Meeting

[Ray]

LOL !! Never thought of that :)

However, and I'm honnest here, I did try, several times, to go into the
water. I even have a picture of me in the sea, at Fort Lauderdale, two
years ago. It took me 45 minutes to make 5 feet into the sea, but I did it!

....and 3 years of therapy to get it over it :)

Ray

[Pete D]

....and 3 years of therapy to get it over it :)

Ray

You are a funnny guy! (And I mean your sense of humor)

If I were going in the water and did not like it I would not go in on the
east coast. Rip tides, much bigger waves, more threatening aquatic life
(sharks).

(sing this to the tune of "Green Acres")

West coast of Florida is the place to be
smooth waters and a gentle sea
water so clear you can see your feet
white sand beaches that just can't be beat.

Pete

(tell me you won't be humming that tune later:)

[Barbara Brundage]

water so clear you can see your feet




And watch all the baby manta rays going flap, flap, flap out from under them, startling you half to death. <g>

[Pete D]

Barbara,

Now don't scare Ray.

Ray...Manta Ray.... (Is there something funny about that?)

Come on over Barbara and we will have a PSE beach party!

Pete

[Ray]

When we were at SeaWorld (Orlando) we saw Rays (I do mean reflection of me
in mirrors... lol!).

In general, I don't like water and the creatures that live strictly in it.
Dolphins are an exception. So do the fish that live in our Aquarium. But
my friend is taking care of the fish bowl, not me :)

Ray

[carl sutherland]

Ray,

Have you read or know of the story line in the currently popular book "Shutter Island". You sound like the lead character Teddy who had a similar relationship with water and the thinks in it. I thought it a great book.

Carl

[Ray]

Hello Carl,

No, I did not. I don't usually read novels in English because it takes too
much time for me to translate. I've found that the level of language used
in novels is usually way beyond my comprehension, so I have to look in my
dictionnary too often. It spoils the fun :(

What does this character have against water ? ;)

Ray

[Pete D]

Harold,

Just south of Venice in south Sarasota county. No Coyotes here thank
goodness but there are some bobcats that walk through the yard just about
every day. I have some pictures of a Panther taken at night by a photog
that used a trip wire and flash system about 5 or 6 miles from here too.
And of course like everywhere in Florida and up the east coast into parts of
NC plenty of Alligators:)

Pete

[Pete D]

Beth,

Venice has few sharks teeth since they "renourished" the beach there. But
the Island south of Venice has a lot.... A whole lot. That is Manasota Key
and on an hours walk on the beach there it is common for me to pick up
anywhere from 50 - 200 fossilized sharks teeth of various sizes without
trying too hard. I have literally thousands sitting in various containers
around the house and have given away at least that many.

Dentist! Hmm, you remind me that I am over due for a visit there. (I
assume you would recommend your nephew:)

Pete

(for the curious: Beach renourishment is done when there is erosion that
threatens structures on barrier Islands. They can go offshore directly west
of their Island and find a sand bar to use. Then special vessels are used
to "draw sand" up from the sand bar and pump it to shore. Pipe about 30" in
diameter is used to carry the sand to shore and pieces are welded together
and run up and down the beach to the extremes of where they are
renourishing. The sand is pumped for weeks (and more likely months) and
periodically pieces of the beach pipe are cut off and removed working their
way to the central starting point until enough "beach" is added to protect
the structures on shore. It is common to add 200-300 feet of beach for
several miles. As I recall Venice project was about 4 miles, maybe 5 and
added 200-300 feet. Cost is roughly $1,000,000 for each mile + or -, ...
mostly +).

[JoAnn Amerson]

Pete -

The last time I was at Ocean City, Maryland they were renourishing the beach there. That was some time ago - at least 11 years.

I'm just an inside type of person. Give me a computer, some needlework or some beading, or a book and I'm a happy camper.

[Beth Haney]

Well, Pete, trust the dentist you've been using; I ain't gonna be responsible! I've never had him work on my teeth. His dad is driving down from Ohio this week so he can get some dental work done, but I don't think Dad is capable of an unbiased opinion on the subject. :)

My mother in law had a wonderful pair of "seahorses" someone had created, using sharks' teeth for the texture. They were the only thing she had that I'd asked for after she died. I didn't get 'em. I think my sil gave them to the Goodwill. :(

[carl sutherland]

Ray,

The less he has to do with water the better he likes it. He also is a very interesting character. I am not making any implications that you are like him in any other way than the similar feelings about water. The book is out in audio form for any who prefer listening to reading.

Carl