Anyone desirous of learning about our recent windfall can read about it online at natchezdemocrat.com, or you can observe the high points here, because, you have that option. Americans are very optionally enabled people. I chose to be an American largely due to this option.

We knew about this, of course. Senator Dearing informed me of this on July 4th, while seated beneath a broad live oak, overlooking the redneck regatta on Lake St. John, during the “Blessing of the Fleet”. The Blessing of the Fleet is an annual event during which all manner of hooligans from the Miss-Lou dress up their party barges and rafts in an array of costumes and ignominious themes, then parade the length of St. John and before a Catholic priest from the local Diocese in an effort to have their individual craft made Holy. Adult beverages play a large part in the event, though Senator Dearing was steadfastly sober as he foretold of the riches soon to be set before us. In his doing so I felt, after eight years, as though we were beginning to achieve some legitimacy.

The Natchez Convention and Visitors Bureau, Sally Durkin, and Connie Taunton also played a large part in our acquiring the grant. If you are in Natchez for the Phatwater in about seven weeks, we urge you to drop by the Visitors’ Center where they strategize, just off the twin bridges as you enter Natchez. Be sure to sign their log book. This will help bring more attention to Natchez, and more funding for the future of the Phatwater.

The Colorado 100 is less than a month away, and Melissa and I are awaiting the word on whether there will be a cancellation vacancy, and enough water to paddle the distance in the Ruahine Adventure Duet. Chuck McHenry just returned it this past Friday. He and Di had borrowed it and had just completed the Missouri 340 in it, the previous week, with a blazing time of 47 hours and a second place mixed tandem finish. For their stellar effort, they were awarded a cash prize, a substantial portion of which they donated to the Phatwater. Thanks to Chuck and Di, and we’ll look for you both, again, October 10th.

I also note in today’s Natchez Democrat there has been a 50 cent per pack cigarette tax hike in the state which has raised revenues by $36.8 million. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all who are smokers in Mississippi for sacrificing your health so that the state can continue to function, fiscally.

Today’s Phatwater level on the Natchez gauge is:
30′.