The Prodigal Soldier Returns!

Yes. Jennifer will be home this week. She may even be on her way as I write this as she had to fly from Kuwait City to Germany and then catch a flight from Germany to Dallas, Tx. From there she takes an American Airlines flight to Sacramento. I've talked to her a couple of times in the last week and she is beyond homesick and ready for the two weeks of R&R. She called last night in the middle of the night and left a message that she will get in to Sacramento at 1:30 tomorrow afternoon. It has been so HOT in Kuwait and the days are so long, she can't wait to get back to Sacramento. We will have 104 degrees to greet her tomorrow, but it will seem cool to her after 122 degrees. I will take a few afternoons off to go to the lake with Jennifer and hope to get a day or two off to go up to Reno if I can squeeze into Jennifer's busy schedule.

I was able to talk to both Darryl and Randy yesterday. Randy is busy globetrotting for his job and it sounds like he is doing well. I talked to him while he was in Philadelphia and preparing for a meeting today. I don't think I'd enjoy the amount of travel that he does, but it gives him great perks in airline miles and hotel upgrades and car rental upgrades when he travels for pleasure. It also sounds like his company is doing really well and he is sharing in the increased profits, which is the whole point, eh? Darryl is just back from a trip to Canada and a quick visit with Dad and Shirley. They were able to golf a few times and Darryl helped Dad with a car show in Washington state. Darryl said that Dad won another first place prize for Best Canadian. I assume his car won too.

Work here continues at a frenetic pace and trying to carve some time out to spend with Jenn will be a challenge (and one that I'm up to by the way). I am in the office by seven most days and out by six pm and those fifty hour weeks take a toll after awhile. I'm having a very good month in July and August is shaping up to be even better. We made a nice profit last month even with my extended absence due to vacation and this month appears to be tracking just as well in spite of the loss of Gail to surgery and the subsequent rehabilitation and medical leave. All three of the new underwriters are excelling and each will earn a nice quarterly bonus. The bonus money should serve as a nice incentive going forward and their success is my success, so it's all good.

Darla and the boys returned from a week in Almanor, tired, spent, but happy. We had planned on taking the jet ski out yesterday, but the boy's friends all bailed and just Darla and I ended up at the beach at Granite Bay yesterday. The boys needed some down time. Darla did too, but I needed a trip to the lake. We left the jet ski at home, but took the air mattresses and floated out on the lake in the 103 degree heat. The lake water is so warm right now. I ended up with a light burn from the intensity of the sun. I didn't reapply sunscreen after being in the water and I paid for it. The beach was not as crowded as normal for whatever reason and it was a nice day spent just relaxing at the beach.

I've ordered two new ski vests (one for Darla and one for me) off the internet and a set of ski gloves for me. I found that the vibration of driving the ski at full throttle in rough water caused my hands to go numb on the yoke. We don't have cruise control, but as the guy that sold me the unit said, he'd throw in cruise control for an extra $50. He was holding a rubber band when he said that. Wise guy.
I've also ordered an owner's manual and I still want to get a dual gas tank holder for the trailer.

I played golf on Saturday and shot 45+42=87. Not my best by far. We teed off at 7:00 AM and beat the heat on Saturday. We were done by 11:00 AM and it was nice. I lost an 8 iron when I played in an insurance tournament two weeks ago and It never did turn up. I called Clubfinders, which is an internet based club replacement service. For $59.95 and $10 shipping, they replace a lost club out of a set. I have Wilson Deep Red II irons and they sent me a Wilson Deep Red 8 iron replacement. It doesn't match exactly, but has the modified fat shaft and a similar head design. I play in our annual three club tournament this weekend and will play with a driver, 8 iron and putter. Alot of the players will use three wood, a middle iron and putter and a few use their driver in place of a putter. As any good golfer knows, a five foot putt counts as much as a three hundred yard drive and I'd never play a round of golf without a putter. I'll let you know how I end up.

Again, it should be a great week or two with Jennifer home. I'll bring you up to date on her wanderings in the next epistle and even add a picture or two. I hope you all have a great week and continually give thanks to the Lord for all of the riches that he provides in your life. Be well. Ciao.