We went out Friday, July 4th. Did see a mishap right in front of us, to which we assisted. Planning on going to Lake Tarpon today to do some tubing.

It has been a bad week for us, so it was probably good we didn't try to take the boat out. My wife lost a classmate a week ago Friday and had to go up for the funeral Tuesday. The next day, they buried another classmate's father, who happen to be the husband of my mom's cousin. Friday, we decided that even though we were feeling a little under the weather, it might be best to go up and shoot fireworks off with our young grandniece. When I went after more fireworks, I got stuck where I had to cut across a yard to get out. I couldn't see a semi brake drum being used as a planter in the middle of nowhere. I was doing a whole 1 mph, and the front wheel went just past it and I hit the base of the wheel well and shoved it into the door. At the best, the whole fender will have to be replaced and we cannot get into the passenger side. We tried to have a good time, and made the trip back late last night, only to find out that another classmate of my wife had died on the fourth. He was a internationally noted conductor and pianist that was director of music at Marywood in Scranton, PA.

The amazing thing is that there were only 33 graduates in her senior class, and only 15 boys. Three of those have died in the past six months, and on a friday. That is 20% of the class and they just had their 35th reunion last May. Needless to say, it has my wife a little stressed. That small of a school, they are like a family.

Oh well, I get to have a lot of fun tomorrow getting estimates on my car. Then dealing with the insurance company.

Wow seadog...sorry to hear about all the losses. And to you also bowline.

We were at lake camping from Thu until this afternoon. Got there in time to boat for about an hour on Thu. Spent most of Fri on water. Hit campsite about 6pm, grilled burgers/dogs and watched fireworks from our campsite. We were about 1 mile directly across from where they shot the fireworks. Spent more time on water Sat and a little this morning before packing up and coming home. I'll try to get some pics and more detailed write-up later. It was a great weekend...I can tell by the amount of sunscreen and boat gas we used

Amen to HB's comments about Seadog's wife's losses. Bowline, also about your kitty. GW lost two just before we moved, and something killed one a few months ago. Sad times when those things happen.

GW and I finally got out on the boat yesterday. Sunny, 90, slight breeze, water was warm enough to spend some time in.

GW took the boat out of the slip by herself for the second time. I was standing on the dock for this one and stepped aboard at the last second. She cruised it about 5 miles downstream to our fav spot and I only took the helm to drop the hook. It was nice to see her confidence in boat handling improve. She says she's not ready to try putting it back in the slip yet, but that's a goal of ours for this summer.

We spent the afternoon lounging, snoozing, reading, visiting with friends on nearby boats and snacking. Darn near a perfect day!

Just got back from 11 days on the boat. Only a couple of washout days for us. Did lots of boating, saw 8 live concerts and two fireworks shows. A great vacation for us. Now back to work tomorrow.

Work is real slow during the week of the 4th, so my wife and I took time away from the office. Each day I would answer emails and make a phone call or two, do some easy fix-up projects and then spend the rest of the day playing. Weather was as good as it can get in July. Spent lots of time on the hook relaxing with the kids. Good time.

Friday we took the babyliner out fer about an hour, then. the daily storm made us go home. We'd planned on going out in the skipperliner to watch fireworks, but the weather wouldn't let us. But man, did we have a killer BBQ at the dock! I roasted up burgers & dogs & sausages, others brought salads & chips & other goodies. We counted 27 bodies up on the roof at one point! (love this boat!) The weather & bugs cooperated, and our friends and several people camping on the dikes shot fireworks till the wee hours...

Saturday was our "dump" trip, in which we returned from none too soon, went out without a cloud in the sky, came back in crappy weather. Wind was about 15 mph from the east, which blows the boat away from the dock, took a couple of tries to get tied up. Later we took the babyliner out, but the weather shortened that trip too...

Sunday weather was thunderstorms most of the day, but we DID manage another 10 minute boat ride. I'm hoping to spend one whole day out in the lake at least ONCE this summer!??

The rest of the weekend was spent diagnosing boat problems for newbies (you know a newbie when you ask the guy if they have oil in the gas tank for the old Johnson outboard out back and they say "oil....in the gas...??"----but this for another thread!