An electric toothbrush! Yes, this is a huge upgrade to my life and my mouth. In June of 2008, after making a plea to Tom, he refused me bringing my Sonicare on our global journey, claiming its excessive power draw would be a problem. The addition of a solar power booster, as part of Zen's New Zealand spa treatment, allowed the toothbrush to be happily packed in my luggage! Yup, it's the small things in life that really make me smile.

We're boarding our flights from Newark to LAX, then Fiji, and finally into Auckland. Upon arrival we get to lower the boat back into the water, re-rig the mast and boom, test the new Cuben fiber sails, which are super light and so easy to manage, and play with another electrical device...the electric toilet! This is just a portion of our jobs next week. Hours of work, sure, but in the 80-degree temps, it's work we'll welcome. For some reason, the New England weather took it's toll, and although the snow made for a gorgeous white Christmas, it's the sunshine we crave now.

Our dear friends on Karma will be hosting us for a night in Auckland, before we hop a bus to Whangarei, where Zen, newly painted, is gleaming in her shed. Maybe the shine of her paintjob will out-flash my clean teeth!