Strong Coconuts

We left Bimini Road as the weather cleared and were going to go to The Ocean Club (featured in the most recent Bond film "Casino Royale") but grew indecisive as the Front Desk at Atlantis said we wouldn't be able to get full access. So we (literally) flipped a coin in the lobby which turned up heads, meaning we would stay at Atlantis and go to the beach as the weather had turned nice.

Went to the beach and ordered coladas in coconuts. He said, "Mild, Medium or Strong?" Unanimously, we ordered the Strong. Yes, yes they were...

Water was slightly too cold to swim, although Teeny did. Then, fueled by coconut courage, we returned to the water slides and got a few more runs in before they closed down. Although Charity & Deirdre walked back via a different route over a rope bridge and bumped into Kieran & Cheryl - 2 friends from New York!

Marina Village

Walked by some great yachts on our way to the Marina Village with Di & Kevin. Sat outside at a restaurant called "Bimini Road" at about 1:30. A torrential downpour moved in so we went inside and sat at the bar. Ordered some very good chicken wings with a spicy jerk sauce and a seafood sampler that included a conch salad, crab wraps, and lobster. Drank mojitos while Charity had her normal vodka & soda until Teeny & Deirdre returned from quite the shopping spree.

The Mayan Water Slides

wow... Rode down the water slides. There are 3 different ones including:

1. The "Serpent Slide" - you get on one or two person inflatable tubes and go careening down a tube which ends up going through a plastic tunnel through a shark-filled lagoon so you float by as sharks cruise right next to you.

2. The "Challenger Slides" - two side by side slides with red / green stop / go lights and a timing clock so you can race another person down. I crushed Teeny. P=MV

and then...

3. The "Leap of Faith" - a 60 foot drop STRAIGHT DOWN (pictured) with another run-out through the shark-filled lagoon that kicks you out into a splash pool. I was moving so quickly that I went nearly all the way across the splash pool - so much speed!

Predator Lagoon

We met everyone by the pool and then Charity & I strolled around and checked out the Predator Lagoon. Very cool... Saw sharks (including a hammerhead), rays,and a sawfish. Wild stuff... Atlantis is SPRAWLING! Took a bunch of photos & then went to meet everyone by the slides...

The Atlantis Resort

Woke up early for our only breakfast of the voyage with Teeny outside on the very windy back deck. Met the rest of our gang and took a taxi to the Atlantis Resort.

WOW! An aquatic-themed adult resort... Our dear friend (& Charity's former roommate) Jennifer G. works for the Atlantis, so she arranged free passes for the two of us. (Once they were able to find all the proper forms...)

WOW! It was a FANTASTIC day, with many different fun chapters...

Flying Pirate Hookers

After listening to The Arch, we went up and had lunch on the back deck of the ship. Went back to our cabin & were watching SAS documentaries on TV until we decided to go out and sit by the pool. As we were walking out, we looked at each other and decided, this is silly - we're here, let's go do a few hours of exploring. So we hopped in a taxi [all of which operate on "Bahamas Time" - they (& you) wait until they have a full cab so they maximize their $$$] and headed to town. Glad we did as we wandered all over, checked out the Westin again in the sunshine and then walked into the brightly colored "shopping village" and saw some high-flying trapeze artists practicing. Dressed as pirates. (What???) Which of course prompted Charity to make me laugh repeatedly by quoting "Anchorman" - "Go back to your home on Whore Island. Pirate hooker."

Sat at an outdoor bar for 2-for-$5 Kaliks, some cracked conch and mozarella sticks.

Then returned to the ship to shower for a special reception for loyal SAS alums with John Tymitz and the new SAS President, Les McCabe. Also met the new VP of Development & Alumni Affairs. had a great time, and hung out with Zomchek for a while. Offered to host an alumni reception in New York City, and they excitedly took me up on the offer. Met up with our fellow Fall '93'ers in the Lounge, but everyone was tired, so we called it an early night saying we would all meet up in the morning to head to Atlantis once the ship arrived in Nassau.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Woke up just in time to hear Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu's keynote address. It was very, very moving and addressed the power of the individual to change the world, how we are all "family" and that God is crying at the injustice of the world. He had a HIGHLY joyful and infectious laugh. A real treat and a joy to listen to.

"Beach Party"!

Got up early to go to our "Beach Party" in Freeport. It was frigid. Very, very cold. But we wouldn't be denied, so we wrapped ourselves in fleeces and started drinking to stave off the boredom. A lot of credit should be given to the DJ (despite his playing the same miserable CD over and over) because he tried to get everyone up & into it by playing games like the Egg Toss & Tug of War. Charity's team beat my team in the Tug of War because they had a 350 pound anchor from Alabama who said, "I've been drinking whiskey all day." It was 11:00am.

Saw the strangest t-shirt I've ever seen. "Southern by birth, Coon hunter by the grace of God." So very disturbing...

Got back to the ship and Charity & I did some work for a few hours, then napped. Got up, showered & dressed to head into town. Went to the (beautiful) Westin and the concierge recommended a FANTASTIC restaurant - Iries. INCREDIBLE food. We had baked oysters to start, then I had lobster tail with mashed potatoes w/ red beans in them, perfectly seasoned vegetables and Charity had salmon with a tastefully & lightly done crab sauce & brie. Bottle of red wine & a STUNNING banana chocolate cake dessert finished it perfectly.

Wandered around after dinner & went to the "Prop Club" which reminded me of Amelia Island's "Falcon's Nest" in that manufactured-aviation-resort bar way. Had a couple drinks, watched the Winter X Games on TV and immediately left when the PAINFULLY loud hip-hop started.

Wandered aimlessly and nearly got attacked by a dog as we tried to get out of the grounds. Found our way in to the World's Most Depressing Casino. I hate casinos as a rule, but this was particularly painful. But at least it was tiny. Caught a limo back to the ship for the same price as a taxi cab. Went up to the Faculty Lounge and found Randy Teetz & the Loves. Stayed up WAY too late... All in good fun. Until Charity pulled the "Irish Goodbye." I met a Frenchman named Christophe who worked in the ship's management and who loves Formula 1. Had a great conversation about F1 and he offered to show me around Monaco. Went to get his business card and stumbled into a party in the cabin of the ship's photographer. Good times...

Semester at Sea All-Voyage Reunion

Woke up super early to catch our flight to Ft. Lauderdale to board the MV Explorer for the Semester at Sea All-Voyage Reunion. We were both a little stressed about how much work we had, and I had a sinus infection that made me miss last night's De La Salle dinner, but very excited to get back on the SAS ship. Flight was delayed several hours, but once we got there, all of the excitement and energy hit full force.

Boarded the ship, got to our LOVELY cabin and ran into friends from our Seminar At Sea 2005-2006 and Deirdre, Di & Teeny from Fall 1993. So very great.

As we departed Ft. Lauderdale toward the Bahamas, the ship was rocking HEAVILY. Proved too much for Charity & Di's fiancee Kevin so they went down to bed. I stayed up with Di & Teeny and karaoked in the "Sky Bar" / Faculty Lounge.

Cole Hathaway Heck

Please welcome to the world Cole Hathaway Heck. Cole, proud papa Bailey and mama Mercedes all doing well. Can't wait to meet her.

Patriots blow an 18 point lead

Had 3 friends over for the AFC Championship Pats / Colts game. Crawfish & wings couldn't help either the Saints or the Pats and we now have a Super Bowl that our household doesn't particularly care about. Although it is great to have the first African-American coached Super Bowl...

A Very Special Night

Attended an event for the Wounded Warriors up at Windham Mountain. A great night... Met & hung out for most of the night with Army First Lieutenant Jeffrey Adams & his wife Katie - a delightful couple from Baton Rouge. He is a mechanical engineer at Boeing (and avid video gamer) and she is a "deaner" - a forensic autopsy technician that can do the actual cutting. Apparently she is a brain & burnt body specialist and can filet a cadaver in 45 minutes.

A great night, a great cause and great company. Grant danced up a storm until we had to leave because some in our party were a little too tired from the previous night's frivolity... A few more photos here.

Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On

Jerry Lee rocks "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On"

Great Balls of Fire!

The incomparable Jerry Lee Lewis performs "Great Balls of Fire!" at B.B. King's in New York City.

Jerry Lee Lewis!

Took the Moms to see Jerry Lee Lewis at B.B. King's for their Christmas presents. Unbelievable night... Good seats, good food, good company & "The Killer" delivered. Everyone else just plays rock n' roll -- he IS rock n' roll. Will post video of a few songs later - I have never seen anyone play piano like The Killer... A few more photos here.

Saints / Eagles Crawfish Boil

Hosted a crawfish "boil" (read: microwaved crawfish) for the Saints / Eagles playoff game. Great time, had about 20 people over and the Saints pulled it out. Some photos here.

Also, Mr. Tukey posted some photos as well.

Capture the Idiot Vote!

According to the news, New Jersey is thinking of amending its constitution by allowing "idiots" to vote. State Senate President Richard Codey wants to change the constitution to allow the mentally impaired to be able to vote, saying that the term "idiot" is "outdated, vague, offensive to many and may be subject to misinterpretation."

I don't see anything wrong with allowing idiots to vote. They've been doing it for years... Why they've even been able to run & hold office...

[Insert your own Bush Administration joke here.]

Quite frankly... I'm a little surprised New Jersey has the word "idiot" in its constitution... Although... as I consider it further... No. I'm not really that surprised.

Crawfish!!!

The Wife & I made crawpappies for dinner and they were very very good. Frozen & shipped from FreshDirect - they were spiced just right and gave us a little (very welcome) taste of New Orleans... Geaux Saints!

Patriots / Jets

Watched the beloved Patriots crush the accursed Jets @ Professor Thom's with Christian, Matt, Kevin & Mark. Go Pats!

WRIP 97.9

In what has become a New Year's Eve tradition, Guy & I took over the Windham radio station WRIP 97.9 ("WRIP 97.9 -- The Rip, from the Catskills to the Capital Region.") from 1:30 am - 3:00 am. Took a bunch of beers, Grant and Sean and broadcast to America, with Guy letting me run the board and everything. As it was 2 years ago - a tremendous amount of fun. More pictures here.