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In reviewing this three parter and cleaning up the spelling errors I forgot the DVD portion. Thusday after the Long John Silver meal we went to Meijers to look for House MD Season 3. I can use my wife's team card for discount though truth be known Best Buy has a larger selection of DVDs to look over as I practice breaking the 10th commandment every visit there.

No House--bah a trip to Best Buy and hazardous lane changes in my future as they are right next to an interstate bypass. The Mrs moves on to get a present for Mari Grace. (Note to grace86---Grace IS her middle name--confirmed by way of Loretta.) I'm debating Cagney and Lacey Season 1 but annoyed the pilot movie where Cagney is protrayed by Loretta Swit of M.A.S.H. fame is missing--use that in Trivia Pursuit game sometime) and eyeballing the alphabet for filing errors as I really wanted House -- its the new Buffy--I talk to no one or answer the phone when he's on. Jim reminded me once I told Gina to shut up during Buffy--she had been warned--still smug but as I get older just a wee bit embarassed about it--it just seemed so darn important back then. We expose the warts if not the running sores afterall.

The find of the day--Friday Night Lights Season 1. I had started watching this late in the run on the computer and over a two/three week period fell in love with the characters. No one is black and white on this show. There is actual growth (and loss) to the characters. Best ensemble group I've seen since the Buffy/Angel days and more depth under the surface then network TV usually serves up. Doubt they'll get past season 2 but the fact it's still on is a bit of a miracle. Hoping NBC doesn't find out I like it because TV tends to cancel something if they notice I care--or kill chacters off--Cordelia is still mourned for along with Anya.

The wrap-up: Jim and Loretta disapear after court meeting and drop by later in the evening. Jim had dropped by the Bookery and gave them about $70 on his file they had been holding for him. They had recently shut him down as he hadn't gotten anything in a year out of respect for me I believe and I was mostly glad. I'm working my own stuff off and a bit of his for which I suspect I'll be long time collecting on. They go help Sandy and Michael move some more.

Saturday night they show up again and get packed -- I had several items being held for him plus gave him my Alexandre Dumas Musketeers books--at my age I doubt I'll ever read them again--warning him to skip Lousie de la Valierre as it's one long snooze--what was Dumas thinking--least Man in the Iron Mask makes up for it big time. Also give him Monk DVD Seasons 1-4. Unlike Columbo which I can watch again and again I found myself drifting away from the show and haven't bothered watching the news season at all. Can't and shouldn't have everything.

Jim calls Shelia and with a bit of prodding he gets permission to see his son. So he finally gets his Christmas/birthday presents delivered but he's too wrapped up in playing with those and Jim can't get him to say Dad --even though Damion knows who he is. He's getting used to this I suppose. Shelia is polite--as always--I can honestly say she's never vented at me personally though I have happy memories of her threatening her daughter with a "I'll hit you like a woman!" which phrasing has fascininated the imagination ever since. What other strikes would be in her bag of tricks??

The kids return and leave at midnight. Taking the car back to Loretta's home in Tennessee and bus back to California.

Tuesday the Army calls me.

Looking for Jim. I inform the soldier on the other end of the line what's up but he hangs up before answering my question--why is Uncle Sam looking for him? Had he detoured to Ft Campbell and helped Gina's health issues to an early grave? Brakeline on Sheilas's car fantasy carried out? Watched way too much of the Fugitive. I have Ruth check with Loretta's mom for info on their whereabouts. Bussed out that morining.

I caller ID back the dialed in number and ask the soldier what's up. Jim had promised his unit news about the hearing and (of course) failed to come through--a major flaw of his--thinks only he cares about himself. I fill the private in and he's most grateful. His unit was rooting for him apparently.

And so it goes.