I'm landlocked in Colorado, with no real desire to cruise on an ocean or even a bay, yet I really enjoyed reading this book. Herb and his wife, Nancy, were ordinary people except with perhaps even more limited funds than most Americans. Yet they impulsively decided to take to the sea. Somewhere along the way Herb started writing articles about his adventures (they almost always needed extra money because something else on the boat had broken). Eventually that led to this amusing, laugh out loud while reading it, book.
Herb displays a fine sense of humor that never comes across as mean, just amusing as he describes himself and the people he meets along the way. This is a good book for sharing with others, then tucking it away on the bookshelf for another read next year. And if any cruiser is trying to explain to a landlubber what it's like on the water, this book would be the perfect gift to share both the bad (lost in the middle of a pitch black night surrounded by dangerous coral heads) and the glorious (a village throwing a party in honor of your visit). A charming book that is aging extremely well.

Both of these books ("Blown Away" and "You Can't Blow Home Again") are great and should be read one after the other (The second is the continuing saga). The true story of a family that sells everything to buy a boat and sail around the world. They only make it as far as the south pacific, but it makes for year after year of adventures. As a sailor myself (coastal, not blue water) I felt he did a great job of capturing the sharp contrast between the elation, exhilaration and sheer terror that can be found in sailing. Mr. Payson's honest, care free and "oh well" attitude is something that I wish I could capture for myself. Someone who does not mind laughing at himself.

I only have one critique of the books. Mr. Payson uses nautical terms and the names of boat parts as if they are a part of everyone's daily vocabulary. I sail a simple sloop configuration and can name every component that is applicable to our boat. But his repeated use of terms unique to multi-masted, wooden masted, bow-sprinted boats kept sending me to the nautical dictionary. Since the book does not appear to be targeted at highly experienced sailors, a little more explanation would have been nice.

This book is one of the best all-around, just-your-average-guy, kind of sailing story. There are many, many books about guys who have been sailing their local waters all their life. They have always owned a sailboat and have always known that some day they would take off over the horizon. That is not the kind of guy Herb Payson was.

The author and his wife just happened to decide that sailing was the answer to a life that did not seem to be giving them the joy they were seeking. Nevermind that between them they had very little sailing experience. It's this type of spirit for adventure and desire to explore the unknown that many of us aspire to.

The book is well written and truly a joy to read. The author takes a witty and low-key approach to their sometimes eventful escapades. What this book represented most of all, however, was that you don't have to have decades of sailing experience or incredible endurance to take to a life of cruising. It is an inspirational piece and required reading for anyone thinking of doing the same.

I liked the plot of The Chaos Protocol - fast-paced, exciting, lots of twists and turns. Good high-tech research, credible scenarios. And the device of using a countdown - starting out with June 10 as Day 205 and counting down, scene after scene, as the millennium gets closer and closer, was quite effective. But I usually read a book for character, and I liked these characters because they weren't supermen, they were flawed and human. Alex, head of the y2k consulting firm, cool and professional at work, but in therapy because of his nightmares about what the year 2000 may bring. Annette, the brilliant, driven y2k project manager who is nevertheless clueless in her own love life. And one of my favorites, although a minor character, Norman Krebbs, a lowly accountant who fantasizes that he is a super-hero: Captain Bean Counter. Then there's Leo the nerd, and Volodya the charmer, and Harry the irascible old federal programmer - all the characters seemed well-drawn to me. I was cheering all these people on as I read the book, wanting them to find the computer worm, get their y2k project done, beat the deadline. As good as the high-tech stuff was, and as suspenseful as the plot was, it was the characters that made the book live for me. And here's a case of the headlines being ripped from the book!! The author actually anticipated headlines with this book. Newspapers are reporting potential massive embezzlements as a result of unethical y2k remediators - the very plot of the book!! Don't wait another day to read The Chaos Protocol!!!

This was a fun read. Having worked in the programming field and on Y2K projects for many years, I was impressed the accuracy and possability of the story.

Nancy McKibben has done an excellent job of describing high-tech problems in an easily readable style.

Annette reminds me of someone's sister though....

First of all, I rarely read a book in a weekend. I'm a slow reader and I'm easily distracted by shiny things. So that is about the best review that I can give it! The book is a mixture of a Tom Clancy novel and a Y2K primer. The plot moves along at a rippingly good pace and has a satisfactory ending. It also serves as a good primer for the Y2K problem, as well as preparations that companies and families should make. For Y2K experts, the discussions about Year 2000 issues may give you an excuse to skim a little, but be careful not to miss important stuff. The book finishes up early in 2000, but that is all I'll tell you. You and I will have to wait and see what really happens.

Y2K buffs may recognize a few of the characters. As an added bonus, my book even came with a Hollerith card for a bookmark. I've been looking for one of those to use in my lectures. Thanks, Nancy for an excellent read. So, when's the sequal?

In a nutshell: enjoyable, fast paced, good plot and educational.

This is such a great book-i would reccomend it to anyone! It is uplifting and after reading it you'll want to read it over and over again!

This book is a definite "feel good" book that I have passed along. It's a book made of love. Many stories helped me to remind me of the power of Christ.

I laughed, I cried, and then I cried some more! All in a good feeling sort of way. I would recommend this book to anyone, no matter what their belief system is. It definitely will impact them in many different ways. There are memories that come flooding back as they relate to the stories told. It makes you want to make sure you take advantage of all that is good and positive that we miss day to day by being to caught up in ourselves! I loved the book.

I am a Pediatric Oncology Nurse that buys these books to give to the newly diagnosised families. All of them have told me that it is a wonderful tool.

This book was recommended to me after my daughter was diagnosed with nueroblastoma. It explains it all. The book is broken down by topic (ie radiation and chemotherepy) and also by tumor.
The language used was easy to understand. The book was my map through the world of childhood cancer.

If you have found yourself catapulted into the nightmare of having a child with cancer, this book will help you to understand much of the journey to come. No matter what stage your child is in treatment...beginning, middle, finished treatment, relapsed, or palliative...this book is an indispensible resource. Personal stories peppered throughout the book help you come to realize that you are not alone in this battle. This book also has a wonderful list of resources to help families through this hard time. Buy one for yourself, family members (especially in-laws!), your child's pediatrician, your child's teacher, and your closest friends so they can have a glimpse into what you and your child are facing and can help you along the way. This book should be given to EVERY parent when they hear those horrible words, "Your child has cancer..."

University-textbook style, with great organization, readable two-color text, comprehensive index, and discussion of COBOL topics (like reference modification) that I have not seen properly addressed in other COBOL books.

Distinction is also made throughout the text between COBOL 74 and COBOL 85, with separate code examples for each.

Detailed discussion of every topic, good examples and the self-test is really helpful.

i am an adjunct professor utilizing this as the textbook for an undergraduate cobol class. it has more then sufficient examples, and the self-test is helpful for the students.

Two young men meet on the magical Isle, and grow to deep friendship, which is tested by love for a maiden, an evil king/wizard, and their own self-growth. An excellent tale that makes you yearn to help the heroes-to-be, and maybe just sit on the isle in hope to see the dragons or elves. Gives good descriptions of the isle and action, but also brings you into the young mens' minds -- you understand why they do what they do.

This is the enchanting story of three people, whose lives were interwoven by love, friendship, and desire for the destruction of evil. Set at the ancient times, when magic, nature, mortals and immortals exist together. The place itself, the Isle, gives readers the feel of the story--magical, lovely, nurturing, healing, but also foreboding and wicked. The presence of legendary creatures such as firedrakes, wyverns, the loyal red falcon and the pure white hart makes it more spell-binding. But what sets this story apart from other fantasy books is that the White Hart has successfully lifted the readers to a range of human emotions. Ellid's strength and faithfulness, Cuin's unselfishness and loyalty, and Bevan's courage, spirit, honor and despair. I have never seen nor heard of a man as lonely as Bevan. A mesmerizing tale that will leave you tearful, breathless, almost complete. I came across this book in 1991, and fell in love with the story and the characters. When it was accidentally lost by a friend, I searched for a copy but failed. Until 1998 when I learned of Amazon and finally found what I've been searching. The book is certainly worth the effort and the long wait.

A tale of love, honor and evil. Two lads meet in a land riddled with magic and the evil of a dishonest "king". The story has tinges of the magic of King Arthur - a lad looks within himself, with the help of his friend and a maiden, and finds power to fight evil. The characters are complete, and brings you into the story. You care what happens to each one. One of Springers' earlier works, it's not as polished as later works. The ending may not turn out as you thought, but it makes sense. This book ties in with later books (Silver Sun and Sable Moon), but you don't have to read it to understand the later stories. Regal and heartrending, absolutely worth a weekend to read.

For anyone who loves animals and has experienced the loss of one, this story supports the emotional attachment and makes us feel the pet is in a great place. We hope for our pets to be taken care of without us, and this story sets just that stage.
The illustrations support the story and are beautiful in their own right. I have given this book to three friends with children who have lost family pets and all three felt it provided a kind word at that most difficult time.

This is a must have for anyone with children or who work with children! I still can't read it without tears coming to my eyes. I am the director at a Christian preschool and we have read it many times when hearing questions of pets dying. The story helps children to cope with the lose by helping them envision their pet in a happy, beautiful place with children angels who love them. It also emphasizes the joy of one day being reunited again. Please order this book now or keep the title for future reference. I have never done a book review for Amazon but felt compelled to do one on this book! You won't be sorry!

This book is wonderful. It was a gift to my daughter and I highly recommend it. I know a family who has had a young (very young) girl pass away. I decided to look for this book to give to her older brother who is only 3, to show him that his baby sister is with the Angels. This book would help anyone (even adults) feel better about a death of a child. Highly recommend.

This is a fabulous book and cassette package. I am a teacher in an International Kindergarten in Hong Kong and this is one of my greatest resources! Songs include: You Gotta Sing, Wabash Cannonball, Day-O, Ting-A-Lay-O, Mister Sun, Father's Old Grey Whiskers, Baby Beluga, Willoughby Wallaby Woo, Kumbaya, Shake My Sillies Out, Brush Your Teeth, Down By the Bay, Jamaica Farewell, Apples and Bananas, Chicken Lips and Lizard Hips, Polly Wolly Doodle, This Old Man, The Fox, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Puff the Magic Dragon, Morningtown Ride and This Little Light of Mine.

The kids love it!

This is a fun, up-beat, easy-to-sing-along-to tape with a sturdy spiral bound book that contains the music and words to the songs along with funny pictures. The tape has spiced up many long car trips for my 4 kids.

I had this book and tape growing up. We used to play it in the car and we all sang along! It was SO MUCH FUN!!! All those simple things that are fun and healthy! I'm grown now, but I still like to listen to it and sing along. It is a breath of fresh air in a busy life. Great for young and old!! It is also a great alternative to watching TV or consuming cartoon characters!

I liked this book because it was a good mystery and I learned some things about chess too! My mom read Nancy Drew books when she was my age (11) and now I'm also starting to like them a lot. Besides Nancy, George and Bess, the other characters are interesting as well. If you like mysteries, you'll like Nancy Drew!

This story combines two of my passions, chess and who-done-its. The world's two leading junior chess players, Donna Winston and Greta van Leeuwen, are the favorites in a 64-player junior championship, but the tournament is marred by mysterious telephone threats and anonymous messages aimed at both contenders. Nancy Drew is assigned the task of unraveling the mystery in time to save the final-round match between the favorites. The excitement never stops. It is especially gratifying that most of the leading characters, including three of the four tournament finalists, are women, even in the traditionally male-dominated field of chess. This story should help to overcome some stereotypes, but its main value is superb entertainment.

It's this story of a chess compitition and Greta's little sister gets kidnapped and Greata must win in order to see her alive. The other girl, donna all kinds of starnage things happpen. but Nancy and Donna get attacked in the park. Who will win? Will Anna survive?

This book was pretty good and it was interesting to read it. There was some really exiting parts and some really boring parts, but overall it was a good book.

This book was a great suspense/thriller book. Nancy helps an elderly woman named Mrs. Alexandra. Nancy befriends her and learns she is a queen from a distant country. Mrs. Alexandra tells her of a long lost grandson, which she is determined to find. Nancy is trying to solve that mystery, when she notices many pick-pocket thefts in her town of River Heights. Nancy then finds out the two mystery's are connected, and Nancy is determined to solve it. Nancy figures out the confusing burglury of wallets, and finds the long lost grandson of Mrs. Alexandra. This is a wonderful book, like all Nancy Drew's.

At first I thought this book might not be as exciting as the others, but I was wrong!! I was always in suspence. If you like this book, I know you will love all the others! The Nancy Drew Files are the best!