Splendid’s decks are almost done. Port, starboard, and aft decks are non-skidie ! I need a day or two to finish the foredeck & cabin house, but wow, the end of an era! No more Cheoy-LEEKY.
Yesterday I had to mow the lawn (clean the bottom) as I’m heading to San Blas with Carla and my guest Chuck next week. Boy am I looking forward to some time there. I was underwater scraping for a few hours and realized I really want a bottom job. I need to get a few charters behind me to make some cake ($), 
but I also need to get back to the reef and hunting on a daily basis and shooting my film. I must find balance : )
Carla and I are getting to know each other and we are getting along famously. I made a few loaves of bread this morning and she whipped up an amazing olive paste to go with it, so yummy! Later on in the day it was off to Panamarina for laundry and a steak. Carla’s a vegetarian and my red meat 
intake has been down, I was craving a steak so bad I couldn’t see straight. The steaks there are pricy ($12.00) but it’s a good piece of meat.
My guest arrives on the 11th and we’ll be in the city for a day or two. We’ll spend a few days here seeing the sights and be off on the first weather window east. The trades have been piping but I’m hoping to catch a break on the trip. Returning is all downhill and a piece of cake.
Carla and I met a really nice artist (Paul Schmidt) who was traveling through the region, here are a few examples of his work. One thing led to another and I mentioned that I always wanted to commission a painting of Splendid at sea for the main saloon. Well as it turns out he said he would love to spend a week in the San Blas, and so a barter was born. A week visitor in 
exchange for a nice piece of art, priceless!
Life is good. I love living on little, swimming 3 times a day, and being the richest poor guy I know (LOL).
Carla mentioned that she would really like to know what some of you guys look like, if you’re up for it go to http://en.gravatar.com/ , and upload a picture so we can all put a face with the name, especially for those of you who comment often.
I have a lot going on in the next few weeks but we are just about to get an infusion of new video on the website, should be fun.
For those of you who are cold and itching to go sailing, don’t forget. If Panama is too far to come for a week check out http://www.FantaSeaSailing.com/ and give my buddy Capt. Paul a shout in Florida. He really does a gr8 job and you don’t have to leave the country for a slice of paradise.
Sail far and live slowly.
Alex