Rainy in the morning, so I took the bus downtown to see if any mail had come in. At long last, the check from the B of A that I had requested weeks ago arrived. It was postmarked March 15th. The Pony Express needs some new horses. Also got some info on ciguatera that I had requested. Remember that weird malady we got last summer from eating barracuda on our way to Key West? A company in California has developed a kit for testing fish for the toxin. It's not available commercially yet, but as soon as it is, we want to get it. One dose of ciguatera is all one ever wants to have. And ours was relatively mild. In extreme cases, it can be fatal. Ciguatera is all over the world and has been for centuries. Freshness of the fish has no bearing on it, and you can't tell by looking at the fish or smelling it or feeling it whether or not it has the toxin. People have gotten it from eating fish in first-class restaurants. Cooking does not remove the poison. A great many different kinds of fish carry it, but the most likely ones are large, predatory fish in tropical waters.
On my way home, I stopped at a Revco and exchanged the stuff Roy didn't want for the kind of Bandaids he did want. Went into a used book store and bought three small books for less than $3. Bought a few groceries at Farm Fresh and returned to the boat.
In the afternoon, the rain quit and the sun came out, but it was too cold and damp to varnish. Roy, of course, continued working on the boat. She's starting to look like her old self again. The planks have been replaced and sealed, and the prow is all smooth and beautiful again. He's even got a coat of primer on the hull. What a difference that makes! The new tracks have arrived, but they can't be installed until I'm through varnishing the toerails.
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