Gen in Maryland, Waiting for us to Pick her Up

Sitting on the windowsill......
This is where my mommy slept......I miss her....
Gen exploring the tobacco fields.....
Here are some pics of Gen waiting for Daddy and I to pick her up on Spirit.....she is staying with Ray and Jan Gagnon for the first leg of our sail and we will be taking her the rest of the way......this dog is human and she is my best friend........this will be the longest we have been separated.....

Tuesday, Back in MB!!!

Smoke fog coming from the airport - its been like this every morning......
Such a shame all the damage that was done......

Not only homes were lost, cars also....
Trees just charred in the back of Barefoot....
Today, I arrived by plane back in MB at 7:30 am.....I had a great flight.....but, after arriving my ride was unable to get me due to smoke and a mix of fog.....the road, Hwy 17 was closed all the way to the Dixie Stampede, so I had to wait an hour for things to clear......it is very smoky here and the smell just makes your stomach feel sick. BUT, I will go on as I am very lucky to not be affected by these horrible fires......
today, a few of my friends went door to door getting donations and went to buy some young boys toys, they lost everything in the fire.....please check out www.thesun for pics of their expressions after opening the tub of toys were all donated......
Later I'll post some pics of the smoke as I drove up the highwayand my tour of Barefoot was very differcult to see tonight......everyone also has to pray I survive being away from Genaker, I am struggling with missing her, BUT she is in a very good place until Bill and I can get her in a few weeks......it was great visiting quickly with everyone this weekend...see you all soon....Love Carol

Dad's 3 year Anniversary

Sunday is Dad's 3 yr. anniversary......I still miss him very much everyday.....Mom has flowers on the altar at Church of Our Saviour for the services on Sunday morning. If you get the chance, please go and enjoy them at the service.

FIRE at Barefoot Resort.......

Looking out my screen -in porch.......
Looking from the stern of Spirit over towards the Clubhouse at Barefoot.....
From Marina at Barefoot......
When fire started at 12:30 PM on Wed. while playing the Fazio Course......
While playing golf today on the Fazio Course, the sky was filled with black smoke and grey ashes.......apparently there was a very bad forest fire down the street from Barefoot and the winds were creating havoc for everyone.......they worked all day and still hadn't put the fire out by dark.....
All is well with me, CArol D and Gen, I have moved everything I could to Spirit and will stay there for tonight and tomorrow.......I am at Edgewater now, we have emergency power BUT they ask that we don't stay in the buildings, until later....Love to you all.

"D" Arrives in MB

Gen shows Auntie how much she loves to swim at the beach......
Tommy the Turtle

Jake the Snake.....
Hi Everyone, well, Carol D arrived in MB today and I actually felt good enough to go outside, the first time in 5 days. I've had a real bad cold and just haven't been able to get going. But, after alot of NyQuil, got to sleep finally and managed to play a round of golf. We had a great time and played on the Norman Course.
We did see a few visitors today, Snakes are out and a snapper turtle crossing the cart path......all the little animals are coming out of hibernation......the snake greeted us in the parking lot this morning......they are everywhere......Gen actually walked up to it coming from our walk this morning and I screamed bloody murder and woke all the neighbors......Gen actually was happy to go walking today also, she had been stuck in the house with me all week and has had NO exercise.....today and tomorrow I will be loading up my boat and truck with things to head back North.....hope I have enough room, Bill knows all my hidding spaces on the boat now....oh well, I'll do the best I can.
Talk soon, love to you all.

Back North!!!

Well, Bill leaves on Wednesday to fly to Puerto Rico, to bring his tug back and pick up more fuel.....of course, after this 3 week trip, WE HEAD up NORTH again.....this time it should take less time, I'm told, by the captain.....southerly winds behind us - Plus - we will be doing alot more offshore sailing.....I hope I'm ready.....but I am looking forward to posting all our travels on my blog for everyone to follow.....this way, Stephen doesn't have as much work to do......if I have internet connections, of course, this could be a problem when we go off shore....But I will be in touch with Josh via Satellite phone and he can fill everyone in.
Now, I have to get things packed and food aboard along with closing up the condo for alittle while....and still play some serious golf, because, as you know, my game has certainly improved.
Look forward to seeing you all real soon......

EASTER in MB!!!

Barry, Doug, Jack and Dave,

Barbara and Me.....

Doug, Betsy and Bill getting ready to eat....

Dave & Marianne, our hosts.....

Good morning all, and Happy Easter......its a beautiful day here and I'm going to some friends tonight for Easter dinner. There will be 8 of us.....I will certainly have some pics on the blog so all can see and enjoy. I hope everyone has a great day, I know I am very thankful for all I have along with my friends and family. Health and Happiness to all....

Bill & I Finally Play Golf Together!!!

Today was the best day, Bill and I played some golf and I shot an 82, 39 on the front, 43 on the back, on the Fazio Course at Barefoot. The weather was perfect and the company great. My friend Sue joined us and it was the most relaxing game I think I have ever played. Only having 3 double bogies sure helps...... But, Sue took this pic of Bill and I on the 18th so I thought it would be a great one to end the week. Enjoy!!!

2009 NCAA CHAMPS!!! UCONN

Ending score 76-54.... 39 and 0 for the Season.....

Well, we won, the 6th National Championship. What a week.....there really is nothing else to say except look through the pics and you'll know what a great time we all had. It was great seeing old friends again, I really didn't get to keep up with them all this year, being away. St. Louis is a great place to visit and there are alot of things to do......the archway alone, is an adventure.

A ride to the top of the Arch!!!! OMG

Mississippi River....where Bill began his Coast Guard Career......who'd a thought.

St. Louis Skyline from the Arch....

On Monday, after having breakfast at the Hilton and meeting some of the Uconn players we decided to take the tour of the ARCH and watch the Lewis & Clark Expedition film and tour the exhibit. Boy, it was high.....some of the pics show the Busch Stadium from above, the Old Courthouse, where Dred Scott fought for his freedom......I'm still learning new things everyday......then while heading back to the hotel, we remembered it was opening day for the St. Louis Cardinals......what a day!!!!

BOTANICAL GARDENS - The Jewel Box

Pat & Marcia......

On Sunday, we visited the Botanical Gardens and the St. Louis Zoo. The gardens were so beautiful, especially for this time of the year. Later we visited the zoo, it supposedly is the second largest in the world and its FREE......nothing in Massachusetts is free....we had a great time. I'll have to post my pics from the zoo later, I forgot my camera and Carol D's card doesn't fit in my laptop. Enjoy some of the pictures of the day also on facebook.

OPEN PRACTICES.....

This is where the St. Louis Blues Hockey team plays also........look at these oldies..

Stanford....that is Jayne Appel.....watch her UCONN...... Oklahoma........ Louisville practice.....

UCONN practice...

Oklahoma University, Stanford, Louisville, and the University of Connecticut all had open practices today, what a site to see, these girls are good, tall and ripped....I envy them all so much....anyway, here are some pics for you all to see.

Also, there are some pics of where the St. Louis Cardinals play as well as pics of the old St. Louis Blues........

4Kay Yow Breast Cancer Run!!!

Kay Yow coached North Carolina State, she had been battling cancer for many, many years, and lost her fight this past January. Last year in Tampa Bay, it was the annual 4Kay Yow race, which has raised over 2 million dollars in just a year and 1/2. Pretty damn good.....

This year, Carol and I both participated, she walked, because of her knee replacement and I ran.....unfortunately it took me 29.32, there was a pretty big hill to run down and I walked it only to save on my shins......I don't want splints again..

Then when we finished the race, we went to the Scotstrade Center to watch all four teams at their open practices.....It was awesome.

Here are some pics, Enjoy......

St. Louis here I am......

Well, I arrived, boy, its lonely traveling alone.....BUT soon I'll have more people around me then I can stand......thousands......while picking up my bags, I saw so many tall women, it wasn't funny, boy do I feel short....University of Buffalo, and University of Hartford, Jen Rizzotti.....that was exciting, she played for UConn, I guess all the teams are here to watch.....this is so interesting.....meeting and seeing the same people every year. Its great and a tradition I don't think I'll ever get tired of......now if Carol D could just get here I'll be all set. We really need to get to bed cuz we have to run early in the Breast Cancer race.

Atlanta and Waiting.....

I'm in Atlanta waiting to board the plane to St. Louis. All is well, so far. No delays....I should be arriving there in about 2.5 hours, so I will have a little waiting for Carol D. to arrive before we head to the hotel Sheraton. Look forward to seeing the airport, they always fix it up really nice......banners everywhere, something D and I have made a point of taking at the end of the week......I'll have pics later on.....take care, 1st game is on Sunday night and the finals are on Tuesday.....Enjoy......Go UCONN!!!

NCAA here I come!!!!! Go UCONN

Hi all, well, today I head off to St. Louis, MO to see the UCONN women, win their 6th NCAA title......lets not even worry about what happen last year when we played Stanford....NO, this year will be different......
I leave at 12:35 arrive in St. Louis at 5:30 and wait for Carol D. to arrive from Providence......
We'll be staying at the Sheraton Starwood right downtown, so we'll be very close to all the action....be on the look out for some great pictures.
This morning Bill and I said goodbye to Mark & Arlene, the weather was dreary while they were here, BUT, never fear, alcohol and Cards solved the problem.....yes, We had some interesting card games......

Anyway, I'll be sending pics of the weekend, also, I'll be running in the 4 KAY YOW, Breast Cancer run on Saturday morning, so follow me on the computer if you want.