The year is 2003...I suppose you know this. However I am always the one to point out senseless normalities and realities...as well as the abnormalities and ridiculousness that follows me in my life. What does any of this have to do with the fact that Kenyon Martin should have not shot the ball in the second half of game 6? Nothing!

The year so far has been one plagued with severe ups and downs. Some I inform you of, many I do not. Some of you who know me well know of a lot of these extremes. I have been getting to know myself a bit better this year. You know the old saying, "Good things come to those who wait...in the meantime they masturbate!" Actually it is not an old saying, I made it up a few years ago. However, for a lack of better terms, I have been playing a lot with myself this year. Recording that is. I have recorded about 60 different songs for myself and other projects. I have done a few with Steve Broderick from TSO, a few with John West. Other than those, I have recorded every note by myself. Drums, bass, guitars, singing, engineering, mixing. I am half deaf and exhausted. Scheduling has maneuvered the Savatage recording to a later date. I severely miss performing live, however I do not see any live shows from us 'til November. So, amidst my frustration and boredom I have started to compile this solo CD I am working on. Gets kinda spooky sometimes. You find yourself writing your life into your songs. Some are very haunting. Some make you laugh, some make you cry, some make you mad, some make you want to break things. But all together they are a mirror of my musical soul. Something developing like my voice itself. In time this CD will get finished, I really need for you to hear it. I think you will get to know me even better thru the songs.

My childhood friend, Butch McGrady, called me and told me he was getting married in Myrtle Beach this year. I told him I should be able to make it. The wedding came at the perfect time. It was a miserable, cold Winter and Spring. I was pale and lazy, needing a break from the routine. I decided to book myself a flight to South Carolina. I figured I could use a few days away. It was Friday the 13th when I packed for my trip. I got to see my friend Kemp for a bit and told her I may decide to stay a bit longer. She was in town working again. More than anyone, she knows how much I needed a break from things. As I said, this music has a haunting effect when it has a chance to get inside you. I was very positive that this trip was something I needed. Something that could help restart the second half of this unusual year.

I did want to try to fly Hooters Air to Myrtle Beach, however, they leave from JFK Airport. LaGuardia Airport is 5 minutes away from me, a much wiser choice in domestic flying. I boarded my Spirit Airlines flight and was seated next to 2 very nervous people. It was a young black couple that had never flown before. I assured them that things would be OK and besides, what is the worst thing that could happen? We could crash and then it would immediately kill the nervous feeling. Morbid, I know, but true. There were a lot of very attractive females on my flight. However, I never get the airline luck of seating. I remember once on a flight to South America I spoke with a gorgeous girl the whole time at the gate. She had to sit next to Oliva for 9 hours. He would not switch because it was an exit row. Poor girl was traumatized. I was hoping this trip would be a new beginning of sorts. By returning to my closest childhood friend to start over. I had not been to Myrtle Beach since I was 11. Butch's family took me there. It was the first real vacation I had ever been on. My family never had the capital to get away for longer than a weekend at the Jersey Shore. Those trips were very special, however this trip with Butch was the first 2 week vacation I had ever had. In some ways, the last one too. My travel time is a musical journey through the world. Not exactly a vacation. I am always working in some way when I am on tour. The flight was a short one and I planned on sleeping until the beverage cart arrived. The guy across the way ordered a Bloody Mary. It was 10 AM and I decided it was time to start this vacation off with some good 'ole tomato juice and Smirnorff. One of the many amusing virgin air travel questions flew my way. The couple next to me asked if they had to pay for soda since I paid for alcohol. I said...nope, anything that is good for you is free! Before I knew it we landed. The couple was very pleased to still be alive. I was ready to find Butch and get to the beach. I had not seen the sun in NY in about a month. I noticed right away that my phone was on roaming. Verizon had no service there, so I was happy when I knew I would not be using it much!

Butch met me at baggage claim. His bride to be was with him. Her mother and sister flew in from Israel. Alene, his fiance' was meeting a friend named Karen at the airport too. These are the people in the picture with the baby tiger. We drove to the hotel that the relatives were staying in. I changed into shorts. It was very warm there. I'd guess 90 at the time. I was ready for some fun in the sun...then....it clouded up and thunderstormed. Figures huh? So, we drove to a restaurant and ordered 2 pitchers of Alabama Slammers and a plethora of appetizers and braved the storm on an outdoor deck. The place was called Finn McCool's. Irish bar. Figures...McCann's, McGrath's, Mulligan's, McCool's...very fitting for me. Before we even got our food the sun was back. So, we devoured the grub and headed for the Myrtle Beach Trailer Park. The place is a lot nicer than the name. Butch rented a place there for 17 days. Brand new trailer with 2 bedrooms, kitchen, full bathroom, well, as full as it can get in a trailer. It was better than most hotel rooms. I had my own room and quickly moved in. We were staying right on a lake about 1/8 of a mile from the beach. I was in heaven. And getting a good beach buzz! We all headed out to the beach and went swimming. The water was very warm for mid-June. Since I wear contacts, I have to be careful with getting salt water in my eyes, so I floated around and searched for Jaws. No sign, which is a good thing. Everyone decided to go sit by the lake. After about 4 hours we were fried. I had only blocked my tattoos. Everything else I put lotion on, I figured I would be OK. NOT! This situation would worsen as the weekend developed. We then boarded the rental car and headed to Wal Mart for cooking and camping supplies. That and a trip to the liquor store! After filling 2 carts with about $400 worth of supplies we waited on-line for what seemed to be an eternity. What it turned out to be was too long to buy liquor. South Carolina stops all liquor sales at 7 on Saturday. We were forced to get a shitload of beer and wine. Not my favorite choice, but it would do. We cooked steaks, burgers, hot dogs, corn, baked potatoes. You name it, we grilled it. Butch was a pyro from way back. I remember when he set his back yard on fire as a kid. Very humorous! Butch's Sister Karen arrived this day too. Her husband Mike was a high school mate of mine too. She has 3 children now. Ryan, Matt and Katy. Matt is Butch, Karen is cursed! I was surrounded by friends, full fat, and happy!!! Around midnight Alene's family and friend left. The gate locked and you could only walk into the park after 12. I decided to go walking. This routine happened frequently. So frequent that my feet were ready to fall off at one point. I walked to the beach. There was a full moon. I was listening to the ocean and decided to start singing. I sang to the waves, I sang to the stars, I sang to the Sirens as they called the sailors to death. Although surrounded by friends, I felt alone. I usually live life as a loner. I have a song called "Abandoned" that is about this. However, I decided that the ocean was company enough for me. She seemed to enjoy my visit and I returned to sleep and get an early start on my developing tan/burn.

I woke up and ate leftover corn and headed to the beach. I highly recommend "I can't believe it's not butter" spray for fresh corn on the cob. I decided to go left on the beach and head to the barren stretch of sand instead of the booming hoarde of beach dwellers to the right. I always love shell collecting. I actually collect everything. Bad habit, but this time it almost became an obsession. I walked about 3 miles to the next set of hotels. I could feel the sun burning my shoulders, I decided to walk back. I grabbed a few cool shells and wandered back thru the tide pools. I noticed a large number of broken sand dollars. I wanted to find one of those for sure. Ironically this day twice a person 20 feet behind me had one wash up on shore. I was moving a bit too fast still! I did manage to get one right before I hit civilization again. I was happy and headed back to eat and shower off the sand. Ever notice how you never really get rid of all the sand!!! After some more grilling we all decided to gear up and go to Barefoot Landing. North Myrtle Beach's equivalent to a Disney Village. Shops, restaurants and a House of Blues. Ted Nugent was playing the following Monday. My flight was leaving that Tuesday. It was then I started gearing my thinking towards a week extra in the sun. I called my old guitar tech Dean. He usually works for Ted. I got a call back in 5 minutes and he was in New Orleans teching for Uncle Ted!!! Bye, bye Tuesday flight! This is the place that I got the tiger picture taken. There were dozens of baby and adult Bengal tigers there. The babies were so cute and clumsy, the adults were so huge and calm. Yet extremely intimidating. Very powerful. We all got some ice cream, I bought a funny beach hat and we returned back to camp. My feet were hurting, my shoulders were burning. I returned to the beach for another walk and went to bed. I wanted to awaken at 5 to hunt for shells.

Frustrated by missing the sand dollars by a few feet, my naturally competitive nature took over. As a hunter I have grown to realize that the early bird truly does get the worm...or the bird itself in some cases. This case it was shells, I wanted to find conch shells. The good ones wash in with the tide. I again went left and headed to the drainage river before the distant hotel. About a mile into my trip I found a huge old conch shell in a tide pool. I was elated. I continued on my way. In a few minutes I found another sand dollar! This was getting good! I managed to pick up all kinds of different shells, I will post photos of a lot of these things I am speaking about. Right before the drainage river I noticed some small tide pools. There were only a few people on the beach at this time. It was around 6AM. The sun was not even up yet! To my surprise I saw something sticking up in the sand. It was a perfect shiny conch shell. I could have returned to the camp and never got anymore shells and been happy. On the way back I walked the tide pools, collected some hermit crabs and returned to sleep!

I did this routine every morning except the following morning and the very last morning. It took about 3 hours. My frickin' feet were killing me. I again woke up and noticed my peeling nose in the mirror. I put on lots of sun block and headed for the beach. It was Monday, the wedding day. They were getting married right at the site. I decided to go right for a change and wander the beach looking for lyrical inspiration. I stopped briefly at the Hilton poolside cabana for a Margarita. I was on vacation, not that this really matters. The first step towards solving the problem is admitting you have it. Actually, I am not an alcoholic I am a social drinker. Every time you have a drink...so-shall I!!!!! I walked to a pier that I recognized from my childhood and made that stopping point for right. I headed back to begin the wedding festivities.

The caterers were arriving at 7PM. The wedding was at 8. The clouds moved in at 4. Yikes! A vicious thunderstorm hit. Luckily we had already gotten Alene's sister to the liquor store! We had an abundance of spirits for the week...or month!!! The storm stopped at 5. I immediately ran to the beach to see if anything had washed up. Early bird again. I walked about a half a mile when I saw it moving in. Blackness and lightning. Nature's evil sky army was about to attack. I looked down and found a sand dollar. Some people never find one in their life, I had found 4 in the first 2 days! Since I was the only thing on the beach I decided to run back in fear of a lightning strike. Remember, I did get hit by a golf ball!!!!!!!!!!

Five minutes after my return it started...the storm that would last 'til Midnight. We put tarps around the picnic area and built a little wedding chapel. Inside there was a nice blue glow. Something very above the ground poolesque. After spray painting "Mac's Shack 'O Love" on the outside Butch uttered, " I guess the only thing to do now is start drinking!" At this point my right foot was experiencing horrid pains, I was not kind to my feet. This we did and it continued 'til 6AM. The wedding was very cute, I was taking photos. By 9PM we were in a crab leg eating frenzy. At 12 the rain stopped, we built a fire and all sat around laughing and talking throughout the night. At one point it was just Butch, his new bride and myself. They decided to go walking on the beach and I sat, very alone and stared into the fire. The wedding was small, but everyone there was with family. Everyone left with family. I often wonder if the music business will erase the chance of my life ever getting that balance. This night was one of those nights to wonder. Most of my friends are married and/or engaged. Some have kids...houses...I have a cat and a computer studio. Not that it is a bad thing, I do enjoy life to the fullest. One day you will read the book. I just hope my Mom does not decide to read it! Butch returned from the beach and we sat up 'til 6. I was already late for my walk. I could not exactly see the fire too well at this point, nevermind the shells!

Rise and shine, it was about 11:30 and I had the urge to get to the beach, I hobbled out the door and stumbled over the dunes. I took my walk. Went right. But I was not exactly searching for anything in particular, I just wanted sun. My flight was supposed to leave at 4. I had completely decided to stay at least another week. It clouded up at about 4 and I returned back to nap. There were a couple of local ducks we fed every day, they arrived for bread and we hit some golf balls into the lake. We also shot tennis balls from a rubbing alcohol cannon, a lot of fun if you know how to make one! Butch and I were just 2 grown kids doing the same things we did as children. I was feeling my pulse slow down every day. At 7 we decided to go out to eat. Butch was way too hungover to move. His bride, her sister and their Mom accompanied me to "Broadway on the Beach" This is another Disney/Vegas like place. Planet Hollywood inside a huge globe. The Hard Rock Cafe' inside a huge pyramid. I really liked this place. We decided to eat at the Key West Grill. Great chowder! This night was kinda slow moving, we took a to-go plate for Butch and returned back to the camp. When we returned we had to park the rental car outside the gate so they could get back to their hotel. Of course I had to walk them, it was about a mile. My frickin' foot was a mess! Then, to make matters worse, at 2AM they needed me to walk them back to the car. Butch asked nicely, so I hobbled them on their way. I think the walk back took me about an hour. I was kinda stumbling forward motionless. Like a human slug. Except I left no trail. Get your minds out of the gutter! I returned to Butch eating his Jumbalaya and my foot crying the blues.

My alarm went off at 5 and I was off to the races. I felt like the turtle in the bugs bunny cartoon. When he was moving slowly that is! I had always wondered where the baby conch shells went. They never seemed to wash up on shore. Today I discovered crab politics. Or the survival of the ocean crab. Either way, it was a pretty vicious cycle. I made it to the river and found a star fish in the tide pools! I was very excited. Yes, it was alive and yes, it is in my backyard now hard as a rock. Pardon frickin' me. I started back on my usual route thru the tide pools when I saw it. A baby conch. I picked it up and there was a crab in it. Ah...the chain appeared. The crabs eat the snails. They take over the shell. A larger crab comes and grabs the shell and eats the smaller crab out of the shell. I found dozens of tiny interesting conchs and snail shells. Putting 2 and 2 together I decided to wade out into the ocean. Cracked sand dollars mean whole ones....baby conchs mean large ones! I found 3 right away. They were so beautiful. Of course there was a snail inside and yes the shells are in my back yard now so pardon frickin' me. I returned back and amazed everyone with my marine discovery. Actually they were slightly impressed, I thought I would embellish the moment for ya'all. We were listening to a lot of CW McCall so I was getting a southern twang in my voice. I went back to sleep for a bit. When I woke up Butch's wife bought me some beach shoes to help the pain. Later that day I walked with them, it was great. That was until the blisters showed up and then I was really fucked 'cuz now I couldn't walk with or without shoes. I also noticed a fine grouping of blisters on my shoulders and back I had 3rd degree sun burn to boot. For some reason I enjoy pain and laughed my way thru it all. I peeled later that day looking like Michael Jackson if you compared before and after photos. This was the difference from my chest to my shoulders. Luckily I had another week on the beach to repair my damage! We sent Alene's sister and her mother on their way. I booked my flight for the following Tuesday and we returned to prepare for a Japanese Hibachi dinner. I was left with her sister's rental car for a few days. This is when I stopped at the mall and posted on the boards. My only contact with the internet. What a joy. Actually, I called my Mom a few times and I would text message Kemp a lot, we talk every day so I had to fill her in on my adventures. Al Pitrelli called me asking if I was alive! Oliva always calls so he knew where I was. Besides that, I really did not tell anyone where I was or when I was coming home. I was very excited to go to this place. When I was first in Myrtle Beach Butch's parents took us out to eat a lot. This was a treat for me since I rarely got to go out. I was treated to McDonald's if I got straight A's on my report card. I suppose this is why I never take anything for granted especially you, the fans. The restaurant was called Nagano's. It was the same place I went as a kid. Every time I go out to eat anywhere is so special for me. This was very special. Of course we had Sake! Of course we ate everything in site. Mike Begala picked up the tab, too generous, thank you for everything! We had steak, we had shrimp, we had scallops, we had lobster, we had chicken. The chef was amazing, Very funny as well. The kids were a blast to watch. Little Matt was a riot. They wanted me to take them down the beach one morning. More on this later. After dinner we rolled ourselves into Mike's SUV and headed back to camp. I decided to go to the arcade and play House of the Dead with Ryan. We killed a zillion zombies, played some air hockey and headed back. I bought ice cream and was fastly becoming their kid's best friend!

I sat up and talked for a long time with Mike and Karen. I had found a baby lobster that afternoon, he was living in a cooler on the picnic table. I named him Larry. I have photos with Larry smoking and holding sunglasses. He was a righteous dude. I let him go....so there!!!! :)~ It is good to have friends around that are like family. Butch's Mom and Dad were so close to me. They both died of cancer in the past 8 years. This was why it was so important for me to be with Butch this week. I think this was the first Father's Day without Howard senior. He was the funniest man I had ever met. I loved his parents a lot. I knew then since I was 1.

The next morning it was the same routine...alarm...out the door. The kids told me to wake them. I knocked on their tent. Nothing. So I headed out limping on my own. I returned with a bunch of conchs and another sand dollar. I found 10 in 10 days! Ryan vowed to make it out the next day and he made good on his promise. I was settling into a routine by now. Wake up, walk, return, nap, breakfast, beach, Hilton, return, ducks, golf, shower, dinner, etc., were going back to Broadway on the Beach for dinner.

The 8 of us were an eating machine by now. Systematically ordering an appetizer/dinner/desert barrage that would take down the most gluttonous of overeaters. Our table was outside, covered, but not safe from what was heading our way. Nature's storm bringers were rounding up their demons once again. The black clouds encircled Broadway on the Beach. Distant lightning gave warning to what was to come. We made it thru our main courses when it hit. The worst thunderstorm I had ever seen. We were going to order desert "To Go." Instead we had to get an indoor table and feasted on all sorts of high calorie cholesterol gut bombs. The rain had still not stopped. Mike and I decided to brave the rain and run to go get the cars. We removed our shoes. I, like an idiot, removed my shirt and we headed out. Mike immediately fell and hit his head. It had to have hurt!

The rain was coming down harder than I had ever felt. It was ripping my blistered flesh from my shoulders and back. I immediately got terrible chills and ran with Mike across the parking lot. I got into the rental car and cranked the heat. I was a mess. A blistered covered, foot hurtin, full stomached beach comber. Totally loving my escape from my unreal reality world. We returned to camp and of course the rain stopped. We had another late night talk and got ready for bed.

Here we go again...alarm...out the door...Ryan was waiting. OK, I feared him finding nothing. That my trip to the local store for shells would be found out. I warned him that the walk to the reef was slow and boring. He is a quiet kid, genius. Thinking type. Unlike his brother who is a mini-Jim Carrey in the making! About a half hour later we walked and I told Ryan to look down. He got a sand dollar. I was relieved. I was giving him everything we found that day. He had brought a bucket so I wanted to fill it. We found a few good shells on the way and made it to the river. It was an amazing sunrise this morning. Of course it was the morning I forgot to bring my camera! The ocean was kind again. I think he returned with a bunch of crabs and 5 conch shells. His bucket was full, his parents were happy. I took a nap. Breakfast, beach, Hilton, Ducks, golf, martini's, shower... This night we were going to "The Melting Pot" I was excited because I had never eaten at a fondue place before. What an all out assault on food. Unbridled carnage by a group of 8 like none had ever seen. don't know if you have ever done The Melting Pot or a similar dining experience. I highly recommend it to my friends! We finished desert and decided to do the obvious. Play Laser Tag!!! All 8 of us fat and stumbling around the 2 story laser maze. Getting shot by everyone in sight. My gun was off. I know, sounds like a personal problem!!! But, it was a lot of fun. We all returned to camp and passed out within the hour. Butch had decided to be my next victim on the beach hunt!

Like Ground Hog's Day...5AM...out the door. Today the shells were different. The tide was different. The beach was different. The storm had changed the face of my new friend, I barely recognized her. Things were not the same today. We did find some old conchs, but the tide was high and the tide pools were almost barren. The live conchs were nowhere to be found. The blue crabs were not around. It was different. The sun did not appear until 8. However, Butch and I walked back in the tide pools and the ocean was again generous. Butch had never found a sand dollar in the 30 years her had been going to Myrtle Beach. He found 2 this morning. I found one. Mine was perfect. Round, unchipped, the one I had been searching for! Butch was so happy. Said he wanted to go again the next day...never happened. But, I was glad to have him return triumphant and ecstatic. I went to back to sleep and when I woke up...the Begala's had left to go back to Indianapolis. They did not want to wake me. Things were a bit quiet. The sky was clear blue. Remained this way for the next 4 days. I had decided to rebuild my skin and tan. It worked very well!!!

Beach...Hilton...swimming...ducks...golf...Martini's...shower...Seafood Buffet! Nothing could prepare us for the bombardment of carnage awaiting. Hundreds of fatty food items awaited us. Of course they had to give us hush puppies to fill us up before we even started. Old country buffet trick. Works to an extent. We were on a mission. Steak, crabs, salad, shrimp, grouper, everything fried you could imagine, everything boiled you could imagine, everything you could imagine!!!! I could not fit dessert, but shoved it in anyway. The newlyweds got more crabs after dessert. I threw in the towel. This night again we all passed out by 11PM. Tomorrow was another day.

5AM...Butch decided to sleep...conchs were back. I got the prettiest ones yet. I had a great catch this day. I boiled the conch's immediately and they were easily cleaned. Something I had not done the past few times.

Nap...beach....Hilton...swimming...ducks...Wal Mart..spray coat for my shells...food for the grill...more golf balls...barbeque...phone call!!!!

Dean Mitchell was in town. They had started sound check at the House of Blues. They loaded in a day early. Ted Nugent flew home for the night. Dean asked me to come down and play with the band for soundcheck! We cleaned up and headed for the venue. Butch was excited. He has watched me grow up. It is so cool to see how proud and amazed he is at what I did with my life. He knew of all of my dreams before anyone. I went to my first concert with him and his dad. Kiss and Judas Priest in 1979. The Dynasty tour. We loved Ted Nugent as kids. Now I was going to do his soundcheck for him! Ted's band was different this tour. Aldridge and Mendoza went off to join Whitesnake. He had Barry Sparks on bass and Tommy Clufetos on drums. Barry I knew of from John West. He played with Michael Schenker too. Tommy was an unknown from Detroit. Fucking amazing. I got both of their numbers for TSO reserve!!!! Ted had a great stage set. It was done up like a desert battlefield. I grabbed the old Gibson Birdland and started "Stranglehold" with some ceremonial Ted Nugent feedback. This guitar sounded amazing. It is a huge guitar. Tough to get to the high frets. I thought Ted was an animal until I watched him cheat the next nite. He wrapped his thumb around the front of the neck when he went high. We also did "Cat Scratch Fever" and "Rock Bottom" from UFO. Dean said noone had ever been able to make Ted's guitar sound like Ted before until me. Not Ace Frehley, not Eddie Van Halen. I loved it. He was so loud onstage. Johnny never lets me turn up. He is really weird with stage volume, he thinks it is me. I have stood onstage with Motorhead...it is not me!!!!!

Dean gave us some tricks and trinkets and we thanked him for the good time. We had to return before the gate locked so we missed the trip to the strip club. I never made it to one the whole time! Impressive huh?

We returned to the camp, lit a fire, had a few drinks and talked about old concerts. We could not wait 'til the next day. Ted Nugent..."No Shit!"

5AM...out the door...with camera!!!! Tide was weird again. Seemed to alternate every other day. I was sad because I had decided to make this my last morning on the beach. I was going to miss my new friend. I have a feeling I will be back there again. The sunrise was beautiful, I took some pictures. I found some cool stuff. I had so many shells by now that it did not matter!!! My feet were hurting less, the tan was coming back. The pulse was lower. I was enjoying life in a way different from ever before.

Nap...breakfast...beach...Hilton...swimming...ducks...grill...golf balls...shower...Ted Fucking Nugent!!!

We drove back to barefoot landing and awaited our tickets. It was a Jack Daniel's and Ted Nugent night! Ted came out in cammo and blew us away. He is so incredible to watch. Especially close up. The band was on fire. Uncle Ted was leaving me speechless. This was a defining moment in my life. I realized that I could do this singing and playing thing if I really wanted to. After the show we said hi to Uncle Ted, he told me to carry the flame and headed out. Butch and his wife were elated. I was hammered...we returned home and lit the fire. There was only a short amount of time before we decided to go to sleep. I sat and gathered up my shells. Packed them all up with my clothes and went to sleep.

The next morning I still woke at 5. However, I rolled over and slept some more. I woke at 8 and decided to take one last walk on the beach. I went thru the tide pools, this time in the other direction. I was hoping to get a 10th sand dollar. One for every day I walked on the beach. I picked up one or 2 unusual things and a bunch of crabs. I wanted to see if they would live like the lobster in the lake. Silly me...OK, they did not...pardon frickin' me. I was walking back in the ocean and checking to see what had washed up. I was almost back to the campground when I looked down and a final sand dollar washed up at my feet. Tears actually started to run from my eyes. This new friend of mine had wanted to say good bye. I had bonded with the ocean this trip. A powerful force, yet so gentle and kind. I smiled and thanked the ocean and headed back to camp. Butch was amazed that I had found another. I chuckled and said, "The ocean likes me, she was my bride this week..."

I got another hour of sun and suggested lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe before my flight. I said good-bye to the ducks and put my stuff in Butch's truck and left. I was going to miss this place...but not for long! We arrived at the Hard Rock Cafe' and sat down for lunch. It was another appetizer barrage. Nothing special, but delicious nonetheless. After lunch we took another walk around Broadway on the Beach and headed to the airport.

We arrive at the terminal and there is noone at the Spirit Airlines counter. Someone finally appeared and asked what I wanted. I said I was here for the four o'clock flight. He said there was no four o'clock flight. A girl appeared and told me they changed their flight schedules on the 19th. I said, this is nice, I would have liked to have known this on the 17th when I changed my ticket. The flight was not 'til 8:30. So...we got back in the truck and headed back to the camp. We first stopped at Wal Mart to drop off our cameras. Back at the camp, we headed back to the ocean. Got in one final, final swim and some sun.

Ducks, golf balls....shower with a garden hose....back to Wal Mart for photos...back to the camp for the wife...off to the airport!!!

I said good-bye to the newlyweds and headed for my gate. I got my bag searched by the people at the metal detectors. Seems I had a small pair of scissors in my bag. Funny, they never saw it at LaGuardia. But everyone knows Myrtle Beach is a larger terrorist target than New York City!!!!

The bitch broke 2 of my sand dollars and I headed to the gate. Remember the story about the girls on the plane....well...there was one beautiful girl on the phone when I got up the elevator...she then walked to my gate. We boarded the plane and she sat next to me. I was in shock...my luck was definitely changing!!! She was a bit troubled this day. She and her friends were kicked out of their hotel. It was along story. We had a whole flight. Samantha was her name, a student from Philadelphia. She was dancing to pay her tuition. I told her about my week and a bit about my life. We exchanged numbers and she said I had a new groupie. I was happy. Her boyfriend was meeting her at the gate. Story of my life I guess...we said our good-byes as we got off the plane. I headed to baggage claim, got my bag, grabbed a cab and headed home. I called Kemp to let her know I was alive, something we do after we fly somewhere and headed up my steps to the house.

When I walked in the door Haley was there to greet me. She had knocked a plant over and left me a nice pile of dirt as a fuck you for leaving me for 10 days!!! I picked her up and hugged her, left the dirt and headed up to my room. I turned on the computer, saw 270 new e-mails and went to sleep!

Life is a beach!!!!!!