Thank you everyone for your words of encouragement. It has really meant a lot to all of us to know that there are others out there who care and share our outrage at this injustice. We are finally letting ourselves talk about what he'll do when he's out, his first wish is to go to IHOP. Whatever, we'll do it! He will probably want a private homecoming, get used to being home and free and able to use a bathroom with a door. Then we plan a party for friends & family. If it's after the holidays that he's home, we're having Christmas in February, where the house will be decorated with every holiday theme, and we'll serve a traditional Thanksgiving dinner and open presents. Jon is planning to go back to school...he's talked about going to tattoo school, but also getting a degree in business...he thought tattoos will provide him back up income. For the short term he would like to travel the US, but has to wait till he's allowed to leave the state. We think he's going to go live with his sister in a small town where no one knows him and he can attend the college there. I think it's a great idea, and it suits his personality. All I know is that I'm so happy my son has retained his sense of humor and is probably even more compaasionate now than before. Especially because he's run into many people who don't have any sort of support system,education or hope for the future. And he's run into the worst attitudes of homophobia, racism and hatred, and it's more firmly entrenched his ideals of fairness. We are planning to petition the court to expunge his record once he's completed all post-prison supervision. We'll also petition for a pardon, but that's not as likely to happen. We're confident we can get his name cleared, but it's not going to happen fast enough.

Thank you all !! I am so happy to be able to share such good news with all of you in this time of economic upheaval. I have answered your questions below. They have indeed landed on their feet. This is the ONLY place they interviewed and they found it as the first opening when they started looking. It was equally amazing that they needed them both. Seems like one of those things that is meant to be. DS1 cooked all day for 2 days and the chef was quite pleased with his performance. DIL will be in management as she no longer does pastry etc. The property is part of a large organizations' rating system and the restaurant part is only one of about 75 in the world that is rated "Gourmand" by the rating system. You can get on the internet and see the other places that are rated. You will probably recognize many of them. I will link the system below. We are heading to New Orleans with them next week for a couple days to see family and then they will have Thanksgiving with us ( hopefully they will not have to leave) and then they will start by Dec.1. In the midst of all of this DS2 quit his job in Atlanta and went on 1 job interview in LI New York and is moving Dec 1 also !! He will be living on Long Beach, a barrier island off of LI. Our DD is devastated that her dear brothers are all going to be moving ! So Mom and Dad now have 2 new destinations for vacations when DH retires ! dlm: thank you for the good wishes. It is out of OUR price range too LOL. The room rate includes 3 meals and snacks, but not wine etc. So how many snacks can you eat ?? :) The place is actually about 7000 acres according to DS1 he says they toured all the grounds with the butcher on wed, and that the place has added a lot of land to their holdings. squirrel: they leave Tuesday to see about rentals. DS1 and DIL have found several places on Craigslist that are for rent. They want a cabin on a river w/ fireplace and there are several in their price range. Employees don't live on the grounds. There are homesites for sale at the property but they are for "ultra wealthy" clients. golddust: actually they are getting ready to add another dining facility so they DO have openings. If you know someone who is a chef , it would be a very good opportunity !! fly: you are right, this is an amazing opportunity. They can actually move to other Relais and Chateau properties in the future. Also they can be borrowed by other places so they have an infinite chance to see the world and learn from so many folks. When they have guest chefs there, Patricia Wells is there this weekend, they work directly with them to prepare every meal . So all in all it is going to be really special and growing experience. mitch: we will indeed miss them but it is only 400 miles and DH is getting ready to retire in June so we will be frequent visitors to the area. sue : you are right on. There is a discount !! When they have been there 6 months the dinner which is usually $125 a person is $25 so that is a whopping decrease. They can each have 3 guests so we are making plans LOL. Don't know about the rooms though....will have to wait and see. Here is a link that might be useful: rating system

Oh boy, he was lucky dad found him! Our younger son is "directionally challenged", and can get lost turning around. glad it all turned out ok.

If you can get it, and the insurance will pay for it, ask your cancer doctor about a Petscan. It is less invasive on the system, as they put radio active stuff in the veins, but not in the port. It shows alot more than the CT scan, in fact DH's cancer was still under remission, but his Dr. said--oh by the way, you have pneumonia. He had felt icky, but no fever. It was like walking pneumonia, but she called it something viral. He is now on doxcillian as the other antibiotic did not touch it. Anyway, the Petscan will not damage other organs like CT scans do. It is radio active sugar stuff, and he is a diabetic and it is ok to use. The sugar attaches itself to any cancer and it shows up.