22/78/94 <== isn't a Star Trek Star Date for something. I can almost hear Captain Kirk say "Star Date 22/78/94 Our mission ... "

Houston in general, and the hospital in particular, is really gearing up for Hurricane Rita. All that is on any t.v.channel is hurricane coverage. It's actually very "exciting", there is such hustle and bussle; everyone is talking to everyone and anyone else about the latest prediction. One of our fav nurses told us the nursing staff was told to bring clothing on Friday and be prepared to stay for 5 days. Unfortunately, the excitement factor is overshadowed by the fear many people here have as they face the possible loss of their property .

According to people "in the know", we will not be in any danger...inconvenience, yes, danger, no. We're told that previous hurricanes flooded out much of the medical center. As a result, MD Anderson moved all their heavy building equipment to the eighth floor to protect them, and they're actually in the process of improving the city drainage system right now (their timing could be better!) We've been told that we will probably lose the electricity, but generators are in place to keep i.v. machines and other life sustaining equipment running (Will Pam's coffee pot qualify?) Pam went to the apartment yesterday to get some more clothes (and, junk food) so that she doesn't need to go out during the upcoming storm. The roads are already jammed, and the cabbies are testy!

As for Mike's current health status; we've had some "ups" and "downs". His blood test results continue to improve, so much so that his platelets are normal (?) (He was expected to need transfusions by now). As he has often said, on paper he looks like a thirty year old man (with hair!) In the flesh however, he has a way to go! He still has pneumonia (in both lungs...), he still has fevers, and he started fainting again. During the inaugural Houston episode, his lovely wife caught him and delicately lowered him to the floor (o.k. so it wasn't so delicate). At most hospitals they now have a paper "leaf" that the nurses tape to the outside of the door of patienst who tend to fall (Get it? Leaf/fall) Mike has now earned a leaf...Pam earned another piece of jewelery to make up for scaring the beejeezes out of her!!(To be selected at another date.) As a result of his fainting, and because he still has a fever, in spite of loads of anti-biotics, his doctor called in an infectious disease team. They're running some more tests and will attempt to come up with a new treatment protocal for him. In the meantime, everyone is hovering over him to be sure that he doesn't pass out and whack his head. He's still trying to keep his positive attitude, but it's getting to be more and more difficult to not get frustrated over the constant complications.

And finally.....Amy and Brian were one of the winning couples in a J-Date contest. They have a half- page photo advertisement in the New York Times that is GORGEOUS. We're hoping to see them in a L.A. paper, too. Offers of representation for the beautifuy people will be entertained buy their business manager [.. oh my, could that be me?]

It looks like we fell into more good fortune. Because of all of the new tests, they're not letting us go to our apartment. The good news about all of this is we're still in the hospital and we won't have to worry about navigating the flooded roadways that are to be expected due to Hurricane Rita, for me to get to the clinic every day.

There are 1000's of stories in the Naked Clty, this has been one of them.