We were listening to "All Things Considered" on the computer and polishing the brass clock and barometer today when our friend Caroline pinged me. (Actually, John had finished the barometer and I was doing the clock.) It was pretty exciting for us to hear from an old friend. I could see the message window, but my latex-gloved fingers were all gloppy with brass polish, so I enlisted John's aid in replying. Maybe voice-activated typing would be OK. It sure was fun this afternoon. Caroline and Andrew are definite maybes for the Panama Canal at the end of the year. Here's what the newly polished brass looks like.