Location: Undisclosed out at sea, near Maine.

Time: Within the past week ;-)

The salty spray blasts into my face and I feel the drops trickle down my cheeks, being pushed by the wind.

The sky is refreshingly overcast and reminds me very much of San Diego. Lobster buoys seem to be everywhere making the Captain earn his pay, steering this large yacht.

"Those da-n lobster buoys drive me crazy - they can be a real nuisance sometimes."

The captain is a tall, older gentleman who loves the sea and can tell you stories about "Goat Island" and some of the adventures special agents have had there or about the secret tunnel under it's lighthouse.

The Captain's hat, white with a deep navy brim, sits jauntily on a face which is familiar to many. It is his son's birthday celebration and he is in his element.

The Captain, after sailing past the mysterious Goat Island and now well out of the harbor, relinquishes the wheel to his first mate and comes down to join us near the bow.

"Let's put the rods together."

Fancy fishing equipment and I are not on speaking terms - and I know I should be impressed by the rods emerging from the sandalwood cases - but I haven't a clue as to their make or value. The President seems to have his mind reader on - either that or my face must've revealed my position as he revealed their pedigreed nature.

"They're Rolf Baginski Fly rods - some of the finest in the world, cast in Germany. By using Fly rods - it gives the fish a sporting chance."

I place my hand on the mahogony handle and assemble it gingerly, all the while knowing I will fail to catch anything with this rod, regardless of cost. The mackerel we are supposed to find in abundance will be safe from me. However, I know this is another male bonding ritual and so coming back empty handed is part of the character building process.

"This Yacht is fine - but sometimes I miss the Tomboy."

"The Tomboy?" I ask cluelessly.

"The Tomboy was my granddad's Lobster boat, a filthy smelly and wonderful fishing boat. I learned to fish on that stinky boat!"

"Sometimes the finest treasures and greatest joys are the simplest ones." I offer up for philosophical banter.

"Barb loves fishing because I love fishing - and I love her for that."

"Laura hates fishing - but she'll never fess up to it!" (Laughter)

"So how's it going in the hot southwest - I see they got those fires under control. What's up at Shamballa?"

I manage to pick an attractive blue and yellow lure from the large selection of lures and watch closely as the two Presidents get into action.

"Things are moving fluidly. We have made a lot of progress in Malaysia and intercepted roughly 100 million from Osama's holdings in well over fifty disparate accounts."

"Nothing like taking a Saudi's money away to slow em down a bit....but what about operation Curmudgeon," Queries the older Bush, "I heard that the .............

...oh s---!"

A huge marlin is pulling on the rod and has taken the lure. The spasms and frustration of the big fish are managed expertly by this angler. and in less than a minute the fish is in a net. It is still thrashing about like a Clinton in front of a special prosecutor.

Suddenly a beeping tone can be heard - and four secret service agents emerge from the cabin and advise the Presidents to go below.

"An unauthorized speed boat has been spotted on the radar, and is approaching fast rom the southeast."

Bazookas and some of the better fly by wire hand launchers emerge at the ready....

..but that is a tale for another day....

SDAI-Tech1