I just have to tell someone, so I'll tell you guys.  We had an absolutely
wonderful weekend.

Those who know me at all know I have boats, too many of them.  Most probably
also know that my cruising boat has been out of comission for almost 2
years.  The gas tank, located in the bottom of the hull, under the cabin,
sprung a major leak.  Last week, I put the finishing touches on the work
required to return the boat to useful service, just in time for my boat
club's annual Dad's Dolphin Daze fishing tournament.  For those that don't
know, the dolphin people here fish for are not mammals, their fish.  You may
know them as Mahi Mahi or Dorado.

At any rate, we entered the tournament on Saturday, the first day the boat
has seen the ocean in two years.  Everything worked perfectly.  About 30
miles out, we had our first hit on a $10 US bait (I got lazy and bought my
bait pre rigged this year) only to have the second hook, the one the fish
had in its mouth, fall off, leaving me with a lure, no bait and no fish.
While I was still cussing the shop I bought it from, we got our second hit.
This one didn't get away.  All fish entered in the tournament become club
property.  They're cleaned and used to feed the club the following Sunday.
I was pretty sure that my 16.69 lb Dolphin, rather modest by local
standards, wasn't going to win me any tournament prizes, but I knew it had
won me a couple of side bets.  Fishing was off  and many came back empty
handed.  I was very pleasantly surprised when my name was called as the
fourth place winner.

By the end of the day, Jayna and I had spent a very nice day boating
together, in a boat that, for once, didn't give us a lick of trouble, had a
nice fish dinner with friends, beat a few other friends on the side bets and
topped it all off with one more fishing trophy (that look good between the
motorcycle racing trophies that date to my younger days), and a check for
$250, almost exactly the net cost of the fishing trip.

What a wonderful weekend.

Lee