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I am waiting for my tender.  See, that's natutical-speak for the boat that ferries us to shore.  We're anchored in Belize City, Costa Rica. So far the cruise is the proverbial hoot.  'Twas formal night last night and our AAR cruisemates were resplendent in their finest threads.

Key West was just great. Jimmy Buffett tunes played everywhere, and I mean everywhere.  A dipsomaniacal conch denizen swore he knew me from the gin mill down the road. I must have that face. So far, everything has been perfect.  Great food, fun and frolic.  Fun for the whole family, you betcha.  The panel discussions have been exceptionally good.  Senator Gary Hart is nothing short of mesmerizing given his considerable knowledge and perspective.  I even led a panel after begging AAR El Presidente Mark Green for the chance.  David Bender recited the words from the theme song of "Gilligan's Island."  That's right, he recited on a ship the theme of a TV show about a shipwrecked group.  Nice.

Our Captain, whose daily announcements remind me of Max von Sydow, reminds us constantly of the potential spread of dysentery and assorted dyspepsia via unwashed hand-shaking.  Purel stations are everywhere.  Fellow cruisers have been advised to shake elbows versus the usual hand-clasp.  Our Captain also implored us to wash our mitts for at least twenty seconds or the time it takes you to sing "Happy Birthday" with a thick, Dutch accent.  One cruise dude confused the two and shook my elbow whilst singing a paean to my date of birth.

Behind-the-ear sea sickness patches adorn virtually everyone.  I'm usually not prone to motion sickness as I have acclimated to being unsteady on my feet through years of personal research.

I will weigh in again after today's Belize exursion.  I will purchase some Belizian tchotkes for the boys in the studio.  You know, the usual lead-paint festooned shot glass and ceramic reptile.

The weather is here, I wish you were beautiful.