A solicitation
Last night a close friend lost everything in an apartment fire. We had just finished moving the last of her very important things to her new place and had returned to her house (which she's selling to downsize--closing is in two days) for a last hurrah on her back deck around 7 p.m. I had just arrived home when she called to tell me that the apartment manager had called to tell her that her apartment building had burned to the ground. There is nothing left--computers, music, photos, clothing, it's all gone. She and her pets (who were still at her house, thank God) are safe.

I'm trying to help her in any way I can--one way is to open my paypal account to donations to her. If you can contribute even ten bucks, it would be very much appreciated. She is waiting to find out whether her insurance will cover this and, if so, to what degree. The Red Cross is helping, but their financial assistance is limited to $50, which as we all know doesn't go very far.

My paypal addy is dyetyke at gmail dot com. Please include "Fire" in the subject line and I'll make sure she gets the money.

Details on the blaze are here: http://www.wxyz.com/mostpopular/story/Fire-Races-Through-Ann-Arbor-Apartments/vK8Yi1OALEmtYNAFArFUCg.cspx

Thank you!