Thanks for asking after my son. I havent answered because, quite frankly, I wasnt sure what to say. It seems he got into trouble in early December for showing up at work still drunk from the night before (not the first time this has happened). He was not allowed to have leave for the holidays & wasnt able to come home as expected. He skipped his extra duty one night so that he could go to club (smart move) & was caught. He was demoted & they were in the process of chaptering him out of the Army. He would have been home by the end of this month. He skipped his extra duty again & someone told him that he would have to do 30 days in jail. So he left the Army (AWOL). He is somewhere in the midwest. He wont tell me exactly where so that I dont "have to lie to anyone if they ask". His cell phone has been disconnected & I have no way to reach him. I am so frustrated with him & not understanding why he would choose to run & basically hide for the rest of his life over such a small thing. As a mother, I am, of course, extremely worried about him & at the same time wishing to leave my foot firmly implanted in his a**. Please, keep him in your thoughts & prayers-that he is safe & learns from this mistake quickly.

Thanks for listening. Tammy

167 Sat January 03 2004 - 23:10:27
Fullname: Dave Cook
Email:
Comments: Hi Tammy, things aren’t too bad over here at all, thanks. A lot of folk in the UK don’t return to work (or school) until Monday, so the shops are absolutely heaving at the moment. Most people will be looking to spend their Christmas money in the New Year sales, though a few will no doubt be returning the dodgy Christmas gift from Great Aunt Sally or whoever! Lol.

How’s your son, by the way? I do hope he managed to get home for Christmas before flying off to Iraq. Please send him our best wishes and a safe return later in the year. Dave. xxx


168 Sat January 03 2004 - 17:47:21
Fullname: Tammy Wiley
Email: tamziam@hotmail.com
Comments: Hi Dave, & friends

Cant really say that I am an html expert by any means. Just playing around with the new trick I learned!!. How are things on the other side of the world. Kinda rainy in normally sunny California. I am at work today, but then plan to curl up with a good book or movie & relax the rest of the weekend. take care all.

Peace & Love, Tammy


169 Fri January 02 2004 - 15:49:43
Fullname: Dave Cook
Email:
Comments: Tammy, forgot to say how impressed I was at your paragraphs! I guess you can now call yourself an HTML expert! Take care, Dave. xxx

170 Fri January 02 2004 - 15:45:08
Fullname: Dave Cook
Email:
Comments: Thank you to Tammy and Ron for your New Year wishes. Tammy, we all need those lazy days to recharge the batteries – unfortunately, these days, I need more than most! lol. Ron, I hope your return to work on Monday goes without a hitch – until then, have fun! Dave.

171 Fri January 02 2004 - 11:42:43
Fullname: Ron Fletcher
Email:
Comments: I'm still off work today for the holidays so thought I'd just wish a very happy New Year to Dave, Tammy, Jamie, and everybody else on Dave's board. May your New Year be healthy and happy, with lots of good books to read. Best wishes, Ron.

172 Fri January 02 2004 - 06:31:10
Fullname: Tammy Wiley
Email: tamziam@hotmail.com
Comments: Hello Everyone & Happy New Year!!

Hope everyones celebrations were safe & happy. We spent the evening with family, then just a lazy day today.

Best wishes to all for happy & healthy 2004

Peace & Love

Tammy


173 Thu January 01 2004 - 17:10:43
Fullname: Dave Cook
Email:
Comments: Hi Jamie, I sincerely hope you managed to remain sober enough to see in the New Year. lol The conditions were quite awful here last night, with lots of sleety rain and high winds. My middle daughter, Louise, (Victoria has returned to Manchester after the Christmas hols) was in Newcastle at the time and she tells me that the main firework display around the river was postponed on account of the weather, which was a heck of a shame. So, better luck next time, Newcastle!

Anyway, Happy New Year to you, Jamie, to your girlfriend, and indeed to everyone else on our friendly little message board. Dave.

174 Wed December 31 2003 - 14:21:15
Fullname: Jamie Scott
Email: scottytotty21@hotmail.com
Comments: Well thats it, I refuse to lift another finger until next year. So while Im still sober I'd like to wish Dave and everybody here a very happy new year! Best wishes Jamie.

175 Wed December 24 2003 - 22:33:50
Fullname: Dave Cook
Email:
Comments: Hi Tammy, well, it certainly sounds as though you’re enjoying Christmas (and birthdays) so far. Oh, and when it comes to dinner, you definitely have the right idea – always leave the cooking to the in-laws because it’s far more relaxing than having to do it yourself! lol. Actually, I’m telling fibs because we had all three daughters, one son-in-law, and two grandsons around here tonight for Christmas Eve dinner. Our youngest and craziest daughter, Victoria, dressed up as Santa and the grandkids loved it. Indeed, we all did. Anyway, may God bless you and your family, Tammy, and thank you for your support over these past few months. Merry Christmas! Dave. xxx

176 Wed December 24 2003 - 20:58:59
Fullname: Tammy Wiley
Email: tamziam@hotmail.com
Comments: Hello everyone!! Merry Christmas!! Thank you Dave & Jamie for the birthday wishes for my daughter. We had a nice evening, went to a nice restaurant with Jessica & her boyfriend. Then we drove around looking at all the Christmas lights. Tonight we go to my mother in laws for dinner & presents, then tomorrow the same at my Mom's. Hope there is lots of Christmas magic for each & everyone of you under the tree. Be safe & enjoy! Happy Holidays! Peace & Love Tammy


177 Sat December 20 2003 - 14:41:09
Fullname: Dave Cook
Email:
Comments: Hi folks, I’m delighted to see everyone getting into the Christmas spirit of things. Jamie, you’re right about California. In fact, it’s probably the place to be any time of the year, never mind Chrimbo. Tammy, please wish your daughter, Jessica, a very happy birthday tomorrow from my family and me. I remember being sixteen as if it were yesterday (instead of 200 years ago. lol), so tell her to have a good one, be happy, and make the most of it while she can. As for the story contest at darklines, well, I feel much the same way. I have entered a story, as it happens, but there were too many conditions cramping my style, I think. Oh, well, perhaps I should be concentrating on my next book instead. Merry Christmas! Dave. xxx

178 Sat December 20 2003 - 11:09:44
Fullname: Jamie Scott
Email: scottytottie21@hotmail.com
Comments: Hi everyone and merry christmas to Tammy and a very very happy birthday to your daughter Jessica. It's raining cats and dogs here at the moment so California sounds a lovely place to be at this time of year. All the best, Jamie.

179 Fri December 19 2003 - 20:00:05
Fullname: Tammy Wiley
Email: tamziam@hotmail.com
Comments: Hello Everyone! & Happy Holidays! Finally got all my Christmas shopping done & almost everything wrapped!! Tomorrow starts the celebration in my family as my lovely daughter, Jessica, will be sweet 16!! We tossed around some ideas for the contest on darklines.com but nothing ever actually made its way to paper. Oh well, perhaps next time. Season's Greetings to all-sending you lots of California Sunshine for the New Year!!! Peace & Love, Tammy


180 Wed December 17 2003 - 11:24:18
Fullname: Dave Cook
Email:
Comments: Oh, yes, Jamie. Last minute Christmas shopping – what fun! I’ve been guilty of that crime on many occasions over the years. These days, however, I purchase everything over the Internet. It’s much easier. Dave.