Sea update #2; photos to follow

After a few good hours of sun and small, almost black, dolphin watching today, we have fog now. We are very busy- F is still writing his paper and arguing with me about the rules of the semi-colon. We are all devoted to these astronomy lectures with this adorable astronomer; tonight we are hoping to meet him under the stars on the top deck at 10 pm. Today he talked about eclipses, and Saturday he will speak about asteroids. Little does he know what his audience holds. One false move and we will have to show him a thing or two about asteroids.
kidding.

In food and beverage news, F and I have the caviar almost every night (with extra toast) while Thomas tries his very best to avoid the offer of large prawns cooked at the table. He is afraid of large prawns. Crepes Suzette is made by this guy from Macedonia. The head of the dining room (and the Turk’s replacement) is from Columbia, but our favorite is our waiter from India- the kindest happiest person ever. We love him. He hands us our food and says our part for us: “Excellent!”  or “thank you!” too funny. After such a long summer, we are really almost sick of all food and drink. But there is some pressure to perform and order something decent. I can’t swear to it, but I think the sommelier rolls his eyes as he walks away.

The great thing about taking the Queen Mary is that unlike an airplane, - it’s the same ship every time. We know where the warmest place on the port side is; we know where to go when waves are big; we know what time of day to go to the Commodore Club; we know how many times around is a mile. It’s like coming home. Oh speaking of that, we had a first yesterday: Thomas and I walked around the deck for three hours. (!) That makes 11 miles. We took a breakfast break, and then walked the last hour. I went through plenty a podcast I tell you….

We are focused on the small things: the temperature of the hot tub on the Queens deck and our favorite pumpernickel bread to name a few. At breakfast we were watching the joggers, and one woman was so fast, we decided to time her. 2:45 for one lap. This is of course my definition of happiness- the absurdity of this being as important as anything else we did that day.
Still asking about scary storm stories. One trip to England in January was bad. Said people fell out of their chairs at dinner. December 8th there is a crossing New York to Southhampton…just putting it out there people. Who is in?

More soon…I have to go to a lecture with F on another murder mystery (get the feeling England only has a few in its entire history). Frederick goes to everything. Once he wandered past an open door and heard snippets of what he assumed would be a relaxing lecture on Nazis or perhaps the second world war. Alas it turned out to be about the sound of music. They were talking about the Von Trapp family. Poor thing.

So I guess it isn’t all perfect out here.

Just got back from a Q&A with the astronomer. He was semi-heckled by a conspiracy theorist who said America didn’t land on the moon.
It was awkward.

He is very passionate about light pollution and the idea of amateurs in general (which he says comes from the french word for LOVE of).  Astronomy is one of those things that gives me great peace AND great anxiety. Did you know for example of the risks of the sun (and exploding nuclear bomb as he calls it) giving us a free, full body x ray when we fly? Did you know the Andromeda galaxy is hurtling toward us? We will end, the earth will end, our sun will end.
He seems excited by it.

I am so in love with this wild, terrifying ocean. Luckily, I am traveling like a coward in a mighty cruise ship, far above the waves. We have had some pretty big rocking and it is only summer. Imagine when she is in a really bad mood.

Are we having fun with the Southern District of New York going after that orangutan president of ours?

Ok must go put on my slinky dress and feather mask to flirt with my gay friends. They clap when i come in in a good dress.