Jacqueline, I went through the same last year when I had a suspicious mole removed. Mine was benign, I'll hope and pray the same for you.

ncgrrl, this is a longshot, but if you find that your relatives are taking shelter in Austin, please post me back on this or any R&R thread. If they are here, I will go to the shelter and try to help them if I can.

Rave: The words of an evacuee upon arriving at Otis Air Base on Cape Cod last night...

"The power of your concern is overwhelming. Tears stream down our face as you assure us safety, normalcy and hope, something we lost as Katrina ravaged our beautiful cities."

Rave: Red Sox and Patriots continue their winning ways.

Rave: My daughter's transition to middle school has gone smoothly. Youngest daughter is enjoying elementary school no longer in the shadow of her big sister.

Rave: Our lives are good.

My prayers this week are for all of the victims of September 11 and Katerina - by far the two most horrible things I have ever seen happen in the US. And I will also be remembering all victims of natural disasters, terrorism, tyranny, poverty and war whether in Africa, the South Pacific, the Middle East, Europe or South America.

As humans we have the ability to act with tremendous compassion, bravery and concern for one another. We also have some amazing capacity to be cruel, hateful and selfish. I pray that more people choose peace, compassion and kindness over strife, anger and intolerance.

New Market, VA is having a Past, Present, and Future Heroes Day parade Sunday. Participants will be:

Past Veterans
Present Volunteers
Future Scouts, 4H, and other youth groups

The weather in the Shenandoh Valley has been fantastic and the leaves will be changing soon.

Rave: My brother is finally home on his long-promised leave from Iraq. While I'm sure he would have liked to be home earlier, I think spending 9/11 with his FDNY ladder company is important to him.

Rave: "Downtown" by author Pete Hammill. Amazing how a book that uses no photographs can present a vivid picture of NYC.

Looks like Sunday here in NYC will have the same clear blue, late summer sky of 4 years ago. I think my memories of that day are still vivid in part because it was really was a picture perfect day.

Ryan, Thank your brother from all of us.

Ryan, my brother is in Amsterdam today on his way back. He had a two week leave after 8 months in Iraq and now will be back there for 6 weeks more- and then he might be home for good. But, knowing him, I doubt it.

Rave: The weather here is glorious.

Rave: The weather and surroundings in MI are even more glorious.

RAVE: It's September and MY WHITE SOX are in first place. Going to the game Saturday.

Man, is Pod fun to watch.

JJ5,
Glad to hear that your brother is keeping his head down. I think once he heads back my brother should be rotated out by January or February. I think he expects to be activated again over the next few years as he's got 5 years left on his reserve commitment.

My brother's been stationed in Tikrit but he's an inspector with a JAG unit so I think he's spent time on at least a 1/2 dozen bases.

What has your sibling been doing?

Belle-

Of course we know Ricky Phillips. Knew his parents, too. The family lived a block or two up the street from us.

I'm not sure, but I think Ricky organizes hunting trips to the west now.

Come to see us in Demopolis again, hunting season or not!

Byrd

Rave--Kids started new schools (middle and high school) and all went smooth.

Rant--Service depts at car dealerships. ARGGGHHH!!!!!

Rave--Had a nice day in Seattle last weekend.

Rave--Finally having central a/c installed this week.

Big Rave--Today is our anniversary:)

LoveItaly--Sending prayers for your friend.

Seetheworld--You ar sweet to ask:) Right now we are doing the waiting game again. Good news is the doctor here and the specialist in CA don't think it is bad news and both say to wait and watch. Just wish we had a definitive answer without surgery.

Caph--Big hugs to you! So sorry to hear about your FIL. That is the last thing your family needed to deal with. Will send prayers your direction too!

Patrick--YAY!!! What a relief I am sure.

Ryan--I hope your brother enjoys himself while on leave. Please let him know how much he is appreciated.

Rave: that I am so fortunate to be safe, warm, and dry and have all my friends and family safe and well.

Rave: The Raiders and the Pats didn't go over 50 points..had the Pats and under to I won half my ticket.

Rave: my brother is coming up for the Air Races next week and will be here for my birthday.

Rave: just paid the airfare for my trip to Copenhagen and Stockholm just after Christmas. I'll get the see the "Princess", my neice who is studying in Copenhagen this year and she will be able to go to Stockholm with us.

Rant: I can't take the time to go to Paris and it's killing me to change planes at Heathrow and know I can't go to London!!!! Geez, I think I wouldn't be happy if ya' hung me with a new rope!!!!

Rant: So sorry LoveItaly to hear about your friend. Alas, as we get older, this seems to become a more frequent occurance. My best to you and her.

Thoughts and prayers for you and your family Caph. If I were you I would combine the wine and the yoga video for the utmost flexibility! :)

Jacqueline: thoughts and prayers for you too.

Rant: Husband had MRI this morning and will likely have knee surgery on the left knee sometime next week. He had knee surgery on his right knee three or four weeks ago.

Rave: Recovery time for knee surgery is fairly short.

Rave: Football games and fall weather!

Rave: Husband and daughter are visiting Grandma and Grandpa tonight so I have an evening by myself!

Ryan, and by the way, hope you are feeling ok!

My brother is 55 years old, he has been all over just West of Baghdad. His 14 months are up right after Halloween. He has mostly been out of Al Asad, the old airport. His job is training Iraqi policemen. He is 55 and is a retired Chicago cop, was a Homicide Det. for many years, Marine for 4 years in his youth also. He has many stories about the Iraqi's as individuals and has made some friends, eaten in their homes etc. He is idealistic. He sees much division within Iraq- and tribal loyalities on all sides overcoming economic or political progress for the common person.

We are actually very apprehensive about what he is going to do next. He is not going to retire to fish, I doubt. This last year has just about killed my mother, literally, she is mid-80's.

My bet is that he gets into something in Chicago that is far more dangerous than what he is doing now. And that is not hyperbole. His kids are grown and the last just graduated from college last May. He is long separated from his wife of many years. He really is kind of a saint, but one who knows bad people and bad things happen.

I don't think he has ever shot anyone but he is the one who deals with the aftermath.

jersey, I just wish I could send our rain to you. Its been raining here for two years! Well heavily anyway. We haven't had this much rain in generations. Pre-1930's A nearby farm field has turned into a lake in the past few years and somehow game fish got into it. I caught a very nice walleye in it this year.

Loveitaly, my painter was not licensed or bonded. Our laws must be different here and my insurance would have taken care of any accident. He did a great job but took way too long.

Ryan and JJ5, I'm glad your brothers are back for a few months.

Good suggestion, kureiff! However I suspect it would add to my klutziness rather than my flexibility! Maybe I'd better stick to yoga first, wine after. If the yoga truly relaxes me, it could make for a very nice buzz from the wine!

Rave: We finished painting the kitchen! And it came out pretty darn well..

Rave: We not have tickets in hand for the next big trip - Thailand/Cambodia.

Rant: They're not taking us anyplace until January.

Rave: You guys... all of ya. Ok, almost all. ;)

Byrd: Neat! I'll tell DH (who's checking his hunting land for damage this weekend).

And, one more encouragement to join us at the ATL GTG:

My DIL and her sis are coming from Mobile to accompany me to ATL! You don't live further that them! Ha!

Belle

Dear Patrick, That is fantastic news. I am sorry that you had to worry, and that so many you hold dear have had bad news. Strength! With the countless times you have made us laugh with your superb sense of humor, I would have never known you had this worry on your hands. Salute!

Welcome home to your Bro, Ryan. And early welcome to your bro too, JJ5.

Jacqueline, hope it is good news, thinking of you.

JJ5,
Interesting, sounds like your brother and my brother have very similar stories. My brother was pulled out of his regular reserve unit and activated with a JAG unit because they needed those who had leadership experience. In my brother's case both with the FDNY and as a Sergeant in the Marine's in the 1970's.

Patrick, glad to know your probing went fine. Make sure every doctor you see knows about the diabetes. I know someone here who had a change in medicine and had a adverse reaction. The new medicine was not for someone with her other condition and she was in the hospital for over a week trying to get things straightened out.

Jacq. hope all goes well with you. Last year I decided to have a mole checked out (I think it was Jorr who finally made me go). The mole was fine, but the doctor saw something fishy. Everything was fine (a kera-something), but the waiting was the hardest part. I think the worst part was the pathology report where they miscalculated my age, I ended up 10 years older (date of birth was correct). By the way, skin cancer can appear in areas that never see the sun according to my doctor.

JJ5 and Ryan, welcome home to your brothers.

PM if I find out my family is in Austin, you bet I'll call you in to drive them to the airport. With all my Dad's ff points, we could probably send them to Albania, though RDU airport is the preferred destination.

Rave: just saw on newswire that officials don't think there are as many dead people as first predicted. Trying to find the positive anywhere I can.

At lunch today, I saw an Edy's ice cream truck parked outside a store that doesn't sell food. I was wondering what punishment I'd receive for 'borrowing' or 'liberating' the truck for a few hours.

Rave: Felt the little bugger kick for the first time last week. SO cool. Apparently kick practice is ~10AM.

Rave: So glad it's not ~3AM!

Rave: McD's 2-hamburger meal deals - I had forgotten how great they are (thank all that's holy), and Cletus (the fetus) really wanted one today, so...

Rave: Am staring at a huge amount of work at 1:30 on a Friday, but J Geils' "Centerfold" just came on my internet radio. Sweet.

Rave: Jason Statham = My new backup husband. YUM.

Rave: traveling to Ogunquit and Portsmouth in 2 weeks. Really looking forward to getting away.

CAPH - hang in there, prayers are with you, and take care of yourself, too.
P_M - you too, good job vibes coming your way!
ncgrrl - godspeed in finding info, can't imagine what you must be going through.
Ryan and JJ5 - Please thank your bros for me. I'm so glad they'll be home soon.
And thanks for the good news, Patrick!
Have a great weekend, all!