An excerpt from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram…

For Ali McCally, 43, of Frisco, the Internet has been a blessing and a curse this past week.

McCally’s brother, Spencer Canon, 28, of California, was vacationing in Southeast Asia with his girlfriend this month. When McCally heard about the tsunami in that area, she yearned to hear from her baby brother.

Canon and his girlfriend had told McCally they were going to be on Phuket island off of Thailand’s mainland.

“It’s been very frustrating because we can’t get through to them,” McCally said.

McCally posted a plea for help on her blog, LadyMac.com, which she started in August.

“Does anyone know how or where to get information on Americans in Thailand? … I really need some assistance!” she wrote in a posting Sunday.

Later that day, she learned that a friend had received an e-mail from Canon’s girlfriend that said they were safe, but it was unclear whether the message was sent after the tsunami hit.

On Monday, the family members confirmed that the e-mail was sent after the tsunami hit.

Get ready for a spike in traffic, Ms. Ali and I am SO GLAD that you guys were able to get official word so quickly, although I’m sure it seemed like an eternity.

I also heard from my friend Troy in Chennai/Madras yesterday…turns out he slept through the earthquake. That’s so typical for him, I swear.