Hiya! This is Don's younger daughter. I am sorry to report that Vicky had to go back to the Philippines on like no notice as one of her aunts and other relatives were injured in the bombing at the airport there. The aunt was an aunt by marriage and she was visiting her family. From what I got from Vicky (she was crying and talking alternately in English and Filipino on the phone) the bulk of the family met her at the airport and they were a little ways from the explosion. Do Filipinos bring half the family to the airport to meet people? Anyhow the aunt got unlucky and got a piece of flying something, glass or plexiglass in the torso through the back. Several others got splinters and other flying junk but nothing major. Thank the Great Spirit that none of the children were hurt. The aunt is very greviously injured and was the only one seriously injured in her group, although I have heard many other people were killed and maimed. This is terrible. Vicky was hysterical of course. She was very fearful when Dad first left, then she calmed down a little, now this. She told me before she left to post to you all and let you know that you probably won't hear from either of them for some time. Sorry it took so long but she forgot in her haste to tell me (in a really long note she left) whom I was supposed to tell. So I had to go through her and dad's computer bookmarks and sort of do the Sherlock thing. Jose is going to winterize the house and take the dog to live with them until one or the other gets home. Maria is going to clean the place really good and then put sheets over everything just like in the movies. She is also going to roll up and store the buffalo rug. I told them to leave the heat on at about 60 degrees but other wise to shut it down. I also told them to eat or give away everything in the fridge but leave it plugged in and for them to eat all they liked from the freezer. The only room that will be active will be dad's office for Jose.

Dad is okay. He knows, Vicky emailed him. I have to go through the addy book and email him Vicky's family phone and correct address as she forgot to do that. Don't worry about dad. I am afriad for him on general grounds but I know my dad. I know am his daughter but I can truthfully say he is a man's man. Give dad his rifle, plenty of bullets and a clear field of fire and you had better bring a tank and a sack lunch to mess with him, because you're going to need the protection and you'll be there all day. Did he ever tell any of you the REAL story of his barfight with the German guy when he took me to the Philippines to meet Vicky? It was my fault. I wanted to see the underbelly of the place for my report for college and because I thought it would be a blast and something I could tell tales about back at school. We were about to leave when this big German guy got into a fight with some guys at another table. The first thing dad did was to pick me up and set me down behind the big wooden bar and told me to keep my head down. But I peeked anyhow. The German was raising all sorts of cain but losing the fight. He got pushed back into dad and dad just pushed him off him and away from where I was supposed to be hiding. The German guy like turned around and took a swing at dad and dad chopped him down like a tree with about two moves. I don't know for sure what dad did but the German just laid there cussing I assume, and the cops got there pretty soon after that and when they picked him up he looked like Freddy Krueger has slapped him silly. His face was all bloody and it was swollen and his nose was in a funny position, and you could tell his eyes were going to swell shut and be all sorts of colors the next day. I don't know how much of that was dad's work and how much he got before he ran into my dad but he was a mess afterwards. You don't mess with my daddy. The guy couldn't stand without help he just laid there and groaned and cussed. But then he tried to fight the police too but they wouldn't take any of that, and one of them hit him like really hard across the back of his neck with his stick and that was that. The cops there are tough little guys and they don't take any nonsense. We had to go answer some questions but that was all.

I will be here another day or so but then I have to go back home and back to work. Good luck to you all. You'll hear from dad or Vicky when one of them gets back I am sure. TTFN

... in response to I don't buy any of this, posted by lswote on Mar 8, 2003

What would be the goal of creating fake personas and writing so many posts?  It would have to be an awfully bored person to do all this.

... in response to Re: I don't buy any of this, posted by Patrick on Mar 9, 2003

Maybe they are, maybe not.  I DO say they are full of    it when it comes down to representing the truth.  Heck,    I know quite a few people in the 'real world' who tell stories like these.   My first cousin's husband has a cousin who PERSONALLY strategized, directed and won the Gulf War back in 1991.  All by his little self.  He sat on a battle ship in the Gulf and directed the forces like puppets.  Yep, those General were just his pawns and mostly made copies and got his coffee.  The guy really believes this.  LOL  I also work with a guy who is always in the middle of a huge crisis or conspiracy.   James Bond doesn't get into such stuff as he does.  Both of these cases are people I really know and both cases are heavily burdened with fertilizer.    

 So I don't necessarily believe it is all fiction based on imaginary characters like some here do.   I think it's more than likely real people who love to exaggerate to get attention.   In our daily lives, we would all likely be too polite to point this out but here on a bulletin board we can be more honest about what we think.                    
SteveG

PS - I am personally offended that the long Range rifle  
    discussion below took place and nobody flagged my
    attention so I could get into it!!!

... in response to I don't say they aren't real people...., posted by SteveG on Mar 10, 2003

When I think of my original comment about "Vicky's" writing style being so much like her Husband's when she grew up not speaking English as a native language then married in her late 30's/early 40's, I have to wonder if it is one person writing it all.  Hmmmmmmmm?
                              SteveG

... in response to Re: I don't buy any of this, posted by Patrick on Mar 9, 2003

That's a valid question.

You know, we're family on this board.  You don't want to call one of the members of the family a fraud unless you've really got the good on them.

Here's how I feel.  Maybe I'm wrong.  But I have not responded to much to Don/Vicky for a long time because I felt it was a hoax.

Why would someone do this?  I felt it was probably a frustrated writer who wanted to see if he could string us along with a story he creates.  Notice....no animosity toward us....just want to see if he can write good enough to make us believe him.  It's a challenge.

Why don't I believe the story?  Because Don/Vicky have no "warts".  By that I mean that everything is perfect in their life.  They never have any doubts and wonder what to do....no, just like superman they always act and win.  It's just like reading a book.  The hero always does exactly right and wins in the end.  The hero never has any doubts or needs any help in life.  The hero always kicks butt.

All of us here are just regular people who have lots of "warts".  There's a lot of answers we don't have.  (For example....many of us here on the board tonight don't even know if it's safe to visit Palawan.  They would never ask a question like that because they would already know the answer.)  In sum:  No one I've ever met is as perfect and successful and confident as Don/Vicky.

Also....the writing style is so similar.  Tess never believed the story.

Just my thoughts.  I could be wrong.  BUT I'VE NEVER BEEN WRONG BEFORE.

Stephen

... in response to Re: Hey Patrick, posted by SteveB on Mar 10, 2003

[This message has been edited by Dave H]

...no butt pimples, jungle rot, or ball rash! ;o))) They ain't human!

Dave H.

... in response to Re: I don't buy any of this, posted by Patrick on Mar 9, 2003

Gee, I always kind of suspected YOU Patrick.  ROFLMAO!

... in response to Vicky on her way to Philippines, posted by The Walker on Mar 5, 2003

[This message has been edited by Tim]

I know you are real people, and I think a few other guys here do too. Don't let some of these posters get to you.

Keep the faith, as Howard says....

Regards, Tim