-- Wednesday, March 1, 2000 --

2:08 a.m. I'd say that mostly, we slept. It's amazing how tired you can get as you try to get everything ready for a trip. You're never really sure you're going to have a good time and so you transfer your worries to your overnight bag.

But I'm happy to report that I forgot the toothpaste, and it didn't matter. We got away to a place so removed from Los Angeles, it could have been New Jersey. Perfect weather. Twelve hours of sleep.

Much to report, much to digest, much to download, and that's even before I unpack. Let's just say that I took 36 wonderful photos and I could post one a day for the next month and still not tell you everything.

Champagne was drunk. The sun was out both days. The sea crossing was uneventful, and I even slept on the way back. Here's a helpful hint: never try to look at the hazy horizon through a zoom/unzoom lens as your ship is tossing on the briny deep. Not on an empty stomach.

I had mocha coffee and fell asleep as the primary votes were being counted. We had a TV in our quaint but elegant room, but no phone. No phone jack.

I brought a paper journal, and didn't write in it. There was a bound journal on the mantelpiece and other people who had visited Catalina and the Old Turner Inn, where we stayed, each wrote a page or two about their visit.

It felt so odd to hold a real paper journal in my hands full of voices from all around the world. I wrote my little report in the next available space and left my url. It was the first url in the book.

The future calls and the world gets smaller. Time, however, remains constant, making the day seem steep when you haven't had enough sleep.

I'm off to flatten out this particular day.

I can't way to see you tomorrow! So much to tell! I bought a souvenir! We'll have a slide show! There's a new recipe in store! Oh!