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[Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>]

> Did you have both
> shingles and pneumonia this year?

The pneumonia was some years ago. The sciatica began about a year ago  
and was followed a couple months later with shingles. Nearly a year  
later I still have a bit of red on my rib cage from the shingles. In  
all three cases, I attribute the dis-ease to stress, something which  
is under my control but cocky me, I blew it.

> Aren't you in Phoenix now?  It's none of my business, but are you  
> living
>   part of the time in Phoenix and part of the time in Missouri?   
> How do
> you manage that?  Writing must be more lucrative than I thought if you
> can afford to shuttle back and forth.  What's the story, Gene?

Of course it's your business. We are in this business of life  
together. Besides, my life is an open book.

Writing is not lucrative. Arizona real estate is lucrative. That is  
the story.

Yes, we are in Phoenix. We have kept this house a year more than we  
normally would have because of the very strong appreciation. This has  
been a superb investment and continues to generate more profit than  
any other investment available. We will sell the house this coming  
spring or, if the market is weak, rent it out for a year. It is a  
pain to move back and forth, although I must say that spending winter  
in Phoenix is a climatic luxury.