It looks like a good day to make a trip. I will head out as soon as I start the laundry and get things together. I'll go by Space Age and top off the gas tank.

I was under way a little after eight and the trip was fairly uneventful. The traffic was a little lighter than I was expecting. I took a little nap at the last rest stop and scooted on into Salem in time to look up the telephone number of the Oregonian carrier. I left a message but no call-back yet so I may have to call again.

I made it through the sign-in process with some guard who was grossly overweight. Michael was waiting for me in the far left cubicle and he had been there for a while. He looked good and the conversation went well. We probably talked more about Joel than I intended too. I sort of laid the cell phone and credit card on him and he could take it or leave. He seemed to agree with everything I mentioned.

We talked some about his restitution and whether he could get a license without paying that. I guess we may have to take that to a hearing. He was saying that Mikey was with his mom and had had a few bad days until he got used to her. Apparently his mother will be in California kicking a heroin problem and he cannot stay with the other grandmother because she has a drinking problem. I guess I feel more for the little kid than I do about all the other stuff that is swirling about. I pretty much told him when I would be back and some things we needed to work on - like a resume and look at the job market in Grants Pass. We  sort of tentatively made some plans to meet in Portland and see some sporting events - that is assuming that he can get out of Grants Pass.

It was pretty hard to leave him again and we had about an hour and fifteen minutes and that was pretty good. It is so dumb that he is stuck in that situation. I hope that he can maintain himself once he goes out the gate. There are some books and stuff he wants ordered and I will check it out. The return trip was fairly uneventful - I grabbed a sandwich at Subway and snacked the rest of the time. There was a big hold-up in traffic at the I205 on ramp. Man, it must have been over ten miles of three lanes bumper to bumper creeping along. I would have thought they would have built that in smaller sections. I got home about seven thirty.

I watched a tape of David Letterman  and then check the emails and went to bed. It was pretty warm and I had some disturbing dreams of some sort.

The Most Memorable Positive Moment was catching sight of old Michael. He really does make me feel good. I hope he does not prove to be a lost cause.