<html><head><style type="text/css"><!-- DIV {margin:0px;} --></style></head><body><div style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10pt"><div>Bev,</div><div><br></div><div>I'm so sorry. We got the storms too, but at least my house wasn't missing its roof. Just some damage to the yard and a few shingles gone. My house is tiny (800 sq. ft.) and I work full-time, so I don't think I could handle all of them plus Basil, but if one of the guys is having a particularly bad time in the kennel, I'd be happy to take him for however long you need. I'm in Evanston, and could come down this weekend if it would help.</div><div><br></div><div>Esther Strom </div><div>home: 847-492-8929</div><div>cell: 847-756-0307</div><div style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10pt"><br><div style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:12pt"><font size="2" face="Tahoma"><hr size="1"></font><b><br></b><div><font
size="2"><font face="verdana,sans-serif">First I want to thank all the well-wishers, and all the offers of help. You guys are wonderful, but you don't need me to tell you that.</font></font></div>
<div><font face="Verdana">It must be working, because things are moving along---slowly--but moving.</font></div>
<div><font face="Verdana">I move slowest of all I think, but we're getting there, wherever that is.</font></div>
<div><font size="2"><font face="verdana,sans-serif">We spent the day packing tiny little fragile things except for John who discovered his closet floor had flooded and also found some irreplaceable photos damaged. I think he lost heart after that, because he left and altho he said he was running an errand he never came back. LOL. </font></font></div>
<div><font size="2"><font face="verdana,sans-serif">I worked until about two with the two guys from the FixItUp place. I packed my tiny little fragile things-- china Basset hounds, wood carved Basset hounds, Polymer Basset hounds, Glass basset hounds....sea shells. Some things my Mother had.</font></font></div>
<div><font size="2"><font face="verdana,sans-serif">Here is my advice to all of you:</font></font></div>
<div><font size="2"><font face="verdana,sans-serif">Go out right now and buy four of the biggest trash cans you can find. Come home. Take everything that doesn't scamper out of the way and put it in a trash can. Set it on the curb when it is full. Don't look back. Don't think about it. Your children will thank you in the end.</font></font></div>
<div><font size="2"><font face="verdana,sans-serif">Then I went and picked up Cooper. I did not visit The Boys. One of the kennel workers who is very fond of Bassets says that Conley has not shut up since he came in. I wish I could go visit them but I think that would be so cruel, since they cannot come with me. </font></font></div>
<div><font face="Verdana">If this really takes as long as they are predicting (3 wks) they are going to be very lonesome boys. I will have to get them out of there some way before then, at least for a day every week or something.</font></div>
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<div><font face="Verdana">MomPerson to Nigel, Llewis And Conley-- I really do love you, boys-- and Cooper.</font></div>
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