Good hearing from you Patrick!  Hope all is going great with you as well!  I've attended numerous reporting events from NCRA in San Francisco and throughout California, but remarkably, no one shows up at those things any more; at least no one I knew, and I know scores of reporters.  Hence, that's why they've done away with the "mid-year" seminars.  Last one in SF's Hyatt was a big dud.  Are you freelancing or in court these days?  Have run into Shellette and Tina here in Oakland, and other reporters from way back, but have not seen you, Gordon, Eric, Bridgette, and a few others from the school days.  Glad to hear from you.  Steve