The Good. The Bad. The Ugly.

06/02/2009

An entry from Josh at sea, at the beginning of Opilio Season:

Well, well, well, it's opie season. Hooray!  We finally made it to opie town, and in opie town, things are a lot colder, the ocean is more dangerous, Phil is back and the Cornelia Marie is falling apart.

I couldn't be happier that the legendary Capt. Phil is back at the helm of the CM.  He is known as the king of the opies, and after a rough king crab season, it's amazing to have the smoke-inhaling, energy drink-pounding, crabby-as-hell captain back.  It's great to have Phil back, but, a drag that the CM is in dry-dock for repairs.  Everything is wrong with this boat and it's frustrating for everyone.  Todd and I are itching to get back out to sea, and it's a bummer to see other boats leave as we are stuck here playing cards.

However, there is good news on the horizon for us (by us, I mean you and me).  This season I took a ton of journal entries whenever I wasn't sleeping.  It was really important to me to record the chaos that is Deadliest Catch: Opie Season.  Here is my first journal entry:

So my friends, here is the news: I only had a 12-hour day today, which was AWESOME!, so we (myself and my boat partner, Todd) took the remaining light we had and took some pictures.  Then if that weren't enough, I found this weird thing they have up here called ... um ... the Internet.  Weird, huh?

THE GOOD:   Hear me now and believe me later  -- the boat is coming along, and I would say fishing is in our immediate future.  However, a ginormous ice-pack is threatening to close the fishing grounds, so unless you know Mother Nature or are dating Storm from the X-Men, I have no clue when we will go fish. Dutch Harbor in the winter is awesome and here is why: I get to wear sweatpants to work every day, bald eagles are as common as pigeons in New York, I'm not expected and don't have to shower, I get to do power turns in the snow, and it's a girl-less society (which means no drama or distractions).

THE BAD: It's as cold as a witch's mammary in a brass brassiere. Plus, I've never seen more people smoke more cigarettes in my life. (I'm not talking boxes here, I'm talking CASES, like the ones in Costco that you can't reach because they're at the top of the rack.) Capt. Phil is a chimney.  It is ridiculous and I feel the cancer growing in my lungs.  There is a constant haze of smoke in the wheelhouse that will no doubt be a Phil calling card.  My new nickname is Mouse, because Phil refuses to have two Joshes on deck.  I am not sure how to feel about that quite yet; I mean Mighty Mouse was awesome.

THE UGLY:  This is going to be a year to remember. We're experiencing the worst weather since 1975, and it could become the worst in history, so that is exciting.

Comments

[Ria van Dijk]

Oh man, and I thought the episodes where shot in real winter time like Nov till Feb. How long does winter last in Alaska's Bearing sea?
Always wiggle your toes to keep the blood pumping = heat (I hope)
I love these blogs, keep up the good work MMJ (Mighty Mouse Josh)

[Tracy]

Cool blog. Thanks for the behind the scenes take.

I always wonder - isn't filming more dangerous than crabbing? Seems like a cameraman/producer would get distracted by looking through the viewfinder and get whacked by a big wave or falling pot or whatever. How do you stay safe while ensuring that you get the good shots?

[tamara ferry]

i would just like to say that i have been a huge fan of the show since season one.. i think that your working on one of the best boats on the show... i love capt. phil and his kids... i hope all is well with him....

[Lake Erie Girl]

I am addicted to "The Deadliest Catch". The Cornelia Marie is my favorite boat and crew. Excellent filming!

[Sam]

I LOVE THIS SHOW IT IS AWSOME!!!!!

[Kim]

I love ya'lls show,what ya do is the most daring and dangerous job there is.
I am glad to see Phil back on the Cornelia Marie.

[mariah otto]

hey i love the cornelia marie, phil is so hottt and i shouldnt smoke but i do, keep fishing

[Doris]

This is my favorite show and I have alot of respect for what they do.
Awsome boats ,captians and crews.
I never miss a show.

[Hugsandkisses]

Well MMJ it seems that you are getting lots of lifetime experience. Thank goodness Todd is there with you. He looked after Our Capt Phil last season and is one of our hero's on the CM forum.

Good job on the blog, very entertaining.We get to laugh at your bad luck. Your comment "and it's a girl-less society (which means no drama or distractions)." might not have been your brightest move, but time will tell if the women in your life will forgive you for the Drama comment.

Good Luck and best wishes.

[maria]

I have read all of the posted journal you have created for us Catch fans, I hope it does'nt stop.You were the start of this heart felt affair with these guys and their mission. I now belong to the fan club, and so on...so
do us the favor,keep shooting,editing, & above all write. Please.

[Deb-Aiken, S.C.]

I am so glad that Phil is back.
I was so worried about him.
He's my favorite!
His oldest son is a clone of him.
VERY HANDSOME!!
I worry about Phil smoking so much.
I just stopped smoking after 20 something years. I feel much better.
Phil seems like a down-to-earth guy.
I like that.

[Deb-Aiken, S.C.]

Just wondering if Phil is married.

[Annetta]

Its wonderful to see Captian Phil back,not so wonderful to see the Cornelia Marie having so any problems. I am sure it was a frustrating thing for the Captain. He's a fighter and he will always end up on top.

[MoonDancer]

Hey Josh, we all know it takes a while to get your sea legs but when the season is over and you finally get back on land, how long does it take before you finally feel that you don't have a rocking boat beneath your feet?

[Texas Badger]

Mouse, do you still get carded in bars and liquor stores? Even with that beard you still have the youngest looking face. It may seem like a pain now, but you'll probably appreciate it in about 20 years, or so.

F 'em Bucky