goingtoweather

[goingtoweather]

HELLO! I return after an extremely long delay!

The update commences with laundry on deck. Latter part brings us within sight of the Azores. So ends.

I also have a little accompanying historical context essay about personal hygiene aboard whaleships, if that so suits your fancy.

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Til next month, my bullies!

[goingtoweather]

The next update will happen on Wednesday, Feb 19th! Sorry that I took such a long break!

[goingtoweather]

I know your specialty is likely whaling, but the ask you answered about whalers knowing how to swim has got me curious:

Do you know if the same logic also applies to sailors of other ships which also used small boats frequently? Eg Grand Banks schooners or similar?

I don’t know! I wouldn’t have any primary sources on hand to point to, but I imagine some did! It’s not my forte—whaling and only whaling here.

[goingtoweather]

Apologies that I’ve been so delayed in Going to Weather updates! Been doing some (very good) life recalibrations and have been having a hard time carving out the space for working on this in a consistent way. But I’m hoping to get back into it! Trying to maintain balance between nourishing my relationships, listening to my body when it’s tired, and working on this passion project. We’ll get there!

[goingtoweather]

Brutality maintaining his ghastly complexion on his summer vacation

Pspspsps go read Going to Weather boat nerds

[goingtoweather]

ITS ADELAIDE @focsle

[goingtoweather]

trying to get myself back into drawing after a looooong break, so here are some characters from @focsle 's absolutely stunning webcomic @goingtoweather :) tried to take a stab at josue, brutality, and captain waite but they didn't turn out the way i liked

[goingtoweather]

Here I am....rolling up with my....Single Page Monthly Update. Love u guys.

[goingtoweather]

It's Whaling Webcomic Wednesday!

Apologies for such a small update. I've been uhhhhhhh.....going outside...and stuff. BUT...here you go. Love u.

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[goingtoweather]

I’m gonna defer this months update to the next so I have more than one page to show you all!

This month i was distracted by being food poisoned for an extended period and also making new friends. Not at the same time. Sun and shadow lol.

[goingtoweather]

Wanna learn about laundry and washing aboard whaleships? Here!!

[goingtoweather]

I’m curious. Are there members of the crew who know how to swim?

Because back in that time, according to my studies, the ability of swimming wasn’t a major request on ship’s. Even in the navy 😵‍💫

Yes! Many of the men who are career whalers, like the captain, mates, and boatsteerers know how to swim at least a bit. Barzillai can swim, so can Ezra and Mathews.

It's true that, historically, a lot of sailors didn't know how. In the navy and merchant trades, when men found themselves in the water it's because something catastrophic happened like they fell from aloft or were knocked overboard by something, or were swept overboard in foul weather. And if you fall off a man o war in a storm, you're done, doesn't matter if you know how to swim, why make yourself drown slower, etc. etc. etc.

But whalers were a different lot of sailors who found themselves in the water FAR more frequently in the course of their work. It wasn't uncommon for whales to overturn or completely obliterate little whaleboats during hunts, or for someone to get pulled into the water by a line, or fall overboard in the cutting-in process. And in those instances, being able to swim enough to get back to the whaleboat or grab something to float with until someone could get you was life or death, and an easily avoidable death at that. So while swimming still wasn't an expected skill by any means, historically whalers tended to have more experience swimming than sailors in other trades (if only because they got the sea in their mouth one too many times and had to figure it out fast).

[goingtoweather]

i'm not sure if this is only a problem on my end, but the rss feed doesn't seem to be working

I don't know. ): I don't use RSS feeds so I literally have no idea how they work.

Searching the feed url (goingtoweather.com/comic/feed) in an app/website like feedly brings it up but...

[goingtoweather]

Zero fanfare for this month's update cos it's just one page. Sorry! ): I will buckle down this next month.

But anyway...

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[goingtoweather]

10 from all three categories (past/present/future) for Lawrence and Ezra pretty please!

Thank yoooou!

What did they dream of doing when they grew up? How and why did it change, if it did?

Lawrence always had a hunger for academia and wanted to get a formal education. He was the only one in his family to go to university, and with the lure of Dartmouth College nearby(ish…) had decided that he wanted to become a physician as a young teen. He wanted to help people, sure, but he also admittedly had a hunger for prestige and that was the greater lure for his pursuing an education. His dream didn’t so much change as…he feels like his whole life recently burned down so now he has…no plan or dream. A whaleship was his substitute for pistol and ball.

Ezra always wanted to be a captain. He grew up in view of all the whale ships and would watch them in the harbor whilst sitting in his father’s woodshop. And his father would tell him stories about Black captains, men who started like them. That’s what Ezra wanted and still wants. He wants his own ship and the stability that comes with it. He joined a whaler at age 13 and grew up fast. He’s spent half his life trying to achieve that dream, and he feels so close to it there’s no other option but to reach for it.

What do they always carry with them and why?

Re: the above issue, Lawrence doesn’t carry anything with him from his shore life. He’s very unsentimental about it. But he’s a big diarist. So while the journal isn’t always physically on his person, he always brings it with him. And in his spare time he’s always writing in it. Observations. Feelings. Silly little plays and poems.

in contrast to Lawrence, Ezra keeps little pieces of home. Particularly his sister’s letters, now that she can write, and drawings she sends him. He asks her to draw the things she sees in her day to day, so it doubles as a memory of his family but also of New Bedford. He’s extremely sentimental but also extremely private and doesn’t share them with anyone. Those aren’t physically on his person, though. For things he physically carries with him, he has a scrimshaw’d tie pin that has a heart on it that he made. When his sister was younger, while he was home between voyages, he asked her to whisper a little good luck charm on it. So he wears it when he feels like he needs its protection. So there’s a lil detail to look out for in past chapters or future ones. (;

How do they want to be remembered after they die?

Lawrence would like to be remembered as a good man, that is all. In his present moment he doesn’t feel like much of one and doesn’t think such remembrances are in his cards. But later on in life he thinks he has the potential of living up to it.

Ezra wants someone to tell their kids stories about him like his father did with him. Not because he wants fame or status, but because he wants to be hope for other people that one can build the life they want for themselves, against all odds.

[goingtoweather]

PAST

Briefly describe the way their parents grew up, and how it affected the way they raised them.

Which social class did they belong to growing up? How did it affect them?

Describe their family. Who raised them, and who had the most impact on them? Did they have any siblings? Who were they closest to? What were the family dynamics like?

What was the most common argument between them and whoever raised them?

Where did they grow up? What was it like? Were they happy there?

Did the location they grew up in affect them significantly? Do they still go there?

Who were their friends during childhood? Are they still in touch with them?

What was their childhood/teenage bedroom like?

When they got hurt as a child, who did they go to? How did they react?

What did they dream of doing when they grew up? How and why did it change, if it did?

Were there any events in their childhood that led to phobias or other fears?

What are some of their biggest regrets?

What part of their past (death, other significant event) do they think affects them the most?

PRESENT

How do they fit into their story? Give a brief summary of the effect they have on the events around them.

What is their current occupation, if any, and how did they end up there? Do they enjoy it?

Do they belong to any factions or groups? Why and how did they join, and how do they feel about it?

Do they have any enemy factions or groups? Why and how are they opposed, and how do they feel about it?

What kind of people do they usually interact with? Who are their friends, the people they look up to/trust, and who are their “associates”?

What is their current relationship with their family?

Do they have a partner? How did they meet, and what’s their relationship like now?

What hobby or pastime of theirs do they consider most important to them and why?

What kind of place do they live in?

What do they always carry with them and why?

What’s a typical night’s sleep like for them?

If someone mentioned their name to someone else, what would they immediately think of (i.e. defining characteristic, appearance- or personality-wise)?

What’s the worst (in their mind) way their current situation could end up?

What matters most to them right now?

FUTURE

Briefly describe their life in the future, regardless of how far into the future this is.

Are they content with their future situation? Is there anything they would change?

How would their beliefs or morals change in the future, if at all?

What’s something they were sure would happen in their future but didn’t?

Did they get married or have a family? Why? If otherwise, why not?

How do they react to the changing times? Are they adaptable or do they reject modernity?

Are their friends still a part of their life? Are there people they are no longer in touch with, or newly important people?

Would they become a mentor figure for anyone?

How do they feel about getting older and eventually dying?

How do they want to be remembered after they die?

[goingtoweather]

Aaaa, my ghost as drawn by one of my longtime favorite artists, Gris Grimly. Look at him…