Derk Tollin

Update

2006-11-22T12:15:00.000-08:00

According to Mr. Monroe, he was able to locate the older "Nine Angels of New York State" web-site (located here). However, we are still working on the clues given to me by Mr. Mathers, which we both believe are intended to be for the numbers located on the "newer" "Nine Angels of New York" site.

The clues:

1) Julia Roberts
2) The "Mona Lisa"
3) Flowers (Sunflowers, to be exact)

While in the IRC room I was able to talk to Russell. He was able to find, via some research on his part, that there was some connection to a famous painter (whose name escapes me at the moment) and "paint by numbers". What this has to do with the numbers found on the "newer" "Nine Angels" site, though, is something that still has yet to be discovered.

Mr. Monroe also spoke about how there are two options at this point in time, when talking about how to go forward from this point:

1) Find the location of the "Ramaldi Crystal" and destroy it;
2) Find the location of the "second coming" in order to interrupt the ritual that is supposed to take place at some point between "New Years Eve" and "New Years Day".

We hope to tackle at least one of these options with your help.

Philip Monroes' Site

2006-11-18T20:55:00.000-08:00

I got a late phone call tonight from Mr. Monroe, letting me know that he put the site up and will continue working on it as the days progress.

Here is the linky: Philip Monroe - Parapsychologist

Joseph Ramaldi and the "Ramaldi Crystal"

2006-11-17T13:07:00.000-08:00

Last night I spent some time on the phone talking to Mr. Monroe about the Mathers and why they were killed. Being as they have chosen to leave me alone for a few nights (Philip believes that this is because they have shown me all that they wanted me to know for the moment), I wanted to learn more about their tragic end.

What we discussed is fairly long winded, so I will put in as much as I can possibly fit without going "overboard".

Before the killings of the Mathers, and before the area residents decided to try and drive the "Nine Angels" out of the area, Thomas Mathers spent much of his time collecting strange and unusual relics, both local and from abroad.

One of these relics was called the "Ramaldi Crystal", a small (about 1 1/2 inches in length, 3/4 inch in diameter) pink and white mix colored crystal, which was said to posses both the power and spirit of a 14th Century "black arts" practitioner named Joseph Ramaldi (hence the name of the crystal).

While not much is known of Mr. Ramaldi outside of certain circles, Mr. Monroe has been able to establish via estate papers that the "Ramaldi Crystal" was in the possession of Mr. Mathers from the Summer of 1780 until his death in 1783, where the trail of its location suddenly goes cold.

Mr. Monroe also went on to say that the "Nine Angels" were rumored to have searched for this crystal for years before the Mathers death, only to be told who held it in his possession. From this information, Mr. Monroe has established that Mr. Mathers (either not knowing or knowing all to well the powers that the crystal supposedly possessed) refused to disclose the whereabouts of the crystal and paid much more then he had originally planned on for the item (meaning with both the lives of himself and that of his daughter).

Now we come to the present, where the "Nine Angels" have been in contact with someone they call "The Gatekeeper" (who Mr. Monroe believes to be Joseph Ramaldi). It is only with the crystal in their possession, Mr. Monroe also believes, that the "Nine Angels" would be able to accomplish this communication.

"And this is bad?" I asked.

"Yes." Mr. Monroe responded.

It appears as though "communication with a crazy dead guy" isn't the worst thing that can be accomplished using the "Ramaldi Crystal". Other things include, but are not limited to, accessing the powers Mr. Ramaldi was rumored to posses (contact with "the man downstairs" being one of them), creating a electromagnetic vortex to be used as a "gateway" to the "spirit realm" (an explanation as to why the "Nine Angels" would be calling Joseph Ramaldi "the Gatekeeper") and being able to bring Mr. Ramaldi back from the dead (more in spirit form then full body form). According to Mr. Monroe, the original translation of the document listing these powers listed "going back in time" as one of the options. However, Mr. Monroe now believes that the translation is incorrect in that the words were meant to represent "resurrection", rather then "the travel of ones soul."

So, that about covers the conversation that we had last night. I don't know how this information helps, but at least it's out there so people know about it.

Philip Monroe

2006-11-14T15:40:00.000-08:00

I have found a local Parapsychologist who is willing to help us out a bit on this case. His name is Philip Monroe and is familiar with this area, its history and more then enough about the Mathers and "The Nine Angels".

I will post more information as it comes in. However, right now, here is what I know:

Philip has agreed to set up a temporary free web-site until he can get a full web-site up and running to hold any and all information on. The free site, according to Mr. Monroe, will be up within the next couple of days (he's busy investigating a residential establishment at the moment, but said that he will get to putting it up as soon as possible). I will post a link to the site as soon as it is up.

Also, Mr. Monroe has said that the person that "The Nine Angels" are trying to get in contact with, while he has not given me an exact name at the moment, is someone that they call "The Gatekeeper"*. According to Mr. Monroe, "The Gatekeeper" is someone who "The Nine Angels" believe will bring the group back to when the group still held power over the area.

He mentioned that he did not know enough at the moment to confirm if "bringing them back" meant "back in time" or if it meant "back into power". But, no matter what the meaning is, Mr. Monroe has said that either meaning could result in an unfavorable result for this area and, depending on how the group decides to proceed if they acquire control of this area, the world. To quote: "I had always known that they would try something like this, but I never thought that they would have found a way to possibly succeed. If they were to succeed, we are looking at a massive amount of death. You must understand, these people are looking to become the predominant 'species' on this planet. Going back to a time when the area interference would be at its least means that they could gain a massive amount of control in a short period of time using modern-day technology. However, if they are not looking to go back in time, then they are definitely considering harnessing a power that would overwhelm even the most sophisticated of todays technology."

*Mr. Monroe has confirmed that Mr. Mathers is NOT "The Gatekeeper". "This would be someone that they respect, not despise."

Seeking Professional Help

2006-11-12T10:15:00.000-08:00

My neighbors, as open as they were about the history of this area, managed to leave one tidbit of (what I would see as) important information out of their recollections. This piece of the puzzle has convinced me that it is time for me to seek out help from a "paranormal" professional, which is what I will be spending the next couple of weeks trying to accomplish.

While I would like to relay the whole story to you as it was told to me, the truth is that I really don't remember too much of it since I was a little pre-occupied with each little piece as it was being told. In other words, I have the important parts.

Some years back, the field behind where I am currently living was being used by "satanic fanatics" as a place to hold meetings, rituals, etc. One of these "rituals" was some sort of "conjuring" ritual involving strange music and (freaky part) the blood of female virgins.

What were they trying to "conjure" up with this ritual? Well, depending on who you ask, it was either the "man downstairs" or one of the more powerful members of their society who had recently passed on.

The blood of the virgin was used as a "gateway unto the other side", a way for those on this side to make "contact" with those on the "other side", or a way for those on the "other side" to cross over into our side (again, depending on who you talk to).

Anywho, long story short, someone in the area wasn't too pleased with all of this happening under his nose, so he got a group of people together and tried to put a stop to it by using "any means necessary".

Well, this plan back-fired and all those who participated in trying to get rid of the (as they put it) "cult" were eventually tracked down and had really bad things happen to them. This included the leader of the revolt, Thomas Mathers, and his seventeen year old daughter, Sarah Mathers.

"Both of which were skinned alive, their blood said to penetrate deep into the earth below our very feet," one neighbor recounted.

The rock formation, which I have caught on video, is said to be the place where the tree from which their bodies hung once stood.

Confused: More then Usual

2006-11-11T06:36:00.000-08:00

Last night the couple showed up while I slept again. This time the man who wears the mask of evil showed me another "sign", not of something that I recognized, but of my blog.

This morning was spent connecting this new "sign" to what has already transpired. My friends have stepped forward once again to provide some insight into the previous sign and its "connection" to a group called "The Order of the Nine Angels". With this in mind I did a little investigating and found a very recently added blog called "The Nine Angels of New York", located here.

Needless to say my views of the man that comes to me are somewhat distorted at this point in time. I do not know if his previous sign was a "warning" or a way of pointing me in a certain direction.

Am I supposed to find these things? Are these nightly visits meant to stop what is happening? Or to keep me from stopping what is supposed to happen?

Are these "warnings" or cries for "assistance" from those whom many can not see?

I do not know, thus I am confused... more then usual.

The "Ghost Train"

2006-11-09T19:52:00.000-08:00

*Please read the whole post before playing the video*

As promised, here is the video that I captured this past Sunday of the "ghost train", which comes by on the first Sunday of every month at a quarter to midnight.

According to the legend, as told to me by my neighbors, a train derailed some time ago on now non-existent tracks. All those aboard where killed in the accident. If you listen carefully, near the beginning, you can actually hear the "ghost train" go over one of the metal tracks (you only hear this once at :23, unlike with a "real" train, where you would hear it constantly). I have been told that this is the point in time when the "train" jumped its tracks and that the rest of what you hear is the train completing the journey it never completed on that fateful night.

*If video will not play, it is because YouTube is being a butt. I will fix any problems as they are relayed to me.*

He Comes to me.... Alone!

2006-11-09T17:13:00.000-08:00

My afternoon nap, which is more often then not (more or less) uneventful, turned out to be something other then that today.

Normally I would wait to post this sort of event in order to give myself time to think about my dreams and their relation to my life, but this clearly had nothing to do with my current situation.

The man in my latest dreams came to me during my nap and showed me a sign, which I have recreated to the best of my abilities for you below. Its meaning is a mystery to me at this point in time, but I have a feeling that it involves his relation to the young woman who normally accompanies him (but was strangely absent this time).

His face told me enough to know that this "visit" was a "warning" of sorts. But to what I do not know. I have done nothing (to my knowledge) that would lead me to believe that I have stepped on anyone's toes. I am not persisting any of the stories that I have been told by my neighbors nor have I been in such a way that would leave one to believe that I am struggling to find truth in any of them.

However, as I mentioned earlier, his face told me the purpose of his visit. Somehow I have gotten involved in something that I certainly did not intend to.

Is it the girl? Are her visits to me the reason why this man felt the need to "warn" me of things that I have yet to understand? And what of this girl who has decided to curse me with her nightly presence? Why come to me? What did I do to deserve this?

I leave you now with the symbol that I was shown. Maybe someone out there will be able to shed some light on it, its purpose and, hopefully, why it was shown to me.

Feeling Better Now

2006-11-09T08:31:00.000-08:00

These past few days have been interesting to say the least. Needless to say, I've been extremely sick and that this is the first time that I have had the strength to get out of bed in order to make it the 6 feet to my computer and post this message.

Sunday night was an interesting night as well. I captured the sounds of the ghost train on video tape (which I will be posting in the morning after I have had a little bit more time to gain enough energy to stay awake long enough to do so) but captured no sightings of it.

However, one can not dismiss that my sickness soon followed. Whether this is due to the ghost train or not, I do not know. After doing a little bit of research on paranormal activity, I found that someone who does not know what they are doing (ie., me) risks bringing home a little bit more then they had intended to if the doors to the "other side" are not closed properly. This is probably something that I should have looked into prior to this "experiment". But, that is then and this is now.

As for now, well, there are my dreams to talk about.

A man and a woman.
One old and one young.
Control and obedience.
These things are apparent from "watching" my dreams unfold over the past few nights.

She reaches out to me. He makes sure that she does not get too close.
She wears a mask of concern. He wears a mask of evil.

I do not know what this means, but it can not be anything good. I have seen control. I have been obedience. While these masks are new to me, they remind me of a scared dog and its master.

I wonder how true this really is.

My new "love interest"

2006-11-03T16:51:00.000-08:00

Having a full day to reflect on the stories that were recently relayed to me about this area has opened up an interest in the paranormal, minus all of the wacky things like "UFO's" and creatures like "Bigfoot".

One of the stories that was told to me was about a "ghost train" that can be heard chugging along in the woods behind where I live on the first Sunday of every month. I hope to document this "train" this Sunday and post the video on the net if things go according to plan (ie., the darn thing shows up).

While I do not know how to go about being a "paranormal investigator" correctly, I hope that my video will at least prove the story to be true as it has been told.

Some reasons for the sound of the train being heard this far away from any tracks (driving around the area, the closest tracks appear to be about 10 miles from my current location) is the fact that sound tends to carry much further at night then during the day. Already the skeptic in me wants to dismiss this "ghost train" before I can even experience it first hand.

We shall see, I suppose.

Gotta love fast service

2006-11-03T11:23:00.000-08:00

Right, so it appears that I was a little bit too, what's the word(?), "quick" in my most recent post. Thanks to the wonderful people at the cable company, my internet connection is up and running.

When I posted from Kinko's, I had $6 on my card left and wanted to post something that I thought would be the most important information to know (ie., I moved far away from Alli and probably wouldn't have an internet connection to speak of for quite some time). However, life has thrown in another one of its many joyful "curveballs" and now I must take a step back in the hopes of regaining what ever dignity I currently have left.

Granted, I really did not know what the future had in store for me, nor does anyone for that matter. So, I thought it best to play it safe and let all of my dear readers know, rather then leave you all hanging wondering where I was (there is nothing like getting excited about seeing your friends again only to have them become absent a short time later with absolutely no explanation).

But, that is then and this is now.

Now for the good stuff: After arriving at my new place, I met with the neighbors and heard their wonderful, and sometimes odd, stories. It appears as though I have opted to move to an area with a little bit of a haunted/satanic history. In fact, I have captured some strange rock and stick formations in my new backyard which I will be posting on a video site (under derktollin) sometime soon.

I will also be posting some of the stories that I have heard in the hopes of making this blog at least a little bit entertaining.

Until then...

The Move and the need for a break.

2006-11-01T12:27:00.000-08:00

If you have not heard, or maybe you have, I have moved to another town and, truth be told, a completely different state. Because of this event, I will not be here as often as I had hoped. A new town means a new job, a new life, a new car, a new internet connection (hello, from Kinko's, btw) and so many other things that trying to keep in contact with my many friends will become more of a challenge then I had hoped it would become.

I did not tell Alli where I was moving. In fact, I only told her what I believed she wanted to hear from me when we last spoke.

The truth is that I needed to be away from it all. The past, Alison and just my life in general. If I knew that it would also mean being away from my on-line friends as well, I probably would have thought this move through a little bit more carefully. I just really didn't know how this new found freedom and the move itself would effect me personally, emotionally and financially.

It goes without saying that I will be back. When? Well, I can not say for certain, but I hope it will be soon.

Look for me to update my blog again sometime in January. I figure that by then, things will be in place and will allow me to talk to you like I would like to.

The First of Many

2006-10-25T12:26:00.000-07:00

I got this in my e-mail box yesterday, so I thought I would put it up for you all to see. Again, if you have a banner or any other type of drawing, photo, etc. and would like to share it with everyone, please feel free to e-mail me at derktollin@hotmail.com.

Although it is in the photo, I'd just like to say "Thank You" to "Jotacon" for his submission.

Also...

"Team Tollin"

2006-10-24T07:31:00.000-07:00

Today I would like to talk a little bit about those fine men and women who took time out of their lives to help me out when I didn't even know that I was in trouble.

At the time, the only "problem" that I was having were some dreams of mine that included a woman who spoke, but no words would ever come out. It was nothing really important, but these people came in and started asking me questions about the dreams.

Over time some strange events started occurring in my life. Strange encrypted notes started appearing on my computer screen as "pop-ups" and were even left in my apartment for me to find. One day my room was even trashed and, as long as it took me to get from the bedroom to the bathroom and back, whoever had messed up my room had cleaned it up.

Before I knew it, these find folks (who have called themselves "Team Tollin"), had discovered that I was in a strange sort of coma and that the woman in my dreams was Alison Young, who I later found out to be my "nurse" and sister.

The "coma" was introduced via a car accident that occurred when I was only a child. Alli, who only survived the accident by being sick enough not to be in the car at the time, had brought me to a company called "Avelon Tech", where they hooked me up to an "Alternate Reality Memory" machine that caused me to feel as if I was just as alive and living in the world as you or anyone else via a computer program.

"Team Tollin" discovered, through talking to Alli and the programs designer (who we will just name "Richard" for now), that there was a flaw in the "ARM" device that was plugged into my brain and that a chip, the "child" of a mad-man named Lyle Boucher, in the device had a shelf life of only a few years. The bad part about that? The flaw in mine only had 20 days left on it from the time all of this was found out.

So, without really knowing anything about me, "Team Tollin" dove deeper into the mystery to find out that I could get taken out of the "ARM" device safely if the correct password for the program could be found. But that couldn't be done safely unless I was taken out of "Avelon Tech".

With their wits about them, "Team Tollin" kept guard as Alli and her best friend, Tracy Bunn, rushed me out of "Avelon Tech", get into a high speed chase involving "Stripping Bikers", "Stripping Spikes" or "Spike Strips" (depending on who you ask) and got me safely into a storage shed where a "safe" "ARM", which had been stolen by one of the security personnel, was awaiting our arrival.

Using techniques that are a complete mystery to me, "Team Tollin" was able to discover the password - and this part is going to sound really strange - via a computer in Richards' office that was only accessible using the "safe" "ARM" device since, in reality, Richards' office had a key-code lock on it that only he knew the combination to. Combine that with the fact that Richard ended up committing suicide in his car shortly before my extraction from "Avelon Tech", and you end up with the only other alternative, which is what was mentioned before.

Keep in mind now that all of this was done by a group of individuals who knew absolutely nothing about me except for what came across to them in a chat room program that was installed onto my computer located in the "alternate reality" that I was living in at the time.

Sometimes life can show you the best side of humanity while opening your eyes to the worst at the same time. "Team Tollin" went above and beyond the "call of duty" (to use a common "catch phrase") to help a complete stranger in his greatest time of need. This is a point that needs to be made and is also a fact that I, the one that was rescued by these fine folks, will never forget.

While I may not know exactly how "Team Tollin" found me - if it is a community of heroes or a chance encounter - I do know that my life will be dedicated to them by helping anyone I may come across that just needs someone to listen to them.

Thank you, "Team Tollin", for everything that you have done and continue to do for me.

So Far Away

2006-10-24T07:26:00.000-07:00

Just so you are aware, I will be AFK from the evening of October 25th - October 30th as I will be moving into a new apartment and trying to get an internet connection set up via my cable modem. While Alli hasn't said anything about me being here, I feel that it is time for me to go out on my own now.

Don't worry, I have written down all of the rules that she has set up for me regarding my conditions and Lyle.

1) Never use your real name
2) People call you Bob
3) Never give out your location
4) The less people know about where you are, the safer you will be.

Got those and a whole lot more. So, Alli, if you read this, I know.

A Little Fun

2006-10-23T22:55:00.000-07:00

Okay, so creating this blog has seemed to spawn another side of my personality, my "creative" side. I must say that this side is really quite annoying and needs to shut up sometimes. But, it keeps me busy when I'm not at work so it's not all that bad.

I have a feeling that some of you who have not only helped me in the past but know about this little something called "Team Tollin" (btw, "Team Young" is still looking for members. hehe) have a "creative" side as well. If you don't know about "Team Tollin", that's okay, I will soon post about these people and the great things that they accomplished for me (that's what I am going to post about tomorrow). They are the reason why I am alive today and, whether that is a bad thing or not, they will always hold a special place in my heart.

What I would like to see is your creative side by creating something having to do with "Team Tollin". It can be a banner, icon or just a picture that you draw. If you already have something made up, simply e-mail me the link at my e-mail address and I will put it on this blog.

I don't know why I think that this will be interesting, but there is something about "art" that allows a person to show others what they are really about or how they feel about a certain topic.

I do have one rule, however. No matter what people create, I don't want to see any negative comments about it here. I will delete those on the spot. I feel that at one time we were a kind of close group and don't want to spank any of you (I usually leave that task to Tracy but she's married and lives in France. I'm sure she'd be willing to travel for the opportunity though, so don't make me do it.).

Call me names, put eggs on my car, I don't care. But I don't want to see anger towards each other here. There is enough of that going on in the world today and I will not allow this blog to become a place for it to also exist. Think of this as an "alternate universe where only love and friendship prevail".

I will put something up in a few days and you guys can have your way with it. I don't know what it will be or say, except for "Team Tollin", but I know that it will suck... but in a good way... so be prepared.

Contact

2006-10-23T20:34:00.000-07:00

One more quick little addition to this blog. Someone mentioned something about IRC in a comment to my first post. Not really remembering anything about it, I asked Alli and she updated me. She also remembered the room name and everything else. So, if you are reading this and are around, be sure to jump in and I will try to do the same.

Hope to see you there. Miss you guys!

Until then...

You've Been Watching

2006-10-23T17:14:00.000-07:00

It was actually amazing to me to find that people commented on my "first" (put in quotes since it really isn't the "first ever") post on this new blog. While it was nice to know that people have not forgotten about me, I was not able to convey my appreciation in return by commenting back until now. For that, I send you all my sincere apologies.

While I would like to say that this blog will be a continuous thing for me, like all people I know not what the future holds for me.

As for my absence, well I might as well tell the truth - I forgot all about this blog.

I felt so bad when I saw the comments sitting there. You took time out of your life to comment and I look like a complete boob for not doing anything about it.

One side effect that being in the "ARM" device caused was a dropping of certain memories. You can not imagine how emotionally painful such a thing is. But, that is using an excuse for my mistake, and I refuse to try and make it that. I just want you to understand one of the many battles that I have been fighting this past year.

Tomorrow I will post what I wanted to post today. However, upon re-finding this blog and the contents within it, I felt that this kind of post was more important. You have not forgotten, I have not forgotten about you and this blog will have my full attention from now on (thanks to a post-it on my computer screen mentioning that this blog exists and to check it often - just one of my little "counter measures" to my minor "brain toots").

Now for my "complaint of the week": How come the spell-check for a blog doesn't recognize the word "blog"? I mean, they came up with the word, you'd think they would know it as a correctly spelled word.

At Long Last

2006-10-03T22:25:00.000-07:00

It has been over a year since I last had a blog to call my own, so you'll have to excuse me if I seem a little anxious to get things rolling and tell you all about what I have been up to since I last made my thoughts and, at the time, dreams known to the internet public.

Right, so what's new? Hmmmm...

Well, for starters, Alli has gone back to college to become a teacher. She is still very "motherly" towards me which is not always a bad thing. For instance, I ruptured the Suprapetellar (sp?) Tendon in my left knee about a week ago and she has been nothing short of a angel.

I was on crutches for about a week and have to use my knee brace on and off, much to my doctors dismay. He says that I will need surgery to repair it. However, in my personal opinion, that would be a step backwards from where I am now.

The first two days were the most painful since I could barely get my leg up onto my bed to sleep. This was very depressing and I remember being angry at myself for not dealing with the pain as a man but, instead, crying like a child.

The fifth day was the first day that I could actually start sleeping on my right side . It was amazing how something like that made me smile throughout the whole day and not a single thing that would have normally pissed me off to no end could ruin this miracle.

It is now day 8 and I can walk around for hours, sleep on both sides, bend my leg at such an angel that is actually comfortable for me to sit in a chair... and all without my brace on.

So you can easily see how such an action as going to surgery to take care of this little problem would only hinder my current state of happiness and daily steps to full recovery, no matter what a doctor tells me.

Harry is dead. That was a sad day for both Alli and I. Even though he was sort of responsible for the situation that I was put into, he was more a puppet then anything else and so we actually felt pity for the man.

No one knows exactly how he died, depending on who you talk to. The police (as bad in real life as they were in Avelon, it seems) say that he died from multiple gunshots to the chest and head. The coroner report states that he was strangled to death, mentioning nothing about gunshot wounds at all. The only thing that anyone can agree on is that Harry is no more.

Lyle got released from jail (after Harry was killed, in case you wanted to know) due to some corrupt judge who got paid to say that there was not enough evidence to continue on with the trial and thus throw the case, along with Lyle and our dreams of having a positive outcome from last years mishap, out of court.

Lyle has been brought back to court time and time again, only to have his case thrown out by judges who get disbarred for taking bribes and retire to Florida a few weeks later.

Whoever Lyle's "friends'" are, they sure have a pocketbook bigger then even I can hope to accumulate.

Which brings me to... well... me.

Besides my recent knee problem, I have been working in the food industry and plan on starting my own food business in the next couple of years. I was recently up for a promotion but got turned down for some idiot who knew nothing about the industry itself (not that I had a real good idea myself). This person, who will remain nameless, didn't even know what "food cost" was until I told her. That should tell you just how screwed up this company really is.

Hence the reason why I want to start my own food business - to blow them the f*** out of the water. I already have a set-up in mind that would blow their speed of service times out of the water. All I need now is enough money and it will be "game on".

As you can imagine, starting your own business takes a lot of time out of ones day, so that is what I do now when I'm not working for that idiot of a boss.

Oh crap! I almost forgot about Tracy... oh, sweet, sexy little Tracy. Wow! What can I say about her that is new? Well, she took one look in the mirror and decided she better settle down with someone quick and start a family before she turns to dust (her words, not mine). So, she traveled to France and picked up the first guy she met with a European accent and settled down.

Alli and I speak with her every so often, mostly via e-mail since the phone charges are painful to look at when the bill shows up, and we've gone to France a couple of times to hang out with her and her hubby. Most of the time she talks about how she can never understand him (Tracy isn't very fluent in French. Not that I am, but she's even worse then me in that area) except when they are... how do I say this properly?... "together". As Tracy puts it, "There are just some things that are understood, no matter what language they are in." Giggle, giggle, nudge, nudge.

Well, I think I covered just about all of the new and important news. I will update this blog as time goes on to keep everyone updated on the progress of my knee as well as anything else that may pop up from time to time.

Until then...