Daddydavek

Happy, Happy Birthday! and may you have many, many more!

Story status says "in process" but the end of chapter 41 almost felt like this part of the story was at an end? Loved it no matter! Please tell me the story continues....

Economics has been called the dismal science since the 19th century. And for good reasons. The Great Recession was a depression for many and recovery has been haphazard at best with everyone except the rich (e.g. the 1 percent) not really recovered to pre-recession levels. College graduates this year face fewer job prospects than last year and this is not progress. Especially with most students leaving school with substantial student loans hanging like a grist stone around their neck. Economists, politicians, accountants, bankers, private equity funds and lawyers; the bane of the modern world.

Betty has to get over her "mommy knows best" phase and realize her children are growing up. If she keeps treating them like children, she will cease to be a meaningful part of their lives. She realizes this but 20 years of habits are not easily discarded. Good job on a chapter starring David!

Loved the chapter. Betty has some issues but hopefully with her husband and sons' help will resolve them. It seems she really hasn't approved of any of the choices for partners that her children of made.

Happy, Happy Birthday!

Well Hank comes across much better in this chapter. Tony does too. Will seems to be having a great time and things are getting serious. Loved the whole chapter.

An excerpt from Bernie's column in today's Post-Dispatch: BY BERNIE MIKLASZ bjmiklasz@post-dispatch.com Tracking the NL Central ... REDS: Cincinnati’s top pitching prospect, rookie Tony Cingrani, had a strong debut Tuesday night, even though the Reds lost 4-2 to the Cubs in 10 innings. The lefty went 7 innings and gave up two runs on five hits with no walks and 9 strikeouts. He needed only 12 pitches to strike out the side in the first inning. “Cingrani threw great,” manager Dusty Baker told reporters. “The kid gave us all he had,” … Cingrani was called up from Class AAA Louisville when Johnny Cueto went on the DL with a strained right lat … Reds fans are hollering about LH reliever Manny Parra, who took the loss Tuesday. He has an 8.10 ERA and has allowed 15 hits in 6.2 innings. BREWERS: When the Crew avoided a three-game sweep by coming back to beat the Cardinals’ bullpen for an extra-innings win on April 14, the triumph ignited a nine-game winning streak that’s moved Milwaukee into 2nd place. How did this happen? Several reasons: Power; the Brewers have slammed 15 homers in the nine wins including five from Ryan Braun and three each from Jonathan Lucroy and Yuniesky Betancourt. Yes, Betancourt _ who has driven in 13 runs during the nine-game streak…the Milwaukee bullpen has settled down nicely with a 1.21 ERA during the 9-0 run. New closer Jim Henderson is 5 for 5 in save opps this season, and the demoted closer John Axford is rebounding in a setup role, having made five consecutive scoreless appearances during the winning streak… No. 1 starter Yovani Gallardo has recovered from a rough beginning to go 2-0 with a 2.84 ERA in his last two starts … and Kyle Lohse has pitched very well, even though he may miss a start because of a dislocated finger on his non-throwing hand. CUBS: Chicago Tribune beat writer Paul Sullivan notes that the team has gone 24-56 since last season’s July 31 trade deadline; that includes a lurching 6-13 start to 2013. When GM Jed Hoyer showed up on the team’s current road trip it led to some buzzing over manager Dale Sveum’s job security. But Hoyer told reporters Sveum has nothing to worry about. Hoyer put the blame on himself and baseball CEO Theo Epstein: “It's on Theo and it's on me. We have to figure out ways to get better. We're not the most talented team in the league right now. We're trying to build to get there, but as we get there we can't continue to make the kind of mistakes we've been making,” … the Cubs’ rebuilt rotation has been effective, posting a 3.04 ERA. But the bullpen is horrendous, with a 4.70 ERA and six blown saves. The Cubs have lost eight games already this season when leading after five innings. PIRATES: They’re 11-9 and a three-game sweep of Atlanta raised the morale. The pitching has been outstanding, with a team ERA of 3.14 which include a 1.86 bullpen ERA. But the Pirates need to pump up the offense; they’re batting only .231 with a .299 onbase percentage and .367 slugging pct. The Pirates are averaging 3.6 runs per game and have scored 3 or fewer runs 11 times … CF Andrew McCutchen is off to a slow start, batting .243 and going 4 for 20 with runners in scoring position … Pirates’ No. 5 hitters have combined for only 6 RBIs and a .229 average … enigmatic 3B Pedro Alvarez is batting .150 with 23 strikeouts in 60 at-bats. Thanks for reading… — Bernie

Attendance is an interesting factor in MLB. The Giants are doing really well and as reigning World Champs you'd expect that. Look at the results tracked on the link below and from there go to the standings link. Some small market teams do really well and have for years. (Oh by the way, the link below has a choice to look back at the last 10 years.) Last year the Phillies had great attendance but their post-season ended early. Atlanta has done well in the standings over the years and are off to a great start, but their attendance has never been all that great. http://espn.go.com/mlb/attendance

Love this story. Can't wait for the next chapter!

Cards lost to Philly yesterday because they have no real closer since Mott went down with an injury.

It truly is one of the best fan-fiction stories I have ever read. I am so glad it was reposted here. I heartily recommend it to anyone who enjoyed A. McCaffrey's books about the dragon riders of Pern.

All that waiting and still we are left at the edge of the precipice call Dean. It's a great story but damn, these clif-hangers are hard to take.

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood after a gloomy week weatherwise and news wise. So I suspect everyone is out and about. They will catch up with the most recent post Mark. So don't worry too much. As far as Hank and Will's assessment after seeing her interact once with Maddie, she still comes across as a gold-digger and a person who wants to dominate. That won't work with Will and I doubt it works with the rest of the clan either. So maybe it's a good idea they are moving to Jersey. As far as the house goes. If she want's her name on the deed, she can come up with half the price. I just wonder what sort of exciting adventures the effervescent Will encounters in Rome. Surely, not another dance with a Pole?

Loved it. I just wish there was a musical soundtrack.....I could almost aurally visualize it, but I lack the musical background to do that justice.

Will's big nose sure gets him into a lot of situations.....The trip to Rome sounds neat and perhaps it will even be more than just some fun. Loved the chapter. Hank, not so much.

Glad you liked it and that it came at a good time. We wish you all the best!

Bravo! That's meant for both the author and the characters!

You did a great job on the dialogue. The bantering was typical and fun and since they were talking about sex, the inevitable adjustment had to be made.

Very nicely done. Perhaps the first steps into the rest of their lives....One can only hope!

Thanks for another interesting chapter! Hank!? LOL

I just feel sorry for Brett. He wanted to have some fun and got a load of crap instead....

Cards were shut-out tonight by the Pittsburgh Pirates before a paid crowd of less than 10,000 fans--9570 per ESPN. By far the smallest crowd to see a Card's game this season. At home they average 41,637. On the road their average was 34,148. No wonder they call Busch Stadium, the home of the Cardinals "Baseball Heaven!"

NBC Nightly News did their closing piece on this showing those very dogs and that patient as well. Dogs are a blessing!

A very sad but touching chapter. You made this old man cry.