Lads and lassies,

I regret that I will not be able to take part in the festivities surrounding our beloved Stone Mountain Games this year. As Lynn and I have bought a lake house in need of renovation, almost every spare moment I have is spent there. (I have already replaced both toilets with those tall ones that old guys like me prefer, replaced 10 light fixtures and installed a ceiling fan, and I am in the process of installing an ice maker at the bar. Some folks like theirs on the rocks.) Oh, yeah, the deck and dock have to be painted and the pontoon prepared for the winter.

I have several items being delivered over the next few weeks, and, being a working stiff (if you can call teaching at college "work"), I have to use my weekends to both install, build, and supervise the hired professionals. I'm too old for the heavy lifting.

I trust Michael (@tripleblessed), Lamar, et al will assume the loose reins I have dropped, hoist the mains'l, and continue to march. (How's that for a mixed bag of mixed metaphors.) I do know that Greg would gladly have all the lads and lasses at the Celtic Tavern on Friday evening as per usual (or any other evening for that matter; they're open every night), so go for it. It's more fun and less stuffy than the Sponsors' Reception, and you can actually talk and reive cattle if the mood strikes you. Besides, they love a man in a kilt there.