This weekend marked the unofficial end of cruise (this week marks the official end) - the captain's reception and it's coinciding with the TSGB's custom's port. This year, they stopped in San Diego, and it being my hometown, me and some shipmates made our way to the newly renovated cruise ship terminal and enjoyed the wonderful reception. Granted, it was the same as it always is - roast beast of mysterious age and origin, rolls which have been hidden from the students all cruise, and a bevy of frozen tropical fruits, all of which are smothered in pineapple juice making them deadly for consumption. Also, open wine and beer bar - huzzah! It was the usual schmoozing of parents/alumni/teachers who couldnt get out of it, as well as the captain's long drawn out boring speech.

But you dont want to hear about the speech, you want to hear gossip, right? So hear it is:

There's a new commandant in town, his name rhymes with Spumoni and everyone seems to be damned happy about it. I could fill volumes with the ills and frustrations and awful stories of the era of the previous Frau Kommandante, but needless to say, a change was desperately needed and the right change has been made. The man taking over (who I hear has plans to restore the old corps - thank every deity there may be) is a retired Master Chief of the USCG and by all accounts is very firm and strict but evenhanded in his justice. He also supposedly dislikes all of the previous commandants' appointments into corps positions.

We like the guy already. Why does all the good change happen once we've gone? Jeeez.