* * *

A whole lot has happened since I last posted anything to this page, but I'm back in the saddle and trying to get back into the swing of it. So much has happened this year -- I can't believe that it's almost over already -- I hardly know where to begin.

While I was writing that last column of 1999 my friend and guitar player for my band, Gerard, was sitting in the Healthcare Center because his girlfriend dialed 911 and said he was suicidal. Three days later, we learned that our new drummer, Tim Lind, had died over the New Year holiday. When Gerard got sprung, after 11 days in the nut house, he came to live with me, and after tim's funeral our former drummer, Dan, came over and we jammed for a while in the basement. We got to talking, and decided to hold a Tim Lind Memorial Jam. As it turned out, that event, held January 16, 2000, was the last time I'd play with Kontra.

Two days after that I was on my way back to New Orleans for a 6-week trial period, to see if I wanted to accept Audy's job offer. Well, let's just say that it went very well, and as I write this, I am employed and living in New Orleans. I made another trip down here in April, with Julie. I had made up my mind in February to move, and I wanted Julie to see it for herself and decide if she wanted to come with me and try to make our marriage work. She said it's a nice place to visit but she couldn't live here. Our divorce hearing is next Friday. Life goes on. Julie is doing well, and we still talk on the phone; as I've stated before, we'll always be the very best of friends.

I've been here just over 3 months now, and I'm pretty well settled in. Between Audy, Tab, and Butch, I have no trouble getting to the store and I love the climate. The job is going very well, and I'm learning every day. I was without an Internet connection for the first 2 months, and before I left Wausau, I lost my host for roggeman.com, but now I've got a high-speed DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) and Audy is hosting my domain on his new system.

Sorry if anyone has been trying in vain to reach me, but my email address, greg@roggeman.com is now working again. Some of my friends, like Tim in Corry, PA, Lisa in Johanisburg, South Africa -- I'll email as soon as I get this done -- and Guy in Penzance, U.K. have tracked me down at my old ISP (Internet Service Provider) or, in Guy's case, by phone -- very resourceful, Guy. It's nice to know that there people who think of you all over the world, it makes it worth the time to keep everyone up to date. Thanks for sticking with me through the downtime.

A lot of doors had closed for me over the last 3 years, but they say that whenever a door closes another one opens, and I believe it to be true. I don't know what lies beyond this doorway I've stepped through, but it looks pretty bright in here.