Joe-

I would have loved to have known about the MIT chantey cruise but I couldn't change evening plans when I found out about it Sunday afternoon.

We did connect with Barry Finn at the No Name Restaurant on the Fish Pier and had a fine seafood dinner while watching a huge crane pluck pilings out of the adjacent harbor area. For some reason the process reminded me of a visit to a dentist for teeth extraction.

Yesterday there was a grand final special event launched for the National Association of State Legislators (& associated staff) down at a huge tent south of the Fish Pier. There were samples of Boston dining delights from fried seafood to Italian sausage, chowder and fish stew, free beer and wine, patriot re-enactors marching about with fife and drum, a small flock of Cape Cod fiddlers, a country rock band, and the Boston Pops Orchestra, and last but not least Rachapella (five incredibly talented acapella singers who could hold their own against any group in the country). The host committee from Massachusetts really did a good job of feeding and entertaining the 8500 legislators and associated staff and spouses.

Today we staggered aboard the Downeaster (our AMTRAC train) and two and a half hours later were back in Portland. Another hour and a half and we were back home listening to phone messages and checking e-mail.

Such "business" trips are really hard on one!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble