Houston, I have a daughter

Yes. The unthinkable occurred yesterday, I received a call and found out that I have a long lost daughter. She left in January for Korea and we'd lost contact with her for a few months, but communications have been re-established and all is well. Jennifer has been very busy in Korea and the initial assessment that she would be back in the USA in March has given way to the realization that the job is bigger than originally thought, several new contracts have been added and it looks like May for her return at this point. There is good news and that is that she had her ninety day review. They've not only decided to retain her services, but agreed to place her in the new San Francisco office. So, she doesn't have to move to Warner Robbins, Georgia. As Jennifer put it: "I can travel the world and still return to Cali between assignments." She is doing really well in her job and is respected for her knowledge and her skill. It is a great thing for her confidence and for her well being to be respected and appreciated. Jennifer had some problems on this trip and one of them was not being able to get her contractor ID. For whatever reason, the wheels of bureaucracy turned way too slow and she had to be signed in and out of the base by her supervisor every day. On top of that, she didn't have her retired military ID and couldn't even shop at the PX. She had to have one of the guys in her company buy her things, including tampons. Poor thing. Her boss acknowledged the difficulties, apologized and offered her the position in SF. Nice. One of the guys in her group lives in Vegas and was jealous that she got SF as he is based out of New York City.

It was a beautiful Saturday this week, followed by the start of a five day storm that promises to bring us up to five inches of rain. I went to bed on Saturday night with a slight sunburn and woke up in Vancouver Sunday morning. What happened? The storm hit hard last night, but let up a little this morning and the commute was cake. There was a slight rain and it amazed me to see how many people were huddled at bus stops along my route without a hat or an umbrella. What gives with people? They'll show up at work looking like a drowned rat. I suppose the fact that they are taking the bus alone might indicate the level of sophistication present. Before I get slammed by the masses. I know that senior citizens use the transit system for transportation after their driving years are over, but they are not in line at the bus stop at six thirty in the morning unless they've completely given in to dementia.

I was in Redding on Thursday and Friday and had 65 voice mail messages waiting for me. My assistant, Connie, handled my desk on Thursday, but was herself out of the office on Friday. I am basically digging out right now, but it was a great marketing trip and well worth my time and effort to see the people in Shasta County.

Saturday was a great day for golf and although I only shot 42+42=84, I was on the green on number seven, a par five, in two and left my eagle putt on the right lip for a tap in birdie. Some things transcend score and that was a moment in time. The hole is 485 yards. I will not play in the next tournament as Darla and I will travel over my birthday. We had thought about going up to Reno, but we have the boys that weekend and I am considering a trip to Monterey/Carmel. Dad and Shirley, why don't you drive up and join us? The next tournament is a three-day, two man scramble, shamble and best ball. Fun, but not real golf and I won't miss it. My next tournament will be the Master's tournament in April followed by the two- man, four ball qualifier in late April. Boyd and I will again try our hand at winning there. They will take the two lowest two-ball teams and they will combine to play four-ball in the regional qualifier in June. We're getting closer and I hope to break through in one of these tournaments soon.

Boyd is a great guy. He is Mormon and went to school at BYU. We've had several religious discussions and I think he is open to hearing about Jesus. The Mormon church is so cult-like in it's beliefs. They believe that Jesus was a prophet, but that Joseph Smith was the messiah. It is a backward religion and has a foundation of "earning your way to heaven". Of course as a Christian, there is no earning heaven, Jesus died for our sins and he is the only way to heaven.

Boyd told me a story this week of his son's mission to Guatemala. Boyd and his wife flew down to Guatemala to pick up their son following his year-long mission. As they were driving their rented car back to the airport, they were ambushed by a group of banditos. The bandits had the crossed gunbelts with bullets. Boyd said that they were actually waiting to rob a bus that crossed the path every day and had workers from the local winery as well as the owner of the winery on it. The bandits were stupid and stopped Boyd and his family so they could block the road with their rental car. They searched Boyd three times and missed his wallet in his back pocket each time. They did take money from his wife's purse. She had about $200 in American money and Boyd's son convinced the bandits that US money was worthless in Guatemala. They gave the money back to them. In truth US funds are worth much more than Guatemalan money. They also locked the car when they got out and the bandits couldn't figure out how to work the keys to get in to the car. Boyd says that it is funny now, but it was life or death at the time. They did rob the bus and left on foot, leaving them with the car keys. Boyd was able to get his family back in the car and drive to the police station. The police told them that they were lucky, that many of the local bandits killed their hostages to eliminate witnesses.

Well, work awaits. I have my door shut and my team keeps poking their head in the door to say good morning. I had best get on to my day. I hope you all have a good week. God bless and be well. Ciao.