[Marilyn]

This trip was a fishing tournament put on by a professional organization. Many of my customers are on the board for this organization. I'd already paid the entrance fee and booked the guide service. The tournament was supposed to happen in September, the day after Hurricane Ike hit Galveston, so had to be rescheduled. I was hoping they would reschedule in May or June of '09, but no, they decided to do it in November. We have some beautiful days in November and the day before would have been perfect, but Saturday was not a good day.

Last year, was a day of heavy thunderstorms, so my team backed out. We got no refund and had to pay the guide his expenses for getting his boat ready and buying the bait.

One thing, I gained a lot of respect from my guy customers for being a trooper and going through with the trip this year. I am paid well for what I do, so when something like this happens, it's kinda like I'm earning that pay, so really shouldn't complain.

No one would have really given me a hard time for backing out though. My upper management would have understood, and so would my customers, so I don't plan on doing this again. From now on, fair weather, or we don't go.