10/3/2010 -- Richmond, Va.

Lucky, lucky me. What did my wandering eyes spot yesterday at a yard sale? A beautiful, brand spanking new Coach pocketbook. I wondered how much the woman wanted for it. Dare I ask? I must, I decided.

The answer: "$15", she said "It has never been used. Damn teenagers." Damn teenagers indeed.

9/26/2010 -- OBX, NC

Froth Filled Day

So. Much. Fun. In Maui, I avoid froth, foam, white wash, as much as humanly possible. Contact with it has had results such as board being washed off my feet and I have to swim back to it. Board being washed off my feet and I almost tank another kiter when I get lurched forward. Contact with it, frequently results in cursing, screaming, gnashing of the teeth and my yelling at the heavens why oh why. In one instance, I looked up to see a wall of foam being dumped on my head. The foam went toward the ocean floor taking my head with it. After quickly feeling sorry for the time I tried to put my brother in the dryer,(karma bites), I popped up shocked to see my kite still flying. I must have done something right. Any how, foam and I have been long standing enemies. Every day on Maui, before launching, I surveyed the scene and picked the least foamy section and hung there.

North Carolina had other plans for me. There was no foam free path. I had to like it or lump it. Like it I did.

I made a game of popping over the foam. It was fun. It was good. We shook hands and signed a peace treaty. Just as planned to exit the water, thrilled with my progress, froth came up and wiped me off the board, I hit the water backwards and received a free nasal cleaning. But I sputtered, I thought we had a deal. Oh well.

9/9/2010 -- Belle Island, Va

What a wonderful week this has been. Grand weather to be outside, jogging, hiking, biking, boating, whatever floats your boat. This week, a pickup passed us with a keg and outboard motor in the back of it. What more do you need these days I thought?

Slowly but surely I am getting my biking legs back. Yesterday I was excited to feel them climbing hills quicker and easier.

One funny story this week revolved around medicinal marijuana. At a party, we discussed some friends that were contemplating moving to the Big Island of Hawaii and growing weed. The hard of hearing father-in-law, up until now, didn't appear to be listening. All of a sudden his chin raised and he announced "who would grow weeds?" Not confident he wasn't playing us but still funny either way.