Hi guys,

It's been a while since I checked in. As of yesterday it's been a year since Dad died. I have survived another year in high school. The girls were unable to drive me away. Now Wakana and I are on summer vacation.

The problem with my fingers that I complained about last September was finally diagnosed as two or three disks in my neck. I will go to the Philippines next week to see a neurosurgeon about the problem.

In the meantime the problem has become pretty bad. It is spreading to the middle and index fingers. I am back to typing with just the index fingers, can't trust the others to go where I want them.

Wakana is fine as are two of the cats and the dog. Neko, unfortunately, has feline leukemia and is getting skinnier and skinnier. Wakana will not give up on her.

Mika has grown huge. I have a picture of Wakana holding him. His forelegs and head are on her shoulder and his body stretches all the way down to her waist.

Shawna is doing very well. Wakana took her to school when she went in to clean up her room. The other teachers were amazed that she was the same dog as before. She looks 100% better, healthy and shiny and fat...ter.

Not much more to report. I bought a Nook to use for my travels. I loaded it up with books and enjoy reading them even though I had to give up the scent and feel of the real thing. Lugging the nook is easier than lugging enough books to keep me happy on long trips. The downside is that Wakana keeps stealing it to play Bejeweled. She would not dream of spending the money on her own gadget but will run my battery down, happily oblivious to the rest of the world. She needs her own.

I'm tired now and will end. I'll check in again later and try to keep up the thread.

Brett