After mailing in my ballot for Saturday's run-off I realized it has been a month since I let you all know how things are going. There is nothing new that we know about who did it. ATF has taken over the investigation and is interviewing a large number of people. Mario and Katy have both had to go out for individual follow-up interviews. They had to eliminate all of the usual motives - gangs, drugs, infidelity, gambling debts. That left them with politics. The way this apparently works is that if they come up with anything a secret grand jury will be called and we won't know unless they come out with an indictment. Mario was handling fund-raising for a solar energy proponent who came out ahead of an incumbent with massive support from energy companies for a Public Service Commission seat. After missing a few days of work he was back pretty much full time and they think it looks good for Saturday. The house they were living in was one that they were planning to buy from Katy's parents after they sold their house. Over a year after selling their house Katy was worried about dealing with tenants and Mario had discovered the difference between a house built in the 1880's and one built in the 1930's. 1930's houses need a lot more work. So they were still renting but has not gotten insurance. Katy's parents also owned the house behind the one they were living in and had a vacancy. They moved in there after only 3 nights staying with Katy's brother. The cars had been moved and most of the damage was cleared out quickly. The children are doing well. They are definitely tired of hearing people ask about it and Mario says adults just can't seem to help themselves. A couple of weeks ago Ana had a few nights of waking up frightened and wanting to get in bed with her parents. Unlike her little brother, she has always gone to sleep alone and slept through the night. They have an excellent counselor at school who has been meeting with them and they seem to be working it through. She made a "Safe Book" for Ana in which she writes down things that make her feel safe. (One of the items was the cameras installed around the house they are in.) School was out all of Thanksgiving week so they went to the country house on the North Shore which was a good break. Mario came back in to work Tuesday and Friday and they all came back Saturday. Mario said when they got across the lake last Sunday and stopped to eat at a restaurant Eli asked if anybody over there knew about the fire. When he told him no the 6 year old response was: "good". Will let you know how the election goes and respond to your individual messages soon. They are planning to spend election night in a hotel downtown owned by a friend. The outpouring of help from the moment this happened has been unbelievable. Kathryn