In a message dated 7/24/2004 9:08:40 AM Eastern Standard Time, [log in to unmask] writes: Well, I guess you guys got a lot different lot down south. Leland, I wondered about that, too. This guy fucks you and comes back to give you 6 grand because he feels bad? And didn't you know about this little problem of the filled-in blank checks, Mr. Pyrate, sir? There is no amount of anything where I live that would induce a fellow like George to hand over $6,000, let alone $60, unless they were marked bills with electronic tracking devices embedded in them and they were known to be stolen from "Shorty". I would ask myself, "Why is he giving me the six grand, unless it can't buy him his life?" My guess is you will never see George again that would be soon enough for me, but perhaps Py has a taste for these eccentric characters; or maybe Shorty really likes you! That doesn't sound like a desirable state of affairs, either, but if the only alternative is that Shorty really DOESN'T like you, it might be the lesser of the two weevils. There's some peculiar stuff goes on down in that fragrant jungle of yours. You got dat right. The thing is, once you get a lot of stuff and a family, you either have to become a full time gangster or stay completely off the radar of these guys. I vote for the latter. My Grandmother in Law was Joey Bonanno's sister. When I first married into it I thought it was cool and liked going to all the family events, but I quickly learned that it wasn't cool or funny. I bet. They didn't call him "Bananas" for nothing. I bet again. Best, Leland Ralph