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No misspelling (I tried to misspell "misspell", but it wouldn't let me), that is my Spanish studies sneaking into the blog. I guess I'm following in my father's footsteps (actually, that would be nice taken literally - Madrid, Cuernavaca?) starting to study Spanish upon retirement. I am using Rosetta Stone and find it an excellent program. It's drawback is that it does not provide a memory chip for the old mind. Best of all, it is free through our library.

Congrats, Jeff, for being acknowledged for all your efforts.

I too have been highly honored by being offered the presidency of the Annisquam Sewing Circle. The offer was made in light of my long weeks of service for the organization. I accepted as a co-president. As I had only been in the Circle 6 months and hadn't a clue what was expected or how to run it, I accepted as a co-president. I suspect that someone from the kayaking group suggested me since they referenced my excellent organizational skills. Yup, my years at Gillette sending out meeting notices, collating the responses and deciding on a meeting date have given me extraordinary skills, rarely found in suburban America. In other words, none of the members of longer standing wanted the job - or they'd already held it. I do have some ideas though. Anyone know how to set up a (1) Website that can have (2) interactive sign up sheets on it and (3) on which I can post an Excel document that everyone (even MAC users) can see?

As Brad mentioned, Warren is doing the Annisquam shuffle this summer. She started at Jeff and Maureen's and is now with us until July 1. She and I have been walking into Gloucester on Thursdays and taking the bus back. Last week we rewarded ourselves with a light lunch at a new coffee/tea shop about where the Black Crow was. The sandwiches were yummy, reasonably sized and reasonably priced. Since Warren keeps saying she will go to the family site, but either hasn't, or has but hasn't written any message, I'll let you know that she is in the middle of writing a new song. She says it is bluesy. Also, don't get your hopes up about lunching at Top Dog. We didn't get a discount, much less a freebie. In fact we have to tip big to help support her last year in college. Just don't tip big if Josh is going to get anything. Oh, but that's her story to tell.

Bear and I celebrated summer last night by taking the Whaler for a spin out in the bay then up river (or is it down). It has been in the water a week, but Bear's mother has been having health problems the last few weeks, so he has been busy taking her to the emergency room or to the doctors and spending nights at her house. The doctors don't think there is anything particularly wrong with her, but they're having difficulty wiping out an infection and determining the source of her pain. It doesn't help that she is allergic to a whole family of strong antibiotics. Right now she seems to be on the upswing, Bear is home, and now it is time to start cranking on the sailboat. Maybe we should start a pool re the date the Ancient Mariner gets in the water.

Still trying to figure out what to wear to The Wedding. It will probably depend on how many more walks into Gloucester I take. We get in Thursday night. See you all then.