Thanks Clinton, I don't quite feel like kneecaping anybody yet-- I'll probably feel angry later but right now it's only sadenss that I won't ever play THAT drum again, you know? Did your friend ever get his guitar back?

Amos, thanks for the hug and the reassurance, it would be nice to think there's a chance of seeing the things again, but the police didn't sound very hopeful (or interested.) It's nice to have you guys to talk to about this anyway.

Guest, I have to tell you, your message meant a lot to me-- thank you very much for saying what you did. I am absolutely going to take your advice. I'm looking for pictures of similar instruments right now that I can take with me on the bus to the City this afternoon. I'll give people a couple of bucks for their help, show them the pictures, and I guess then give them a number to call if they come across any of my stuff. I'll tell them that I'll pay for it, no questions asked.

Here's something I'm trying to figure out– "no questions asked" understandably leaves the police out of it, but it seems kinda weird for a woman to go running up to people on the street and handing out her phone number... should I just go down to that part of town every day and ask around, or give them my number and take a chance on getting weird calls, or what?

And how much money should I carry with me for a "reward" if somebody's got the stuff on the spot?

p.j.