A long letter to my Mom in the form of an email...

Hi Mom,Glad that you enjoyed your trip. We were hoping that you wouldn't getslammed by Ophelia.

My leg... One of my larger freckles had a blister w/ blood in it. Thisblister grew in about 2 days. At first I thought it was a pimple but soonrealized it was something else. The dermatologist said it was probablybasal cell something or other but might be a melanoma. She took it offright there in the office. I didn't even feel it. We are awaiting the testresults. It is healing up nicely.

The kids and I have been to the beach the last 3 weekends tho not thisweeked. They are now into riding waves with their boogie boards. I join inw/ then and we all rides waves together. wifey and baby came last weekend,too. baby loved the sand and the water. He was thrilled.

I've been consulting at the State Police lately. They hired me to comein and help ensure their big GIS implementation goes smoothly. 2 weeks ago,I learned that the State Dept of Human Services approved my proposal forsome mapping that they wanted. $118,000! It feels good to get a job likethat. It is the first where the client did not already know me or my company. We are looking to hire a person to work w/ me on my everincreasing projects.

The kids are doing well in school. daughter is now adjusted to her new class. We all went to back to school night last week. older son was very proud to show us his classroom. Its funny, after school, daughter is ready to do another activitywhether it is going to ballet, gymnastics or to a friend's to play. older son, on the other hand, is tired when he gets home. daughter was the same way lastyear. A full day of kindergarten can wear a 5 year old out!

Did i tell u that I had volunteered to go to Jackson, Mississippi in the state Emergency Operations Center after Katrina to provide GIS (map making)support? My boss committed to paying me for the time, about a week'scommitment. I was quickly wait listed, several hundred down on the list so that won't be happening. The boiler guy comes tomorrow to take the old out and replace w/ a modernboiler. Its big doings and very expensive. yesterday and today we arecleaning accumulated junk out of the basement to make space. I'm ripping down the cieling one of the basement rooms.

Also, we are having the roof on the carriage house redone this fall. wifey islooking at some carpeting for the house and we are also getting a quote toupdate the eletrical wiring. We'd like to eliminate the old wiring whereverpossbile, add lots of outlets (all grounded) and maybe even add computernetworking cables while they are at it. We aslo are looking at getting thecarport support replaced, the drywall in the kitchen/dining room and theplumbing for the kids bathroom relaced. Lots of work. Lots of $$$.

Wifey and I stayed over in Atlantic City or 2 nights 2 weeks back. I had to work down there and a friend hooked us w 2 nights free at one of the casino hotels. I had to work but wifey had some time to herself. My long anticiapted concert for the "White Stripes" is this wednesday night at the new "House of Blues"in Atlantic City.

A few pics attached. The kids on the first day of school. baby practicing his standing. He is getting very vocal and is into everything (cabinets,drawers, doors). daughter splashing older son at Manasquan a couple of weeks back. daughter and older son got back from Cousin's party yesterday and then strainght to another one next door. They were very tired and cranky by the afternoon.After a good night's sleep, they are brand new again.

xo