-=> Quoting Bert Quillin to Patricia Ferrara <=-
 BQ> We are fortunate having access to a couple of information programs on
 BQ> the Internet through the library system.
       That is fortunate!  How nice!  I was thinking back to several
       years ago when the library catalog first went online in Jefferson
       Parish (where I used to live).  I thought that was really
       something... until I'd used it a few times.  It wasn't a very
       sophisticated program.  You had to spell out the entire word to
       get a "hit", and you had to spell it correctly.  For instance, I
       was looking up neurofibromatosis but, had only heard the word
       pronounced, I had never seen it written.  I had to guess at the
       spelling.  I surprised myself when I got it right on the first
       try but, had I guessed wrong, the program would simply have said
       there was no match.  It wouldn't have brought up the next words
       listed alphabetically in the catalog, it wouldn't bring up ANYTHING.
       This could be very frustrating to someone doing a lot of research!
       I'm sure some people wanted those card catalogs back at first.  
       I assume that program has since been upgraded.  I know that
       St. Tammany Parish's online catalog is better than that one was.
 PF> Bush is between Covington and Bogalusa (I'm very close to
 PF> Covington).  We're on the northshore of Lake Pontchartrain
 PF> (north of New Orleans).  
 BQ> OK. On Highway 41.
        Yep.  Highway 41 is about 15 minutes from my house, and the Bush
        branch of the library is on that highway.  But since I work in
        Covington, (which is 15 minutes in the other direction) it's
        usually more convenient for me to visit the Covington branch.
 BQ> My wife and I have been to New Orleans several
 BQ> times, and have driven through a good part of Louisiana. Our last trip
 BQ> there was by motor home. Stayed in an R/V Park in the southwest part of
 BQ> the city. Quite an experience. We toured a good portion of the area on
 BQ> the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain. Used to know a fellow who lived
 BQ> in Lacombe. 
          How long has it been since your last trip to this area?
          The north shore has probably changed dramatically since your
          last visit.  It's growing way too fast, unfortunately.  Of
          course, I can't really say anything since I myself moved here
          from the south shore about two and a half years ago.
 PF>I'm originally from Metairie, which is a suburb of New Orleans.  Been to
 PF>New Orleans?  :)
 BQ> Yes, know where it is. On one of our trips there we stayed at the Days
 BQ> Inn west of Metairie for a week. On I-10 near Kenner. Was acquainted
 BQ> with a fellow from DEA who lived in Metairie. 
           Yep, I know the area pretty well.  Or at least, I used to.
           I had two different addresses (separate occasions, naturally)
           just off of Veterans Highway (Days Inn is on Veterans).  And
           I worked at the New Orleans International Airport for
           11 years.  I don't miss the south shore.  I'm happy here.
 BQ> Came in on Braniff during a heck of a thunderstorm which bounced us
 BQ> around pretty good. About a week later Pan Am bored in from departure
 BQ> on the north runway taking out a substantial part of a residential area
 BQ> a killing a lot of very unfortunate people. 
           Yes, that plane landed a block away from my in-law's house.
           Several sisters-in-law were at home at the time.  Our family
           was fortunate to come away unscathed.  So close!
 BQ> A few years before that we flew home from  Tahiti on a Pan Am flight.
 BQ> We were reading the newspaper a few days later and the same flight went
 BQ> down in the Pacific on departure. They never did find a single part of
 BQ> that airplane or the occupants. Occurrences of this type make you very
 BQ> humble as well as eternally grateful.
           Gives you pause to think about how fleeting life is, doesn't
           it!?   Sheesh!
 BQ> Well, enough of this rambling. We old guys are notorious for that as
 BQ> you may have heard one time or the other.
           You call this rambling?  You ain't got nothin' on me, boy!
           ;)
 BQ> I am on the final few pages of "Absolute Power" by David Baldacci. It
 BQ> is a good tale and quite well written. At least that is my opinion. A
 BQ> bit too many suspenseful incidents the last few chapters that cause a
 BQ> bit of confusion, but it is well worth the reading. I heard about the
 BQ> book in this Echo several months ago from reading about it in a
 BQ> message. So I thank whoever it was that mentioned the novel as it gave
 BQ> me the incentive to get it from the library to read. Baldacci is a
 BQ> pretty competent author.
            Ah, yes.  Back on topic.  
            I take it you've read other books by David Baldacci?  I
            wonder if I wouldn't be better off looking for a different
            title than "Absolute Power" because of your reference to
            confusion.  If it's a matter of keeping the characters
            straight, I won't stand a chance if others find it
            confusing.  I have trouble keeping people straight in most
            books.  Oh, why don't I just admit it... I have trouble
            keeping people straight in real life.  At least until I get
            to know them...   As a car rental agent, I once finished
            with a customer who then walked off about 15 feet from the
            counter, thought of a question to ask, and came right back
            to speak to me.  I didn't recognize him and asked, "Can I
            help you?" as if I'd never seen him before.  He didn't care
            much for that, but it truly was nothing personal.  
            Uh-oh!  I'm rambling.  :)
 BQ> Good reading Patty.
Thanks!  But for the record, I'm...
Patsy
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