I thought maybe if I completely SHAMED Mary into this... she'd GIT-R-DONE...

Sorry Mary... I had to do it..

C'mon Mary, quit your yacking and get to typing up your trip report before your next trip to Bonaire.

Kelly, didn't she take hundreds of photos and promise that she'd do a trip report soon?

Hey Mary and Kelly - since both of you are stars in my trip report - I can see why you want to see it so badly!!!

Mary the problem is the hundreds of pics - I need whittle them down to just a handful and can't get that far - I promise - it will happen soon!!

BTW Mary - UPS did not like your address - can you email me the address again - so I can confirm that I have the correct one!!! Package has been collecting dust in my office for a month!!!LOL!!!

Boy - remind me NEVER to say that I am EVER going to do a trip report ;-)

Marabeth, you are safe. I just like picking on Mary! I am evil, and I love it.... heee heee

Mary W., yes she said I think it was on August 17th, that she would try to get to it that week... lol.. not that I am quoting her...

Marbeth - don't worry - these are my two best dive buddies hassling me!!!! Gotta love them!!!

Thanks Mary for the address - still confused why UPS does not like it!!!

Okay for the long awaited trip report!!!
I arrived late sunday afternoon - around 4:30 - July 11th - with my youngest son in tow (Bryant)
I stayed at Alan and Joan Zale's condo at Sand$ (great place)
My hubby (Dirk) arrived July 17 - a bit late too!!
We ate breakfast at the condo and lunch and dinner out!!!
Dove 12 out of the 14 days!!!

Dive sites
1000 steps
Angel City
Bari (twice)
Buddy's
Divi
Hilma Hooker (twice)
Oil Slick Leap
Salt City
Toris Reef
Reef Cam (Front Porch) (twice)
Punte Verkant ( n front of Seb and Mary's place)(5 times)

Snorkeled many other sites!!!

Did the park tour one day!!

Went parasailing!!!

Bryant learned how to windsurf - thanks to the Windsurf Place (these guys are great)

Went home Sunday afternoon July 25th with Dirk and Bryant in tow. Got stuck in the Atlanta airport until 2:00 am - got home around 4:00 am!!!

There are you two satisfied!!!!! All right already!!!

Thank you Tom!!!!!!HEEE!!!HEEE!!!! GIGGLE!!!GIGGLE!!!!Snicker!!!Snicker!!!!

OK then - I won't be scared! LOL!

And I can see why they have been - umm - egging you into the report - 6 weeks! That's too much like me and my pictures and trip reports.

Glad you had a GREAT time.

Yes, thank you Marabeth... six weeks is just a little much... and can you see why we pick on her??? She's a mouthy one !!! LOL !!!

Ms. Mueller,

I do believe that is one of the best trip reports I have ever read. I felt like I was right there sharing the adventure with you. Thank you ever so much. Your description of your fun filled day in the park eased any fears I may have had of venturing there.

I only hope my trip report of my upcoming travel to Bonaire has as many sentences in it.

I thank you again for your post.

Regards, Beau

Miss Kelly - you better be nice to me!!! calling me mouthy!!! Now you may never see the "real" Trip report!!!!

Why Beau!!! You make me blush!!! you are much nicer that girl Kelly!!! Will you be my dive buddy the next time!!?!?!?

Beau,

TOO funny - and LOVE the profile ;-)

Still ROTFLMAO!

Belinda

My Dear Beau,

I do agree with your heartfelt sentiments concerning Ms. Mueller's wonderful treatise on her thrilling stay in Bonaire. Anyone who would read her words would drop everything and run to book a flight to the exciting Island of Bonaire. I'd hate to see what would have happened to the Island's tourist economy had she taken the time to illustrate her text with some of the (dare I quote) "hundreds of pics" that she took during her many fun-filled dives. Thousand more hotel rooms would have to be built to accommodate the crowds!

All I can say SAMDLAMCSSMHLMAO! (sitting at my desk looking at my computer screen shaking my head and laughing my arse off....)

Ms. Wills, I agree, Ms. Mueller posting her large collection of photos would surely lead to the ruination of the Bonaire we currently enjoy.

Thank you again Ms. Mueller.

Ms. Dillbream, Do not worry about your condition. I believe, and this is coming from my heart, that if you stand up and look behind you, your buttocks will still be there:-{O}

LOL!!

My Dear Beau,

Your statement to Ms. Dillbream is not a universal one. I stood up and looked behind me and Ms. Dillbream's buttocks was not there. Do correct me on the procedure as I am sure that I've bollixed it up somehow....

Ms. Wills, Do not be alarmed Ma'am, all is as it should be. The only buttocks you should have found were your own, that is unless you are sharing your chair with a partner or friend.

To all others, please read my second sentence above. It applies to you as well, i.e., the only buttocks you should find in your chair are those of your own creation.

Sorry for any confusion or worries my statement may have caused.

I would be happy to trade buttocks with someone, if they were, of course, smaller than mine...LOL!

Marabeth, I like your personal quote...so true...

Beau.....love the profile! You have to see these pics of my cousin, Fergi.....you two could pass for brothers...at the LEAST! If I had not know your pic was not Fergi with friends, I would have definitely assumed it was him! Uncanny!! Here are some old shots of Ferg....let me know if you agree with the similarity..
Carole

Wow...sorry about the size of the one pic of Fergi! He was a large fella, but not "that" large! LOL. Carole

Thank you Dilly - it was my personal mantra for quite a few years.

As for Mr. Bales' explanation - thank goodness you did that for I would have been looking for Ms. Dillbream's buttocks as well - of course I have no idea what they look like but I can assure you I would not have found them.

Mara

Ms. Baker, Pardon me for this late response. I was on dial up reading this thread and when you mentioned wanting to show me some photos of your cousin "Fergi", I was thinking "Ms. Baker is related to royalty." and anxiously I waited to see the photos. As the pictures slowly loaded on my "486" and the image of a bearded man appeared, I lost my mind, thinking "Oh what have they done to the Duchess."

Fortunately my wife Greata found me in the corner with an empty bottle of Jim Beam staring at the monitor and (ashamedly) crying a river of tears. She helped me get my mind back, explaining that the images you posted were of a male relative of yours and not of Sarah Ferguson:-{)}

You are correct, your cousin does resemble my eldest sibling Bubba Joe Bales, Sr.

Again I apologize for this very late response. It took most of the night and a good portion of this morning to return to this thread. But Greata encouraged me to open it up and respond reminding me with "We must all face our fears Beau."

I am sorry but I will not be returning to this thread.

My, my, Beau! It appears you also have the same sense of humor as my dearly departed cousin Fergi....wonderful to see!

Greata is a strong woman...it's vital to have a strong woman behind every man.

My husband would like to know if you are a member of the SASS (Single action shotgun society). This is a "real" question...he was admiring your firearm in your profile pic.

But...if you will not be returning to this thread, Joe will never know....

Bubba Joe Bales, Sr. must be a very handsome man! LOL.

PS Fergi's "real" given name was David Duncan Ferugson, II.....a/k/a Fergi.....not "the" Fergi, however. So sorry to have gotten your hopes up and leave you hanging with your 486 and dial up expecting to see the voluptuous Sarah Ferguson only to see facial hair! LOL.

PPS One of my first dogs was named Beauregard DeCoco....we were living in the south when he came into our family...quite a nice family name, Beauregard. Carole

I hate to see him go! Beau please come back

Still your fears my dear fellow BT'ers. I am quite confident Mr. Bales will return, but you must remember with all the storms and floods his professional services are most urgently needed in his humble burgh. Indeed, once the citizens who anxiously await his services are returned to their regularity I am sure Mr. Bales will grace us again with his wit and humor.

Also Miss Carole...Please tell your husband the rifle Mr. Bales is holding in his profile is not a single action shot gun. It is a lever action rifle. I appears to be an older Winchester. The octagon shaped barrel makes it both a collectors item and very accurate. The heavy "bull barrels" were rather a bother to carry long distance on foot but were a joy to fire from horseback. The heavy barrel also reduced felt recoil enabling the shooter to lever another round in and re-fire quickly and accurately. Depending on the age of the rifle I would have to guess at the caliber of the round but in examining the feed gate I believe the rifle is manufactured to fire a 45 caliber bullet, which is a large diameter short bullet. Most modern lever actions built later then the 30's typically use a smaller caliber high powered round(skinner & longer). The lever action rifle was and still is a great all purpose rifle. With it's short barrel it is handy hunting in brush and thicket, it swings easily for re-fire at game and is very tolerant of grit and grime. My first rifle was a lever action Marlin 30-30 and all my kids have one as well as their first hunting rifle.

I believe you are correct Wally.

My first rifle was also a Marlin 336. I enjoyed many years of hunting the woods and swamps up here with her. I still enjoy going to our family's woodlot and shooting her. One day I will pass her and others along to my children. At the time I purchased her I would not have bought a new Model 94.

Years later I would inherit my Dad's Model 94 ser# 1703118 manufactured in 1949 according to Winchester. That too will be passed along.

Thanks, Wally...Joe already knew that, he was just curious if Beau was a member of the SASS. Carole

Only in America:

---

quote:

I still enjoy going to our family's woodlot and shooting her.

---

Mary, Sorry you were concerned. When I bought my first firearm I named it "Betsy", which is why I refer to that gun as "her".

I gave up hunting many years ago, but still do enjoy target practice.

I basically gave up hunting to. Although I like venision and wild hog...I'm just getting to lazy to do the butchering anymore. Call me another fat rich American. I will happily butcher the kid's kills just to show them the old man knows how to put meat in the fridge..quickly, neatly and with deft. The fish however are not off the hook.

Anyone who thinks that trip report is ALL Mary has to say obviously hasn't ever had a conversation with her.... LOL... you have to submerse her to get her to simmer down.. I told her more than once I thought she was going to swallow her head if she didn't be QUIET.. lol

Now, come ON Mary..... I'm begging here !!!! Yes, Mary W., "hundred of pictures "...... rotflmao...

OH MY! Thank you Mary.
Mary Mueller HAS taken hundreds of pictures.
Seb and I just had a delivery from a UPS truck with a package for ME!
Inside were a framed shot of Mary, Kelly, and me, taken by Dirk, as we admired the view from the seaside at El Kadia looking north, and a CD of lots of pictures! --we're talking Mary Mueller her so make that lots of pictures!!!!!!!!!!
(However would she communicate would someone were to remove the ! key from her keyboard!!!!!)

Soooo, I'm guessing that, since Mary spends her employer's time on BT, she might get 'caught' if she spends the time to upload pictures whilst at work.

She's got some great shots: frogfish, puffers, flounders, juvenile drums, juvenile trunkfish to name a few.

Wow!

Mary - good news the picture frame got there intact - I stuffed the package so much with the that packaging material - I almost did not close!! Thought you would enjoy the CD!!

Glad that you found the card - did that cover the snorkel thingy!?!?!

Kelly - tomorrow - you may have your wish for pics to be posted - I have jury duty and may be able to work on that while waiting!! Today I am swamped - have a demanding team and client!!!

Mary - downloading pics here is okay - I just do not have enough free time to do the entire report - I do have deadlines that my clients make me adhere to!!!

Funny trail this thread took - from beating me up over my trip report to Beau's profile pics to a discussion on guns then Kelly brings it back to my trip report!!! Only on BT would things go in such a wide circle!!! Love you guys!!!

Mary W., I got that CD too (and the pic, LOVE IT!) and I have a few pics of the puffers on my bulletin board at work, along w/ the turtle.. I look at them allllll dayyyyy.

Yes we have officially come full circle. I am so anxious to see the trip report....

Ok, since 3 of my newest buddies are here...I miss you guys! Mary, Mary and Kelly...

Just an update as you all have asked. Today I am not fairing so well. I haven't been myself since the trip in June. But hey I have a frigin' brain tumor right???? Let me tell you it's the weirdest feeling...today we went to the grocery store (Ed is doing all the driving these days, I don't feel safe enough). Anyway it was about a 20 minute drive. When Ed pulled in the parking lot and stopped the car, I grabbed the front dash. He looked at me funny. I turned to him and said "hey give me a minute, the car stopped, but I haven't yet" LOL...I have to joke about this so I don't have time to dwell. Anyway I'm very tired, the vertigo is really bad. I almost have a heighten sensation to movement. We were in Atlantic City for the Boat show this weekend and we stayed on the 10th floor. I could actually feel the building sway! I almost feel like the female version of John Travolta's charachter in Phenomenon, just not anywhere near as smart. I'm experience numbness in my face, my temperment has changed also. Anyway, we decided we have to call the doctor now and that I really shouldn't wait until the 22nd when I have my appointment. (Can you believe that was the first thing they had open when I called to make the appointment when returned to the States July 30th). Anyway he was out of the office until tomorrow, so I am just lying on the couch, not doing much. He is supposed to call me first thing tomorrow AM. Told Ed that if I have a seizure, just throw me on the floor, turn me on my side and call 911...crazy huh? I still get vertigo just lying still. Anyway, Miss Mary M, I hope to hear from you soon. Hopefully you have a good picture of us all together. I would love to see them so I can down load and put in frames. My digital card died on my way back from Bonaire so I have NO pictures. Any pictures would be greatly appreciated. This last trip was so memorable for me. If things go well our next trip will be around the 6th of October for 8 days. Our last one got cancelled due to Ivan. Good thing, or I would be on Bonaire experiencing this again! Hugs to all!

Liz

Liz, I certainly hope everything will work out and be fine for you. Please take it easy and keep us posted, OK? Hang in there, kiddo! Carole

Hang in there Liz! I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

Thanks for the update Liz, I do hope you are back to feeling like your old self soon.
Do keep us posted,
Mary w

Liz, I just read this post, my thoughts are with you, I hope you feel better soon.

Well, I could not stay away as predicted by our resident boat builder. As I am compensated by the number of gallons of, er, stuff I haul away, I do enjoy wet weather. Now, before any of you rush out to buy a pumper, remember this, my occupation requires one to wash their hands prior to visiting the bathroom, definitely a requirement before enjoying one's lunch.

Ms. Mueller, The circle goes on. As your very busy schedule has made it impossible for you to complete your post and as it is currently sunny and dry here, hence I have some free time, if you send me the photos I would be happy to edit:-[O} them for you:-{)}

Ms. Baker, Please inform your husband that I prefer a pump action shotgun with a total length of just over 26 inches to keep it legal.

Ms. Ginocchio, Ma'am I wish you well and do hope that your health improves soon.

To quote Ms. Haffner: "Dang!!!"

Hi All! Just an update. Doctor called today, wants me in Philly by 12:30 today. I will do shopping later today, and more tomorrow. Fed Ex seems to be going good. Waiting for final results but think it will be a free ship!

I will update once I return from the MD.

Mr. Beauregard, seeing as you are a proper southern gentleman I thought maybe you could help me out with something. I'm also originally from the South and when I try to explain a VERY southern phrase I have difficulty with it. The people from the north ( now living in NJ, no comments please) just don't know how far "DOWN THE ROAD A PIECE" is. I think it translates to about 1/4 mile or so.... what do you think?

Liz

Liz, I'd say between 1/4 and 1/2 mile. LOL

Keep us posted after your dr. appt.

Ms. Liz, It is a relative term. In other words if you were in the city you might think going to the corner package store at the end of your block was "Down The Road A Piece", where as if you were from the country, hence used to long travels, you might consider the Farm and Feed Store 15 miles away to be "Only Down The Road A Piece". Do you see what I mean.

This past Saturday I was in need of new rubber boots and gloves (for my job) so I had to go "Down The Road A Piece" to purchase it at the Farm and Feed. Once their I remembered that I we had company coming on Sunday, so I left my truck at the store and walked "Down The Road A Piece" to the package store to pick up some PGA (Pure Grain Alcohol to you Northern Skunk eaters) so Greta (my wife not the lovely lady here on Bonaire Talk) could make some "Purple Jesus" to go with her fried chicken.

Hope this explanation helps.

Beau... wow... Purple Jesus... that sure brings back memories. Or lack thereof, maybe.. lol

Hey, Lizzie...they sayin' is akin to what Jerseyites say about "goin' down the shore"......once you get to "the shore" then you go to the Beach....you just can't go from Northern NJ or elsewhere and drive to "the beach"...first you have to drive to "the shore"...goin' down the shore.....too funny!

When I lived in Florida we just went to the beach...we didn't have to "go to the shore" first in order to "go the the beach"...I think it's hysterical!

Hope all goes well with the visit to the doc today. Let us know, OK?

Beauregard...did you just "uncloak" yourself on BT??? Hmmmmm. If not, there is another "gentleman" who is developing a southern drawl! LOL. Purple Jesus.....wow...that'll eliminate any problems you have for the day but create all new ones for tomorrow! LOL. Good ole White Lightnin'....clear out the old cobwebs from the brain..what's left of it, that is! LOL. CArole

Ahem. My Dear Beau,

---

quote:

(Pure Grain Alcohol to you Northern Skunk eaters)

---

Down the road a piece is just s little bit less than too far.


"Down the road apiece you'll see a rusty old tractor on your right, you want to take your next left, and he's just down that road apiece on your left, not too far now, there's a big oak tree in his front yard."

I don't even see down the road a piece as being useful in a real city, where everything is blocks and streets.

Ms. Wills, That comment of mine was a bit out of line. Tell me Ma'am would you throw away a perfectly good bass? Or would you prepare it properly as implied by Ms. Lott on

http://www.oldbonairetalk.com/newsgroup/messages/23830/181121.html?1095285046

?

Ms. Baker, Moderation is important when one partakes of PJ. In other words, always save some for the next morning. Shhhhhhh.

Mr. Schulherr, Exactly sir. No going "Down The Road A Piece" in a real city. One of the reasons I left a place called "The Village" in the real city you call home back in 84 was that there were not any roads there, only streets. Too few trees as well.

Nothing wrong with "your home" sir, just did not feel like "my home".

As Sherry O'Terry from SNL would say..."Simma down now...simma down" LOL...I think I'm goin' down the road a piece and get some gasoline...

My Dear Beau,

I have traveled down the road a piece, then had to watch out for the cow sleeping on the side of the road (I thought it was a big boulder), then had to make a left turn at Batman' grave....and that's how I got to my in-laws' home in Shenandoah, Virginia. Is Virginia truly in the South?

Having just returned from Ireland, down the road a piece has no meaning there. Every road has a name but not many signs are posted. I believe the little people take them and put them down the road someplace....

Have y'all tried Red Breast Irish Whiskey? Mmmmmmm.

Ms. Wills. Honestly I can not remember having tried that whiskey. Would enjoy, sitting down at any resturant or bar on Bonaire and talking with you folks. The three of us "tourist" wearing our brightly colored shirts of course:-{)}

By the way I love "Scubaduck" the movie.

I hope the y'all was directed at all of us here, not just Beau.

(Message edited by vtscuba on September 15, 2004)

Tom, Mary, Dilly, Beau, Seb, Carol, Kelly -

Love this thread...it brought to me a much wanted and needed laugh (I was to fly from Ontario CA to PR last night, and then onto Bonaire & the flight was cancelled due to Jeanne). Needless to say I'm bummed out!! Rescheduled for Friday, hope we get through and can still enjoy our first trip to Bonaire........

Oh my Tom,
Me, a nawthern gal having to translate suthern!

Y'all is an abbreviation for you all. It is an inclusive term.

Seb and I discovered Red Breast in Clonakilty, Ireland. It was in a bar in a display of the best Irish Whiskeys. "Hmmmm," said Seb, "I'll have to try that." He did and, within two hours, we bought a bottle to take home.

As for our shirts, we wear the LOUDEST shirts we can find when we travel. It is easy to spot each other should we be separated at the airport. Besides, it is not necessary to tell folks that we are together. Who else would wear matching loud shirts?

(ScubaDuck, the movie?)

My Dear Beau,
Having read Ms. Lott's unfortunate remark about shoe leather, I thought it best to leave it be. Now it is resurrected on this thread (Kelly, What were you thinking?). I do trust that her comment refers to her love of southern fried food rather than her confession to be willing to eat shoe leather.
That begs the question:
Have you ever deep fried skunk?

Gail, glad we can amuse!!!!!
(OOPS! I just channeled Ms. Mueller and my ! got stuck.)

Oh, I just figured out ScubaDuck.
We found one of Jake's kid's toys, the yellow duck with the mask and snorkel, and brought it to the web cam.
We also brought Ariel the Mermaid, a kite, the nun who had an emergency squeak transplant, and a green sea horse.
Have I forgotten anything?

We also have found that a small plastic tiger shark is quite effective in keeping the nasty damsel fish from attacking whilst looking for/at seahorses. Much to my delight, they are genuinely afraid of it.

Oh My Gawd!
Beau is a fake. He is a Yankee!

Ah have discovered this on another thread!!!!
(Mary M., not now!!!!!!! This is IMPORTANT!!!!!)

He is (gasp!) TOM COUSINO!

And he is NOT a 'honey dipper'!

Well I'll be!

Next we'll discover that Woody is not a dog and there is no Santa Claus.

Gail, That is what it has all been about, giving others a laugh. Seriously, we all hope you are able to soon enjoy Bonaire.

Mary, Shhhhhh on Woody and Santa:-{)} I just like the shirts, mine and those I have seen pics of you and Seb wearing on threads of this board.

Did someone mention my name???

ooooo- I love Woodie! We had a spuds dog just like you Woodie! She did have a loose switch though!

hey hey hey!! watch it lady I don't even know you... if you want a cutzie puppy try my wussie brother...can you believe that Dr. Doo Doo dresses him like that???

oooh yea-looks like a mamas boy!
I definitely prefer the bad-boy look!!

All I can say is....ya'll crack me up...I have tears rolling down my tang cheeks...

Y'all come back now, ya heeuh?! Hush, honey chile....Carole

Sorry to break up the trip report...
Waiting for your pic's Mary!
Liz, we are in South Jersey....If you could email me at sgiamporcaro@comcast.net
Seb is your house the one just built by Punt Vierkant?

Meryl, I tried emailing you but it bounced back...

Meryl honey, i don't have a house in Bonaire, mores the pity, We were renting one sort of beachways and a litle south of happy Holiday Homes

Oh my -- was that Woodie or an impostor?
It kinda sorta looked like Woodie.
Now I'm not sure!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Woodie -- Arf arf?
(Woodie speaks dog, he'll know what that means.)

mArYw

This is why I love BT - it is just great!!
I am here in the office just laughing, you guys crack me up. Keep it coming

Liz, I hope everything goes ok. I'll be thinking about you! Let us know how all is going.

Wow - you go away from a thread for a while and BAM it takes on a life of its own. Well thank y'all for the laughs and smiles. It's be quite pleasant...OK - so I was laughing my a.. no, we aren't going back there... Never mind....

Uh-oh.

Woodie does not speak dog.

Maybe I was using a Sicilian dialect.

Woodie:
Woof WOOOOOF?

GRRRRRRRRROWLLLLLL is more like it lady!!! What do you want???I was just romancing my main squeeze, Miss Wino

Woodie, You Da Dog!!!

Woodie, I hope she has a good personality...she looks like a bitch to me.

Seb...shucks..I thought you may have been the lucky devil who built on that great dive spot....
You are still a lucky devil though!
Cynde...Liz got through....try again
Steve's email is drstevestu@hotmail.com try that if you are still having problems....but my email is okidokie....