Paul's Corner

I wish I had words to make this time easier. As you told me, some days the steps are heavy and difficult to make. Know that we are here with you. You'll be in my thoughts today.

Jill

Paul, your brother feels your live. You have to know that. He is there for you every day of your life. You just can't see him. He watches over your girls and over you and Andrea as well. Feel his love, for it is there. Close you eyes and feel his arms around you sqeezing you tight and loving you still. It may be his birth day here on earth today. But it's it's birthday every day in heaven. He still loves you, Paul. He is beside you right now.

Kelly

What a great tribute. Cherish those wonderful memories and I'm sure you're brother is smiling down on you.

Julie

It is better to light just one candle, than to curse the darkness...

Thinking of you and your family today as you remember Michael on his special day. In among the feelings of loss and missed opportunities, may his presence in spirit always come shining through as a clear sign of hope and of future reunion for you all.

Mary

Dear Mr. Mercurio,
I know nothing could ease your pain right now, but maybe knowing that you have a guardian angel will help you through. I'm sure your brother is very proud of you and loves you very much. All you can do is know that and love him back and celebrate your memories. I hope you and your family are doing well. Kit :)

HI!!
Hi paul, im sorrry i dont know what your going through but i do know your brother is with GOD. Hes in a better place and actually i have a sister and two brothers in heaven, i never met them though.
Sorry i havent written.......
lizee

Most of my spontaneous thoughts upon reading your loving tribute to your brother have already been expressed. Wow, Paul, you managed to express so many feelings in your tribute with such great eloquence, the loss, the love, the pride, the sadness, the pain, the uncertainty and the what if and the hope. I hope that as you celebrated and remembered your brother Michael yesterday that you sensed his presence, his smiles and his happiness to be where he is, in his realm but also near you. I know it doesn’t take away the loss and the missing and wanting to talk to him, laugh with him, cry with him, argue with him and make up again, share with him and be with him. Be well and take strength from all your memories, esp. the happy and beautiful ones.

Love Evelyn

Paul,

Your love for your brother can never be diminished.
I send you my support at this time.

Peter

I really don't know what to say except what a beautiful tribute. I will light a candle for him and keep you and your family in my thoughts throughout the day.

I've had jury duty this week. The case was NOT the feel-good special of the month and it ended in a mistrial. One person has some painful testimony to go through with a whole new jury at some date in the future. Listening to the testimony was hard enough.

I’ve posted this weeks Dancing with the Stars. There are three medium sized files (24Mb, 26Mb and 16Mb).

http://number98.com/out/DWTS07a.mp4
http://number98.com/out/DWTS07b.mp4
http://number98.com/out/DWTS07c.mp4

I haven’t had a chance to watch it yet myself, but I saw a lot of it while cutting out ads and converting formats.

What is the ‘At least she didn’t wet herself like you did’ comment about? Is it explained in some part I didn’t watch?

Brian

Brian, I have never done jury duty but I imagine depending on the case it would not be pleasant or easy.

The comment made to Todd that you refer to: This Is Your Life did a tribute on Todd and his life as a performer which screened on Tv last week. One of his stories is as a young bloke in his first performance he wee'd in his pants on stage and turned his lime green tights to a dark green in certain areas. He was only four but has remained embarrassed to this day. Salvatore was pointing out that Pauline whilst only a beginner hasnt wee'd herself on stage.

All a bit of fun. Last show this week which I am looking forward to. I wonder who will win. I think it is fair to say that the judges will score Bec first and Pauline second as from a dance point of view how can it be any other way? But as a popularity contest and viewer support it could be Pauline first and Bec second. Who ever wins I think that they will most certainly be deserving.

The flip side of the show finishing is that that is the end of the work for me. I was hoping and am still hoping that something terrific will pop up.

I know something will but I am trusting that it will be really really soon and will be a long term project with excellent pay and fulfilling work!!!!!

I haven't watched the show yet, but I'm happy to hear Pauline is still in the running!!! I'm a sucker for the underdog.

Paul - we all want you to get something fulfilling and finacially rewarding as well. How is the beer launch going? Wish we could get it here in the States. Soon?!?

Take care

Jill

Paul..
Your message to your brother, about your brother, brought a tear to my eye. Of course it made me think of my mom. I too am overwhelmed sometimes at the "dim" memories my two older children have of the most incredible woman in my life until I added another one named Laurie. It hurts, but that's when I take pictures out and share them with my kids. Showing them how much she loved them. Her playing with me as a kid. How much love she had. My youngest two will just have to go on what they hear from me. My mom's mother died just before I was born, just like my mom died before my 3rd son was born.

Take care mate. Keep the candle lit in your heart and it'll remain there forever.

all my best

peace and love
Tim

hey all

Just got home from the hospital a while ago, My dad was at deer hunting camp in the Upper Pennicilla at deer camp and he had to be taken to the ER for pnumonea. He got here in Kalamazoo at 4pm yesterday and it took 9 hours to get him a bed. WE found out he had also had a heart attack. My mom and I left the hospital at 3am and I jsut slept at moms for 3 hours and we went back up 7am this morning. Just got home little while ago. Because of his Diabetes his kidneys are failing, his eyesight is going quickley, probobly within 6 months to year, and he is in congestive heart failure. He has fluid around his lings they can't get rid of. We have known abut the congestive heart failure for some time but he is finnally getting to feel good about himself after his last massive stroke and now this. I am the executor of the estate and Power of Attorny for my folks so I had to make the decisions if Dad is kept on life support or not.
I chose only for a short time like a week, then pull the plug. DAd agreed, he said in few words that he has lived his life its ok he doesnt want to be living on machines. gives an all new meaning to "Right to a life" He is not on his death bed right now but its not far in the future , either. The doctors don't give us a very merry future, but My mom is a Heffer, I am an Amazon, and My dad is a Pit Bull (converted to a puppy) so I think he will pull out of it fine, he has a lot of life left in him. I know he does. It's funny, with the way my dad treated us as kids and how we feared him so, I never thought I could care for him in a loving and careing manner as I am doing. I think it is because he is like a kid after his last massive stroke last year. He no longer has a mean streak in him. Mom is sick right now too, all stressed over Dad. I hate to leave her but Tom is giving me shit about being away and not ckecking in so much. Well I am home and he is ignoring me anyway so what difference does it make.

My neck is huge again. They may take more lymphnodes out. They put me on 3 more medicines one being Prednisone, so I can getter fatter than I already am. OK , mean I know, but I really need to go the other way, not bigger. I made it 6 weeks without going to a doctor. That was nice. My insurance at work got cancelled (full coverage) The best we can get now is a 1500.00 deductable. Better than nothing I guess. Going back into surgery having only partial coverage sucks, I really needed to have full coverage, but better pay the deductable than quite my job, I guess.

Well, I am off to find a pharmacy so I can mget my new meds filled. Sorry no positive from me tonight. I am just worn plumb tired. I'll be more up next time.

Love to all.

Kelly

Tim thanks for the words! Always great to hear fromyou.

Kelly, boy oh boy it never rains but it pours!! Thinking of you and would only ask that in amoungst the hardship you must face that you put you at number one and look after yourself. Those around you may fail but you dont need to follow them. Stay strong, be focused, look after your health so you can look after those that need you.

My thoughts are with you!

Paul and Kelly,
No words of wisdom that haven't already been expressed, so just know I'm thinking of you both and consider yourselves hugged.
deltalady aka Sally

Kelly, I'm sending you my love and thoughts with this. Hang in there and trust in the strong woman that you are.

Hi to everyone else. Hope you are all well.

With Love,
Mary

No great words of wisdom from here either.
Big Hugs for you Paul.
Kelly, I can relate to the situation with your dad, we went thru the what-ifs with my dad about 2 years ago now. He's doing pretty much what he wants to, he's on oxygen at night and still farming with my brother. He hasn't given up the fight yet, still on meds. We just wait. He has emphysema, congestive heart failure, borderline diabetic, and prostrate cancer.

Damp, cold and dreary here, laundry done, fridge cleaned out and still no room for that darned turkey. Has to go somewhere to thaw for thursday. Maybe in a cooler in the garage?!?!?

Hugs to all
Sherrlyn

HEY ALL, SLEPT TILL 10:30 AM THIS MORNING THAT FELT GREAT!!

I woke up and found that one of my moms dogs hasd diarrea in my bed, really bad. Oh man. I didn't get mad, first the lose my dad for a week and then they lose my mom to us for a couple days. The resue beagle is just really off keel.

Mom came and got the beagle and is taking him to the hospital to see dad. I am taking the Shi tzu home later tonight then going to the hospital. So I have the wole day to myself to rest and stay healthy. I am taking Paul's advice.

My daughter started her period today (sorry guys! Paul, you know what I'm going through here)
My son had a hard time with it! Couldn't belive that his sister would be so grown up! He had to sit down and talk to her about it cause his first reaction was to tease, then I had to tel him this has to be a positive experience and we only have one shot at making it positive and good and he just made that really hard. So he went and talked to her and it was fine. She is full of questions and concerns and I am handling them all head on. She is doing ok with it. My hubby is another story. He is in denial that she is old enough for this. Men! go figure!

Don't mean to gross out the guys here sorry, anyway, I'm taking my daughter and her friend to see the Spongebob Squarepants movie.

Love to all!!
Kelly

Kelly, I'm glad to hear you sounding more like yourself today. Sorry for all you're having to go through. But yes, your daughter should celebrate this time! Such transitions you're experiencing!

Paul, my friend, I wish you peace. Michael is very much alive in your posts and poems, for all of us who weren't lucky enough to know him. Thanks for sharing your feelings with us.

Two great things happened today.

First, I got a call from Millie! What a great surprise to get to talk to her! Millie, you made my day! Now all I can think about is FIF!

The second thing is that I finally got my airline ticket. I can't believe it's all going to happen in a little over two months! I can't wait to meet everyone. Follies, here I come!

Calming down now,
Michelle

Kelly, I would like to add my good wishes to you and lots of health and strength to you and your family. you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Paul, here's my best wishes to you to find the next exciting and fullfilling project for you and have a blast on Tuesday evening.

Brian thanks for the last two episodes of DWTS. I enjoyed watching them.

Michelle, good to hear you this excited as well. I have yet to get my ticket for FIF, but will do that soon!

Hi Mary, hope you are having a great day.

hello to eveyone and hope you too are having a great day! Love Evelyn

Kelly, our pals on PC have given you advice and, I hope, some comfort as you meet your challenges.

I cannot add anything more except to say, with your determination and the love from your family and friends, you will find the strength to continue on, as in the past! Our love and prayers are with you!

Michelle, so thrilled that you have made plans for FIF! Evelyn, you're next! The list grows from wanna come to will come, and I am twitchy with excitement! (Watch it, old girl, stay cool!)

Paul, good luck with the beer and food night, and of course, the mini-series about Lindy Chamberlin.

I read that the interest in that TV series has reopened all sorts of theories about the case even though the incident happened so long ago.

"Follies" is in the polish and shine faze now. We go into final rehearsals in the big Theatre Jan. 3rd, and open for FIF on Febr. 7th. Be still my heart!

Shalom and Love,

Gran Mil

Brian,

I clicked the links above for last weeks show but they do not download. Am I doing something wrong? I always used to be able to just click and they would download.

Thanks everyone for your kind words. This will all pass as things like this always do and then I will wonder what I did with my time!I have 2 busy busy days to go then taking a few days off for the holiday. Cant wait.

Love to all

Kelly

Salutations!!!
Well im very sore right now......
Sunday was my aunts 25th anniversary party and it was in Miami at a restaurant called the Rusty Pelican. So MY MOM, my two sisters and I were on oour way and my sister was driving her car and she said that her car was stalling so we are looking in the lane to the left to see if anyone was coming to pull over and there wasnt so my sister went into the lane then two cars behind us a car turned into the lane that we turned into then they hit us. There car flipped over! Our car spun around I can barely type right now thinking about it. None of the doors would open then my other sister said that the car was smoking.So we all went out of the shattered driver window. We are all ok. We have cuts and many bruises. And then we all started to cry because we look over and there is an up-side-down car next to us and noone is coming out. We thought that we had caused a death but then we saw two girls come out of the passenger side. They were in better condition then were were, not one scratch.
Im spending all of today thanking God!
--love to all--
--lizee--

Hello All,

Kelly, I'm sorry to hear about all these unlucky delemmas you've been going through. Let's hope that the light at the end of the tunnel will show itself soon. If I could send you away on a nice vacation I would.

Paul, good luck with the beer dinner and the mini series. Hope all is well the family.

I'm out of words these days so I have make my entry a bit short. I hope all is well with everyone in the corner.

Take Care All,

Lizze, thank God (which you are doing) that no one was seriously hurt, or worse, in that mishap! You and your family were incredibly fortunate, which means someone up there likes you, and down here we do too!

Shalom and Love,

Gran Mil

Lizzie, I am so glad you and your family is ok !!!! God is looking out for you and the people in the other car, for sure. What a miricle no one was badly hurt. I hope you mend very quickly. I will pray for you.

Kelly

Hi all,

I'm sending out a big hug to everyone here. If you don't need the hug yourself, then feel free to pass it on to someone you know that does.

[They're not like unwanted presents from an aunt that you see once a year....if someone gives you a hug, then you can give them away to other people and no one's feelings get hurt.]

These are all top quality hugs. I got them in a box from my daughter last Xmas. It's a big box and every time I check there always seems to be plenty left.

On a different matter, has anyone else had the problem with the links that Kelly described?

Brian

(PS Kelly, I've sent you an email.)

Brian you make me laugh! Thanks for the hugs and I'll be passing mine along. For once I don't need one!

Kelly I'm sorry to hear of all the stuff you've had to go through. I'm sorry for all you've had to face. Like Paul said, don't forgot to focus on yourself and give yourself lots of TLC.

To everyone else - hope all is well. I'm excited because I have a three day week what with Thanksgiving and all.

Take care

Jill

Brian, I've been opening the files in Quicktime and have had no problem at all. I'm very grateful to you for making the effort to make them available to we non-Aussies! I know I've rarely posted, but I'll take one of those hugs.

Kelly, I hope you continue to feel better.

Paul, congratulations on the article that referred to your "stunning performances" in two recent movies. I hope that your wishes and dreams come true! I wish I could make your December 2nd celebration - it's my birthday and I'd love to try your brew - but it's a bit far (from Canada) to travel for dinner and a Merc's Own!

I don't write often but I read always, and I can't tell you how much the messages I read here often mean to me, the topics so often resonate deeply for me. You are all truly amazing people.

Laura

Lizzie, someone was definitely looking out for you and your family. I'm so glad you're all okay.

Sherrlyn, hope you found somewhere for that turkey!

Kelly, it's great to hear you in better form. I hope there is some improvement for your Dad soon. It sounds like you handled this important stage for your daughter really well. Love to you.

Hi back to you Evelyn! Love to you too.

Brian, hang on to that box. Thanks for the hug and for the downloads. They worked perfectly for me. Great to get the chance to see Paul as always.

Special hello to Peter & Michelle.

Hi to you Laura and to Millie, Jill, Sally C, Nertha, Astrid, Inn, Tim and to everyone calling in to the Corner tonight.

Love to all of you,
Mary

Last night there was a "Backstage at Dancing with the Stars" special. It isn't part of the series, so we still don't find out who wins until tonight but it gives some interesting background.

http://number98.com/out/DWTSBSa.mp4
http://number98.com/out/DWTSBSb.mp4
http://number98.com/out/DWTSBSc.mp4

Brian

Good Morning All,

I was hoping that my latest entry would be more pleasant but I guess everyone been having a little bad luck lately, including the wise cracking dame. Yesterday at work my supervisor informed me that there had been cut backs becuase the owner has to hire a computer person to come in and install an $800 new medical program for the business. Then she politely told me that I was the cut back. I wanted to hide under a rock. The job was just temporary for the next two months until I had gotten my license and to persue my real career but it's dissapointing that this had to happen right before the holidays. Money isn't a real issue at home but it was nice to have a little independence and help out with a few expenses and the gifts for this year. But most of all it got me out of the house for a few hours a day. Now I'm stuck once again and it's not pleasant.

When I'm home I think too much about my life how I've gone no where and I'm just someone's elses burden. Even though everyone tells me that the future should be good being a massage therapist I still have my doubts, lack of self esteem, and poor outlook in general. While everyone else that I know is doing fantastic in their careers I still feel like a big loser. What can I say. Maybe I was meant to be a traditional Italian housewife after all. Wear aprons, make pasta and have kids running around me screaming off the top of their lungs. And my mother calling me every five minutes wanting to come over. Good god!

Of all weeks it had to be Thanksgiving this week. While other families enjoy getting together I'm already planning next years when I run away to the Fiji Islands. I have no shame in admiting that I don't get along with anyone in my family except my grandmother and my grandfather when he was alive. My mother is nosey, my aunt is controling and my stepfather who's a nice man just follows whatever my mother tells him to do. Of all people my grandmother is the only one who is supportive and doesn't judge me. And worse of all they brainwash my husband every time we see them. The last brainwashing involved an ugly patio set my mother wanted to get rid of and wanted us to take home. I had my own design worked out for our empty patio that involved bamboo lounge chairs with a Tahitian look to it not her old rod iron table. She asked me, I said "no". She manipulates my husband who has no taste in furniture or any style whatsoever by feeding him cookies and home made ice cream and he says , "of course we'll take it home". Now I have to look at this patio set every morning. It's almost scary. It's sad also to think that my relationship with my family (especially my mother) is based on some plot of an episode of the Twightlight Zone.

I have to admit when it comes to the
"Big Stuff" in life, my health, my nice house (with an ugle patio set), and not worrying where the next meal is comming from, I'm pretty lucky, but the little things that would make it the cherry that tops the cake, quit another story. I'm thirty and when is it going to happen?

Where would I'd rather be?

I had a friend once who would always tell me that she wanted to move to the Figi Islands. Not a bad idea to spend holidays there. I'd live in a house furnished with bamboo furniture overlooking the beach with my Mr. Dream Man who I'm madly in love with, and each holiday I would spend it with him and and some friends that I get along with and enjoy the sunset eating island food and taking in the ocean breeze. No thousand dishes to wash, no repetitive Christmas music, and no suggestions from my mother that the holidays would be so much better if she had grandchildren.

Maybe this holiday season I'll make the suggestion that her home made ice cream looks better flying across the dinner table catapulted with my spoon and landing on her newest cat t-shirt.

boy that was ugly.

take care all!

hey from japan!

kelly you're in my prayers. be strong and know that you've got other people there to support you!

i'm a bit tired to go on typing - the night before on the plane is probably the most uncomfortable that i have EVER been (having to sleep in economy class between two other people who are also trying to sleep is not the best situation if one wants physical comfort). so if people want to read my account so far they can read it my livejournal here: http://livejournal.com/~jedielf

And someone please tell me who wins on Dancing with the Stars, or at least upload a video ASAP!!! I'm also hoping that my friend has remembered to tape "Through My Eyes" among other shows so I can watch it when i get home...I'm not too happy about having to miss these, but i am happy at the fact that yes I have managed to travel alone to a completely unfamiliar country in one piece, regardless of what my parents thought might have happened, and i'm happy to have seen both my sisters again after so long. mum and dad will be here tomorrow morning :)

seeya later,

Jen

Julie,

Don't seat the small stuff. 30 is still young. Don't expect it all to come together at 30. I'm 36 and confused as ever. I think we all are at many times in our life. As for the table. stick a pretty tablecloth on it and put it in the corner of the patio and get the one you really want! Put it under a treee at your home and just SAY you use it. Who cares, it's you home. If your hubby doesn't like it he can get over it or learn to stick up to his folks. As for being unemployed, it's their loss, you can get better out there. I know you can. As for massage, if you make house calls to Kalamazoo, Michigan, let me know! I could sure use one!

Dad has taken a turn for the worst. I have to think about assisted living if he doesnt get better quick. MOM now has pnumonia as well and I have my hands full. But it's all a labor of love. Lots of love. They have always been there for me and now it's my turn to be there for them.

Thats what family does for each other.

Love to all
Kelly

Paul,

Congratulations on DWTS last night. The show was a fitting finale to a terrifically entertaining series.
I reckon the public voted for the deserving winners.

I also thought that you received Daryl's comments regarding your current exposure very graciously.

We spotted Andrea a couple of times. She looked to be really enjoying herself.

A second season would have to be a sure bet?
Let's hope it turns into a regular gifg for you.

Again, fantastic job. Congratulations.

Peter

Julie, get rid of the damned table. You shouldn't have to look at it and be reminded that you felt powerless in the situation. I hate when that happens, and yes, it's happened to me. You deserve better! It's your home after all, not your mother's. I want you to be happy!

I've had to get very specific about what I like and don't like when approached by family who want to give or buy things for me. I used to worry so much that I'd offend them if I didn't accept, but it can be done diplomatically. I got tired of pretending to be happy about living with something that wasn't ME.

Make that patio your personal FIJI! Take back your power! Can you tell I feel passionately about this?:) Your job situation will sort itself out and you will be a great massage therapist! But take care of yourself and don't worry about the rest of your family. You sound as if you need time just to be with YOU. And your husband if he helps you haul that table to the curb! Otherwise, watch something with Johnny Depp in it, that might take the edge off.

Kelly, I'm so impressed by your strength! I wish you peace of mind in the coming days, and always remember that all will be well. This too shall pass.

Love to you,
Michelle

Kelly

Julie, I vote for "get rid of the table", too!! If your mother asks, simply tell her it wasn't your taste.

Brian, thanks a heap for BackStage!

Hi to everyone.

Laura

hey gang, so sorry I can't keep up. I'm happy for the success of DWTS so congrats Paul.
Julie, I too am for the diplomatic dumping of the table. Michelle, can't wait to see you FIF! Kelly, it's wonderful you want to take care of your parents, but don't go to hard on yourself. Your health is fragile too.
Hello to Mary,Peter,Grandma Mil and everyone.
Peace, Inn

Julie: Give that eyesore of a Patio Set a real good scrubbing and a new paint job if necessary then run an ad in your Thrifty Nickel and sell the darn thing, take the money and put it toward the one you really want. Make hubby pitch in to pay for the new one since his lack of back-bone accepted this one from your mom.

I know what you mean tho about things you really don't want but family just insists that you are the deserving recipient. I have a living room now that you can't walk thru since MIL had antiques shipped to us. DH wanted them, I want to burn them. They are falling apart and she wants us to have them repaired. Not that many antique restorers in Lubbock, Texas so we are still looking. In the meantime we have only a path thru the living room and there's no telling what the cat has left for us in there that we can't see.

Have any of you seen "How Clean is Your House"?
I have found it absolutely remarkeable that some of these people haven't died already. I can't beleive the kitchen's in some of these homes.

Well, guess I should go address the Thanksgiving menu and decide just when I will bake the two pies for thursday. Bird is in the fridge and not even close to being thawed out. Hopefully by thursday morning when it is supposed to go into the Oven.

Hugs to all,
Sherrlyn

Hey Inn, we're going to have the BEST time! Can't wait to see you, too!

What's everyone (in the States) having for Thanksgiving? Sherrlyn, my turkey is doing well (frost wise) and I'm baking my pies tomorrow, too.

Is anyone going non-traditional? Many of my Italian friends do turkey AND baked mostaccioli.
I'm trying a new Pinot Gris from Oregon that's really good. I had to taste it ahead of time to make sure it was suitable!

Julie, let us know how you're doing. If you can wait until February, we'll get a posse together at FIF and come over and confiscate the table. You could blame it on us! We're there for you babe!

Thinking of you, Kelly.

Love you guys,
Michelle

The final part of DWTS is cut up into three files and the first two of these are ready to download.

http://number98.com/out/DWTS08a.mp4
http://number98.com/out/DWTS08b.mp4

The last piece of the final episode, the one where you find out who the winner is, is NOT quite ready yet but it’s on its way up now and by the time you guys have downloaded the first two pieces, it will be ready. I’ll send another post when it’s done.

In the meantime, I know that some of you would have liked to have seen the Dancing with the Stars series but weren’t able to because of the difficulties in downloading the large files involved.

Now that I have all the episodes (except the first) sitting on my hard disk, I was thinking that if I send a set of disks to someone in the continental USA who was able and prepared to copy and send them on using domestic post then it would not be too expensive for you to get a copy.

If I add in the new mini-series that Paul is in ("Through My Eyes") then we are talking about 16 hours of video, so unfortunately I think that to make it a reasonably modest stack of disks per set, we need to either put them on DVD+/-R computer disks (which are not playable on DVD players, only computers) or to put them on CD-ROMs but stay using the Mpeg-4 coding system.

I expect that using either of these systems, it would still be three or four disks per set. It would also require a little bit of computer setting up to play the CD-ROMs but the advantage would be that the files would all be there in front of you and it might be possible to impose on a local friend to do the five minutes of work to set the computer up. From then on, it would be easy to play the videos themselves.

The amount of work involved for the person in the USA doing the copying would depend (obviously) on how many people wanted a copy and how many disks there were per set. I’m expecting that the recipients would mail this person some cash to help defray the copying, media and postage costs. Before asking some poor volunteer to stick their hand up, roughly how many people would be interested in such a thing?

Brian

It's done!

http://number98.com/out/DWTS08c.mp4

is ready for downloading.

Hi All,

Just finished a long stint of 2 full time jobs. One 3 nights a week, and the other 5 days a week: Monday through Friday. As you can see, sleep was not an option. Some weeks I didn't sleep from Monday night to Friday night!!

Now I'm still doing the night job, with 1-2 days of work during the week. My roomate moved out so it helps to keep the present roof over my head.

PJM: My light of love, protection, and healing surround you. Michael was and remains a gift and treasure beyond all measure. Our only signifigance in life is how we have an impact on others, & if we have made a difference in lives we encounter. Michael certainly did this as do you.

Till next time,
Janice
USA

Good advice, Julie, from our friends! Get rid of the patio furniture! Call the agencies, like the Salvation Army or church groups that would pick it up and give it away later in the holiday season! Just think, there is someone out there who would absolutely love it!

Believe me, when all my chickies fly in for FIF, it will be like Fiji here that time of year, with the cold and snow left behind for a weekend!

Ellie and I are going non-traditional, Michelle.

We are going to a steak house named Flanagan's, where Ellie will have his steak, and I'll dig into my annual pile of chickie wings, barbecued, of course! We eat lots of turkey during the year, so it's no big deal.

Brian, I would be interested in anything that Paul has done lately. If it means just playing the CD's on the computer, so be it! Please let me know!

Shalom and Love,

Gran Mil

Janice Duke?

Hi! I remember discussing the Rhine crossing and Aussi special forces with you about a year ago. I haven't seen a post from you since I came back to PC. I wondered if you were still around.

How are you doing? (Other than busy, busy, busy)

Brian

PS. Keep your head back, chest out and always move forward.

Janice, see, you've been missed!

Brian remembers "keep your head back, chest out, and always move forward" while I am still using
"eye candy for the masses"!!

How is John Thomas? Any chance of your coming to FIF and having a well deserved weekend off in the sun???

Shalom and Love,

Gran Mil

Good Morning All,

I didn't expect such supportive responses to my delemma. It was funny that I mentioned the table yesterday morning b/c last night one of my husband's new engineering friends, Mike, came over to say hi to us and my husband was describing last years Thanksgiving to him "we had all our friends sit at our little table outside it was so nice". I remember last years disaster on that table, it has no glass top( I told my husband it would be easier to have one but he didn't want it) and no cushins for the seats (I can't find the right size to this day even if I wanted to). Everyone tush was quit sore and the uncomfortableness was very embarassing.

I am taking all your suggesting! Yes ALL of them and this is going to be the plan step by step...

Kelly: I will go ahead with my plan and tell myself that my hubby will "get over it" and not look back.There's a guy comming next week to re-do our screens and install a new awning so when he does I'll ask him if he can help me move it outside for now in the garden under one of my trees.

Michelle: I will turn it into my own Fiji! I started my plans last night tearing out furniture ideas from some design magazines I have and posting them on the refrigerator.When I go to the book store to study I"ll look at some more books on outside interior. I'm also going to contact a friend of mine who is a design student at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale who will hopefully give me some direction on how to make this happen. Good advice MIchelle.

Grandma Millie, When the new patio is complete then I will phase out the old set which will be sitting under a tree in the back yard and call Salvation Army and have them pick it up. Excellent idea.

Laura and Inn, your votes count!

Kelly, I hope everything will be ok with your father. It must be hard around the holidays to have to deal with these issues but you have a great family and much to celebrate with them I'm sure.

Happy Thanksgiving to All!

Dear Paul,
How are you? I believe in other lives, so I believe your brother is live in other place and very happy because he feel you have a true love for him. I believe than one day, all that feel a true love will be together with God forever. Some words to you:
Eu amo você, muito! Eu quero estar perto, te abraçar, você é meu amor! Eu espero um dia te encontrar. Nunca vou esquecer você. Um beijo, minha estrela, meu, só meu, Paul.
Caroline

OMG Janice! It's great to hear from you. You have come into my thoughts so many times and I have wondered how you have been doing. Things sure have been hectic for you but I hope you're doing okay in the middle of it all. Best wishes to you and to John Thomas.

Hi back to Inn! Hope all is well with you.

Julie, all the signs of a new (and exciting) phase of your journey sound like they're in place for you. Good luck with all the plans!

Thinking of you Kelly and sending love and best wishes to you.

Brian, thanks once again for the wonderful job you have done for us with DWTS.

To Michelle, Millie and all my friends in the States - Happy Thanksgiving! I hope it's a wonderful day for you all. Wish I could be there in person to give you these wishes.

Love to everyone tonight,
Mary

Hi Brian,

Yes, I remember our Rhine River crossing talk and our discussion of the Aussie Special Forces. That is just what they are: SPECIAL. Thank for remembering. You bring them great hono(u)r when you speak of them.

I've been fine as is my son, John Thomas. I think of all here with love and affection.

Gran Mil: Hugs all around to you and E. C.
Special thoughts and thanks for all of you during Thanksgiving here in the colonies. I'll be working during the day, so I'll look forward to the night!

I've missed all here more than you can know or even imagine. FIF doesn't look good for February. Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps another time.

PJM: Thank you for sharing with us the great gift of your Michael. We hold him in a very special and safe part of our hearts that no other can touch. You are an amazing brother, and Michael was and remains blessed to belong to you.

Head up, elbows high, and feet moving forward....always forward.

Group Hug,
Janice
USA

konichiwa

sorry i thought i'd posted this before that's why i didn't include it in my other post...

paul
i know this isn't going to make anything any easier but...remember that your brother may not be there physically but he's still there.

Jen

Just wanted to say Happy Thanksgiving to all that celebrate. I'm happy to be with my kids right now watching Ed, Edd and Eddy!

Take care all'

Jill

Paul, I just watched DWTS. Don't want to give anything away, but you know how I feel now.

Jill

Gran Mil here, wishing you all a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with love, family, and friends.

Here in Florida it is cloudy, but 80 degrees, in contrast to all the snow and bitter cold in the mid-west and north. Stay warm and safe everyone, wish I could send you some of our warm breezes!

In the afternoon, E.C. and I will take our soprano friend from Follies, and go to a steak house. E.C. will order a steak, and I, true to form, chickie wings, but not fried! The soprano, hoping to enhance her voice, will probably order ribs!

Shalom and Love,

Gran Mil

i think my friend missed "Through my Eyes" so i don't think i'll be able to watch it. :(h

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! got to run or I'll be late for Thanksgiving at my friends in the Cities, hoping for no traffic and no snow or ice tonight either.
Love to everyone!
Evelyn

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!
HOpe everyone is being thankful and engraving every memory. My family and I are in what we would call complete recovery. A little stiff in the neck but still living every moment of our precious lives. Hope everyone else is doing the same.
Ok well im going to my grandmothers house and stuffing my face and thanking her for it. God I love life!!
-I Love You All-
--Elizabeth Anne Ramirez--

I might have lost some emails sent to the address that I usually use here so I’ve changed my address for posting. If you sent me an email and it ‘bounced’ then please try the address I’ve used here.

I have made up two sets of disks.

The first set is comprised of three CDROMs.
The first disk contains DWTS episodes 2,3,4 and 5 in Mpeg-4
The second contains DWTS episodes 6,7,Backstage and 8 in Mpeg-4
The third contains both parts of Through My Eyes in Mpeg-4
Each CDROM contains a copy of the Windows Mpeg-4 codec and a player.

The second set is comprised of three DVD-Rs.
The first disk contains DWTS episodes 2,3,4 and 5 in Mpeg-1
The second contains DWTS episodes 6,7,Backstage and 8 in Mpeg-1
The third contains both parts of Through My Eyes in Mpeg-1

The CDROM Mpeg-4 copies are about half the compression of the ones I posted for download so the viewing quality is quite a lot better.

The DVD-R Mpeg-1 copies are better quality again. If you have a DVD reader on your computer then these are the ones to go for.

Copying a set should only require using burning software in ‘copy entire disk’ mode. It isn’t necessary to edit the video files. You might need enough room on your computer to hold a temporary copy during the copying process. For the DVD-R this is 4.7Gb.

Brian

Grandma Mill
Thank you, very much! You Know: I am very happy and the CD it is a wonderfull present of Christmas to me! Never, nobody will understand what Strictly Ballroom is to me. I was so young, only 14 yars old and this film show me what was in my heart and in my mind: the music, dance, the love...because this always was the more important to me!
Don't forget my number phone: (48) 9953 8873. If you want, send me messages to this number. Do you have a phone? So, I can send messages in Christmas and "New Year" to you.

Paul
How are you? All wish the better for you!
Maybe I need go to "Rio de Janeiro" (city in Brasil) and I don't want go to this city. But, if I go, I will do lessons of dance, so I can tolerate this city. I have many doubt: street dance, latin dances... Please, help me, give me a idea. What is your prefer dance?

PERHAPS, PERHAPS, PERHAPS one day I will dance with you, Paul. TIME AFTER TIME I dreamed with this, but nothing is impossible because LOVE IS IN THE AIR and the important is A LIFE LIVED FEAR!

Kisses Caroline

A few people have contacted me regarding the disks that I have made. I would like to clarify a few things. It’s all a little complicated and I didn’t make it as clear as I should have first up.

Obviously, I’m not doing this to make money. I don’t even mind absorbing the costs of a couple of sets of disks and the international air mail. This is just a way to let you guys see Paul at work and I’d like to do it the easiest and cheapest way possible for everyone.

Some of you guys know each other well and won’t mind passing disks around to each other, which is great. (I.e. you won’t mind sharing). Some of you may only want Through My Eyes and some of you might want DWTS. Some of you need CDROM copies and some of you will prefer DVD.

International Air Mail charges for packages will mount up pretty quickly if I send them all from here. The offers of reimbursement are nice, but sending small amounts of money to Australia is a pain. You can’t just pop a few greenbacks into an envelope and post it to me. Well, you could… but you’d pay international postage and I’d end up with currency that I would need to convert to Aussi to spend.

The easiest thing for me is to make up one complete set of every sort of disk and post it to someone in the US. At that point I would bow out of the issue completely. That person would then take over the distribution and do the copying and mailing via domestic post. That person could recoup their costs by whatever means they wanted. (…Maybe greenbacks in envelopes?) I would not want to receive any of this money.

Unfortunately, this person WOULD need to do some work to collect ‘orders’ in the sense that they would be responsible for copying the right disks for the right recipients. They would also need to be able to copy disks.

A slightly less flexible way to do this might be for me to make all the disks here and ship a larger package to someone in the US to do the on-posting. That means that the person in the US doesn’t need to have the ability to copy disks. Their job would be packing, postage and handling. This way is looking more feasible to me now because copying the disks requires some technical knowledge and access to DVD and CD burning hardware and that cuts down the number of people who can help. To do this though, I would need a clear set of requests to fulfil in advance. Exactly how many of each disk type do I need to make?

Provided the number of disks remains modest, and I am just burning disks and not paying separate postage charges for them, then I don’t mind making them for free. At some point, I might feel like my offer is being abused, but I don’t think that’s likely to happen here at PC. Please DO ask for a copy if you are thinking “I’d love to see Paul in that mini series”. Please do NOT ask for a copy if you are thinking “Some guy in Australia is giving away free disks!!” I’m sure you all get what I’m saying here.

Whether I make all the disks here or someone else copies them, we do need a specific list of requests.

To aid in getting this information together, if you would like anything, then I would appreciate an email with your address plus which of the following sets you would like.

Set ‘A’ – The two disk CD-ROM of DWTS
Set ‘B’ – The one disk CD-ROM of TME
Set ‘C’ – The one disk DVD-ROM of both TME and DWTS

If you have a DVD drive on your computer then set ‘C’ is the one to go for. The TME on this disk has better quality video on it than then copy on Set ‘B’. Having said that, the quality of Set ‘B’ is quite watchable and far better than the DWTS files I posted on the internet.

Some people will want both sets ‘A’ and ‘B’, but if you get set ‘C’ then you are already getting everything on sets ‘A’ and ‘B’.

I realize that some of you have already sent me emails asking for copies but could I ask for you to please send me another email with your address and specific requests for ‘A’, ‘B’ or ‘C’?

Brian