> > > 8) I love boats and the sea. I mean I really, really love them. Perhaps obsessed would be a better term
> >
> > Have you ever read "Sea Fever" by John Masefield?
>
> Sure, who hasn't? ;-) I can't count the number of times I have almost crashed my car because I've been driving along the waterfront and my head just swivels of its own accord to stare at a tall ship going by. Later on I might see if I can find a website with some pictures of Spirit of New Zealand and Soren Larsen. There is nothing, nothing, nothing in the universe more beautiful than a square rigger. I *want* one.
>
> Actually, this is a source of annoyance to me at the moment, because there is an advertising banner up near the America's Cup village which misquotes it "and a star to steer by." Every time I go past I want to climb up there with a spray can and put in the word "her" which they missed out. Maybe they were trying to be politically correct or something. Urrg, that just makes it worse.
>
> Brunnen-"rewrite the classics and die a slow painful death, that's what I say"G

I live about 15 minutes from the ocean, but my love for it was largely replaced by fear somewhere during my teens. I'm not sure why. Drowning scenes in movies, maybe. Being pulled down by a strong undercurrent one too many times for a bit too long didn't help either. If I was in a boat though, rather than right there in the middle of the waves, I'd probably like it better.

One of my Eng profs this term has a sea-fetish, and has us reading every ocean related poem and short story she can find. At first I had no interest in them, but as we read more and more, the authors' enthusiam started rubbing off on me...that's what makes them great works, I suppose.

(Square rigger...I'll have to look that up later)

Gr"and quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long paper's over"ace