Raf

by the way, "karma" is a common term for the status of your presence on a message board. Not unique to GS, so I wouldn't draw conclusions about the guy using it.

Cynic, Yes, they did. Irisheyes, the water was quite warm. And no, I was never baptized as an infant.

Just an FYI: I updated my site today (for the first time in over a year).

True. We just sent a reporter and photog out there. It should be a hurricane by the time it gets there. And God, please, don't let it turn north in the Gulf. Let it hit me; anything but the northern Gulf coast.

It was great. We all gathered on the beach early in the morning. They had people lead a few songs, a few prayers and a quick teaching. Then we went one by one to the water (there were several lines, a total of 201 people in two hours). When I got into the water, two guys were waiting for me. We talked a bit about why I was there, and I said I think this is something important I need to do to SHOW what I have for so long been TELLING about my faith. Then we prayed, the three of us in a circle, and they turned me around, I held my nose, and DUNK! A few people watching clapped, and I was on my merry way. Mine wasn't terribly emotional, but I saw others crying the whole way through. It was beautiful. This morning they had us all stand up during service. Lots of cheering. It reminded me of the way we used to clap for people who had just finished PFAL (and I mean that in an innocent, good-hearted way).

By the way, "Rafael" is on the hurricane name list. I think it's next year.

Rita's the Caribbean depression I've been talking about on the Ophelia thread. Expect it to be named today. Oh, and Philippe finally got a name, too.

That one in the Caribbean is something to keep an eye on, especially if it moves into the Gulp. I mean, the Gulf.

By the time you've finished reading this, another person will have died from... So I stopped reading right there. I'm not going to sacrifice someone's life just to finish a sentence. Emo Phillips. And speaking of Philippe, they're actually expecting this sucker to go from zero to hurricane by tomorrow, last I checked. But mos of us are safe, unless you're logging into GS from Bermuda. In which case you have SERIOUS issues.

I'd have been there, but they couldn't guarantee any nurses. Congrats, guys!

I wasn't even toddling yet.

Umm, Oaks... don't you have something better to do today?

Please, guys, be polite. It's clearly not a site intended for us. :)-->

Salma (sigh) Hayek Fools Rush In Matthew Perry

Well, the question of baptism is officially academic for me now. I got baptized today. :)-->

I think you just reached more innies than he did.

Too bad none of the options is "The Bible doesn't say, so we just don't know."

Oooh, look, another possible TD in the Caribbean. Joy joy joy!

I have been to DC and back. Ophelia didn't affect the trip at all.

Oh, and good luck on the wedding thing. :)-->

Make sure Marvin makes it to the Weenie Roast! And from there to Mr. Hammeroni, who has been Most patient.

Ding Dong! Mr. Oakspear? Package for you. Sorry for the no-frills, and I'll be a little late on the gift front. But Marvin should be in Nebraska as we speak, courtesy of Tom Hanks (unless, of course, his plane crashed, in which case all bets are off).

Hooray! Washington DC is outside the current cone!