Today's practical advice: if you are going to get into a fight, make sure it's not with a god.

[DFW]

My wife and I were out today at one of our favorite beaches. It's not advisable to go out at high tide unless you are an experienced swimmer and really strong, but at low tide, it's usually OK, even for small children. Not today. We both were trying to get out far enough to catch some waves in, but they were so powerful, we both got battered by one wave after another just by trying to get out far enough. I felt like one of the baseballs Babe Ruth hit for one of his longer home runs. Even the occasional seal that sometimes swims past didn't seem to be having an easy time of it. Recently they are coming closer to shore than they used to, since the water in recent years has become warm enough to become inviting to great white sharks. We got a couple of good waves, but I felt like an amateur boxer who had challenged Muhammad Ali to a match when he had a dinner date in half an hour, and wanted to end it quickly.

Poseidon was not in an agreeable mood today. We should have figured that out after the first angry wave, and rather than let ourselves get battered again, we will take his hint sooner the next time he's not in the mood for company.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. My dear DFW!

Well, obviously, the gods were benevolent today and let you both live to tell the tale!

Neither Lionel nor I have ever done ocean swimming....heck, I like the shallow end of a swimming pool!

Glad to hear you're on your vacation, too. I hope you're both having an excellent time.

[DFW]

2. Well, we are, but we are both exhausted!

The food is incredible, but we also come for the water (look up Long Nook Beach in Truro, Mass.).

And the music! Already saw Al Stewart, tomorrow is Mary Chapin Carpenter, and then Saturday is Arlo Guthrie. And then next Monday, I'll be doing a guest hour on the community radio station (been doing it for 30 years here). Then our elder daughter comes up for along weekend. Her boyfriend has never seen a whale up close. We will remedy that. When we're done here, we'll be wrecked, refreshed, and happy--like every year!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. That all sounds wonderful.....well, except everything but the wrecked part!

I hope you both get some really good, deep rest in the middle of all this.

[Wolf Frankula]

4. Depends on the god.

If you've got the goods on it, he/she will be very cooperative.

Wolf

[elleng]

5. WOW, glad you're here writing about it!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. I get into regular arguments with Bastet.

She always wins and pukes hairballs on the rug.

[steve2470]

7. glad you survived Poseidon for today!

I hope you and MrsDFW are getting some nice rest and warmth on vacation.

[malthaussen]

8. Hey, it worked for Diomedes...

... he kicked ass on two gods. Of course, he had Athene's help...

-- Mal

[DFW]

9. If we had had Athena's help

We would have found the wisdom not to challenge Poseidon in the first place!

[FakeNoose]

10. I've been to Truro on Cape Cod

It's a lovely area and quite pleasant in the summer. Do they still have the nude beach there?
(Last time I was there was over 25 years ago, so maybe not.)

Enjoy your vacation and I hope you catch some good waves!

[DFW]

11. It's still there, as far as I know

It's actually just south of "our" beach (Long Nook). Just head down the dune trail, and go to the right far enough. Since we usually come with our daughters or friends, we usually don't stray that far, but I haven't heard of it being closed.

Last week, we caught more waves that we usually do in our whole vacation. My brother was here for that time, too, up from his stress job in northern Virginia (when he's there, that is), so it was nice to hang out stress-free for a week.