With the improved water level it's nice to see more boats taking to Lake Lanier this summer. In the past I've lamented the number of boats on the lake at any one time shaking some of the contents out of my beverage cup, but I've come to see them as a sign of a healthy lake level.

I still even feel child-like excitement when I encounter one of those high-speed cigar boats on the water. Kind of like the first time you see a Ferrari on the road.

Thanks to Facebook, I recently had the pleasure of lunch with an old friend that had raced these boats professionally for many years. After a long and successful career (and a few spectacular wrecks), he has retired from the sport competitively but he still owns one of these crafts and maybe if he reads this glowing post he'll offer to take me out on it sometime!

With my third son due in a week I'm secretly hoping I'll hear him say "have a cigar (boat ride)!" - if only as a passenger for a just little while.