Frontlines: The Latest from OutServe-SLDN

"Waiting for your call baby night and day I'm fed up I'm tired of waiting on you . . . . . . Time goes by so slowly for those who wait" - Madonna, Hung Up

She's no Material Girl, but it seems like Elaine Donnelly can relate to Mrs. Ritchie's sentiments about lonely nights spent waiting by the telephone.

As Pam's House Blend reports today, the director of the Center for Military Readiness can't get a phone call returned from Fort Hood, Texas, even after repeatedly "bothering" the command (who, one imagines, might have better things to do than dish with Mrs. D.) about the case of Army Sergeant Darren Manzella.

Elaine, as we reported earlier, is quite anxious to get Sergeant Manzella fired from the Army. And, she'd get a kick out of slapping his command around, too . . . just for the fact that they've tried to keep a good soldier on duty.

But alas, poor Elaine is left waiting by the telephone. "We have attempted, very patiently, to get the original information . . . to at least get an official statement from the officials involved -- but they have not been available," she told reporters today.

One imagines they're busy with more urgent matters at Fort Hood: perhaps trying to fight the war, protect the homeland or doing their hair (an excuse which surely Elaine can relate to). Any of the three would make more sense than kicking out qualified gay troops.

In the meantime, Elaine can put on her Madonna CD to help pass the time away. After all, as Madge's tune concludes . . .

- Steve Ralls