For much of the past year I've been avoiding the non-music threads (when I have time to drop in to Mudcat at all....) but there's a sad price to pay for that: You miss so much of the *good* craziness that makes this place special!

I too ended up reading this thread to the end and in spite of the painful subject, and the sadness I feel about it, there were a lot of smiles too. Thanks, guys.