BACK FROM FLORIDA

Friends-O-Mine:
I have returned from a somewhat unsatisfying vacation in the supposed-to-be sunny state of Florida. This was the 6th year we've gone down to spend time with the lovely Patty's Dad and his wife Aggie in the Tampa area. Unfortunately, this year was the worst we've had it for several reasons that were beyond anyone's control.

I was sick as a dog the night before we left, spending the night alternating between chills and sweats. The next day we had to make a 1 1/2 hour trip to Newburgh's Stewart Airport (to save money on airfare). The flights went alright (a little late departing, but no biggie). We flew on Air Tran, which I must say was very nice for a discount airline. Plenty of room, satellite radio at every seat, and very friendly employees.

After arriving in Tampa and getting to my father-in-law's house, I went right to bed and slept very soundly, though I felt like crap. That was Friday. Sunday, youngest son Jackson got sick, Tuesday, lovely Patty got sick, and Wednesday, older son Connor got sick. Great. PLUS, the weather for the first four days was cold (for FLA) and rainy. By the time the weather got nice everyone else besides me was sick. Wednesday and Thursday were beautiful weather-wise (mid-80's), and I got to play golf with the In-Laws one day then with my father-in-law's buddies the next day. Though I showed flashes of brilliance and had a decent opening nine holes on the second day, I also played horribly the rest of the time. While my father-in-law and his friends are shooting in the mid-70's, I'm struggling to break 100 (I usually shoot in the mid 80's). Totally embarassing. True, I hadn't played a round of golf since October, so there was some rust, but jeesh, I sucked.

It was nice to get away from the Pit of Despair that is Amtrak for a week, so I guess we can find a silver lining in any rain cloud. We've actually had 5 years of glorious weather and fun in FLA, so I guess we have to serve due-diligence and have one vacation go awry once in a while.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WISHES
Gotta give a shout out to close friend Roy the G.B. King who turned 51 on Friday the 13th. Roy celebrated with Chuck the Edge of Darkness, Chris the Dot Com Destroyer, Joe the Dude who Rats Out His Friends To His Wife, and yours truly, playing No-Limit Dealer's Choice poker at Chuck's house. Happy Birthday Roy, and Best Wishes for many more.

That's it for now. Just wanted to check in, let the minions know I was still alive. Send prayers and good wishes to the students, faculty, and families of those at Virginia Tech University, who were shot up today by a deranged idiot with high-powered weapons before killing himself. Nothing but a nightmare and a tragedy. Worse than Columbine. Yet another person who the world is probably better off without. Too bad somebody couldn't have helped him before he went to this extreme.

Be at Peace, people. Len Is Right.
I am,
Len Tollerton