I noticed that the one disadvantage of being retired was that I had no days off. So last October 2003 I stopped writing and took a year off, and while attending the RAO party at Ocean View last month Chester asked me start writing again and I said I would. You can't say not to Chester!

Normally I would start with an adventure that occurred here in Never-never Land, but this time it happend on my way back from Guam. I flew over to Guam in June to take care of a few items, and as I was returning to our Island Paradise, I encountered the New Normal in air travel. While there I purchased two Zippo lighters and a display card full of Zippo Flints (Stones to us who reside here) about 120 stones in all. The above items were in checked baggage, and set off alarms and bells, plus a full cavity search. Brand new Zippo's no fluid, must be hand carried! like a fool, I asked why? I have some regrets in my life, and that became a major one. Then there was the question about the working Zippo in my pocket? I explained that when one could smoke, I would smoke. The two in my bag were to be added to the collections of a friend and my self. This story calmed them down a bit. but what about those Flints? I asked if any of the three people I was detained by had ever visited the Philippines? None had, so I explained that we who live here stock up on items we need. As we just don't know when we'll see those items again! Since I'm the first person with 120 Flints, they had to place a call to the States for guidance, (I'm a groundbreaking kind of guy), one hour later they receive a call from the Department of Homeland Security that Flints were a safe enough item to be "Hand Carried" onboard the plane. Landing in Manila I'm dreading going through Philippine Customs. And to no surprise I was cleared, only after giving the agent one pack of Flints, he told me couldnt find them either, and he asked if I had fluid also? With that I knew then I was home!