And, it continues. . . . .so, Danny gets dragged away and we have these crazy lightning storms on Monday. . .and lightning strikes the tree in my neighbors yard, ripping the tree in two, and half fell on the Electric, Cable and Phone lines leading to my house. I didn't notice, until my an hour after I got home, I went to take out the recycling, and noticed the mess. I called the 'non emergency number" since there is a day care right behind my house and there were power lines on the grou nd. So, the fire department and police show up .. . manually turn off my power, and block the street and assess the situation, and they call Virginia Dominion Power and tape off my backyard, as if it was a crime scene.

Yeah, see the comedy? US Marshalls invade my house THEN I get my drive way blocked off my crime scene tape. . ."what must the neighbors think!?" is all I can think. So, I get home yesterday, still no power. . .lines still on the ground. . .and I call, again. "Umm, there are live wires on the ground and I am up against a day care center! Think of the children! Downed power lines and children is a recipe for disaster!" Well, that got them and by the time I was headed home from dinner, there they were re-attaching the power line. Yay!

Ok, the cable and phone lines are still lying in my back yard. . .that's no THEIR problem. I have Fios. ..a little box that controls everything. . .I don't care about the other lines, but I don't want them litering my backyard. What to do?

Email me any suggestions :)

Ok, so on to story number two.

I have a friend who had a boyfriend who then became a fiance, and he came upon rough times. I love this woman, and trust her, so I offered my spare room, temporarily, to help him out. And so, Danny moved in. He's a nice guy, one on one, in a group he's very strange. . . but I digress. He started to share with me some of his woes.. .he's on probation. . .ok, I've been there. .not proud but, yeah understand. . .no big deal.

He let me know he never finished high school. Ok, again, Tom Cruise, Michael J. Fox they never finished high school. . .what's the big deal. You make your choices and figure it out.

The next day, oh. . .I was arrested for the FIRST time when I was 15. Oh, hmm well, ok. . .he is trying to make good, get on the right track. I can help.

Actually he has only been out of jail for a total of 5 years since (he is 31!) OK, now I am concerned. Now I realize how STUPID I am, and how trusting, and how it just screws me. So, here I am having a freakin felon living with me.

Last Thursday, I was woken up by a pound on the door. . .open up!!!

I jump up and run to the door. . .its 6:00 in the morning after all. So, I open the door, and this US Marshall, with his gun drawn pushes me up against the love seat. .. ."Daniel Burch?" "Mark Lewis sir!" is my response so he gives me his hands, steadies me and says, "Is Daniel here?" I answer, honestly, "he wasn't when I went to bed, but through there" then, out comes John, Danny's best friend. . .and he says, "oh my god. . .he was on his way to turn himself in. . . " 'Um what?' I think, ok . . ."I need coffee" is all I could say, so I turned and made coffee.

Danny was dragged out of my house by 5 US Marshalls. . . .they stormed my house and dragged out my roommate. .wow, how proud am I? Ok, I have to admit. I saw my brother, Craig in him. I saw an opportunity to show a guy the good life, how it could be, something to strive for. I know how wrong that is. Craig is gone, but to see someone so similar in attitude and personality, I just lost all rational thought. So, Danny was dragged away by the cops and is in jail.

Ok, so I have alot to catch up on! First up. . . San Francisco! Hooray! The motherland!

I have to say that it is a beautiful city. So much stuff to take in. Believe it or not, I only went to one bar, briefly, in the Castro. I have to say, I have never walked so much in my life, well except maybe in Rome. We hiked, we dined, I tried Dim sum for the first time, and I think I am still not comfortable without going with someone who knows what is on those carts. And climbing Mt Tam was very awesome. The views were incredible. Seeing so much and not in a car was awesome. I must admit that my feet killed for days after I got back.
All and all a great trip. Thanks Dave!