and they're still there in a situation that's not good, if they're getting arrested, there's not. Fighting is not gonna help. You know they will go. Okay. I messed up. You know, there's this is how we do this next. And ah, it's It's just one of those things that happens so that

spk_1:   34:28
it's very similar to what, you know, captains and pilots go through to that. The job is very mundane when everything's going right. Yeah. Ah, and that very rarely. But occasionally it could be terrifying because there's some sort of crisis. Or there could be a fire or something like that. Essentially, you know, I'm just, you know, I look at running a ship. Very, very rarely do the actual captain's actually do the navigation of the vessel or steering the vessel. You're managing a business unit? Sure. You know, you're being a rabbi, Chief cook, bottle washer, priest, life coach. Um, grocery order. Um, you're managing a budget. Um, you're making sure that other people, their departments like the engineering department, You know, all your maintenance is on line. It's basically just running a business notes. And, uh, and trying to keep 14 souls, you know? You know, we're being working, working in harmony. Yeah, all the time.

spk_0:   35:24
No, I I will often describe my job as a police officer as being an adult recess monitor with a gun and a badge. You know, kids on the playground, they get mad at their friends and they punch him or they push him over. What happens? Somebody blows a whistle, and then they say, Hey, you two, come here and find out what the story is and you go to the principal's office, right? You said the principal's office and the principal talks you. You did this. This is not good. And then maybe you're old enough. They put you in detention, and then all is good. We call your parents and we tell Mom and Dad This is why he did this. Okay, well, when you're an adult and you decide to push somebody that you don't know or do you know the police show up and then what happens? We have to take We blow that whistle or we don't. We just say, Hey, time to stop. Ideally you get it. And that What what then happens. We find out this is actually a law that has been broken. So now somebody is going in handcuffs. Somebody says I'm willing to sign complaints, legal documents stating that this person broke the law towards me. In a sense, they stole something for me. They hit me. They did whatever on. Now it's up to me to say how and unfortunately, this is what's going on. You know, hands behind your back, sort of a scenario. Hands go in handcuffs, and we can be, As I mentioned early, we can be as polite and friendly as necessary because all I'm doing is getting you to the next step, which is me. Finishing paperwork bring you to getting fingerprinted, photographed, and if it's not too serious of an offense, you go on your way and you show up to a judge who is just like that principal who then says This is what's gonna happen or not. And detention is ideally been taken care of. And it doesn't require you to go to jail Jail jail, which happens right? Some of the time. But it's it's a fascinating hope. That's enough

spk_1:   36:57
for most. For almost

spk_0:   36:58
all the situation. Yeah, ideally. And you know, nothing too serious. And, you know, the more serious ones obviously require more serious means to be to be dealt with. But yeah, it's it's very much managing how people interact with each other and whether they realize it or not, That's kind of what you're doing. So yeah. And how does that How does that go from being a captain on this ship? Thio Going back to regular life like when you come home? Is there any kind of adjustment period or is there just, like, so glad to be home? See, my friends be with my peeps, Say, join me for a beverage.

spk_1:   37:32
I am now, um, since I've been doing it so long and it's getting harder and harder for me to leave, Um ah, that I am so happy to get home. But I'm also so happy I'm on the ship. Is people like you? You guys all checking with me when I'm gone? When I'm on the boat and which is the it's the connection that that keeps my spirits up to because I miss everybody.

spk_0:   37:54
And so just to give a little bit of background, Captain and I met each other at the local watering hole that used to be a bartender at, and it's a great neighborhood pub where it's ah, it's What I like to say is it's my cheers When you walk in the door, everybody knows who you are. And if you walk in and you don't recognize somebody, it's a rare day or it's like a busy Friday and it's weird and you go, Wait a minute. This can't be, you know, But the rest of the time you walk in and it takes you, Ah, 10 minutes to actually grab your seat because you're walking up and down the bar to say hi to all your backslapping

spk_1:   38:25
and hug in and given the lady's pecks on the cheek and everybody have missed. So when everybody's happiness is

spk_0:   38:31
well and it's a neighborhood living room, I mean, that's what I like about it. So it is a drink. Would you come back? You come back and it's like, Hey, I'm in town. It's like being invited. Ah, you know. Hey, I'm gonna be at the bark. So what do we do? We go over to the g N l and we grab a beverage and it's ah, it's just catching up in a in a living room that isn't somebody's house as it as it should be that. But, you

spk_1:   38:50
know, outside of that, you know, it's just I'm so happy to be back on land and around everybody care about everybody whose company I enjoy, Um, but it's, you know, I'm the same person on a ship as I am off the ship. Not everybody is. Unfortunately, I don't want to talk about, you know, the Dark Aster captain's personalities. But I'm just saying, if the best people that work on ships, and certainly the best officers or best leaders that the same exact person on the boat is they're off the boat, they would never see any. I would never say anything to anybody on a ship, certainly in the role of my job that I wouldn't say on the sidewalk in front of my house. Yep, you know there's no difference, and not everybody's that way, But that's the way I'm never going to change that way. That's it works for me. So I

spk_0:   39:31
think we have similar similar mindset is

spk_1:   39:33
a kind of professional at every turn that you can, Which is old? 99.99999999% of the time.

spk_0:   39:40
Yeah. No, I like to tell people my life is truly an open book. Like there's no stories I'm not willing to share with people. There's nothing I don't want to talk about. I mean, when it comes to being on the Internet, things like that. It gets tough because there are people who just straight up, you know, in the case of being a police officer, they don't like the police, right? I mean, I get that. I understand that. But what they also need to realize is I'm a human being who had a 40 year life ahead of Ah. But prior to that and that none of that left me all of my friends, all of my experiences in life all of my traveling in the world came along with me. All right, so let's say so. Where, Captain now. So when you when you really grow of what you're gonna be Ah,

spk_1:   40:21
boy, I'm just gonna be retired. And I think I'm gonna fly fish and you know, I don't know yet. I guess it's kind of scary to think about, you know, Is that what am I gonna D'oh! You know, it'd be nice to find where I could work with people. I do enjoy working with people. I was saying to myself, it'll be hard to do because I don't have a resume that that fits in anybody's job description. But, you know,

spk_0:   40:42
like you said, you got business management. I mean, you've got plenty going on there that that's transferred. I think I'd like to

spk_1:   40:47
be like a victim's advocate. I think ah would be. Seems like an interesting job that I think I've got the right heart for Yeah, um, and it would be interesting to me, you know, I could also. Sometimes I wish I could be like, ah, private investigator, you know, And what I think would be interesting. I think I naturally have a nose for that stuff. Haven't thought about it for sure. Hope. I hope I make it there and I get injured. I certainly hope you make it there, too. I find I'm hanging out here with you while you're

spk_0:   41:14
doing it. All right, So, uh, in your free time when you're home, what's Ah, What's the usual day like,

spk_1:   41:19
Well, I got my lady's projects. Of course. All right. We've always got a list of stuff going on, and then we keep each other busy with, you know, house re Meiling projects and building shelves. And we've got a lovely place in lakes and even we like to visit up there, and that's carrying and firewood. Or just enjoy it. Being with family, playing a lot of cards, rolling a lot of dice tip in a few here in there. Yeah. Um, but the most days air. Very unplanned. We always keep it to do list, which I never finish. Yeah, um, but and it always grows when I'm gone, but, ah, essentially, I spend every day saying nice things and doing nice things. Ah, for my for my lady. So

spk_0:   42:04
I love it. And that's how we should do it. I mean, I'm pretty sure Louise does the same things for you, So I

spk_1:   42:12
do ask some hobbies. Besides doing housework and nice things,

spk_0:   42:15
I hope so. And and ah ah ah. I've

spk_1:   42:18
always said that I'm on expert at trying to become an expert and ah, but I am an expert at failing miserably. trying to become an expert at all my hobbies. So try to play a lot of ukulele guitar and sometimes more enthusiastic and others, but something I've taken on recently it was Ah, um, trying to learn something about drones cinematography, and this started as a joke in our backyard about I got tired of going up through the roof on top of the roof to look at the gutter to see

spk_0:   42:44
why it wasn't draining. So so you literally decided would be a good idea to have a drone, for

spk_1:   42:49
I was just gonna buy a drone. So I bought, like at the $49.1 off of the the big website. And, of course, it just

spk_0:   42:56
promptly flew off into the neighbor's into a gutter that you never got back. A buddy of mine literally lost, I think, a $900 drone in the river when he was looking at the video and not where the drone was and crashed it right into a bridge, and then it just dropped straight to the ground. I have sacrificed more than one drawn up in lakes

spk_1:   43:16
and even fluid right into a tree, because I was doing a flight path based upon a satellite picture that was a couple years

spk_0:   43:22
old. Lovely trees have grown up. Turns out that happens. Bought the insurance. Us have a new one in a couple days. Excellent. But anyway, so I've

spk_1:   43:31
been, um probably the I'm really interested in the Jones in the drone cinematography and learning to do it and learning that aspect. And then the next stage for me will be to learn how to edit. Sure. Um, you know, get in the software and edit those clips, and then I think I may do try to earn a f

spk_0:   43:49
A. I was just going to say, if you get that FAA license when you're do this in your retirement, but, yeah, if you're doing commercial photography, you do that. People do it with sailboats and houses that we actually we got a call the other day that somebody was flying a drone, and it turned out it was a guy doing it for real estate purposes. And that does If people aren't aware requiring FAA license, it sure does. And and I mean, I could I could walk up my whole street and get in and say, Hey, you want to see your roof. Everybody's interested to see their roof. Absolutely neighbors. But it's always, you know, I'm an amateur, share what they consider to be a hobbyist. So I think I might do that and then maybe try to get

spk_1:   44:24
some commercial work doing real estate or doing appraisals surveys on cell phone towers or buildings you know, with

spk_0:   44:31
what is kind of a reasonable amount. Well, I mean, knowing that there's always the starter drone that gets you hooked. Like, what does one have to spend for and not assuming? Ah, $30,000 fanciest of fancy. But like, what's Ah, what's an appropriate amount of money to spend for like, where the quality and the the money meet at the right spot? You

spk_1:   44:50
know, for me, it was about $1500. Okay, Um and but I did buy the 1st 1 a very high quality drone, which I quickly dismembered

spk_0:   45:00
up. Yeah, Geneva. Uh uh. But but I know that you can

spk_1:   45:04
buy good drones that that fly well, that air stabilized and gps toe, um, for much less than that. Yeah. I could probably buy them starting in the three or $400 range. You get what you pay for? Of

spk_0:   45:17
course. No, Just today I was looking on Facebook or something popped up is an add on instagram. I don't remember what it was And it was this rinky dink little $100 drone that has this stunning camera, Of course. And I'm like, No, this will last for seven minutes and not be impossible to fly on. They say, Oh, no, it has the magic homing device. It comes back to you, But I know I haven't always says, I think that's that's the one I need to have friends like you and my buddy Rob, who fly drones and just play with yours like I'll have the other toys, like weaken the time you came on my boat actually on and you took some pictures of it just for fun. That was I was nervous. I was worried about plopping understandable. Look, we need to get you a float or something for that thing they make that makes that we should. But one of the funny.

spk_1:   46:00
When I first got it, I went out to Virginia to my sister's place. They got 27 acres on the Eastern Shore wide open out over the bay and I did my first. You know, my first shots. And even though it's unedited, I was. I was really self impressed. Yeah, with how good the quality of the video was of the pictures. And I started thinking about composing shots, how I started thinking about where to put the sun or how to deal with the sun in certain positions, share filters to use. And and I know nothing. Even at this point, I know nothing, but it's ah, you know, I'm intrigued by it, and I enjoyed doing an envoy. I enjoy seeing the the unedited but finished product have done so. It's very satisfying.

spk_0:   46:40
I I feel like it's very similar to how I got into the desire to do the podcast. I realized I had this creative outlet I wanted to fulfill, and while have performed my whole life, it was just Hey, what's something else I can do that allows me to do it in my own time, as opposed to needing a stage and needing a rehearsal? And even you know what? I can do this live with you. I can do it, buddy of mine, who was in L. A. Who I recently interviewed. We did it through the computer and we had cell phones set up so we could look at each other because we were recording through an application that didn't have video, and it gave a much higher quality audio. But I still wanted to be able to have that face to face. And so learning those things that were so much fun and whether it turns into something super high quality or just something, it's ultimately just spending the time to learn it and do it. And I think that's the most important part for your brain. Just getting your brain doing something totally new. Absolutely, absolutely. Yeah, that's awesome. I can't wait to play with it. Come

spk_1:   47:34
over and I'll take some pictures of the goat actuary

spk_0:   47:37
back there. Fantastic. How they feel about the dogs used, like even about goes. But dogs don't tend not to like. You know, I could imagine there was a video I saw that was one flying past a rhino and you could see this rhino like rhinoceros giving it this dead stare him like I would imagine, rhinos aren't used to seeing something like that you get it upto

spk_1:   47:57
you know 50 meters or so, and you really can't hear it that share. But when it's, you know, when it's five meters off the ground and says it's

spk_0:   48:05
fairly still sounds fairly significant, they are cool. Um, and your dogs, they don't they don't freak out with him or your dog. I should say, Louise, Dog doesn't like your dog or wheezy daughters. Okay, hours? Sure, she pays a veterinary. Oh, then it's her dog. I feed him and give him his scratch scratches. It's a It's a committee effort on awesome defense who we think he can pin for a Scooby snack. Naturally. Oh, yeah, Emily and I regularly realize, Did you give the little, like our rats we have inside? What pet rat's not weird? Random rats are pet rats, and I'll say, Did you give him so Yeah, I already gave him a bunch of chairs and like, Oh, I just gave him a bunch of Cheerios, which, if you haven't seen a rat holding a cheerio in its hand like it's eating a giant doughnut the size of a steering wheel relative to its body, it's the cutest thing ever. So throw that video. We have this money,

spk_1:   48:53
Lina. We still Louise is like I already fed him. I let him out so I don't fall for his bullshit.

spk_0:   48:58
Nice. I think Emily has the same with me, actually. And the neighbors. And how about the dogs?

spk_1:   49:04
The doctor? Fantastic. Being that. It's funny, As you know, because of my schedule, I tend to be the designated dog watcher in our social groups. So they'll plan their vacations when they know I'm home for three weeks. Amazing. So? So I'll send, you know, we're going toe, you know, Jamaica for a week, and you take, you know, we're gonna have to board. Are, you know, like, selling? Is it done? A Labrador II? Watch quite often. And you're not gonna board him? Bring him on over Being Louise, have a big giant Labrador named bogeys. A big galoot still thinks he's a puppy and he gets along with every dog we bring over. That's awesome. And we enjoy

spk_0:   49:38
that. We're still trying to socialize the goats. They do a little more headbutting than is necessary for most people. That pinhead. But I stopped by to see an occasion when you guys were when you guys were

spk_1:   49:48
gone, and I've been glad to hear that I don't stand in front of the water trough with my back to the

spk_0:   49:52
no, that's I think it's only a small Children who get knocked in there left. I'll have to include a link to that video one of these fine days. Um and then Ah, all right. Any plans for the near future? Any any vacations? I think I'm gonna head down to Tampa. OK?

spk_1:   50:05
And for four or five days, an 85 degree weather at my sister's place by our swimming pool. Excellent Hope I don't get stuck down there if they stop, you know, stop all the flights. But so far it's looking good. I think I'm gonna do that. And then, you know, I go back to work in a couple of weeks, which will be this time down in Florida. Fortunately, so does get a little more warm.

spk_0:   50:24
Woman. Same job. When you're in Florida, it's a very grudging regular

spk_1:   50:27
job. It's actually a tough too far from Mara Lago. Okay. Ah, And what is that? West West palm? Alright. West palm. Some beach renourishment job.

spk_0:   50:38
I want to say When you're close to West Palm, there's a natural. I can't call it natural, but it is considered a sort of speak a natural elevation. And it's the highest point in Florida, and it's actually a back filled. It's a landfill, and it's essentially a giant garbage dump that they ultimately through a bunch of dirt on top of grasses, have grown into nothing. But yeah, I don't know what it actually is, but it's literally just a ah pile of Ah, you know, they said, Okay, well, that's Florida. I mean, we could only put it so far on De. So it's this beautiful mountain, Florida a very flat state story, and it's it's a pile of Ah, it's a pile of garbage. So but this thing is

spk_1:   51:16
about working down there. We get down the West poems that my daughters live in a book area. So why, in early a couple days and see them and take them to dinner? Okay, you know? Yeah. And then seeing when I come off, How many kids to two daughters, daughters, 26 21 young guns and s Oh, they're they're doing good, you know, Once graduated college a couple years ago, and my little one is working her way through college. He also works full time a couple of jobs. So nice she likes the finer things. So she does it all.

spk_0:   51:46
Hey, man, you got to be able to afford it somehow, right? Very cool. And then, uh So we were talking about life in the military we were talking about, you know, briefly your childhood. We're talking about life on the ships on. We're talking about life. Now what? What is kind of something that you feel like You really has been a theme through your life, Like anything that you feel like you've realized or recognize. That just is. And maybe that's a deep question, and and one that takes a moment to think about is fine. We can have time. You have to do have to

spk_1:   52:19
do with this in a couple of parts. So because they're things that I that I recognize that I'm experiences that are recurring, that I feel very fortunate about in one is my whole life. No matter where I bet out in the world or even here, or the parts the world I've always spontaneously met really kind, interesting people. You know, when you get invited to their homes and you become lifelong friends in many instances, and I'm just fortunate, I don't know how I've managed to defer that to keep re occurring. But that's one of the neatest things that's ever happened. A SZ far as an overall view of life, you know, I don't know. I don't know if I could come up with one.

spk_0:   53:01
You know, I'm not looking for a catchphrase. It's more. I mean, like, what you just mentioned is is so great

spk_1:   53:06
period of time where I had to let go of the ideal using idealism of my youth and be realistic. That was a you know, that was a tough time. I left clothes. I left claw marks. And that idealism you for sure about things being fair. And I still don't. I still don't accept that things can't be fair agreements all the time, and it's a shame that they're not for some people.

spk_0:   53:28
Yeah, no, that is tough. I've been referring to what you were kind of saying about attracting people. Ah, I've been going through this meditation practice that a friend of mine has been leading me through. It's actually been on kind of online almost. And every day he'll send something for us tow to go through. And it's a Deepak Chopra thing, and I've never really gotten much into that and a CZ. Much as I've tried to meditate throughout my life, I really haven't. But one of the things he talks about is what he calls the law of abundance and how if you put something out there, you will get it back. And I think you're attracting the exact people that that are basically, you know, not to say there you, but it's the same energy that you put out there, and I don't think it's Ah, it's necessarily that those were the only ones you find. It's like those are the ones you actually find a connection with and therefore continue to move with. And I think that's why you and I are have become friends because it's just that that wonderful energy, it's

spk_1:   54:22
like negative people Boom. Gather the guys up, Boom, You're going

spk_0:   54:25
deaf. No, it's tough, you see it and it's it gets exhausting. I mean to be around somebody who's negative all the time, and I feel bad when I'm driving and it's unhealthy. Yeah, you know what? I'm in traffic unrelated to being at work. I get, like, so frustrated with the way people drive because I feel that they're being selfish or even just clueless. And it, I think, really stemmed from when I used to ride a bike a lot because you realize that I'm on a bicycle that weighs £20.25 pounds and there's nothing protecting me here except me and your awareness. And if you're not aware of me, it could kill me. And people don't realize that. And they also think any amount of space I'm giving a bike is enough. And especially in Chicago, it's an afterthought to give a bicycle space. People look at you like you're a score, John the road. It's like, How dare you take up space? And so that, I think, is what really caused me to have this frustration on the road. And I'll say The nice thing is is when, actually, when I'm at work, I can legitimately, you know, pull somebody over and explain to them Look, this is why you've been pulled over and I'm not mad at him. I I try and give them the very calm, you know. Hey, my name's off. Sir. Robin is the reason I pulled you over. And it's not to chastise them. It's to remind them and it really has remind you that Hey, look, laws exist for a reason, you know, And people can be safe if we all follow them. And I know it seems like no big deal that just kind of rolled through that stop sign throughout your neighborhood, which we see. Don't give him that talk about the

spk_1:   55:53
fabric of society. And if we no longer stop for stop signs, the world will just fall apart. No, but I think, but

spk_0:   55:58
I I do need thio then. But I do. I agree. It's like it's just not that hard to toe follow those simple things. It takes an extra half second stop and we see it in front of the the pub all the time. And you're at the bar and you stand outside. And what do you see? You see people who, if they even pretend to stop its Yeah, they don't pretend they just on the corner. Anderson, they're just rolling to the stuff. Yeah, and it's Ah, it's one of those things that I just think it's so easy to follow those simple little rules and they're there for laws, rules would have wanted column. They're there for a reason. It's to keep people safe. It's not arbitrary. It's not. Just let's just do this for fun.

spk_1:   56:31
You mentioned something, used a word, and then you sort of asked me about things that have guided me along in my life. And he worst used the word aware and but I didn't want. I wanted to make sure that I commented because I remembered one of things I wanted to say was that I've learned to almost always try to be aware of every where I'm at and what's going on everywhere I met. And if it's too much, you know, you just you get someplace where you could you could manage everything. I don't know if that makes sense. Yeah, I think this might be my daughter's. Do it says. Always be aware of the your surroundings. Always be aware of what's going on around you, whether you're a an event or something. Let's just be aware of what's going on around you don't be clueless and on, Yeah, you know, be conscious of what's going on around

spk_0:   57:12
for sure. From a safety standpoint, that's hugely important. And I think one of the things that is beyond frustrating right now is to see how much and I'm certainly probably guilty of it, too. When I'm standing on the street, you look down at your phone and then you start to text, continue to text, continue to read whatever you're doing and people walk into the road. And ideally, they're walking through across rock in the correct direction where somebody's actually paying attention. But not always. And it's terrifying. I mean, the amount of accidents that occur certainly now in driving just because of that. So it's it's a simple thing. Be aware, Just pay attention. No. And hopefully Ah, you know, I feel like as weird as this whole thing, this is being recorded in the I guess what day Three of kind of the lock down, so to speak. The quarantine duh duh Corona virus and not something I want to make light of. But it is really, I think, going to effect the way we all

spk_1:   58:05
I thought a lot about that today. I thought about, you know, I don't want to destroy, you know, the way we socialize. Yeah. Um, and obviously it's, you know, we've seen our economy tank in 10 days. Yep, that's big concern. But I'm a social person and not being not gonna have the places and see the people I enjoyed a socialized does have an effect we've had. Ah, we've had to find other things to dio, but we do. A lot of two is that we worry about our friends that work in the service industry. And we've got lots of close friends that work in food service that work in, ah, bar industry. And we're all concerned this is half his new ground. We don't know. Ah, you know, they're all proud people. Not a lot of people are asking hope. We want to be there for him. So we're all concerned with him. And even the people that own the business is Oh, yeah, You know, in many instances, and you're in my case, the people that owns a lot of the business that you and I patronize. We know those people in the good friends of ours. And there's people John and Kate are

spk_0:   59:04
outstanding deaf individuals. Yeah, no, it's it's crazy and, you know, theater people as well. I'm on the board of directors of a nonprofit that we'd made the decision to three days before the the city kind of shut everything down. I thought, Well, thought is the fund raiser we're gonna do but links Hall is the arts organization, and we made the decision. Thio postpone shows for about 56 weeks and that on its own, you realize, like there's artists who've been working for months and spending money to create things that one of the biggest was a show that had opened the day. Kind of all this happened and they got one performance in in front of the public, and that was it. And they had a three week run ahead of him. And so you've got artists. I mean, you've also got a lot of small businesses where you know, you barbers things like that nail. So our relations that are going on a business, you know, yeah, I know this is gonna be crazy, and I'm hoping the one thing I'm hoping about this whole thing is it kind of gets us all to reevaluate what our priorities in life are and what's important to us and look at. Hey, is it my friends isn't my family, is it what I've got going on around my house? Who am I? What do I want to do with my life? You know, I think that could be the best thing we could all do is to really realize, Hey, look, this is what I need to do and not just kind of disappear into a hole for a few weeks and find

spk_1:   1:0:20
new ways to let the sun shine. I agree. And I'm struggling with that a little bit. But you know this. I'll be all right.

spk_0:   1:0:27
I'm going Well, always here if you need me, That's where good people around. Well, and one of the reasons I'm so excited to be releasing said podcast right now is that people have a lot of time on their hands right now. So hey, having something to listen to, you know, hearing about a ah, see, Captain doing his thing. That's something we don't really know about. And as much as I've spent time talking to you, I've never really gotten to talk to you. about that, you know, Probably because you're like, I'm no longer at work. I don't need to talk about this. Worst thing I can tell all my sea captain. Oh, Yaar. What's my favorite? One of pirate walks into a bar with a steering wheel around his waist, and the bartender says, What's that for? And he says, Are I don't know what is driving me nuts. So, six, I love it. It's all right, all right. We're gonna change the the energy here entirely and just go for some fun. Silly questions. Ah, once was one of your favorite foods when you were growing up. Favorite meals, favorite foods I love hearing about this tuna fish sandwich is still making the same

spk_1:   1:1:27
way today. One. Can a tuna one can. Germany's

spk_0:   1:1:29
ah can advantage in a can itude a whole leak out at what else? Anything else in there. Mustard catch up. Any secrets? Ketchup on macaroni and cheese and scrambled eggs catch up. Okay, that was man my cousin used to eat catch up on everything, and it was just like one of those I It was like a french fries and burgers. Sort of a thing for me. Um all right. What about beverages? What's your what's what's your jam?

spk_1:   1:1:54
Oh, well, watch me, sugar. So I try to do a lot of water at home too, but all right. And I can roll into a soda once in a while. I'm out having adult babies. It would have to be Ah, ch and soda, OK. Or ah. Or a high life being healthier for

spk_0:   1:2:10
the highlight of champagne of beers. Sham bag me a beer. I like it. I like it. Ah, good stuff. Okay. Are you

spk_1:   1:2:16
always good milk, by the way? Always ice cold milk, whether it's hot or cold outside percent. Ah, do 2%.

spk_0:   1:2:24
Come on. Whole milk just accepted it. No, I'll drink goat's milk too. I drink gold smoke alone. Unfortunately, my goats do not produce milk is they're both boys. Something I love doing that. Not necessarily. Everybody does. But are you a fan of karaoke? I am a big fan. Okay, what's caf in Jerry's favorite karaoke? ITunes? You know what? Or their multiples. Well, there's multiples. I

spk_1:   1:2:45
probably disguise my voice range. I tend to more like this thing. Like Sinatra share stuff. Also, there's a couple of Willie Nelson cuts the direct. Ah, me and Paul is one of my favorite songs, but you'll never see that at karaoke. A. Nobody knows that, so yeah. Um, but I like this. I'm a real crew during asked Louise. I got to do a lot of

spk_0:   1:3:02
crewmen are all he sings to his lady. That's nice. That's super exciting, all right. And then, ah, when Captain Jerry's on the ship or at home, what's in the play list? Um, lately what? I have very eclectic taste

spk_1:   1:3:14
in music, so I do listen to everything, but I tend to listen to a lot of outlaw country Americana. Yes, having music, just It's just what's hitting me right now. And I like the fact that it's a very eclectic range of music. Um, and been turned on to a lot of, you know, a lot of new artists that you wouldn't hear on a normal country music radio station. But I listened all rock and yeah and jazz, and it was fortunate that an older sister who had very, very eclectic taste in music when I was young so she was turning me on the and almost 13 14 she was turning me on to George Benson and Out to Row and Dixie Dregs and Budgie, but also, um, you know, mainstream rock and roll, uh, Steely Dan and Heart and Led Zeppelin. And that's where I get it from from her from my sister. Merrily

spk_0:   1:4:03
nice, nice. Your ah, you mentioned outlaw country. Did you happen to see a movie? I think it was last year. The year before called Blaise, I got about a guy named Blaze Foley. I knowwho place full of a lot if you if you If you haven't heard Blaze Foley before, folks, do yourself a favor and listen to some place

spk_1:   1:4:19
Lucinda Williams of the song called Drunken Angel, which is about Blaze Foley's.

spk_0:   1:4:24
Yeah, also, go see the movie. It's it's really delightful. And then another guy I really like who I don't know if he's even necessarily considered outlaw per se. But do you know Jamie Johnson? I know Jamie Jones saw a big fan of Jamie Johnson. No, it's just it's the stuff you just don't hear on the radio, which is a

spk_1:   1:4:39
living is nothing like that costs a living. Yeah, that was the first song I heard from him really, really poignant song.

spk_0:   1:4:45
Yeah, he's He's phenomenal. Now mowing down the roses, he's got great. So good. Um, and then another one I actually learned about this year this past year, I guess. Well, maybe it might even be a year ago. Now, Margo Price, have you heard about? Yeah, it's better again. One of these people you just don't hear on the radio I

spk_1:   1:5:01
love. Ah, you know, Listeninto outlaw country Ray Wylie Hubbard. Some fella you gotta listen to

spk_0:   1:5:08
greatly. And I gotta check this out. Very cool. I

spk_1:   1:5:11
never let us play it in the G, you know.

spk_0:   1:5:13
Oh, no, Trust me. When I was bartending on Monday nights, all I did was country and Western. It was people would come in and try and request something and was like, Does it fall into country and Western, right? No. Like truly the line from the Blues Brothers. We got two kinds of music here. Country and western. Yeah, that was basically it. Somebody wanted to play some. I don't know what it is. It's something I would listen to in my normal everyday life. But it just wasn't the mood I was going for ever This is a Monday night. It's a neighborhood bar. This is the mood. I expect a had to get a shout

spk_1:   1:5:43
out and then you realize the contrast. But I could always have to sing some George Michael songs.

spk_0:   1:5:47
Fantastic. I love it now. For me. It's a lot of lot of Neil Diamond and Barry Manilow type stuff. And then I I can do some serious damage to the B 50 two's as well run, which my the lovely Emily isn't a huge fan of It's I got to do it. I just gotta do it. Yeah, And then when you're getting around this city, are you Ah, car, a bike or a public transportation kind of a guy I'll do

spk_1:   1:6:11
public transportation of the airport, Um, and which is just makes it very, very convenient. But be honest with you, I very unless we go to Lake Geneva, Um, I don't leave the zip code all time home. So my car I'll go between this neighborhood in Roscoe Village or so much

spk_0:   1:6:28
for those who don't know we're in North Center. Roscoe Village is basically across a major street. That's it. So you could be talking 1/4 to 1/2 mile at that. Stole My car goes 7/10 of a mile each direction every time we walk in. That damn

spk_1:   1:6:41
worse reason why we live here is we like to walk to the ballpark, you know, because we're walking distance

spk_0:   1:6:46
of a mile and 1/2. It's quicker than traffic. Most days. Yeah, Wrigley Field is mile and 1/2 away from here, so yeah, and then you got the bar on the corner. Which again? It's for me. It's Ah, whole two blocks. Um, and there's one that's even closer. But I just I particularly you know, I was working at that one in the past and, uh, and still enjoy it. It's my home on one way back to the bar. True. Yeah, but ah, no. Eh? Ah, very fun spot. Captain. Captain Jerry. Jerry, I Sir. Mr. Hoff. Er Ah, Mr Hoff. Captain. No, it's just Captain. That's it. Captain, Uh, I have to thank you so much for coming on and talking to me. I really just I love hearing about it. I love spending time with you and getting to spend an hour here And hearing about life is delightful. Thank you brothers. You're welcome.

spk_1:   1:7:35
Pleasure. And I can't wait to hopefully get a chance to do this again.

spk_0:   1:7:38
Absolutely. And when we finally have some restaurants open, we need toe hit one of those and go. There's a

spk_1:   1:7:44
bunch of raw oysters out there waiting for us.

spk_0:   1:7:46
Excellent. Bring him back with the flying in the suitcase. Right. Thanks, brother. My pleasure. Have a great day. That was my friend. Captain Jerry Hoffman, United States Marine. Thank you for your service, sir. Captain of a commercial dredging ship. Philosopher lover dog Walker. Wonderful man. Eats way too much, man. But I still love him. Make sure to subscribe. And if you have a moment, leave a review. Thanks. Join me next time for another conversation on what can you tell me?