I don't think that it's guaranteed that you'll die in the novel, but I believe Dave is correct; the monitary prize, and your name as a character in the novel.

Congratulations!

Ken V.

Thanks, but again, modesty forbids me from saying it's deserved. I'll bet that if I read some of the other story ideas, I'd think that many were better than mine.
I proposed another idea, that RJ be hopelessly trapped and Gia would strap on some hardware, get together all of RJ's pals (Abe, Julio, etc.) and some of his clients, use Vicky as the communications coordinator, and rescue him. Then, folks wouldn't think she was just a victim.
My own wife is from Greece and has that Mediterranean temper. When she gets really mad she's 105 lbs. of nitroglycerin. When she was in college and a member of a sorority, when their house got raided, she'd pick the biggest football player, climb up his back, choke the living hell out of him with her legs while she used him as a platform to fight everybody else (she's only
5'2"). Believe me, age has not mellowed her.

I proposed another idea, that RJ be hopelessly trapped and Gia would strap on some hardware, get together all of RJ's pals (Abe, Julio, etc.) and some of his clients, use Vicky as the communications coordinator, and rescue him. Then, folks wouldn't think she was just a victim.

I have never thought of Gia as a victim. And unlike others on this board, I think she's exactly the kind of woman Jack needs in his life.

Unlike your wife -- whom you describe below -- my wife was very Gia-like. She had a calming influence on me, and that kept me out of a lot of trouble.

This doesn't mean that she was dull . . . quite the opposite, she too was highly adventurous and done many diverse things in her lifetime. From racing an H-Production MG Midget, to Ballet and Highland Dancing, ( she had only one dance at a Highland Games as a Novice, [she won that dance competition and was no longer a Novice.]) to Classical Piano, to Acting (she was in a play that won the Dominion Drama Festival.) She hosted a Television show when she was a pre-teenage girl, and was recognized on the streets ("Mom . . . look . . . that's Kaye Viggars!") She was also a damned good Sailor . . . not necessarily "Racing good," but a very competent cruiser who was not only excellent at sail trim, but at reading charts, and anchoring as well. She was also an extermely competent high-risk Labor and Delivery Nurse. She thrived on the frenetic pace of high-risk L&D.

Ken V.

My own wife is from Greece and has that Mediterranean temper. When she gets really mad she's 105 lbs. of nitroglycerin. When she was in college and a member of a sorority, when their house got raided, she'd pick the biggest football player, climb up his back, choke the living hell out of him with her legs while she used him as a platform to fight everybody else (she's only
5'2"). Believe me, age has not mellowed her.

This doesn't mean that she was dull . . . quite the opposite, she too was highly adventurous and done many diverse things in her lifetime. From racing an H-Production MG Midget, to Ballet and Highland Dancing, ( she had only one dance at a Highland Games as a Novice, [she won that dance competition and was no longer a Novice.]) to Classical Piano, to Acting (she was in a play that won the Dominion Drama Festival.) She hosted a Television show when she was a pre-teenage girl, and was recognized on the streets ("Mom . . . look . . . that's Kaye Viggars!") She was also a damned good Sailor . . . not necessarily "Racing good," but a very competent cruiser who was not only excellent at sail trim, but at reading charts, and anchoring as well. She was also an extermely competent high-risk Labor and Delivery Nurse. She thrived on the frenetic pace of high-risk L&D.

Ken V.

My first wife was a Labor & Delivery nurse.

Theo (or, as she hates to be called, my current wife) was a Dance major in college and played classical piano throughout her life. We hike, bike, camp, and whitewater/flatwater canoe and tube on WV rivers and lakes. Scuba on cruises and vacations. (But, she won't go shooting!)
Theo is also a much better swimmer and runner than I am.
We met through her personal ad in The Washington Times.

My first wife was a Labor & Delivery nurse.

Theo (or, as she hates to be called, my current wife) was a Dance major in college and played classical piano throughout her life. We hike, bike, camp, and whitewater/flatwater canoe and tube on WV rivers and lakes. Scuba on cruises and vacations. (But, she won't go shooting!)
Theo is also a much better swimmer and runner than I am.
We met through her personal ad in The Washington Times.

Does Theo describe you as "my for-now husband", Joe? She sounds cool indeed. Can you coax her into meeting the gang?

Theo (or, as she hates to be called, my current wife) was a Dance major in college and played classical piano throughout her life. We hike, bike, camp, and whitewater/flatwater canoe and tube on WV rivers and lakes. Scuba on cruises and vacations. (But, she won't go shooting!)

That . . . is . . . funny!

Hiking and bicycle riding was something Kaye and I did in concert with sailing. We had a pair of 3-speed stainless steel folding bikes which we kept on the boat. Hiked when we anchored in wilderness areas . . . biked when we were near a city or town. I took her SCUBA Diving in the Virgin Islands and she loved it.

But she wouldn't go shooting . . .

She did go to a match once, but just to watch. All the way home she kept saying, "What a bunch of really great guys!"

Seems that she was dubious about these "Combat Shooting Matches," and the kind of people who went to them. She was wondering what kind of people I was getting involved with.

I took her shooting once shortly after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and she enjoyed it.

Theo is also a much better swimmer and runner than I am.
We met through her personal ad in The Washington Times.

Kaye was a much better runner, I was a much better swimmer, and we met at a Sports Car Club -- we were the only two members who raced.

Interesting similarities . . .

Ken V.

Does Theo describe you as "my for-now husband", Joe? She sounds cool indeed. Can you coax her into meeting the gang?

Theo HATES the PC! She is the most computer illiterate person I have ever met. She can barely check her own e-mail, sometimes I have to do it for her. Also, Theo HATES to read, books to her are like kryptonite to Superman. If she had been born in the present era, she would have been diagnosed early as having ADD, but back in the '60s, this syndrome was not recognized as such. The fact she was able to make it through college despite this is a testament to her will and determination.

Theo hates to read so much that when I took her to see "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and she saw subtitles, she got up and left. Naturally, I had to follow.

It is thanks to Theo that we have a house and two cars, all paid-off, with no mortgage or bills other than one credit card, which we pay off each month, the entire balance. Aside from the peace of mind inspired by this, it also enabled me to secure a fairly high-level security clearance, since my finances now are spotless! Never confuse a Greek with a Greek-American. It seems like they have two utterly disparate sets of personalities and standards.

After college, Theo supported herself as a Hawaiian Tropic model and as an "exotic dancer." I guess there's not that much demand for Dance majors outside of the corps de ballet. A club owner saw her in Ft. Lauderdale and recruited her for his clubs in D.C. Unlike too many women who take up this career, Theo never got hooked on drugs or prostitution to support the habit. Rather, she saved her money and bought property. Theo is very conservative in her finances and investments. All of her money is in government I-bonds, which are automatically hedged against inflation.

Theo is also a great cook and an exercise fanatic! Her name, "Theodora," in Greek means "Gift from God" and that is what she truly has been for me!

Of course, if we ever meet in Manhattan, you will have to pretend that you know none of this, or else you risk the "Fist of Death" (must control!), not from me, though, I'll be next!

NewYorkjoe

I took her shooting once shortly after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and she enjoyed it.

Kaye was a much better runner, I was a much better swimmer, and we met at a Sports Car Club -- we were the only two members who raced.

Interesting similarities . . .

Ken V.

I'm sorry you lost her, Ken, my sincere condolences.

Sincerely,
NewYorkjoe

I'm sorry you lost her, Ken, my sincere condolences.

Sincerely,
NewYorkjoe

Thank you. We were married for thirty one years, six months, and three weeks, that's a loss I'll never get over.

Ken V.

Thank you. We were married for thirty one years, six months, and three weeks, that's a loss I'll never get over.

Ken V.

Ken, not to be sententious or corny, but think about how =lucky= you were to have her love and company for those years.

You guys are making me cry. :o

Stephanie