So many of you have sent cards, emails, phone calls (Mr. SplashBar himself called every week I was in the hospital, just shy of seven weeks), and ChipBoard posts it has been wonderful. I'm a very sentimental guy and have choked up with every surprise since Mike Pasternack offered words of support at the Early Bird Banquet. Chipper friends have called and offered to pick up stuff for me, thank you all. Michael Sisken’s post with Joe Pavlik and my likeness on a paddle was quite a crack up.

Dennis, that you, Ralph and others picked up that Sierra Sid's for me is beyond being nice - it shows a comradeship that I really appreciate in this hobby. My older brother once got a prize for an essay he wrote as a senior in high school, the title was "Divided We Stand." His premise was that no matter how we argue with each other when someone is in need everyone bonds back together and pulls an oar to help out. I've seen it many times on this board, the Katrina disaster is a great example, and I love it.

While in the hospital I had a lot of visitors so much so that I was glad I was in a single room, it could get noisy. Two consecutive weekends guys and their wives I used to work with as an AD came up, one from Calexico and the other from El Centro. With gas at $4.00+ that's very nice of them.

Janice and I missed the activities and people of #16 a lot and our main thought was that people would step up to cover our volunteer hours. It has been said before and we agree, volunteering and working the various tables is a great experience. I watched the web cam Greg provided quite a bit but must have missed a lot. I fired up my new laptop, superimposed a game on the top-right part of the screen and played/watched for quite a while everyday.

I thank one and all from the bottom of my heart. I guess I’ll owe a bunch of “large orange drinks” at #17, count on it. I apologize for slipping into an inside joke with "large orange drink" but if anyone wants to hear the story LMK.

Regards,