3... 2... 1...

(Hmm, perhaps if I take the blog out of "html view," I can actually compose without having to drop paragraph codes into it.  Wouldn't that be nice?)

It's nearing 11 p.m.  I have a quick break to post before I'm meeting friends up on deck for the big ol' countdown to 2026.  (I'm also half changed.  That's right, Nekkid Blogging.  Try to contain yourselves.)

Big excitement today - we are actually in port.  It's the only real stop on this cruise and was definitely a bit of an incentive to go.  We're in Tenerife in the Canary Islands.  To be sure, I didn't take much advantage of the sights to see here, but it was a LOVELY day.  Like, outrageously lovely, given the rains we had in Malaga.  Actually, we're supposed to have high winds starting shortly after midnight today.  High winds and large waves, right when we're getting back under way.  I don't want to say the crew is battening down hatches, but we noticed them removing all glassware from the beverage station.  (And when I came back to my cabin, the glasses they supply were all huddled in a corner on the floor.)  I dunno, apparently 3 meter waves are ... highish.

For those following our Trivia exploits, our team is now in the lead -- well, we were tied for the lead after yesterday and we won today, which should put us in good stead.  But there are a lot of bonus points out there for the poem contest and mine did get submitted, so we'll see where that leaves us.  (It went over well when he read it aloud, which was nice.)  For tomorrow, we have to submit a sketch of a crew member.  So even if we do ok poetry-wise, we've got to hope our art goes down well.  And nobody on our team is an artist.

(There was an interesting Name That Tune today, which had originally been intended as some sort of speed game but turned into regular team Name That Tune.  We didn't win, but performed respectably.  There were some that I had instantly - so I probably would've done well on those in the speed game; but there were others that definitely required a good think.)

Your first photo here is our ship from a distance.  There's two ships here because Star Seeker (where I am) happened to be park next to its sister ship (from Windstar) the, er, Wind Star.  They got the sails, we got the bigger motor.  (For which I'm sure I'll be grateful in the 3 meter waves.)

The sky looks a little threatening over there, but that's just in that direction; turn your head and it's freakin' beautiful.

I had a walk in Tenerife.  I went up the shopping street but didn't end up buying anything.  (Why would I walk into New Era and buy a Dodgers cap in the Canary Islands?)  But it was a good 8000-step walk and the day was, as previously mentioned (look at it!) freakin' beautiful.  Here's the view from my cabin when we were docked.

I'm not going to get all philosophical about the New Year.  There was a lot I didn't really dig about 2025, but right now, I'm not in the frame of mind to dwell on it.  I'm with friends in a lovely place with (albeit momentary) shockingly good weather.  I'm gonna grab my party hat and noise maker and get out there and party like it's 2026.

(And pants.  I'm gonna grab pants.  It's not that kind of party.)