Dear friends.

Well it's that time of year again for me to catch y'all up on my doin's.

I'm still in the same house and my sailboat in the front yard hasn't moved an inch since it was buried. Currently decorated for Christmas - lights and wreath.

My single biggest investment of time continues to be as a volunteer with the Englewood Sailing Association. We are now teaching adults to sail and have spun off a women's sailing group

I have started the process of selling my big boat. My body is catching up with me and my wallet is nearly empty (taking care of her). It's kind-of sad because I am really getting comfortable at handling her (as long as I have at least one crew person with me).

In March I had an opportunity to help bring a 35 foot power boat from Indian Town (FL) back to Englewood. I volunteered for the job because they needed a cook :-) It was a three day event coming across the Okeechobee Waterway. Saw more alligators than I wanted to see in a lifetime, all lined up along the bank of the river. Near FT Myers we had 2 dolphins swimming & jumping just a few feet away from the boat - absolutely awesome (they stayed with us for at least 5 minutes).

In May, John Newman and Craig Keller (on Newmans boat) and John Clements an Carol (on his boat) headed for the Bahamas. (Note: Both boats are Pearson 35's, same as mine just different years.) Near the end of May Craig was called back to the states and I was asked to replace him and help Newman bring his boat back Home. My adventure lasted 21 days. While in Marsh Harbor I purchased a "Conch Horn" then blew it every night at sundown. I also found on old license tag from the Bahamas which I brought back and may put on the front of the Chevy. I fell twice on the deck pulling the anchor for Newman and I "resigned as chief anchor-puller". These falls of course aggravated my hip and knee problems. The weather was not quite what I expected but the color of the water is indescribable! One night I slept through a horrible storm and John couldn't believe it. The crossing back to the states was 14 hours of "rock 'n roll" with 7-9 foot seas and 20-25 knot winds and a following sea. We managed all that time on liquids and pretzels as I was unable to cook (and John couldn't eat anyhow). I never got seasick which surprised me. I earned part of my "keep" doing all the cooking and dishes.

I lost a good friend Janice (a former neighbor who moved to Colorado) in April to cancer of the brain. So sad, she was only 57.

My brother Charlie came to visit in early May. He stayed about 10 days and we had a nice 4-day sail/outing to Cayo Costa park (island just south of Boca Grande). Friends Ron & Barb went along in their boat.

In June I went to Ohio for a 45th College reunion. Golly, so many have died and so many are caught with crippling diseases. I am truly blessed to look and feel as good as I do (and I am 5 years older then all my classmates). I visited the farm (friends Kate & Eric) and met a goat named "Andy". I also visited my roommate Lloyd in Kent. It's been several years and the town and the campus have changed greatly.

My daughter Kris and her family came down for a long weekend in early August. Golly are those girls getting big! 7 & 10 and into soccer and gymnastics. Son Mark came over for a one day visit (he now lives on the east coast). He had not seen his sister and the girls in about 8 years.

With all my careful shredding of "stuff" my personal data was stolen from Ohio State (several thousand people involved). That was in April. Just yesterday I received a new card in the mail from Citi Bank telling me that my account was compromised and here is your new card! How thoughtful. L

I sought the advise of an arthritis specialist and he ordered an MRI. "Not a problem Mr. Paine, we can fix your hip, we'll just replace it". (Thanks a lot!)

I learned something new - you can purchase a copy of the MRI (here it was $10). As a bonus I got to see the lower end of my spine in great detail. Now I know where 2 inches of height has gone. I also wonder why those suckers (discs) don't just slide completely out!

Went to the Hip Replacement Surgeon and he said I should wait a while. "Not enough bone-on-bone yet, just a lot of inflammation." So I had a cortisone shot in the hip and it helped a bit. Maybe I'll do it again.

I've taken to wearing a wide-brimmed hat (green) that's just right for the Florida sun. It's on my head just about everywhere and every trip. Sort-of made it my "Trade Mark".

Well folks, that sort of sums up my year. I invite you to go online and visit my site: pchandyandy.com and you'll see a list of websites that I created/maintain (this keeps me in "toy money" and off the streets). Click on the "Smiley Face" J near the top and view links to a trip I took to the Farm, some of my favorite pictures, the building of my wooden sailboat, and other stuff.

Be well, keep on playing and remember:

The most important human endeavor is the striving for morality in our actions. Our inner balance and even our very existence depend on it. Only morality in our actions can give beauty and dignity to life. <Albert Einstein >

PCHandyAndy.com