Hi Seafarers,

Seattle is alive & well with mid-summer activity. Pike Market is hopping with its many wares. Just bought a wild King at unbelievable prices. Festivals abound. A few days ago I took in an Asian Festival in the International District and got to meet my first honest-to-goodness goddess. Even received a blessing from her tender, virginal hand. I introduced her to the goddess of my life and, as we went our merry way, my personal goddess made me promise to hereafter address her as such from that on in. Careful of the power you give to others...

Today, I spent some time, high & lifted up, catching some rays while reading overlooking Elliott Bay. What's there not to like about this lifestyle?

While in the nation's capital, I met up with an old school chum who worked for State before becoming an author on books re: climate change and high-yield agriculture. His studies, impressively scientific, lead him to conclude that Gore is all wet, so to speak. You think I can get any of my liberal friends to expose themselves to his studious research? They're just as insular in protecting themselves from anything that just may challenge their opinions as are the conservative set. It's a sad state of affairs when we're so completely stuck in our ways so as not to be able to look at life from a different vantage point. More from ole Salty another time.

Seafarers! I've completed my journey. Returned to the Emerald City last night. It's been a good sail along the eastern seaboard. Learned alot. Jamestown reminded me that Africans set foot upon these shores before my own people kissed the Blarney Rock@ Plimoth; and D.C. reminds one that the Senate doesn't function much (if ever) during the summer. When I visited their chambers, one lonely solitary senator was talking to himself, or so it seemed, or to the numerous pages and one stenographer. Barack & Michelle heard I was coming and immediately exited stage right for Moscow. I took in the fireworks show on the Mall -- nice with Washington Monument in the foreground -- while the real fireworks was taking place in Anchorage with news of Sorry Sarah's resignation. "I am not a quitter!" she protested as she absented her state's highest office prematurely. If it's not quitting, how will she eventually describe it -- a "strategic retreat" in this age of double-speak? This morning, CNN reported that 7 of 10 Republicans would still vote for her today if she was running (Gott im Himmel!) for the presidency. I could better understand that result if CNN had polled a mental institution. Is there a difference? Has this nation completely lost it? Then there's the Michael Jackson fiasco. Who was his publicist if all he stood accused of was false?

Now I'm back among more sane surrounded by my buds who sailed in during my sojourn. So good to be reunited with these blokes once again. Spearchuck is just the same tho some of his lovely dreadlocks have been sheared during a barfight in Zanzibar. And the rest the batch has become considerably more mindful about buttoning their flys.

More later. Hope to hear from you. Salty 7/8/9