I found my cure

My mouth feels okay, and steroids seem to be successfully catching anything that tries to pop up. I now have a superstitious fear of leaving Cayman. Things could be worse I guess.

I've gotten a lot better at underwater flash photography this year, such that my images have more meaningful colors now, at least for those where I was close enough for an effective flash.

I was also really excited to finally get a good clear shot of a turtle and to get numerous opportunities to photograph another of my favorites - yellow tail damsel fish. Photos can be found on Picasa.

Fact: Hydrozoa are neither cuddly nor fun. Supporting Evidence: there's a swollen burning patch on my leg. It started out looking like little hives and now it's red with some teeny pimply centers here and there. Counterattack: vinegar and hydro cortisone for the win.

A pirate gave me a glowstick.

And so begins Grand Cayman, the 2008 edition.

It's a secret to everybody.

There had to be a trick. No one just goes to look at cold-ass chlorophyll-lacking forests for fun, right? That just doesn't make any sense!

I concluded there was one plausible explanation for this autumn leaf peeping frenzy: free booze. Yeah, you wish you thought of it first, I know.

Next month: the real way to do an autumn getaway, at 19 degrees latitude.

Whales

Lookie what I saw today. We got on a boat with a bunch of annoying people and saw these whales! This was far more awesome than having the bathroom flood through the ceiling vent.

Mouf

Chronic canker sores are worse than second degree burns on feet. I have been getting 6+ canker sores (and/or sore clusters) at a time since mid-January and rarely have had a single day with no sores since then.

I have tried every paste, gel, liquid, vitamin, and bizarre masochistic remedy I could find. Even the dentist's cauterization didn't work, but rather appeared to cause an additional sore at that site. I've been to the doctor twice and am on my second round of blood work tomorrow. After that: specialists. I'm frantic, desperate, exhausted, and discouraged. Right now I am attempting to eat ice cream and crying. I'm pretty sure everyone around me is sick of hearing about my stupid mouth problem.

I want to curl up and hide for a while.