Happy Sunday!
It's very quiet on the board today. I have been working most of the morning and have just taken a break for lunch.
I have a really bad report to write and I am putting off doing it. It will be difficult to write and involves a child and family with really awful problems but not starting it is just making it worse. I thought if I told you guys about it you I will have to check back in later and tell you it's done!
Bob's dad has got bowel cancer and his other heath problems mean that surgery is not an option so he is going to have laser treatment on Wednesday. Has anyone got any experince of this?
On a brighter note Bob has a significant birthday this year and did not know what he wanted. After great thought (5 minutes) he has decided that he would like another week in Bonaire! We are having two weeks in August and then another week in October. His birthday is July 4th but he reckons he can cope with delayed gratification! The week in October will be just after our wedding anniversary. I did have an awful job getting flights for October at a reasonable price; people from the UK might like to bear this in mind! The flights seem to be getting booked up faster now the route has changed.
I have chatted for ages, procrastinating I guess!
LOL Julia

julia, good morning. i am so sorry about your father-in-law. is laser treatment like radiation or chemotherapy? do they know how extensive the cancer is? what is the bad report you have to write? so many questions. it is great that you can get to bonaire twice, i am sure by then you will need a vacation (you probably need one now too!) hang in there...

Good morning! Went to bed with a computer that wouldn't boot to Windows - woke up with all systems A-OK! Who says there aren't computer fairies!? Miracles Happen - to paraphrase a popular bumper sticker. LOL

When what to mine wondering eyes should appear, but...



(Message edited by rusty on April 6, 2003)

Our prayers are with you and your father-in-law, Julia. A tough situation to be in. I'll take unemployment over that, any day.

We're here for you and sharing the burden makes it easier to carry. Keep us up to date and know that our thoughts are with you and your family.

Know, too, that we are GREEN WITH ENVY about your next Bon trip. It's worth turning 75 (Is that how old BOB is?? Already? LOL)

Some archival fishies and a couple close-ups:





We B Kewl:

Good morning, Rusty. How's your weather out "west"? We've made it up to 34, with some nice sun, but the 23 mph wind coming off the bay has wind chill at 22.

John, the sun is shining like a National Guitar - but the wind is blowing like Howlin' Wolf! LOL

I want to get out there and goof around in the garden for a while - but the chill in the wind is too much for me. I'll have alligator skin on my face and hands if I stand out there too long.

Divers finally showed up, after wasting all that time looking around the reef, when they could have been entertaining us.

Well another slam, bam, thank you M'am. They've already taken off. Whatever happened to old-fashioned foreplay?

They were shy in front of the camera, I guess, John. Satchmo ought to give lessons - he was really putting on a show yesterday!

Hi all, report done, just the conclusions to draw together. I have been teaching a child who has been excluded from school because of violent outburst where he is not in control of himself. He has these at home too. He would seem to have a very serious mental health problem but no-one wants to take responsibility for him and his difficulties. I have been writing a report in the hope that someone will have to do something. He is fine when he is taught at home but this doesn't help him. As long as I am doing the job no-one else has to help him. However this is just a 'sticking plaster'. My big worry is when the 'plaster' drops off the whole thing will explode and he will end up doing something dreadful.
Do not read the next paragraph if squeamish. The laser treatment involves treating the cancer with burning going in via the direct route.It does not cure the cancer but will lessen the symptoms and keep dad comfortable. It will need repeating every few months.
Bob hits the big five nought this year.
Thanks for the support everyone.
Cheers, Julia

Who knew they were waterproof?!

Maybe we can set Smokey up with a pair.

Julia, So sorry to hear about your father-in-law, and I hope all goes well for him on Wednesday. Annie B.

Julia, interesting stuff. Don't have any good answers for either. Both very tough problems and I hope and pray both work out.

I am so sick of winter I can't stand it. We were suppose to dive today, yeah, right. We'd have to use snowshoes to get to the water and the winds are BLOWING. Maybe next weekend.

The Tulips and Crocuss are buried under a foot of new snow. We had finally melted all the snow, not anymore.

Hey, I think this diver has my name on their thigh. They really appreciate the viewers at home!



Closeup:

A Stoplight and a Blue Parrot, I think:

Is that Satchmo hitching a ride on the stoplight parrot?

Hey, it pays to advertise, Rusty. Do you have to pay Jake a commission for the exposure?

Yeah, it looks like Satch in stealth mode.

Hey, send me your computer fairy Rusty. Mine is getting very unhappy with large image files. Have been trying to work on some shots from the production of Anything Goes, and it just randomly gives me the blue screen of death, so I have to manually reboot and start from scratch.

Another quickie performance.

Looks like Satchmo wants to get back into stealth mode.

Hey Freddie, I'm packing my slippers for Easter!

Incoming fairy for John!