First, thanks to everyone who became involved in this thread--including rw
and Ken!

Second, to clear up a few misconceptions, I will state a few facts.

I clearly made an ass of myself about 5 or six years ago up in Pennsylvania,
and not two years ago, as rw stated. Not everyone was privy to the entire
episode, and rw is speaking primarily from, what I can only assume, Willi
has told to him. I believe it all started when I had my first drink of the
day, a Martini, prepared by the very competent Mr. Axelrad. I had never had
a Martini before that, in my life. I blame Mr. Axelrad for everything!

Later on in the day Wolfgang and I headed over to Cherry Run--I
believe--where it began to thunder and lightning. My memory is not so good,
but it was either Stan or Handyman that rescued Wolfgang and myself from the
sever lightning and offered us a beer each. Okay, now that I'm thinkin'
more clearly, I blame either Stan or Handyman for the entire debacle. We
ended up at The Carolina cabin where I proceeded to partake of numerous more
beers and some 'shine that I had brought along from NC. I became silly and
buddy, buddy drunk. I blame the moonshiner.

Buddy, buddy drunk is where I would get to the point of puttin' my arm
around folks I hardly know and say "hey buddy, buddy, 'ol chum, 'ol friend
of mine. Why I would do this I have no earthly idea, except that I was
either a loud and overly friendly drunk, at times; or I would transform to
the mean and nasty drunk, if I thought I was provoked--no need to say
anymore about that.

Anyway, someone had the bright idea to go to the Sportzmanz Club--likely an
individual who could handle his alcohol. At the Club I drank more Martinis
and many Yeunglings, of the right price--a dollar a glass I believe? I
blame the waitress, now. I became very loud, as I always have when drinking
to an excess and I think I may have been asked to leave the Club--but I
can't say for certain.

The second to the last thing I remember was Mr. Miller driving me back to my
tent, and me apologizing over and over and over to him? Apparently, later
at my tent, I informed Willi that I was leavin' and headed home. I only
know this because he told me in an e-mail sometime after the 'clave. I may
have threatened Willi, I don't know, but he is welcome to clear up anything
he might care to. I don't recall if Willi had been at the Carolina Cabin
that day, nor whether or not he was at dinner with the rest of the gang, but
if he was, he is likely the only person who can say he saw my entire sordid
episode and since rw wasn't anywhere near Pennsylvania at the time, I can
only surmise that his info come straight from a very well informed source;
thus, I can't fault a thing that source may say, as I was QUITE DRUNK and
don't recall too much.

However, I would like to address Kenny's accusation that I was a
tee-totaller "before and after" the Penns 'Clave. Bull****! I never once
claimed not to be a drinker before the 'clave--though I have stopped
drinking in the past for various reasons and periods of time. As a matter
of fact, we drank together at Wally's Spring Fling after fishing the
Greentown Trail stretch of Upper Creek. I remember it well 'cause Asadi
refused a Bud in the can and Kenny asked me if I could score some pot for
him. Something I would have gladly done at the time, but I didn't know
anyone that sold pot anymore, as I was in Lenoir, NC and not Raleigh, NC
where all of my previous connections were. I also gave Kenny a six-pack of
beer on a previous occasion, when Asadi and Kenny were down fishin'--John
had just bought his new travel trailer.

Finally, Walt Winter, in a very generous reply stated that I quit drinkin'
after the Penns 'Clave. Unfortunately, that not accurate. I wish I had
quit at that time. I quit on Sept. 18, 2004, after gettin' cited for DWI.
When your 70 year old mother has to take your 45 year old sorry ass 30 mile
to work, for ten dayz, it's time to quit drinkin' and I did. I Hope to
never drink again as long as I live--no 12 step programs, please.--but I
certainly don't know what the future holds for me.

Oh yeah, edumacational background: quit school in 9th grade, joined the
U.S. Air Farce, got out, returned to shewal received a 2 year degree in
Accounting (CCC&TI) and a BS in Political Science (Appalachian State
University).

Op --not too ashamed to post to ROFF. --