[BLACKJACK]

GEEEZZZZ, MIKE,

STOP BEING SO DEPRESSING - - - - -

I'M PROBABLY OLDER THAN YOU. (OR ANYBODY ELSE FOR THAT MATTER). I JUST FINISHED A JOB (TECH SWEEP) THAT KEPT ME UP UNTIL AFTER 4:00 AM SEVERAL DAYS IN A ROW - - DID MY "OFFICE CHORES" DURING THE DAY AND STARTED THE TECH SWEEP AGAIN AT 7:00 PM. MY TECH TEAM CONSISTS OF PEOPLE FROM 45 YEARS OLD (MY R.F. ENGINEER) TO A BRAND NEW (FORMER STUDENT OF MINE) WHO IS 29 YEARS OLD. I AM ALMOST NEVER THE FIRST ONE TO "SHUT DOWN" THE SWEEP DUE TO FATIGUE. NOW - THE 29 YEAR OLD GIRL IS ABOUT THE ONLY ONE THAT REALLY KEEPS UP WITH ME. SHE'S ABOUT 97 POUNDS OF DYNAMITE - - I COULDN'T OUT RUN HER IF I WAS THIRTY.

I'M A LITTLE SLOWER THAN I WAS 20 YEARS AGO. I'M NOT RUNNING FIVE MILES EVERY MORNING AS I DID THREE YEARS AGO BECAUSE THE KNEES DON'T LIKE IT VERY MUCH.

I'M PROBABLY HAVING MORE FUN NOW THAN I EVER HAVE. SHOOT - - I'VE EVEN BEEN IN TWO FIST FIGHTS IN THE PAST THREE MONTHS (NOT AT ALL SOMETHING THAT I'M PROUD OF) AND CAME OUT ON TOP BOTH TIMES. THE BROKEN HAND STILL HURTS THOUGH. (KIDS WILL NEVER LEARN).

I LOVE LIFE AND I LIVE THE HELL OUT OF IT. IF SOMEONE IS GOING TO CONVINCE ME THAT "I CAN'T DO IT ANYMORE" THEY'RE CERTAINLY GOING TO HAVE TO BRING THEIR LUNCH.

AS A MATTER OF FACT I JUST GOT ENGAGED A FEW WEEKS AGO - - WEDDING IN MARCH O5.

AS LONG AS YOU WAKE UP EVERY MORNING "ON THE GREEN SIDE OF THE SOD" - - IT CAN BE A MARVELOUS AND MAGICAL DAY.

NOW - - - I'M SURE THAT YOU REALIZE THAT ALL OF THIS IS A COMMERCIAL FOR RAKI. SEVERAL GOOD BELTS A DAY AND THE WHOLE WORLD BECOMES A PLAY GROUND.

Y'ALL HAVE A REALLY GREAT DAY.

BLACKJACK