Magellanic clouding

There was a loud tourist in the pool next door, impossible not to hear through the fence, who was expounding on the mysteries of geography to his girlfriend. "We're way south of New York here," he said sagely. "And really close to the equator."

She said something timid about the equator being a bit farther south.

"Oh, that's stupid," he said.

"Doesn't it go through South America?," she said.

"That's stupid," he said.

"Ecuador," I said loud enough for both of them to hear.

"Ecuador?," he said back.

"It means 'equator' in Spanish."

"But that's not in South America."

"OK," I said.

"Where should we go for dinner?," he said, but it occurred to me that he'd never find his way there.

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On a much more pleasant tourism note, Maryl, Johnny, Muggs and Gary were here this week, staying just up the street on DuPont.

We ate at Alice's and Opera, and it was wonderful to see them.