Update time.

I haven't posted in awhile, so I feel like it's time for an update... but really, there's nothing much interesting to update on. Lomé's been going through some unrest the last couple of days; protests and riots have unexpectedly broken out across the city as a result of rising gas prices. For our safety, shore leave had been cancelled and we've all been stuck on the ship for the last couple of days. It was fine when I was working and was stuck on the ship anyhow, but I've been off work for the last two days and physically cannot leave the ship; if I need air, the only places I can leave the interior of the ship for are the dock, deck 7, and deck 8. I'm thinking, perhaps this is what a dog feels like, staring at the outside world from inside the window. So close, and yet so far away. It's been three days so far, and at this point I feel quite like a chicken in a chicken coup-- albeit, a giant, floating chicken coup. Or one of those tiny metal balls caught inside a pinball machine, only able to bounce around to its limited locations. In this case, it would go something like this: midships (ping!) - cabin (ping!) - dining room (ping!) - midships (ping!) - internet cafe (ping!) - cabin (ping!) - Starbucks (ping!) - deck 8 (ping!) - library (ping!) - dining room (ping!) - midships (ping!) - cabin (ping... ping ping ping!). Anyone else annoyed yet?

In other news... I have conjunctivitis! (Didn't expect that now, did you?). More commonly known as pink eye, or in my vocabulary, "Gaaaaaah." My eyeballs doesn't hurt or itch or anything, but I've had to wear my glasses the last couple of days, which leaves me slightly disoriented and makes me look like a complete dork. The glasses/perpetual dorkiness I can deal with, but my eyes are pretty red which is annoying as A) I look like I've been crying, B) everyone keeps asking if I've been crying, and C) I now bear a slight resemblance to Voldemort. Of all the people I'd want to look like, Voldemort is definitely one of the last people I'd choose-- he's right up there with Shrek, girl version of Shrek, and Pee Wee Herman.

And now, I present to you, a very pretty picture. I took this photo a couple of days ago, on a trip to Lake Togo, located about 45 minutes from Lomé. This really has no relation to any of the stuff I've just written, but I feel like maybe a pretty picture will offset my Voldemort comment? Fingers crossed.


I know this is for our own safety, and I trust that it'll work out in the end, but I really hope shore leave will be restored soon... if only to preserve my sanity and/or prevent more blog posts like these.