Journal of Jeffrey R. Brant, MD

Amanda and about 12 of her closest friends flew to Aruba Saturday morning for a week, following graduation from high school. We haven't heard from her until Monday afternoon, when we returned home to hear a message from her on our answering machine. It went something like this: "Hi, I'm doing fine and having fun. I need Dad to call and leave me a message as to whether or not I can wash my hair since I had to have stitches in my head. Bye!"

Well, that shook us up just a little, as you can imagine. Turns out that Amanda and her friends went on a "banana boat." That is like a big, long inflated hot dog-shaped float that a bunch of people sit on while being towed by a power boat. The object is to try to hang on, but the boat driver does whatever he can to make the riders fall off. When Amanda got tossed off, the her head hit the toenail of the girl riding behind her, which resulted in a small scalp laceration. She said she didn't even know she was cut until her friends told her she was bleeding. They took her to the hospital where she received two sutures and an antibiotic injection. Two of her other friends got knots on their heads from bumping their heads together when they fell off the banana boat. I told her no more banana boat rides while she's in Aruba!

But at least she is OK and nothing serious happened. It didn't slow her down any. She called me last night and said she and her friends are out late each night and are having a great time. They went parasailing yesterday and I think are going 4-wheeling or horseback riding today. Frankly, I'll be glad when she's back home Saturday!

Well, back to work!

Yes, I'm still alive! Due to the lightning strike, computer problems, and swamped at work, I really haven't had much time to write anything to this journal. Getting ready for Amanda's graduation Saturday and Marlowe's graduation from middle school Monday. Lots of activities going on here the next few days. Will write more later...

Our home suffered from a lightning strike yesterday. Consequently, we have no Internet access at home. (It blew the TV cable connector box off our outside wall, throwing it 100 feet into the woods, and burned up the underground cable.) The surge destroyed two TVs, Nancy's computer, our intercom system, our home Ethernet/Broadband router, and our cable modem. In addition, it knocked out our home fax line. Therefore, we can't personally answer your e-mails until we get our computer equipment replaced and get back on line again. Sorry for the inconvenience. For those of you who sent congratulations e-mail regarding my last journal entry about Marlowe's piano award, thanks!!

Marlowe was in the Cartersville news paper today for receiving a gold cup recently for her talent as a pianist. See the article below for details. We are very proud of her!

Marlowe did a great job playing the French horn in the Darlington High School band Thursday night. Here is a very short Windows Media clip of her playing. They are playing the theme from Mission Impossible.

Amanda's prom is tonight. She is borrowing Heather's bright red Mercedes SLK 230 convertible for tonight. She is going to dinner with some friends before the prom.

Marlowe's "Spring Dance" is tonight at her school. I have to run a digital slide presentation during part of it. I think Nancy and I are attending some kind of dinner or coffee for the parents tonight.

Will write more later. Off to eat lunch at my favorite barbecue restaurant in Cartersville.

Oh, I almost forgot. This is too funny: Our office started receiving a free subscription to a magazine called "Trailer Life." Kim and I couldn't believe there is such a thing! Only in NW Georgia, I guess! (Kim says some of our patients will be fighting over that magazine!)

Later...