For four days and four nights, we sailed aboard the “Monarch of the Seas.” This was my first time aboard a cruise liner - and my first summer vacation since I can’t remember when. I don’t really count Gnomedex last year (since I was working the whole time). Traveling isn’t exactly in my blood anymore, having crossed the country several times in a station wagon as a kid. I’d be willing to embark upon another ocean adventure at some point - with different destinations, tropical or otherwise. I loved not having to worry about hotels, car rentals, meals, etc; they pretty much cover the whole vacation shebang with the right travel package. Alcoholic refreshments weren’t included in the price, but that didn’t keep me from exploring the rumtacular possibilities. The buffets were definitely among the best I’ve ever experienced; I had smoked salmon (lox) at darn near every meal. We stayed away from the pool, as the water didn’t appear to be incredibly pure. Instead, we grabbed a couple of books and basked in the warm glow of the afternoon sun - and I’ve got the red skin to prove it. The left side of my body is also visibly scarred, having faced a fear on the upper deck one day; nothing more than small nick and bruises are there to (temporarily) remind me of the time I went (temporarily) insane. Vacations are supposed to be fun, right?

Now, the question on everybody’s mind is: how did I survive without Internet access? The answer, quite simply, is: I didn’t. They had to put me in the infirmary at least three times throughout the first two hours. Sure, there were a handful of kiosks on the 4th deck of the ship, but at $0.50 per minute, I was more than willing to wait until I got home to clean out my Inbox. Not only was I taking a vacation from the rigmarole of Lockergnome, but I was also being “forced” to take a vacation from the entire digital world. Methinks they priced it that way on purpose, but I certainly could’ve used some Geekier Citizen’s discount. When you travel, do you find it easy to put down the things that you know need to be done - and only you’re the person who can do them? I crammed a week’s worth of work into a couple of days before leaving, and I’m more than thrilled to see that nothing crumbled in my absence. Bob did a wonderful job at keeping the editorial seams from coming apart - as did every one of our regular contributors. I’m sure another decade will pass before I even consider taking another real vacation, but at least I know I can peel myself away from this desk for longer than fifteen minutes without needing an IV. Maybe I’ll even go overseas one of these days?