A is for Africa...

For the record, it is 5 in the AM and I AM WIDE EYED AND AWAKE!!! I am almost in AFRICA!

"We do not have a sense of direct continuity. Our ancestors didn't pass down our stories, we've lost them and we have to go out and find them."

Dr. Spencer Wells, The Journey of Man: A Genetic Odyssey

And this is when it happens.
This is the moment where after trying to fall asleep –
Not enough cups of green tea or chamomile tea,
Talking about loves losses, love gains, love aspired, love unknown with Liane and Brittany,
After messing with Victoria who works the night shift at the front desk of the Purser’s Desk in Tymitz Square…
All of these things are only some of things that cause me not be in my sleep.
I have been trying to complete drain myself so I can sleep – BUT I CAN’T!
No, I am not sick.
I am not angry.
I am not…
Instead, I am just eager.
I sit outside of room 4128 which is the room of me, Andre Singleton, and Maxwell Miner (who by the way said it’s okay to be mentioned in my blog).
Max is a really cool dude.

So yeah, I am eager because I can’t believe that I am really about to be in Cape Town, South Africa.
I have such an array of feelings.
Hell, I am still trying to digest Salvador, Brazil.

Quick Story:

On the last day of being in Salvador I decided to get my clothes washed in the city versus the ship because it’s cheaper and I don’t have any money, really. Thus, I go to Pelorhino which is the Old City of Salvdador where you take an actual elevator to get to this upper level…yes, it’s all outside. It’s quite the breath taker. It’s five cents both ways to catch it = 5 cents to go up and 5 cents to come down. And the older city is really scenic and not just touristy but truly beautiful and historical. The connection with the Pelorhino and Bay area struck me tremendously with the history of enslavement of Africans. Like I said, this voyage is so much about identity. Ok, so I shall get back on subject. MY CLOTHES! It was around 2 pm-ish when I decided to take my clothes to get washed and the folks were really nice as I spoke a mix between Uptown Washington Heights Dominican Spanish mixed with San Diego Mexican Spanish blended with 2 days of pre-port Portuguese. I managed to get by with a smile from Maria who resembled a woman that I would have seen growing up in Kansas City, MO except she only spoke Portuguese. She told me to be back at 3.30 because they close at 4. I said cool. Thus, I went back to the lower city where the ship was docked so that I could get my money to pay for my load. Unfortunately, when I get back to the ship we are told that we can’t get on or off of the ship until the engine is done being checked, or some jazz like that…I just knew I was tired and I had to get my $ because it was only several hours before we left port to head to Cape Town. Finally, we are able to board the ship – I am not sure at the time how long it took because I didn’t wear a watch in Salvador. So I get to my room and get ready to exchange my American $ to the Brazilian Rehieis (sp?) only to get to the port Canbio (where currency is exchanged) only to see that they are CLOSED!

*I love the song that is playing, right now – “Andromeda & the Milky Way” by Me'Shell NdegéOcello. GOD, IT’S SO BEAUTIFUL! (sigh)*

Fortunately, I find a local bank and I make the exchange, again using my Portunol (Portuguese y Espanol). And as I pump to the elevator I am headed to the elevator, which now has a long line and this is when I realized time was just ticking away. I just look around and take in the fact that I am in Salvador. Next, I realize that I am up to the front of the line. I pay my 5 cents and show my appreciation to the teller who is collecting the money to get on the elevator with an “obrigado,” (thank you in Portuguese). Before I know it I am back in Pelorhino, but this time I am pumping it in my flip flips down the cobble stone street pass the scores of people bargaining for scarves and beaded necklaces from street vendors, and pass my God Sister!

“Andre!”

I literally stopped dead in my tracks. And those of you that personally know me know that I don’t play when I am walking – I am on a mission. But this greeting was so familiar, it was unlike the accents I have heard since like the states almost a month before. As I get closer and truly scan in through my prescribed red Ray Ban sunglasses, CLASSIC, I realize that it is Iyabo! Iyabo is the daughter of a really dear person in my life that has been around since I was a freshman in high school at Point Loma High School in San Diego, CA. She and I gave each other a big hug, and what did I do??? Yep, got distracted. I asked her for the time and it was 4:00 leaving me with no other option but to abruptly end the convo and tell her not to move. Within minutes I raced through streets only to get to the laundrymat where the lock and bar now replaced the space where Maria and I held the conversation about 2 hrs before. I knew at that moment that I just had to pay it. So I vented for a minute. I let out a couple of “Ain’t that some shit, FUCK, I be got DAMN, and concluded with a Fuck it!” By the time I got back to Iyabo she was looking at me as though I was crazy. She asked where my clothes were and I told her. And she was more irritated than I. That’s when I explained to her that it’s really not a big deal. Granted, I did have a couple of really cute American Apparel t-shirts, 7 jeans, Calvin Klein draws, and 3 pair of super nice swim trunks – speedos, and more. But I knew that no matter what I did that I was not getting the stuff back. I knew when I needed to get back. Whether the ship held me up or running into Iyabo, I knew that it was not serious enough to be upset and not enjoy my last hours before boarding the ship at 9p. I PAID IT, HONEY! M-hmm. And there was growth in it. And Iyabo, bless her heart got me some pants, couple shirts, speedos (oooh la la la), and a beautiful necklace and I am so grateful. It’s so funny how things happen because I know that had the series of events happen before I got up the elevator then I wouldn’t have run into Iyabo. I knew she would be in Brazil but I had not way of contacting her and here she finds me out of all of the black folks in Salvador. Absolutely Amazing! Thanks Ya! It’s all about reaction. My younger brother Jeron taught me that. So, thank you to Jeron.

And sadly, I don’t know if this woman wants me to write this but oh well, as I walk to the line a woman is walking – actually she is sashaying – towards the line. She looks really cute, I can’t even front. But before I know it she just EATS IT! And it wasn’t a flat out fall…it was more like a stumble, stumble, try and catch your fall, SLIDE, and SSSAAAFFFEEE!!! She got a home run. It was intense. And here I am standing in my white and gray striped tank top and gray basketball shorts, and thong sandals blending in so seriously. Hence, being the gentleman that I am *clears throat* I help her up and help her clean her turquoise pants and white blouse and she is soo happy. Don’t you know that she is just talking away and I have no idea what she is saying. Thus, I smile and say “sim” a lot, which means yeah. AWKARD MOMENT! As we finally make our way up to the front of the line she pays for my ride up. Hey! It may only seem like 5 cents but change is such an issue in Brazil. So I didn’t have to break R$1. Shortly, she realizes that I am really not talking much and she speaks Spanish and English to me. We laughed and that was it.

Ok, so maybe that story wasn’t as short as you imagined, but I had to share. That’s why I got this cotton pickin’ blog, anyway.

Ship life is quite interesting. Of course, it feels like it’s shrinking since folks really are getting to know each other. We had Neptune’s Day, which was actually on Valentine’s Day. Oh yeah, I have absolutely no concept of dates or time. Since we have class everyday I have no clue that I have classes on Saturday and/or Saturday. Neptune’s Day is when you cross the Equator. Traditionally, folks shave their heads. However, I didn’t do it because I am doing the opposite. I want to see how much hair I can grow between now and May. It’s difficult because I am used to being really groomed. But I don’t trust everybody’s clippers and the last thing I need is a fierce case of folliculitis! OK! That ain’t cute. Lol. I can’t go into details because I don’t want to ruin it for prospective SAS voyagers. I will put it like this, I participate in a lot of stuff…I am really festive but I didn’t partake. I was too sleepy. I get so tired from all of the rocking of the ship and working. So anyone chance I get to rest, you better know that I get my shut eye. Speaking of rocking – the Atlantic Ocean is NO JOKE! The entire time we have been sailing from Salvador to Cape Town I think about the Middle Passage/ Slave Trade. The fact that folks survived these conditions stacked and thrown on top of each other blows my mind. When I say that on Neptune’s Day that the ship was rocking and drawers were opening and closing, soap and shampoos falling from containers and smashing into the shower ground, dishes and cups falling and breaking in the dining hall, people dropping trays with food…I can’t lie I was laughing because it was all so funny, but it was wild. The ship was swaying. And the best part about all of it is that crew just went on about their business. One of the crew members told me that we haven’t seen anything. On a scale of 1-12 it was about a 6. I am so blown away to know that millions of African were brought over without Dromamine (sp?) and motion sickness patches, no beds and food, no comfortability at all…it fucks with me. This is my reality. My people really have been through a lot. I pay homage and am glad to be able to travel this without those harsh conditions.

In Cape Town, I am ssssooo looking forward to finding a way to get to Robben Island, Table Mountain, learning about District 6, going to Clifton # 3 beach, meet people and eat some amazing food…to say the least. I will also be going to a Jazz Safari. I am very interested to see how it will all pan out.

AFRICA HERE I COME!

And of course I am looking to check out some type of cancer center hopefully be in touch with CANSA, TAC, Malay Quarter, Baxter Theater, taste wine at Groot Constancia, and go to some museums near the Company Gardens, and we shall just see. Clearly, I make plans but the universe and higher powers conspire.

Oh yeah, thanks to a friend by the name of Perran we should be checking out
a conference: The Dream Deferred, Shattered or Redeemed?": Reflections on Thabo Mbeki post-Polokwane.

In conclusion, I was watching a movie tonight and I don’t remember exactly which film it was but there was one line of the movie that caught my eye and I just wanted to share they quote which is actually an African Proverb:

“When two elephants are fighting, the only thing really being hurt is the grass.” (something to that degree)

Just something to think about.


Baie Dankie (thank you in Zulu) – Sounds like “Buy uh Dunkey”
A

::A Note I Wrote Yesterday and thought I'd share::
I got that travelling the world with nothing to eat in the middle of the night, missing friends and family, no kisses and long conversations til I fall asleep blues.

You know - that using up my last few minutes to partake in globalization to post a bulletin on myspace and comment on friends pages that live in the united states blues.

I got that sailing in the middle of Atlantic Ocean blues. The kinda blues that makes me think about what it was like during the Middle Passage and Slave Trade blues. The sway and rocking of the ocean and makes me nauseas as it also puts me to sleep contradictive kinda blues.

That being on a ship full of all white girls and no brothas. Damn, this shit is deep. That kinda blues that Bessie, Anthony, Yolanda, Tracy, and Charlie can't sing or blow away. I got that I can't wait to get to Africa in 2 days blues. That blues that got my with a face full of hair and head, too.

But I wouldn't change it. I won't. I love it. I hate it. I am it. I live in a state of perplexity. 2 months away from celebrating 3 years of living after dying. I am learning to love me - with every quirk, blank mental moment, scars, bruises, discolored skin, fucked up nails and skin, inconsistency of taste buds all due to chemo. Owning my identiy.

A

Bahia, Africa

Really.
That quickly...in the blink of an eye.
But not really, though.
What?
Departing from Salvador de Bahia, Brazil.
Its always tough for me to decide if I should write a blog entry or email folks. The emailing is challenging because there are so many things to say and folks to email. Thus, I remind myself that this voyage is not about staying connected like I am at home but to really breakaway, as much and as realistically, as possible. Come on now, of course I check my myspace and facebook as soon as I get on the computer, but I dont have the time or energy to really engage. I really check it to stay on top of any news or contacts for my next port.

Salvador, Salvador, Salvador...
From driking Guarana, Skol, eating fried cheese with oregano and honey on the beach in Barra at Porto - and catching the bus, not to be left out, eating açai with granola, cashews, and raisins...and truly working on my Portugese - I definitely feel like I am walking away with growth.

One of my goals is to truly travel the world, even after Semester at Sea and truly engage in as much cultural immersion, as possible.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to go to a few cancer centers in Salvador - NACCI (Nucleo Apoio Combate do Cancer Infantil) and NASPEC (Nucleo Assistencial Para Pessosas Com Cancer). I am fortunate to have been able to articulate this interst to our interport lecturer, Javier and he arranged it. I am going to try and see a center for cancer or a serious illness in each port - especially one centered around young folks, which these were. The children were fun and we really had a chance to vibe, despite the language barrier. Luckily, the spanish helps tremendously. Plus, with body language and Pedro (who is 11 and as charismatic and energetic as I am) things were fine. In addition, Paulinia who is battling osteo sarcom beat me in tic tac toe a few times...shes a beast with the x on the paper. Its wild how initially they were under the impression that i was just chilling with them until Ricardo who was the actual escort really translated everything - he told them and they didnt believe it. The kids and I shared scars from surgeries and non-healed scratch marks and pictures of me with no hair. The energy shifted. I am grateful. I dont know. Its hard to believe that this really is only the beginning of the semester still and I am working on making the Paris program happen. I can only take it one day at a time.

Well, my minutes are low. Next, we are headed to Cape Town, South Africa. I will write more later. Obviously, my whole writing my blog in Word first and then transferring has yet to manifest. I just write whats on my mind. Hell, this isnt a these...but who knows...one day it may be.

We set sail at 9p. Damn, back to class and work tomorrow. lol. I actually like my classes and work though, so I am fine.

Bon,
a

All I got is 15 minutes...

You know what sucks?
The fact that I wrote a blog entry last night and it did not post.
Oh well, I let it go.
I seriously have less than 15 minutes, right now.

BRASIL IS AMAZING!!!

The ship got into port yesterday morning and I hit the ground running. Initially, I had a few folks that I was supposed to catch up with - and still will, but it was pandemonium just trying to gather my thoughts and the fact that I had just made it.

I am very glad to say that a young lady named Natalia has been so sweet and amazing. She and her family hosted me and invited me to CARNIVALE! Btw, if you have not been to Carnivale or know about it then google it. WOW! Thats all I have to say. Needless to say, I have yet to really sleep. I will elaborate more later. Also, I went to a Condemblé (sp?) ceremony and was truly amazed.

The African diaspora really draws me and calls my name. I am blown away by life and experiences. The fact that Brasil has the largest black population outside of Nigeria IN THE WORLD I am...man, I dont even know. The Black Experience. Oh yeah, I have also been learning my Portugese. I manage to mix my Spanish with it.

I hate to be abrupt but my minutes are about to expire. Oh yeah, I am in Pelourinho in Salvador - the upper part of the city. Its beautiful and full of history.

Tomorrow I am going to the Verger Foundation and will check out his work on the African Diaspora.

BLACK PEOPLE ARE BEAUTIFUL!

Minutes are gone.

Tchau,
A

Brasil....

I can't write much because I don't have many minutes left for my internet.
So not cool.
But right now, I am on the 3rd deck sitting and being.
I am a few hours outside the port of Salvador de Bahia (Brazil).
AMAZING!
Things are going well.

Will write more later.

Best,
A

Man, I am in effin' Brazil! Wowness!

Chasing Summer...

Ok. This has been quite a week. It caught me offguard when I just realized that this voyage has been under siege for 5 days.
Let me start from the beginning.

The ship is great. I have a cool roommate - my living situation was de-trippled. There are 730 students to be exact. Students are from EVERYWHERE! There are about 200 crew members that maintain the ship and we have about 30 faculty. I enjoy the food. The three designated meals a day is heaven. However, the first few days were really rough. I discovered my seasickness. The motion and unsteadiness made me so nauseaus. But because I had so much prior experience due to chemo I knew what to do - BE STILL! So when I wasn't working or in class I was in the bed.

*Random moment - Listening to "Again" by John Legend at a Starbucks in San Juan, Puerto RIco. Hey, gotta wireless internent *looks out the top of glasses. However, it isn't too hard to believe because Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the US. I almost feel like I am in Cali.*

In addition, due to wearing flip flops on the ship I managed to cut my pinky toe. I already had a slight cut from carrying things and helping the other students get acclimated to the ship, somehow I slightly cut it. However, the first day after waking up and headed to our orientation meeting I managed to trip over a step we must have hit a wave or something - I hyperextended my toe by missing the step and cut it pretty deeply. That hurt. So I missed some of the meeting and have been nursing my toe for the past few days. Good times.

Jan. 23, 2008 - Seeing a tugboat support in moving from the Bahemian port to get started on the journey was so wild for 2 reasons.

Reason 1: I didn't know tugboats were real! I was really excited to see it. I hadn't even said the word tugboat since I was like 6 or 7, I think. The name of the little tugboat - well, it looked small from where I was on the 6th deck of the ship - MV Explorer. The majority of the students, if not all, were all standing outside bidding our farewells to the people standing at on dryland. There were tears, there were faces full of happiness. Some happy to embark upon seeing many cultures and meeting many people, some to get the hell away - period, some of mystery, and etc. The common denominatior is that we all looked out and knew that we have an interesting couple of months ahead of us. I mean it's so wild to now have to live with 800+ new people. Well, yeah, granted, some folks have made myspace friends, facebook, clubs from school, but nothing can really prepare you for the rest. Luckily, I knew of one friend through a friend. Her name is Liane and she is actually sitting right in front of me at Starbucks as I write this piece. Even better is that she lives like 4 doors down.

Reason 2: I have a window with my cabin - LOVE IT! It was truly remarkable to go to sleep to the ocean at your side and to wake up and see the ocean. And as I've mentioned I got motion sickness, in the same breath, the ocean made me feel like I was being rocked, como un bebe, and I slept soooo well. I can't help but realize the fact that there are like schools of fish beneath the ship as we sail. After being on the ship for a few days it took me by surprise that I wasn't stressed, but actually felt pretty good. Well, we did hit a few rough patches that had me reaching for the motion sickness patch with a quickness. But it all worked out. Thus, getting closer to San Juan, Puerto Rico I was really confused when we are docked and I get to leveled land and it feels weird. I guess I've partially grown my "sea legs."

The name of the blog came from listening to one of our admin folks during his speech. I loved it when he said that we will be chasing summer. The time thing is not hard but weird. It takes me a minute to realize what time it is when I email or try to call someone. My little phone card was docked so many minutes from calling from an international payphone.

While in port I had the opportunity to go on a full city tour of San Juan y Old San Juan. In addition, we had a welcome reception and had the fortune of interacting with students at Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico. I had a great time and had a great time speaking Spanish and dancing salsa and really having conversations about the academic experiences that parallel and don't.

Our next port of call is Salvador, Brazil. I am really looking forward. More to come.

I am just writing off of the top of my head, right now. I realized the best thing for me to do is to write things in Microsoft Word and then transfe when I get internet access.

Fortunately, I am one of the folks that greets the students when they come to port.

Well, I must packup and get ready to head back. We hit the seas again, tonight.

Less than a day away...

Less than a complete day away before hitting the deep blue. This has been pretty cool so far. Since I am a work-study student I along with 20 other students the ship 2 days before to maek sure that learned our jobs and become acquainted with the ship. For the record, I will be on a ship - NOT A BOAT! Ok, just letting you know. Ok.

I am standing at a bar top table outside of a bar (that is closed for the evening) named Da Junkanoo Shack. The weather is nice and cool. I have on a sleeveless shirt and can feel the breeze running through my hai-...scalp. Since internet access is so limited on the ship and I am going to preserve my little 250 minutes - yes, for 4 months. So I was pumping through downtown Nassau trying to find wirless. Low and behold, I surely did. Come one now, you didn't think I would? I am from New York, son. I have been an assistant and Production Assistant for over 2 years which means that there is no such thing as not being able to do or find something. It should become even more interesting as time goes on and I arrive to other ports and am on the search. Can you see my pumping through Malaysia asking for an internet connect? WORK!

But things have been great. My work study job is in Student Life. It wil be fun. The job basically entails being in charge of student activities and interacting with the Residential DIrectors and making this as pleasant of a trip for everyone, as possible. While working with my other three SL folks - Izzy, Kedero, and Stacey, we thought about how it feels like we are student council, ASB, or The Prom Committee. Today just consisted of inventory. We played my ipod while we cleaned. I am so glad, right now. Honestly, all of the drama from health, stressors from school and work, $$$ issues, etc. were all worth it. I am here. Tonight as I ate dinner on the deck and overlooked the ocean in the Bahamas I just reflected on all of this. I applied in August

:::Please, pardon the interruption, you'll get used to them - But, I am also listening to my ipod as I type and stand and a song by Chaka Khan, Angel, has come on and it reminds me of my mother and grandmother. I LOVE THIS SONG! Oh goodness. I digress:::

and I was accepted on Sept 11 and from there I hit the ground running. I lost so much sleep, I didn't eat, I fucked up at school and work at times, and literally the list goes on. God, I can remember crying myself to sleep and being frustrated with being stricken with cancer and dealing with the residuals of chemo - years later. I felt so alone. There were folks that were so against my pursuit. However, I knew that this is something that I really want(ed) to do. It has been an intense several months. But when it's all said and done I AM HERE! I AM HERE! I AM HERE! I am about to embark upon something so amazing I can't articulate it. And I am not traveling with a sense of exoticizing and/or carnivalizing the countries, cities, people, etc. Instead, I am voyaging (notice VOYAGE AND NOT TRIP - hell, I take weekend TRIPS to DC and Boston, this is a VOYAGE, an ODYSSEY!) with a true sense of vulnerability and penetrable. Overall, this trip in so many words is about identity and how complex identity - and especially my identity is. Traveling as a black man from America, from Kansas City, MO and San Diego, CA, a fighter, a survivor, a queer person, college student, cultural commuter, spiritual, loving, delightfully naive, a son, a grandson, a brother, a New Yorker...the level of agency is infinite. The bottom line is that I am here and I am going. I will be - and as a professor told me "Andre just be sure to use all 5 senses" that is what I going to do. Child cheese (get used to me saying that - or nino queso or petit fomage; just means "child please." I say it randomly. Why? Because I am random. And that's okay because it's MMMMEEEEE!).

My roommates have not come in yet. Yes, that's plural. I know, I gagged, too. Well, I was hell bent on having a window, because I need to see the world. So I got an email earlier in the semester about having the opportunity to have a discounted rate on my room if am okay with an extra roommate. Inititally, I wasn't down with the movement. But I come on now, I live in NYC, I lived with my landlady for almost 2 years. It will work out. Though, I must admit that space is super tight. Again, it's not the end of the world. What is beyond cool about all of this is that because of health and sanitary reasons our rooms are cleaned for us. Well, our beds are straightened, cleans towels are replaced, and trash is emptied EVERYDAY! Chhhiiillddd, I am getting used to this, already. lol. It's really cool. Oh yeah, but I do need some air freshner and Febreze. So if you can help supply then drop me a line or hit up Semester at Sea and they can tell you the address for the port and how to go about sending it. Funds are still tight and everything is by DEBIT/CREDIT card. Oh no, I don't have it like that. So drop me a line if you down for routing some $ so I can get through singa816@yahoo.com. Semester at Sea - 1.800.854.0195.

I don't know how this will be tomorrow with the other 700 student boarding. And the fact that there are 3 black guys, including me - that I have seen from our listing of pics and named on a bulletin board, will be interesting. But it's all good, seriously. I am sure that they are just as happy to be here as I am.

:::Pardon the interruption - Kanye West "I Wonder" is my THEME SONG! And it just came on *bobbing head ridiculously hard*:::

Oh yeah, I was blown away when I realized that Bahemians drive on the left side of the road. So much to see in the world. Also, I am keeping my fingers crossed for everything to work out and be apart of program in Paris, France this summer where I will study Art, Literarture, and the Contemporary African Diaspora. Traveling and learning is so important me.

There really isn't too much more to say. Next on our agenda is Puerto Rico! QUE LINDO!

Well, I must end this. Folks are meeting up and this restaurant/night spot named Senor Frogs which is right by the port. I figure I can make it down and make an appearance *bats eyes.*

Damn, this is about to happen.

Until next time...

And the beat goes on...

Good morning world,

Right now, I am sitting in the lobby of The Towne Hotel in Nassau, Bahamas,





Well, the journey has officially started. Before waking up about 30 minutes ago I hadn't been to sleep in like 35-37 hours from trying to get things together to make sure I was ready to leave, properly. And limping around the city wasn't the easiest - and at this point in my financial life cabs are against my religion. OK! I just can't do it, right now. I don't think folks realize how much this program really is! 22,000 + (get into the plus sign). Thus, I have been looking mighty Nicole Richieish. But I look good, though! I do.

Ok, all jokes aside. I seriously want to thank everyone that has supported me through this pre-journey. Thank you to the folks that will embark upon this journal whether browsing the internet, got the link from someone else, or maybe I meet you on this odyssey. But I really feel that it will do a lot. You will see me evolve. Thank you Eugene Lang College and my friends that are classmates - not classmates that I happen to think are cool within the confines of our seminars. You all have seen me GO THROUGH IT! And a special handful have prayed with/for me, fed me, bonded, laughed, and worked with me. Thanks to anyone that has ever make any copies of my many documents, proposals, news articles, etc. for me. I have so many things floating around in the world it's crazy. I am not going to turn this into an award acceptance speech, so it stops here.

I am about to eat my contiental breakfast, because I am hungry as hell.
Andrea who works at the front desk of Towne Hotel is a sweetheart. When I got into the hotel last night around 6p I had the worlds worst headache and I was pacing around in the lobby and she was under the impression that I was impatient but was so sweet. I had to explain to her that I didn't care about the wait I was just trying to relax - though pacing isn't quite relaxing, but to me it is, I digress. So she took care of me. And she told me to eat a conch salad. But I didn't have the energy to go to a spot named Fish Fry and get one. Instead I went to a place named Daily Grind and got a tuna melt on whole wheat (all about fiber) and salad (ruffage is imperative) and a bottled water (no explanation needed). Then I came back and crashed.

For the record, I actually board the ship on the 21st.

Stay tuned.

Oh jeez, I am really about to travel the world. That's real cute and stuff like that and stuff, m-hmm.

A