Myrtle Beach, 1999.  A ton of fun.  I liked Marsh Harbor this year better than 
I did last year, and I shot the same score (I had last year's card in my bag!). 
 Oyster Bay was a serene 18 holes, despite my hacking away.  Beautiful course. 
 The Pearl was no pearl for me.  But shucks, it was a good course and I found 
lots of balls in the woods (all of them belonged to Fox).

But golf is not the highlight for me.  Chowing down at Umberto's.  Albert still 
blowing smoke rings.  Singing more blues at the House. Same band as last year, 
but better with the lady singer and Chicago Bob playing even better electric 
blues guitar. Andy dancing "like a hummingbird" with a biker chick as we closed 
down the Blues Bar.  Willo singing the blues.  A short and sweet return to the 
Doll House. Talking trades and Baseball Tonight.  National Scat Foundation 
tournaments, verging on a cock fight between yours truly and The Fox. 
 Listening to Fox 107 and the story of Cristy and Bonehead Merkle.  Listening 
to The Fox singing excerpts from Oklahoma.  Watching Albert conduct (golf, 
traffic, dinner, etc).  Reminiscing with Albert about Pia.  Sobo whacking 
practice balls out into the marsh (intentionally). Watching Guy be Guy.  Gazing 
back 25 years into a picture (courtesy of Guy) of the Allen Street gang and 
friends.

Just like last year?  Almost.  But better than last year because it was this 
year, and Fox was there too.

Mags

**************************************************************************

From Fox:

Well as the rookie of the bunch I guess its my duty to provide a 
recap of the good times at Myrtle Beach. I'm not in the mood for 
essays, so you'll just have to settle for a few highlights:

Thursday

Meet Andy at the airport and watch the first of many "Andy on his cell 
phone" routines. Seems like he's swinging big deals. Actually, he's 
checking his roto leagues.

There's Mags - first time I've seen him since 73. As laid back as 
ever. And a good match on the links as we go down to the wire both
rounds we are paired.

Sitting on the clubhouse deck and watching Al, Guy, Willo, and Sabo
(or at least three of them) place their drives perfectly in the fairway -
then watching Albert push his approach to the back of the two hole green -
one of the longest putts I've ever seen.

The first meeting with Willo. Will he talk to me? Of course - he's still
the same old pussycat in person even though he's been missing
on line. And he even livened things up
with a very interesting trade offer. I assume its still on the table,
for everyone in the league: any of his players for any of your players
plus four waiver moves. Yes, four. Interesting I think.

Gary kept the roto talk to a low roar, very reasonable actually. And yes, it does
look like Brantley was a good sleeper pick, as he reminded me 17 times.
And no, you are not allowed to tell me that you thought JD "strikeout" Drew was a bad pick
one week after telling me that Baldwin was my only bad pick. No revisionist
history please!

And then there's Guy. Gotta love him. The man knows how to enjoy himself.

Great, I mean just wonderful, dinner Thursday night. Awesome.
I like these "good" Italian restaurants. 
Lamb chops thicker than Willo's wallet (that's before golf on Saturday).


Friday 

My turn on the course. Thirty six holes. That's a new fox record right there.

Slice into the woods.

Straight as an arrow but pulled left, into the woods.

Have to buy the beers from the cart on the last hole of this nine, because the back
nine is in a different state, with different laws.

Aim a little left on my second shot on a long dogleg right, so that less of the 
water is in play, hit it solid and straight,
watch it take off over the water, over the fairway, and into the woods.

Albert, next year we need to find courses with more woods! And some rules
clarifications - like how come when you're laying 4, 3 feet from the hole,
then laying 5, 2 inches from the hole, then laying 6, 10 yards off the green
following that really horrendous whack at the ball (maybe it was because you were
yelling "Bleep Me!!!!" that your touch was off a little bit) and then you head
to the cart with that very serious look on your face without holing out, and
then Mags tells me I should probably leave you alone --- how come after all
that I still have to pay you $10 at the end of the round?

There are signs all over town advertizing FM 107.1 The Fox - best rock and
roll station ever. I appreciate the publicity but never managed to borrow
a sign for my bedroom. Sunday morning I sit in Mags' car with him and Andy, playing
name that tune and group, from 2AM till 3AM or so (?) - but I've got no shot. 
Guess I'm using my brain cells for something else, like picking players headed
to the DL.

Learned how to play scat and twice was involved in a last hand scenario that
got out of hand as the scat table turned into a crazy, wild, craps-like betting
salon with the money flying. After I knocked, Mags' pulled an 8 to best my 26 with 
his 28 winning the first, but I had Guy's 26 beat with my 29 (I think it was 29) to 
the delight of half the room and the demise of the other half the second time around.


Saturday 

Too much golf - caught up to me as I really stunk out the joint. 

But I had plenty of company as I still manage to nip Mags in our wager and end the day up 
50 cents (Mags - you still owe me a nickel). And I understand Willo was worse than
either of us ...

Andy gets his revenge as Willo presses and presses his way into this
corner and that, and afterward Andy won't let him forget it, culminating in a
rendition of the now famous "He's got the walking down the fairway" blues at the house
of the same color saturday night.

That Andy - pump a few six packs in him and he's on stage!

But I'll give Willo his due - his golf was crappy on Saturday but he doesn't
take it out on the course or his clubs - he just ambles back to the cart, puts
his club away, mumbles "shiiittt, wanna press?" and continues on. Word was that
Andy coerced Willo into a baseball bet (Andy ... check the standings first next
time) but it hasn't been officially posted yet. Was there a bet?

Alligators, one big one, sunning themselves near the tee box, safe from stray balls
because they are not in the woods. Gary .. any extra photos? I'll post some if you
get em to me. Or can you just scan them in? We should have rolled one of our balls
(golf balls - can't you guys ever be serious) in between that pair of gators, 
just for the photo.

Pizza again? But still good the second time around.


Overall - Everybody giving everybody else shit for baseball decisions, stock market 
moves, golf shots, scat knocks, email etiquette, farting, drinking, and breathing. 
Its nice to know we're all still loved!

Crappy looking video game parlors everywhere.

Hearing Guy talk about how he tries to fall asleep fast when sharing a room with
Albert, so the snoring doesn't keep him awake. I needed that info earlier than Saturday,
rooming with Mags for the first time in my life. But I've been told I had my revenge 
that night.

The resort hotel was nice, and I guess its a good idea, but for (what was it ... $600 
a night?) we oughta get towels and decent plumbing! And how come Andy, Mags, Gary and
I never got to see the other guy's place. Probably had built in sauna's and dancing girls.


So, even though I was the new guy and couldn't join in the "last year" talk, I had a great 
time. Besides, this year will be next year's last year, so I'll be all set. Plan on joining
us - then next year can be your first this year and the following year, next year can be 
your last year.


Fox