Gabes,

Good planning... great trip.  And I understand your feeling of biitersweet,
post-partem blues upon the end of Bustoutathon.  Two years in the planning,
and you almost can't believe that it has come and gone.  But the memories
will last a long time.

Sobo... well done on the golf outing!  That private room for our beers,
cigars, and awards was a great way to end the day.  Yes, "max 8", in the
end, made sense.  Of course, Angel Park for the Tourney might have made even
more sense!!

Hans... a GREAT 86 at Paiute!  My hat's off, my man.  After Angel Park on
Thur, I thought my game was in shape, but you toasted my ass big time.
"Practice round Al" will be my nickname soon... did the same a few years
back.  Smoked RiverVale in New Jersey for laughs prior to the PGA/Hamptons
gig, then sucked moose for the tourney out on Long Island.  Gosh, could
there be some Bobby Valentine in me?!?

Gabes... love watching you walk thru a casino. The arms are swinging... that
sense of purpose... a man on a mission!

Fox... really solid golf, my compliments.  No more nonsense about you not
being able to play tough courses.  And great job on the games Saturday. Next
time, include me on those bets.

Wasn't that Spa a God-send?  Couldn't have gotten thru the weekend without
it.

Mags... Florence enjoyed meeting you, the new Domer.  And she thought that
you looked liked a Geology professor. 

John, Willo, and Dave... MAN, wish you all could've made it.  Dave, the wine
was great, and that was a touch of real class; hope the bride is doing well.
Willo, great job bringing the US team home to victory in Brookline. And
Johnny Good Times is officially owed one Good Time.  I will redeem that any
time you call.

Prep... Kevin fit into the group just fine!  Good add to the team.  And glad
you were down on our end of the table at Piero's.  Your history w/ Chris and
my family goes way back, and Chris and Florence enjoyed your company and
banter.

Gabes... I enjoyed the "hooker watch".  $500-$700, eh?  After my luck, I was
thinking of sending Florence down to the bar late that night, suggesting
that if some one approached her, well, .... don't be a prude!!!!  Viva Las
Vegas, baby!

Chris and Mike enjoyed seeing you all, and the team dinners were a blast.
Hope that I didn't bum you guys out w/ the bride and family... but there was
NO WAY I was coming w/o Florence. She LOVES Vegas, and had a great time.

Last memory......

Remeber Hans spoke of the high winds in Chicago delaying his flight?  Well,
it didn't delay OUR flight home thru O'Hare, and the pilot spoke of high
winds as we approached the airport.  About 100 feet above the ground, our
plane made a severe pitch to the right that was very scary.  It righted
itself, but  I thought to myself that that would be very uncool if it
happened lower than that.  Well, we contiue to rock and roll to the runway,
and then, when but a few seconds from touchdown (appraoching, apparently w/
the wind and going far faster than I thought comfortable), the plane hits
another gust of wind and makes another serious lurch to the right. We are
but a few feet above the runway at breakneck speed, and at an angle that I
swear will not support a safe landing.  My heart is in my mouth as I hear
the right wheel touch, and the next sound I expect to hear is that of the
right wing crumpling under impact as we tilt over; my only home is that we
don't cartwheel after impact.  Instead... the sound I hear is of screaming
engines. The pilot has ditched the landing and fired up the engines!
Amazingly, the plane accelerates and, on an angle to the right, begins to
take back off before the wing touches down! 

There is a solitary scream on the plane... otherwise, silent fear, followed
by relief.  Circling back over Chicago and the Lake, and coming back in
INTO, and not WITH, the wind, the landing was bouncy but far safer.  And it
gave me cause to realize that I did not exhaust ALL of my luck on the gaming
tables in Vegas.  Notre Dame du Lac smiles on us when it counted most. 

Al