here is one idea I was playing with but it backfired and came up with 172:
Code:

Function m($!)
dim $,$b

for $ = 1 to 19
$b = split('- . : .: :: ' + $m)
$m = $m + '| ' + $b[$]
next

for each $! in split($!)
$m = $*$m + ascan($b,$!)
if 0>$m
$m = $b[$! mod $]
$ = 1*$!/$
if $
$m = m($) + ' ' + $m
EndFunction