(besides the fact that's when I usually wake up?)

BECAUSE WE'RE AT THE PANAMA CANAL!!

Good morning, Dear Reader! We're here in smelly old Panama, and I say smelly because we're queued behind some ancient freighter burning off nasty deisel oil. We were advised to be up and awake early today to be able to take full advantage of seeing the locks for our partial transit, and so I am. Our ship's clocks went back an hour some time this morning because we've gone back in time (or into another time-zon, if you want to be technical about it) so lots of disoriented folks are wandering the Lido deck at 5am thinking food would be ready, but are making due with coffee as am I.

The trip thus far has been absolutely magnificent and we're all having a blast. Low-carb, shmo-carb is all I have to say about my diet...I'm eating like a teenage boy this cruise and loving every dessert-filled moment. I had a Grand Marnier soufflee last night that was absolutely to die for. I managed to sunburn my face the first day we were here despite my 45 SPF, since my poor virgin Canadian skin was no match for that Caribbean sun. I'll look like a funny old-clown in all my pictures, but I don't think I care too too much at this point -- I just take pics of everyone else.

I'll post more later but wanted to say HI and hope all was well with everyone else.
If you haven't already signed up for my big Cruise Special this week, go ahead and do so now by following the link on the left -- I'll have the special re-sent on Friday evening so you don't miss it.

Big Happy Hugs to everyone!

- Caroline & family