adrift

According to this, I am a veritable nautical metaphoric nightmare.

Never start a voyage on the first Monday in April.
This is the day that Cain slew Abel.

April 6, 2009: The day he sent me away. The first Monday in April. A new journey for me. The day that Britton slew Dana. The story of Cain and Abel, who unbeknownst to me were the children of Adam and Eve (not much of a bible reader, go fig), is ironically lemony.

Avoid people with red hair when going to the ship to begin a journey.
Red heads bring bad luck to a ship, which can be averted if you speak to the red-head before they speak to you.

Swallows seen at sea are a good sign.
Swallows are a land based bird and seeing them at sea implies that land is near and your prospects are clear.

A shark following the ship is a sign of inevitable death.
Sharks were believed to be able to sense those near death.

It is unlucky to kill an albatross.
They host the soul of dead sailors and are considered to be an omen of bad luck at sea, especially if killed.