Through the wonders of modern technology, I was able to call my daugher-in-law, Donna in Germany while I was at work this week at a time when she would be likely to be home and awake, and still not lose my job for making non-business related transatlantic phone calls. I love my cell phone. What I found out is that everything is just peachy.

She went through a week of excruciating pain following a spinal tap that revealed that there is nothing wrong with her. She doesn't have a brain tumor. Her sudden loss of vision is due to a hormonal shift, and everybody seems to think everything's just fine. Donna now has glasses (Coke-bottle bottoms) that correct her vision to 20/20, and her driver's license has been reinstated.

Now that the crisis is over, I got my renewed passport in the mail today when I got home from work. (Yeah, this was my Saturday to work.) I suppose it's a good thing I didn't have it when all the hulabaloo was happening, or I might have just jumped on a plane.

They send the old passport back with the renewed one, so you can keep it as a souvenier. There are a couple of punch holes in the old one, so you won't get confused and take the wrong one on your next trip. It will be doubly easy for me to not get confused, because my old one was green. It was issued in 1993, and was the Benjamin Franklin memorial edition. The new one is blue like everyone else's.

Comparing the two pictures, I can't say I really look 10 years older, just several pounds heavier.

After the Cubs broke our hearts yet again this week, it was fun to go to the Steinmetz Homecoming football game at Hansen Park Thursday evening. Steinmetz won 30-29 in overtime.

An absolutely gorgeous fall day today, and I managed to take full advantage of it by taking my Dec. 24th floating holiday today. Chuck and Jim were both off, too. Chuck spent the day running around. One place he went was Supreme Lobster. In honor of the Cubs/Marlins playoff series still in progress, Chuck thought it would be appropriate to have grilled marlin for dinner.

Jim and I went out to the Chicago Botanic Gardens. I wanted to be sure to enjoy what may be the last really nice day of the season. It's supposed to be cold and rainy tomorrow.

It's been a nerve-wracking week. Donna is still having tests, and is scheduled for a spinal tap on Oct. 14. The German neurologist said there was "no need to intervene" and sent her to get corrective lenses for her now 20/700 vision. But she had to go back to the Army doctor for a referral before he could give her the prescription. Will was supposed to go back to Germany, but the Army decided Donna's condition wasn't "serious enough" to allow it. I wonder what they would consider serious enough?

Will called yesterday and assured us that they were handling things as well as could be expected.

I found out that what Donna has is a prolactinoma, a tumor on the pituitary gland. It is likely to be benign and to respond to medication, thank goodness. But before the medication begins to work, she may need to have a spinal tap to drain off the excess fluid, which is causing pressure on the optic nerve. I hope Will is allowed to go back to Germany to help her.

So, I've finally found out what it is that Chuck objects to about weblogging. He said, "Why are you giving so much energy to that (not that I have been) when you could be writing a short story or a novel?"

My immeidate reply was that I could only write about what I kenw, and I could be sued for that. So he said, "Just file off the serial numbers and deny everything."

Truth can be stranger than fiction. What do you think? Please respond. I don't think anyone beyond the family reads me anyway.

I was woken up at 3:00 a.m. by a phone call from Will from Iraq. He's having so much fun dodging the mortar shells that keep being fired into his camp. One exploded right behind him the other day. (Thanks, Will, for sharing that and adding to my worry). Donna, his wife, who is in Germany has been having some health problems. Apparently, there has been a build-up of fluid in Donna's brain that has caused her to lose part of her sight. If she is going to have to have surgery, Will should be allowed to go back to Germany, at least for a few weeks.

While I was at dance class last night, Diana called and talked to Chuck. Rick has another new job. At least this one is in town, not 300 miles away. David is in Cub Scouts now. Time flies.

The play went well, and the cast party was Sunday at the home of one of Floyd's voice students in Oak Park. We really had the A-team this year as a cast. Floyd commented that it was the most compatible cast in his memory. Grace and Mary even had an award for him. They gave him a cucumber for being "cool as a cucumber" this year. Of course, the level of professionalism of the group made getting hot under the collar quite unnecessary.