Well, it finally happened. My brother finally spent an evening with Norman Mailer, who asked him to punch him in the stomach, to see how tough he is. I guess it had to happen sooner or later. I think that is something Norman Mailer likes to say to people. I'm just glad my brother had the restraint not to hit him with his secret Chi and kill the old man.

In case you were going to ask, things in my new world of being a mariner are going swell. I was out on the water yesterday morning, everything was very peaceful and quiet. I was thinking it might be a little scary to see a shark, which does happen from time to time. But instead a guy started to talk to me. He had swum out, and his head popped out of the water and he was asking me if I was in a skiff or a dory and how old it was and stuff. I didn't really know the answers but I kind of winged it.

Then another guy on a dock called out to me, asking how tall I was. He wanted to know if I wanted to race boats. I don't really want to race, but I was surprised how chatty everyone was out there in the water, where I prefer to get a little solitude. I was thinking I might get out there again today, only I got called for jury duty. So if you need me I will be setting the innocent free, while mercilessly skewering the guilty, or at least sitting around some stupid courthouse waiting to be told I can go home.