bertram31.com

Well Faithful, its the last day of what has been a generally miserable year for me. Some of you know that I was diagnosed with throat cancer back in the summer - after being treated for an unrelated neck cancer earlier in the year- and I have been undergoing chemo and radiation since. I'm almost through with the final "insurance" chemo which reders one sick as a dog, period. Those of you wondering where I've been, that's where.

Anyway, I'm on the mend and the docs tell me the treatments are working and I expect to make a full recovery. During all of this the support I received from many of the Faithful, especially for several months there when I could not talk, kept me in tears a lot....its hard to imagine friends doing for me what these guys did. Mostly people I met here on this sandbox. Their help took a huge load off my family since I was a basket case for months. Visits, emails, and calls from the Faithful did wonders cheering all of us up, even if all I could do was mumble in response.

I have been leaning on my hoe as far as fundraising for our site, and 2009 will see a new & improved UV in that regard. In fact, I plan to kick off a fund raiser tomorrow.....would do it today, but don't want to taint it with my 2008 bad luck.

So make a little room in your budget for our Sandbox guys, I'll hit you up tomorrow.

UV

UV.....any year you survive and beat cancer and realize how much so many people care for you....is a pretty good year in my book.....of course dont mean the new one cant be better............ill drink to that tonight....repeatedly.

UV-

I did not know, but often wondered about the relative low amount of posts from you. Glad to hear you are doing well and beating it. I'm glad 08 is gone too...Hopefully we can catch up in Lauderdale for the 09 show.

--JK

uv
i had no idea, glad your doing well, heres to a better year

Uv, I hope the new year is much better for you than last year.I wish you a full recovery and a very happy new year...Russ

See Vic, I can keep my mouth shut! Ya'll take note!

My best wishes to all for a happy, save, productive and fun new year.

Vic, I am happy as hell you are on the mend. My trust has been that you would be, and have been.

My sincerest wishes of friendship to you, the bride, family and to all I know here.

Best,

Dug

UV...

With you being one of the mainstays here I consider you "a friend who I have not yet met" and wondered why you had been so scarce. While shocked by your news I am glad to hear it is now "old news" and that you are resuming your rightful place here. As I get older I have come to believe healing is assisted to some degree by positive thoughts sent our way by friends, and please rest assured you are receiving mine, and I am sure many others.

Heres to a better year.. 2009!

Vic- The site sorely missed you. With you it's not a matter of welcome back, it's really welcome home! Walter

Vic, I'm with you on this year. Other than some highlights like TSL and a good but shortened Gulf season, its been rather shitty. Lost some friends, got others with health issues, freaking hurricanes, business issues, etc.

BUT, I'm sick and tired about worrying about everything. I've got a new outlook and plan on making the best of it. Moving the Captain Morgan back to my house tomorrow after months in hurricane hiding. Turning 40 in a few days and will do all I can to make it the best year yet. I'll hoist a clear and perhaps an empty bottle to all my internet dating buddies tonight-Tom

UV-

Glad to hear that you're getting past this and feeling better. Good to hear from you. Best of luck to UV and all the faithful in 2009.

John

UV,

Glad to know we were able to add some cheer to otherwise dreery times.
I agree about this year totally sucking. 2008 was without a doubt the worst year of my life. Home all year with the back injury, lost both parents, nearly died myself trying back surgery, no luck with noninvasive therapy. Already made new appointment with the back surgeon. Gonna try a new approach and attitude for 2009. Happy to know you'll be along for the ride.

UV,

I didn't know you were ill, but really glad to hear things are looking better for ya. I'm with ya, Good Bye 2008! and Hello 2009! Wishing You and all the other Faithful, God Bless and Happy New Year!

R,
DQ

UV

Glad to hear you are ok. Your abscence was noted and believe me its not the same without your posts. Glad to hear all is well and hopefully 09 will be a better year.

Thanks for the good wishes Gentlemen and let's make 09 a banner year for the Bertram Faithful. We need to get "back like we wuz"....or at least I do.

Watching my beloved LSUs put a serious butt kicking on the Ga. Tech pussies. ESPN. 28-3 first half.

UV

Good to hear from you Vic

Glad that you are doing well and on the mend to a happy 2009

With any luck I will see you at Drusella's again for lunch.....soon

Harry

UV,

Sorry to hear you're '08 been so rough, let's put this one a stern and focus on the course ahead. We still talk about the year we met you in DC and almost diched that bar tab during the fire drill.

We'd love to see you at the Atlantic City Rendezvous this year it's a good time for sure.

br,
JohnD

Happy to hear things are looking up. Knowing that this site is good medicine in its' self, you have helped a lot of the Faithful - me included. God speed!

Maybe 7 yrs ago at a marine flea market in the Keyes I was wearing a UVI golf shirt when a vendor asked me if I was with the "radical" Bertram gang. And if "Uncle Vic" was the real deal. My wife stood still and waited for my reply. She thought maybe there would be trouble. Five minutes later he wanted to go to the next UVI.

Like Capt Patrick said, "he's the spark plug of Bertram31.com".

Very sorry and very releived at the same time when I read that UV... Glad things are on the up and up. I'm still meaning to send you and the bride some live lobsters... I just can't ever seem to make it out to the reef these days. Bustin my hump too much, should start out '09 with a little r&r.
'08 was certainly a strange one, glad she's history. As a final stunt of '08, Cheeca Lodge in Islamorada caught fire and burned down around 10 or 11:00 P.M. on New Years Eve, this right after a supposed $5mil restoration... Apparently everyone made it out ok, but gonna be quite a few locals without employment as of today.

Dick - please shoot me an email at www.royvictor@cox.net I sent you a note the other day about the cowboy gun and it bounced back.

UV

and I thought I had a lousy 08...

The health and happiness of our family and friends is everything, so many times I forget that. Perspective...

Thanks for giving me some Uncle Vic, and glad your on the mend.

To a better year for all !

Carl

Hey Uncle Vic,

Glad to see the fire back in you, as you were sorely missed on the Board. I knew you were hurting pretty bad the times I called and you could barely get the words out. You continue to be in my prayers for a full recovery. You are definitely the B-31.com MVP!

Tommy

vic i lost my entire family to cancer including my 46 year old sister.i am the sold survivor and oldest so my feeling of anybody beating the deadly "c" is my mentor god bless and keep us posted.

Vic: Sorry I missed seeing this post until now. I hope that you have a healthy and fruitful '09! It is good to have you back. We were thinking about you and praying for your recovery. Sounds like our prayers have been answered!!!

B31 owners scoff at cancer. Cancer slides off of us like wet from an oily duck......

Sure hope that you're right about that Mike.

mike ohlstein wrote:B31 owners scoff at cancer. Cancer slides off of us like wet from an oily duck......

Wellllll........... Then there was Sonny Morrel & Dave Kosh...

Im going with;"Only the good die young" As UV is of the lawyer type persuassion I would guess that (even if by mistake) GOD got him locked in with the rest of the lawyer types so he'll be around a good long time more.

CaptPatrick wrote: Wellllll........... Then there was Sonny Morrel & Dave Kosh...

It was broken hearts that got those guys.....

CaptPatrick wrote: Wellllll........... Then there was Sonny Morrel & Dave Kosh...

And my dad (Sy)...even though I owned the boat, he ran the show whenever he was aboard.

Attitude has as much to do with survival as anything. Think
Tropic Star, '09!
Glad as hell you're back, oh fearless leader.

Mikey I am indeed back. Finished my last round of chemo yesterday and feel like hammered doo doo if you can picture that. It too will pass with time, and what's time to a hog?

I plan to make TSL this year maybe even the late August bite - they set a marlin record last year, some incredible numbers.

UV

UV if you feel real good ,make your way to the 09 rendevous in the NE. We met you in newport We are happy to know that you are on the road to recovery Neil