Plastic, Prostitutes, and Pirates.

I think this article is best filed in the "Only In America" folder.



For those of you wondering where to spend your "golden years," I humbly suggest Denmark.



I am almost tempted to print this up and mail it to my ex. (The only problem is I am not sure which ex it was . . . I might just send it to all of them as I doubt receiving a random article on piracy would really phase any of them. They did live with me for an extended period of time, after all.) Anywho - I know that I once had an argument about "pirates" with someone I was once dating . . . . it went something like this:

Me: I really want to take the boat across the Caloosahatchee Waterway.

Her: Across the what?

Me: Click the hyperlink above. Jeez.

Her: So we would start in the Gulf and then up in the Atlantic?

Me: Exactly . . . it would be fun to go through the locks.

Her: (Looking at a map) Wow - could we continue on to the Bahamas?

Me: Uh, in my boat?

Her: Yes, it is only like 60 miles off the coast.

Me: Uh, in my 24' long boat?

Her: It goes 55 m.p.h. doesn't it? We could be there in just an hour.

Me: Yes it does, and yes we could. But we are not going to take a 24' long boat, by ourselves, 30 miles off-shore, into a foreign country.

Her: Live a little, Jeez.

Me: (my face turns a bit pink.) I am all up for a "high seas adventure", but the boat would need to have more than one form of propulsion, a fresh water tank, and a couple of other friends proficient with large firearms.

Her: Firearms?

Me: Yes.

She raises an eyebrow.

Me: Pirates.

She blusters an over-dramatic laugh: Yeah, right, pirates . . . . . *snort* Arrrrrrrr Matey.

Me: (so not amused by her taunting . . . . . and ignorance.) Yes, there are, in-fact, pirates. Granted they do not have eye patches, peg legs, and a penchant for parrots, but they do have fast boats, big guns, and little to lose.

Her: And how do you know this?

At which time it occurred to me that I really could not quote my source on this . . . which really irratates me when I get called on a source and can not instantly state it, but it should suffice that I have sailed to the Bahamas before, stayed on a friends yacht in the Bahamas before, used to be a ship's captain, and am fairly well versed in all things nautical ESPECIALLY in and around the state that I have lived in for at least a quarter of a century. There was only one reference that popped in mind.

Me: You saw the movie, "Captain Ron."

She loses all forms of composure, just as she bursts out with the chorus of "Yo Ho, Yo Ho!"

Me: *deadpan silence with a slight ocular twitch*

Jeepy Fun

As always, click any pic to enlarge.



A quick sprint into the group picture



















Co-pilot Sharon demonstrates a couple of her skills


















I managed to destroy a tire on a sharp rock. Boooooooo.















The group!
















Relaxing after the ride.



















Roll overs can happen off the trail too!



















Free and Breezy!





















































Ouch . . . . . tore my track bar and control arm bracket off. Welded it back on in about an hour.



















I have been known to share my toys.

Sylvia Faulkner Thatcher, 69, of Tampa, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, Saturday, April 5, 2008. Sylvia grew up in Macon, Ga., and moved in 1968 to Tampa, where she raised her family. She was a licensed real estate agent and worked for the University Commercial Center for the past 30 years. She was of the Methodist faith. She is survived by her daughters, Cyndi Thatcher-King (Rusty) of Tampa and Dr. Suzanne Thatcher of Tampa; son, Michael Thatcher (Monica) of Gainesville, Fla.; her former husband and close friend, Walt Thatcher; her grandchildren, whom she cherished greatly, Peyton and J. R. King, Reilly Thatcher, Michael II, Dylan and Cody Thatcher; brothers, Wayne Faulkner (Judy) of Pelham, Ala., and Larry Faulkner; sister, Kathy F. Hofstadter (Carl) of Macon; and eight nieces and nephews. Her life will be celebrated by family members and friends at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 9, at Lake Magdalene United Methodist Church, 2902 W. Fletcher Ave., with the Rev. Richard A. Nussel, pastor, officiating. Interment will follow at Lake Carroll Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to the American Cancer Society, 1001 S. MacDill Ave., Tampa, FL 33629, or the charity of your choice.

-Photo by Gecko

M35A2 Out and about this weekend

Jeeps in Citrus #1

Jeeps in Citrus #2

Jeeps in Citrus #3

Mark Your Calendars, & Please Join Me!