Dear [Melinda]
Well I _do not_ wish you were dying. C’mon! We only just reconnected a month ago. Stick around for at least another couple decades anyhow. [Don't die on me now.] 
Tom
[Melinda],
Well, you cannot apply for disability until after you leave your job. But the process once you do leave goes something like this:
Your management probably won’t suggest that you go on leave unless you’re literally dying. Such leave costs them more than having you there working, even if your time there only amounts to part-time status.
If you have no intentions of suing them, then tell them that and have them add that clause in the paperwork you’d have to sign to go on leave.
Sure, suggesting a replacement for yourself wouldn’t hurt, since it would make you more dispensable to the company, and thus, they’d be more willing to let you go. If you can convince them that this woman writes with your high caliber of performance and that they need not spend too much training money to bring her up to speed, they’d be crazy not to seriously consider your request.
Tom
Dear [Mentat],
Well, it looks like they’re working on a new Star Trek movie. See this article for more details:
http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/news/article/45415.html
Perhaps you’ll be in Altoona when this comes out, and we can see it together.
Tom
Dear [Mentat],
I worked on yesterday’s responses on and off over the past year and a half, but really stepped up production over the past two weeks – I grew tired of seeing that letter in my Drafts folder.
I’m so glad things are working out for you and [your girlfriend]; not only because she’s helped illustrate for you many of the points I made in our 2005 emails, but too, because you’ve spent enough time alone, and it’s high time that you begin tasting the sweet sensations of long-term togetherness.
Sure, give me a call anytime, although this afternoon, I’ll be out helping a guy secure his home wireless network. But I should be here any other time. If not, just leave a voice mail, telling me when would be a good time to call you back, and I will. I’m curious to hear about your undiscovered dream as well as the dream you gave up.
Yes, certainly [your girlfriend] illustrates the high degree to which one’s rearing influences subsequent successes. :-) At any rate, your being there for her will surely help her grow faster than she would have without you, and as her trust for you expands, she’ll more easily share her feelings without fear of reprisals. This is wonderful indeed.
Well, I have to go and get my writing day started. I’m working on my autobiography today.
Take care, and I’ll look forward to talking with you soon.
Tom
[Joel],
Glad to hear things are coming together for you and your trip.
Just wanted to let you know that the camp sessions have changed this year. The group I go with ([Emmy], [Jack], [Rick] et al) are attending from July 7th through July 18th. I thought you’d be interested, just in case you decide to come this summer. If you can work it in, we’d enjoy seeing you again.
Take care,
Tom
Dear [Emmy],
Yes, Carl emailed me as well. Hopefully, we’ll get our camp papers today. I’m anxious to see the exact session schedule. However, it does appear that we’ll not see Carl this year.
I miss the Mmmmmmmm’s too.
I’ll call you at around 12:30 for Y&R.
Later,
Tom
Carl,
All is well here. Nothing new to report. We’ll probably miss each other at camp this year. The bulk of us are going to the early July session.
Tom
[Lois]:
On January 20th of this year, [Ron], class of 1967 lost a six month old grandson, Hunter Tyler, to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. [Ron] asked that I give this to you to put in the bulletin.
Thanks much,
Tom Hesley
Dear [Mentat],
Yes, IE7 is released – for the past two to three months anyhow.
You could set a restore point, and then install IE7. If it doesn’t work, you can reset your system to the restore point you saved.
Tom
Dear [Mentat],
Yes, some of the listen links probably aren’t monitored all that often. Plus, Internet congestion can affect how well they play as well. I wonder if your JAWS software may be interfering with the streams.
We’re expecting 6 to 10 inches of snow here today, and it’s already begun. It looks like an inch has already fallen.
Nice to hear that you have a Valentine this year.
Tom