Personal news-y stuff

CONGRATULATIONS ARE IN ORDER:
Today is my baby sister's birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Sis!

Our local friends Widy and Obeth had a baby girl three weeks ago but we just saw her for the first time Sunday. Mother and baby are doing fine. Papa looks like he's holding up well, too.

Our wonderful Stateside friends Jen and Jason had a baby girl this weekend. Savannah Lynn is doing fine, thank you, as are her parents.

COMINGS AND GOINGS:
Zan got back to the island yesterday after a week "home" near Detroit. Home cooking, stateside shopping and the 4th of July at the Grosse Ile Yacht Club seem to have refreshed her.

Our good friend Brian came back to the island for a work-related visit this week. It's great to see him and to catch up on news of Lesa, their son Mitch, daughter Kayla and life back in smokey California. Hopefully next time Brian comes down Lesa can come with him. We all miss them both.

Brian and Lesa's son Mitch is a musician and song writer - you might remember he played here at Ola Lola's a couple of times last year. Well, he and his bandmates in CA have recorded some of his music and put it up on MySpace - www.myspace.com/uncutfaith. Check 'em out.

This week we said goodby to one Bajuras's long-time characters. After almost nine years here, teaching the rest of us how to live here, Jen is moving to Miami to be with her new husband. Jen was a trailguide at Tropical Trailrides (just up the road from Lola's). In fact she was the guide on our first trailride here and has been a friend ever since. Jen, we will miss you. Best of luck in your new life from all of us at Ola Lola's.

WEATHER REPORT:
The first hurricane of the season is swirling around out there in the Atlantic. It made a quick jump from Tropical Storm to Cat. 1 and right to Cat. 3 with sustained wind around 120 mph and gusts up to 150 mph. Bertha is well north and east of us and is predicted to continue curving north away from us so this one shouldn't be any problem. The surfers are hoping it generates some northeast swell for us through the middle of the week. Stay tuned.