I am finally home. I arrived home at 9:00 p.m. Tuesday night (last night). I had my first real meal (egg and cheese) at the cracker barrell, but I had to blot my egg and cheese to rid it of excess fat (I first typed 'excess gas' -- shows you what has been going on with me). As for surgery, I came out feeling great; however, it was discovered morphine makes me itch like crazy so I came off it. Then I had horrible pain in my left shoulder. If you remember, my arm was broken and, while Dr. Freeman really babied it during surgery, the pain later was awful. In addition, my oxygen level has not been what it should be. Dr. Freeman had to call in a pulmonary doctor who put me on antibiotics and continual oxygen support. My oxygen level got down to 70%. It is now around 89% and I am on oxygen support at home. I am not, nor have I ever been, a smoker. I was in the hospital seven days and am glad to be home. I am now at the time where I expect to feel a little better everyday. During it all, I never once doubted my decision to have the surgery. Jacquie

((((((((((((((((Big Hug Gisela))))))))))))))) It's ok to mourn for a loss. I felt the same way when I saw the pictures of the Casinos destroyed in Biloxi. And I thought, "my God Kim, how shallow are you??? Peoples LIVES have been destroyed and taken." But it's like it wasn't real until I saw somewhere that I enjoyed going destroyed, ya know? I'm thinking about you girl and sending you some good thoughts Kim

I'm so pathetic, just absolutely pathetic. I'm sitting here crying over the news that my favorite place in Mississippi is gone. I've been on the internet since 730 this morning trying to find news on Beauvoir, Jefferson Davis' home in Biloxi. I've seen pictures of dead people, read an article of a woman who was at work when Katrina hit, got home and found her baby and husband drowned and nothing made me cry until I found out that Beauvoir is demolished. What in the hell is wrong with me. Things are terrible in MS and LA and I'm crying over a museum. Had a lot of good memories from that place and I always hoped I'd be able to build a home that was similar to Beauvoir. I used to go 2-3 times a year and just hang out on the grounds with my friend, pretending I was a southern belle. I could walk along the grounds and imagine horses, riders and buggies coming up the drive to visit and have a mint julep. I had my picture taken on the beautiful curving front staircase. The tomb of the unknown Confederate soldier was there. Argh! I'm so upset. I was going to go visit again last month, but was unable to go because the friends Jerry and I were gonna go with had a drowning death in their family. Now I'll never see it again. Homes can be rebuilt, but this was an historical site. How can they rebuild something like that? Oh man, I guess I'll go to bed and feel sorry for myself. I'm tired anyway. Maybe that's why it'****ting me harder than it should. I have a wedding to go to this evening. I hope I feel better by then. Gisela but still

Hey Beth, No damage for us at all or for any of the family as far as I know. Just a lot of debris in the yard and the tops of a couple of trees came out. My brother in law works for Alabama Power Co. and he headed to Mobile yesterday morning at 4 am. I expect he'll be there for a while. He's to be working on Governor's right in the downtown area. The most inconvenience we faced was a momentary power outage during the night that cancelled all of the alarms. My parents and a brother and his family in the Anniston area were without power about 18 hours. Luckily they both have generators so they can run the refrigerators and the freezers. Mom said that she went out to the camper and cooked biscuits for breakfast yesterday! Glad you are okay...thanks for letting us know! Becky

Hey Becky, I talked to Joni today, she is doing ok but is having some pretty bad pains. She said that it is hard for her to walk due to her mobility problems and she thinks some of it could be trapped gas. I am getting out tomorrow and hope to get to see her in person. I can't drive until after 11 a.m. because they gave me my edidural pain block today and said NO DRIVING FOR 24 HOURS...and my hubby is a stickler for rules...I guess he is just worried. I haven't heard from Sandy either...I hope she is doing ok. The weather has been a real mess. If you hear from her tell her to shout us out. I don't know how Jacquie is doing either. I hope that she is doing well. I would like an update also. How are you doing girl???? I hope that the weather didn't do to much damage for you. Talk to ya later, Beth