We're pulling out in the morning in the Si to spend a relaxing week on the beach at Jetty East in Destin, FL. I know it's tough duty but someone had to draw it.

The condo has free Internet access but I doubt I'll be online as often as when I'm at work. I'll check the GGG signup thread and edit as necessary but that's about it - no forays into the Politics forum.

If any of you Florida folks can make it up that way dinner's on me.

 

I wish we could. I like the Redneck Riviera, but we leave for CT 7:00 AM tomorrow morning. Have fun over there and be sure to do some fishing for me.

 

Raymo,

I LOVED that statement. It is so true of so many of us here. We should be ashamed of ourselves but we're not.

In my case, when the office is slow, this site helps me get through the day when I am

 

I'm all over the fun part. The fishing may prove too strenuous for this trip unless I send Barb and her daughter to the outlet mall. Then I've just got to work on the stepson-in-law.

You guys be safe on your way up. It's a looonnng way.

 

No politics? How are you going to keep the blood pumping. At our age we need all the help we can get. Besides, I can't handle Cordy by myself. I better go wake up some of the others.

Have a great time.

(How many miles have you got on the Si? I've got just about 7,000)

 

I'm the system admin. I even get to decide which sites are blocked (except for the pr0n). You think I'd block this site?

 

You need to show Barbara who's the boss then ask her if you can go fishing.

Will do. We hope to be there Sunday afternoon.

 

I'll need the first oil change when we get back. So far she's been the ultimate garage queen. Barb would rather drive her PT Cruiser to work if there's even a hint of rain and I'd much rather drive the S unless there's a sure downpour.

I only drive the truck when it's raining when I wake up.

LB - I did sleep a couple of nights in the truck cab in case your crusher was headed this way.

 

Wish I had know earlier, would have loved to put some miles on the Z.

Actullay my son is here from Miami for the weekend, so I have visitation with the S.

He put a knew sound system in her that sounds great and he's been washing her twice a week, she looks real good. I'm really happy he's taken this much interest in her, he has a history of neglecting his rides.

You have a great weekend Mike


dvh

 

We're back home safe and sound. The Si performed flawlessly as expected. I'll probably need to top off the oil tomorrow (rob) and get it changed one day next week.

I'll post some pictures tomorrow. Hurricane Dennis made some major changes to the coastline around Holiday Isle and Santa Rosa Island.

But I will pass along this story for now.

About 2:30 PM CDT Friday afternoon I was cooling off on an air mattress about 40 feet offshore in one of those almost asleep on my belly states of mind when I began to hear my name shouted at me repeatedly from the beach. This was then followed by a "behind you".

I don't know about you guys but having seen "Jaws" in the first theater run when someone shouts "behind you" I'm going to turn and look. When I did, I saw a very large grayish-brown object about 30 feet away and swimming directly toward me.

My thoughts at that point were somewhat conflicted. The first thing that came to mind was "What color is a bull shark, do they grow that large, and I wonder if I cram this float in his mouth will that be enough". I then decided to just remain as still as possible.

Somewhere between the "Oh" and "$hit" in my head someone on the beach shouted "manatee". I must admit that was encouraging. A second or two later I confirmed it was indeed a manatee (about 10' and 1000 lbs. worth) and turned the float around and reached down with my hands and stroked its sides as it passed directly underneath me. The pressure wave from its tail flukes then gently lifted me up a bit and I dropped back down as it went along its way.

I'm wondering now if they haven't figured out that powerboats aren't allowed within 700' of the beach in that area and are using that as safe passage between the various inlets and the bay.