It's been a week of Oyster Wars and sleeplessness - of wounded Confederates and intense design charrettes.

It's been a really awful, wonderful time.

But I'll recount the wonderful.

We (and I mean that in the institutional sense because the Apprentice School and Hampton Roads Crane and Rigging did all the work) placed the replica turret on top of the replica Monitor this week as well as began filming for the battle film (hence the wounded....and I understand that they wounded some Union dudes too, so it's all fair in cinematography and war...).

We began the long and wonderfully rich experience of reinterpreting thousands of years of maritime history with some really incredible, creative people. It felt like a doctoral exam - but much more fun.

We drank a toast to the Immortal Memory last night with several old friends - yes, nearly a month late - but no less heartfelt.

And I sang of the Oyster Wars once again today with one of my favourite old salts during a conference presentation.

And now - I really need to sleep. But it was glorious fun......