Freaky Friday Rants and Raves, Jan. 21st.

Wow, I can't believe there is only one posting so far, jor. I'll get mine in early!
Rant: Cold weather is hanging on too long!
Rave: We will maybe miss the big snow today as we are just a tad south of its big dumping spots! Yeah!
Rave: I don't have to get up early and go to work in the snow. (I just retired 7 months ago)
Rant: Haven't traveled since early December.
Rave: Going to Vegas on Tuesday for a week, and then Thailand for two weeks in early February!

Everyone have a safe and snug weekend, where ever you are.

Carol

Oops!! Didn't see this was started already!! Everyone ignore the other one I started!! I'll repost my rants and raves here....

Rant: I have to have surgery. My gallbladder is scheduled to be removed on Wednesday. Did I mention I'm only 30?!

Rave: I'll be home the same day and will only need to rest for 2 days. I'll have 4 days though to rest before I start my new job.

Rave: One more week and I start working at Harley Davidson!

Rave: My BF has been great through everything, even when I had a gallbladder attack on Monday that put me in the hospital at 3am.

Rave: One of our clients opened a salon and gave me a great discount on getting my hair done last night. This brunette is now a blond.

Rant: 40 million spent on Inaugural parties.

Rant: The casualties of the tsunami growing every day.

Rave: The outpouring of help for these people and those affected in California.

Rant: We're expected to get over a foot of snow this weekend! Why can't these things happen during the week?!

Everyone have a great weekend!!

Rave: FRIDAY at last!

Rave: There's an active thread about Birmingham AL on Fodors. That's a rare one!

Rave: Going back to NYC this month; husband and I going to Miami in March.

Rant: Husband has not had a single day off, including holidays and weekends, in an entire year. Starting to wear on all of us. (We really need that week in March!)

Happy Weekend, y'all!

Rave: Finally last night my Mom got moved to a rehab/long term care facility. After being in the hospital for two weeks, the whole last week waiting to be dismissed whenever a bed in another facility could be found, she is semi-happy. She's stayed at this place twice before for physical therapy and likes it as much as is possible. Sunday is her 85th birthday.

Rants: Don't get me started on the entire state of the US health care system and housing and care for the aged.

rave: 7 more weeks to Japan

rave: Inauguration wk almost over. Not talking politics, just logistics in DC area. My clients all left town so i had no work this week, kids were off for MLK, late school Tues. due to cold, out of school for inauguration. Will be glad to get back to normal next wk.

missjanna: I had a cholestystecomy while I was pregnant w/my daughter, 2nd trimester. Now that was fun.

Rant: I've got to get over to my beachhouse to do some work, paint a door, fix a porch. Our tenant doesn't have a work contract signed yet for next month and might be out by the first week in February. Rats!

Rave: Hmmmm. Maybe I'll spend a week at the beach house between tenants

Rant: I've got to find a new tenant first -- doh!

New Rant: We had a cold front go through FL and this week the high was right at 70. Our heating is electric here, as it is most everywhere in Florida, and it's pathetic.

Rave: Wait a week and it will change Come on through, sunshine!!!

Rant: jor restraining himself

Rave:No school for a couple of inches of snow! (This means mom can sleep in!)
Rave: The south does not own any plows!LOL
Rant: We will be snowed till the temps go up sometime next week.(By then, I will be praying for school!)
Rave: Because of the snow, no 8pm basketball practice for the kiddies
Rave: Thank God it's Friday!
Rant: I wish I was planning a trip for the summer already!
Rave: Am going to San Fran in spring.
Hope MissJanna has a safe gall bladder Operation!
Have a good weekend travelers!

Rave: I am in Williamsburg, VA and the snow is absolutely beautiful. We do not have snow very often, so when we do, I try to appreciate every minute of it! Should be more this weekend - with ice. As long as we still have electricity, I will be happy!

Rant: I have to testify in Circuit Court on Monday morning. I witnessed an assault this summer and the guy was convicted. He has appealed...and I am the only witness who agreed to testify. I am worried that I willl contradict my previous testimony and end up in jail!

rave- Yesterday I rode a bike from Torrance Beach to the pier at Santa Monica and back. Along the way I saw a five legged dog and a street sign that said "Hang Glider Crossing" as well as seals, dolphins, and huge pelicans.

rant- nope, not today!

Rave: How funny my 3 year old son can be with lines like "Do you not understand the words coming out of my mouth." After he told me no for third time that he didn't need to go to the bathroom.

Rant: My first experience with the NJ Transit trains in January.

Rave/Rant: My first business trip of the year next week. Toronto in Janaury. But, I have a close friend in Toronto that I'm meeting for breakfast so it won't be all bad.

Next time you need cash after 3:00 p.m., thank Walter Wriston who passed away this week. A giant of American industry who is right up there with the icons of American business in the 20th century in terms of their influence on our everyday lives.

Rave: 75 and sunshine today in Dallas!
Rant: I have to work!

Patrick: I hope your Mom does ok there... I hear ya on the state of health and housing for the elderly in the US. It's not even a partisan thing, I blame all politicians for this mess that took decades of neglect! I worry about my own parents and myself!

MissJanna: Good luck with that... I had major surgery on 12/21 with an 8 week recovery and I went shopping on the 23rd and to my Mom's for Christmas on the 25th. I hope you are a scrapper, it helps. But then again, you are going to work at HARLEY!!!! You'll do great!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!
~Laura

RANT: Missjanna must have surgery! I wish you well, missjanna . (Both my sisters had GB surgeries; went just fine.)

RANT: Somehow strained my back badly during Monday water aerobics. Will have to ease off on my exercising for a couple of weeks........ but I can walk and water-walk in the meantime. No more weight-loss to report (little comfort eating this week... still 35 pounds off.)

RAVE: Bamakelly's DH is going to get a week off. (That's been a rough schedule, girl!) Enjoy your vacation when it comes.

RAVE: ACC basketball! It's really rocking....... go Tar Heels, Demon Deacons, Wolf Pack, Yellow Jackets!!!!!

RAVE: We leave for a ten-day Florida vacation tomorrow. Ocala, St. Augustine, St. Pete........ looking forward to it, stiff back and all!

RANT: The weather is supposed to be so "cool-ish" for the next ten days that I probably won't be able to swim in the pools in Florida!

Have a great weekend, all!

ONE MORE RAVE: Seeing the Del McCoury Band at N.C. State tonight (the best bluegrass!) Can't wait......

Bonnie, find a hot tub. The skies are still gorgeous. Especially at night! I hope you have a terrific Florida trip.

Aww thanks everyone. I know it's one the more common procedures to be done, but anytime I have to under anesthesia and have someone poking around my intestines makes me nervous...

Oh, and another rant: The rising cost of healthcare. Since I will need insurance between jobs, I will have to pay for Cobra, which will run me over $300 a month!!

Rave: Lovely day in Central NJ (okay, its cold as sin but at least the sun is shining).

Rant: My DH had to rush to India to his Fathers side. He is 84yo and critically ill. He arrived to find his Dad a bit better. But the prognosis is poor.

Rant: It always snows a lot when my DH goes away in the winter. Tomorrows forecast for Central NJ... a nor'easter. Oh happy days.

Rave: Two weeks until my long weekend in Florida.

Have a good weekend and best wishes to those of you facing trials this weekend.

MissJanna: Goodness... Good luck!

Rant: It's cold in NJ. Upcoming snow storm...
Rant: 2 more longggg weeks till the warm, sunny Caribbean.
Rave: Only 2 weeks till warm, sunny Caribbean!
Rant: People who feel the need to denigrate and insult a country they don't like. Just state the reasons you don't like it (we all have places we don't like), but why be mean and nasty about it??
Rant: Why do some people refuse to use their turn signals??
Rave: My 3-year-old.

Have a good weekend everyone.

RANT: It is cold!

RAVE: Spring is not that far away.

Good luck on your surgery missjanna.
Good news about your Mom Patrick.

To Miss Jana,
I had to undergo anesthesia for the first time in my loooong life to have a 6 hour surgery on my neck. I now have naturally CURLY HAIR because of it!! Yikes!!

I was also on a plane to Thailand about 5 weeks after the surgery. Was off work for four weeks. I agree, be scrappy and tell yourself you are going to do things!!!

Carol

Good morning!
missjanna, my daughterhad gall bladder surgery and breezed right through it, I expect you will too.
bonnie- sorry about the sore back, a little rest and pampering would be good at this time

Rave:
My son emailed (finally!) from India!

We left NY last year when it was 7 degrees, I am still not sorry I am in Florida where "cold" means 60 degrees
We painted a big red brick wall, in our family room, white and it looks Fab!
What would we have done if it had looked bad ??

Paris, here we come-6 weeks to go!!

Rant/rave: It's Friday and I'm here.

Rant: Gallbladder surgery. I had mine removed about 10 years ago. My life improved after the surgery. Won't go into the yuckiness before surgery, but it needed to go.

Rave: Good family and friends. Seeing some people I haven't seen in awhile Saturday.

Rant: Might have more bad weather by then.

Rave: most people will help someone when they are in crisis. (insert applauding emoticon here)

*PS*
Patrick, I am glad your mom is settled once again, there are enough things to concern her/you so at least she can be tucked in, in a familiar and secure spot

more like jasbbbbbrrrr...

it's friday!

rave: my mom arrived safely in ecuador for an unusal vacation!

rave: snow this w'end? o.k by me as long as a have a dvd, snacks, and pinot noir.

rave: had a very nice post-holiday holiday party for work this week.

rant/rave: overslept this a.m! (didn't set the alarm. my fault) but kitty was my alarm clock and jumped on my bed and licked my chin as if to say "wake up!"



have a nice, warm and safe weekend!

Rant #1: Like jor, "I'll keep it to myself?"

Rant #2: People who make fun of the South's response to winter because they haven't experienced what actually happens here. The word is ICE!!!!! Being on the transition-line between snow and rain, which we often are, means a very hazardous mix of freezing rain and snow and sleet and stuff-whose-name-must-never-be-mentioned. The problem in the Triangle Wednesday was ICE topped with a bit of snow. Not the forecasters' fault, not even the street-crews' fault because they couldn't get out on the streets for all the traffic from the people who panicked during the squall and headed home (or closed school). If you want to make fun of TarHeels, it has to be because they didn't wait until the squall passed and the trucks had a chance to sand/salt the roads. As for the number of "plows" each town should own? Taxpayers get antsy about buying expensive equipment that may not even be used in some years, only once or twice otherwise -- and anyway, inches (1 or 12) of snow aren't the problem, it's the ICE!!!!

RAVE: Amid the dank chill and gloom of a Tar Heel winter day, when I miss the pretty dry flakes of an actual, "real" snowfall, it's great to 1)have gardenias blooming in my study and 2) be planning a trip to Bella Italia for the spring! Those websites of Capri, Amalfi, Como! Bellissimi!

Rave: Andrea Bocelli tkts go on sale Mon at 10am for March 26th show....I will be the first to buy, I hope! Rave: Had a great dinner at Greek Island Taverna last night! No Rants

Cassandra: I don't think anyone makes fun of the south on their plight of icestorms. I live in Richmond and that is headed our way. I am hoping to keep electricity. Other than that, a few days at home with no activities or school are fine with us!.
I think what cracks me up is everyone driving like maniacs to get somewhere on icy roads in minivans! Go home! The roads are not salted or sanded (side roads) and therefore are super hazardous. So my Rant: People driving on icy roads in excess of the speed limit thinking that braking will stop them before they plow into me!
Rave: the fact that everything shuts down and we get some very needed family down time!

Rave: It's Friday and we are staying home for the first weekend in a very long time!

Rave: Glad I don't live in Raleigh with bonniebroad...Did you get caught in your snow "flurries"?

Rave: 113 more days until we spend a glorious 5 days on Oahu and the remaining 9 on Kauai! Plans are progressing oh so well.

Rant: Friend leaves for Argentina on vacation tomorrow. Wish I could go!

Happy Friday one and all.

missjanna, believe me the gall bladder surgery is mo betta than the attacks!

Rant: My beloved pooch is in surgery. I was so anxious, I couldn't sleep last night.
Rave: I went out for the first time in over a month.

Thanks again guys...

I find the more people I talk to, the more people I find that have either gone through it or know someone who has. And you're right iceeu2, there's no way the surgery can be any worse than the attacks!!! The pain is worse than anything I've ever known, and to last for hours on end! Ugh, it hurts thinking about it!!

Anyhow, this sucker has to come out. Now I just gotta watch what I eat until then....

Iceeu2, we are retired.... so we keep our behinds off the road when we hear the *ice word.* Cassandra, you explained our weather situation very well! Thanks.... Scarlett & TandooriGirl, good advice! I'll listen...

Rant: Had to be at work at 7 a.m. for early meeting and have another one at noon.

Rave: Get off work at 2:00 because of the meetings.

Rant: It was 2 degrees, with wind chill of -12 when I left home at 6:45 a.m.

Rave: This is my last winter of having to brave the cold early every morning - April 1st is my last day of full time work.

Rant: January, February and March - the most depressing months of the year - unless you get to travel at some point.

Rave: April - no work and two trips - one to Montreal and Quebec City and the other to New Orleans.

Missjanna: I had the gall bladder surgery at 30 also, after two attacks. I've always said that a gall bladder attack is worse than going through labor. Ouch!

Keep warm, everyone, and have a great weekend!

missjanna, good luck on surgery!

MizScarlett, Happy One Year Florida Anniversary!

Ciggle, doggy will be fine, don't worry!

Rave: All is good!

Rant: Ocean's 12 wasn't a longer movie. Couldn't tell you the plot. The whole movie was eye candy.

Another Rave: Going to see Oceans 12 tonight! Now I am double-excited! (and we're celebrating our anniversary too..yet another rave!)

Happy Friday!!!

Rant: Jor doesn't want to complain today...

Rant: It's about 15 degrees and windy here in NJ! Brrrr!

Rave: TGIF! With a big snowstorm predicted here in NJ, we're getting ready with movies & snacks and some good wine to relax & stay home!

Rant combined with Mini-Rave: DH now has the cold that's "going around"...We had to cancel plans to "come see the baby" of our friends tomorrow night. Boo-hoo.

Missjana - good luck with your surgery. I'm sure you'll feel alot better. We need you healthy to come to the next NJ/NY GTG in May!!

Patrick: Glad to hear your Mom isn't in the hospital, and sympathetic to the healthcare politics too.

Ryan: Gotta love quick witted kids! Great story!

Jersey: Hope DH's dad will be ok & that your kids will help shovel!!

Chigalechanta: Saying prayers for your doggie!

Scarlett: Glad your wall came out beautiful!

Have a great weekend everyone! Trish

Rant:Forgot my cell phone at home and I will be in a blizzard during the long drive home without a phone.

Rave: That I have overcome my fear of driving in this stuff and have become quite expert at it. But do wish I had a bigger car for winter. I wish I could afford one that fits what I do and where I go also.

Rave: That weather doesn't bother our plans unless we are actually frozen to the ground at some point. And that God keeps giving us the good health to continue.

Rave: Less than a month until the Caribbean.

Rave: I got my cockatiel Sidney to say "Hello, Killer". Something he has not said for many, many years. He is 24 years old this Spring.

Have a good weekend, everyone.

Happy Friday!

Rave: I need a quiet weekend

Rave: Next week is my last week at my job. I then have a week off before I start my new one. The hours will be good, the pay is great and I can put more money down on my student loans!

Rant: I really like the people I work with now and I am sad to leave!

Rave: Leaving for Las Vegas tomorrow for a week!
Rant?????

Rant:the state of the health care delivery system absolutely!

Rant: the hullabaloo in DC

Rave:more daffs springing up and the tulip leaves have begun to pop up as well.

Raveudman is coming to California for barrel tasting in the wine country. Some of the usual suspects will be dining and/or tasting with him.

And about the gallbladder surgery..count me in as one who had the "old"procedure before the laproscopic one. I cannot tell you enough how much better you will feel.
Expect to be a bit gun shy at first about the foods that set you off pre-op..that fades

emd, Got to know. How cold was it in DC for the schools to open late on Tuesday?

girlonthego, "The south does not own any plows!LOL" I'm a norterner but I lived in San Antonio in 1985 when they got a freak snow storm of 15 inches!!! The city has no snow plows and the entire city, streets, freeways, and six military bases were closed for two days.
There were barracades blocking access to all the freeways and larger streets. 15,000 cars were crushed by covered parking roofs.

And the really bad part. While I was stranded away from my apartment two army buddies were stranded in my apartment and they ate an entire large box of Fillet Mignons I had recieved as a Christmas gift!!!!! Horrors! They somehow survived whithout eating the junk food. Those pigs!

Rave: it is my birthday this weekend, i'm intending to do a bit of partying

Rant: the 10 inches of predicted snow that might make it a bit difficult.

Rave: Okay, I admit it, I like Snoop Dog and sometimes even Eminem

Rant: I miss New York

Rave: Hubby and I will be playing tourist in Las Vegas this weekend, we were sent 2 comped nights at a hotel/casino

I should be honest. They do have snow plows, but they will never see a side road/sub-division street ever!!!!!
Happy snowy Friday!

Rant: Jor, I am moving to San Antonio and you just seriously depressed me!

Rant: Moving, moving anywhere! I've got the moving blues today.

Rave: Mimi is out and about, soon MissJanna will be well again, painted walls brightening MsScarlett's house, Bonnie's missing 35 lbs and upcoming trip, people holed up for the storm--it's always a bit exciting as long as you don't have to get out in it, Ryan's son (you need to start writing these things down!), all those upcoming trips--Japan, CA, Toronto, Paris, FL, or just across the causeway to Treasure Island, wherever. They all bring smiles.

Rant/rave: trip of my own to San Antonio next week to house hunt. I'll get over this...leaving any place you've lived for 8 years is tough, even if the new place will be terrific. It'll be sunny again tomorrow....

Been awhile since I've had a rave, and since I refuse to post only rants....it's been awhile since I've joined the Friday fun!!

Rave: Booked flight to Arizona for a trip in March!! Winter is really wearing on me, can't wait to go. My folks are already there (they escape MI from Jan-April) and the last time I talked to my mom it was 58 & sunny!!!

Rave: NFC & AFC Championship games this weekend!! I love football!!

Rant: Supposed to get up to 7" of snow here overnight & hubby is going away for the weekend. Guess there's no time like the present to start a relationship with the snowblower!!

Rave: Making a batch of clam chowder and am following the lead ofother fodorites by getting a nice bottle of wine!! YAY for "on-demand" movies!!!

missjana, good luck with your surgery!
Cigalechanta, I'll be thinking good thoughts for your pup!!

Have a great weekend everyone!!!!

I don't think we have snow plows in South Carolina and know we don't have them south of Charleston!

OO, good luck on your househunting!

Cigale, your pooch is in my thoughts! You know they will be fine, but still you worry.......

OO, good luck with your househunting in San Antonio. I know that feeling, hating to leave a place that you love. I also know that you will be happy in the new place because you are a happy kind of person wherever you are, I'd bet!

Happy Friday to all!

Rave: Trying to enjoy New England winter, skating and snow-tubing, we're trying!
Rave: OK - time for spring - it's 4 degrees here!
Rave: Planning a trip to the ocean this weekend during the snowstorm, should be quiet on the roads, lots of driving fun!
Rant: Don't really want to be seen in a bathing suit at the hotel pool, but I would hope everyone else will need to lose a few pounds and get a tan too!
Rant: The hotel is near the nuclear power plant and while we're under terror threat here in Boston, I'm a bit nervous...I guess it would be a quick way to go!

Sam, they think it's a hoax because of a drug deal gone wrong.
Thanks Everyone on behalf of my "Paws"
I'll second OO's post and wish her house hunting will be a quick success.

Rant: Kitty diagnosed with diabetes.

Rave: Going to try to treat with diet and not with insulin. Go back in three weeks to follow up with vet.

Rant: DH has to work Saturday.

Rave: Going to movie with DH on Sunday instead!

Hope everyone has a safe and happy weekend.

Rave: Spring must be around the corner: Sears & HomeDepot have lawnmowers on sale!

Rant: It will be a cold day in hell before I'll actually NEED a mower in the next 3+ months

Rant: It just MIGHT be a cold day in hell the way the weather is up here

Rave: Felt pretty good. I stop at a coffee shop open to the public in the local Senior Citizen Center. A lady came in & said she had a flat tire. I switched it for her spare, freezing my buns off. I'd normally do something like this in warmer weather, but seriously thought of doing nothing as it's soo cold out, but then I think that if that was my mom I'd hope someone would help ... so I did, and still feel pretty good about it, except...

Rant: Instead of "Thanks" all she said was, "it took you long enough!" Yes, I came back in several times to warm up, but it cost her nothing.

Rave: Most people aren't like that.

Rant: It's Friday! Not that I'm a pessimist, it's just that I do believe every cloud has a torn lining. Being Friday means only 3 more days to Monday, LOL Enjoy your weekend everyone.

Rant: 7:00am flight tomorrow -- all business, no pleasure

Mini-Rave: I'll miss the snow storm...?

Rant: It's so insanely freezing!!

Rave: I'll be in sunny (?) Scottsdale by 10:30 tomorrow morning...

Rant: As always, WAAY too much work

TGIF!

MissJana, I hope you are up and about quickly! Good luck.

Patrick, I am glad to hear that your mom is in a better place.

Jersey, sorry to hear about your DH's dad. I hope he pulls thru.

Mimi, my prayers are with your pup, and I'm glad to hear that you are up and about.

Scarlett, glad that you heard from your baby boy.

Vittrad, happy birthday!

ANTS, sorry to hear about the news with your kitty. I hope things work out well.

OO, good luck with the house hunting. I'm looking forward to that GTG the next time I'm up that way.

Bonnie, keep up the good work girl.

Rave: Two glorious days in St. Martin with DH. Shopping, pampering, some errands, and lovely seaside meals.

Rave: Bought a new scooter and digital camera while there. Scooter made it here on the boat in less than two days!

Rave: Our luggage and cooler were the only two items to make it to our island on the return flight. Thank God for small favors.

Rant/Rave: The traffic in St. Martin is getting to the point of ridiculous. I'm glad I live here and not there.

Rant: Terribly busy day at work and no time for Fodors until now.

Rant/Rave: DH is working all weekend, but that gives me plenty of time to play with my new toy.

Have a wonderful weekened everyone!

Rave: DD is going to her first formal tomorrow night. She's been going to the tanning booth every day, french manicure and pedicure yesterday and her dress is gorgeous, from Bebe in Portland. Lots of pictures and fun. I've been through this over half a dozen times, but it's somehow different with a girl.

Rave: DS and his fiance are going to Portland/Oregon Coast for a week. They are staying at the Riverplace Hotel. I tried to get them to bid on Priceline for a ****Hotel, all of which are very nice, but fiance said she HAS to stay at the Riverplace.

Rave: Found a new Italian Cafe I really like here in town. The BEST creme brulee in the area and very good pizza and salads.

Rave: Surprise party for DD was a huge success, she was very happy and we all had a great time.

Rant: Left our ice cream cake there and when I called the guy said he put it back in the fridge and it's history. It was very pretty, with the four Disney princesses on it.

Rave: DD said she's doing very well on her finals, I'm hoping for some good grades at semester! Swimming training will be starting up in just a bit.

Rave: Starting to plan a trip to the Wine Country for sometime in March. I'm about to book a Rejuvanation package at the Sonoma Mission Inn that includes two 50 minute spa treatments and breakfast for two.

Rave: Can't wait to try some new restaurants. Harmony Club @ the Ledson Hotel, The Farmhouse Inn and Della Santina are on my list. Also, would like to check out Syrah in Santa Rosa.

Rant: While riding my new beach cruiser, my pant leg got caught in the spoke and jammed up the gears and twisted my ankle. (Geez, what a klutz!) This was only riding out to the mailbox to get the mail.

Rave: DH fixed the bike, I'm soooo glad no one saw that one!!

Happy Friday, Happy Weekend, Stay warm and Happy Travels! ***kim***

Patrick, glad your Mother is doing better. Bonnie, hang in there. Best of luck with the surgery missjana.

Rant-Parents who think their kids are wonderful at sports and get pissy when the coach plays the kids who are not that good.

Rave-Snow day Wed. Went sledding! More snow on the way for tomorrow. Stocked up wine, etc. today. (all the essentials) Let it snow.

To those in the south, don't feel bad I live in Ohio and my suburaban street rarely gets plowed.

Have a great weekend everyone. Stay warm.

One more Rant: Little nephew broke his arm his first time snowboarding. Ouch! Lots of to him for a speedy recovery! ***kim***

jor, it was like 20 degrees on Tues. morning, not all that bad, but the reason they called off school was because Monday was a holiday and they thought the bus drivers would have a hard time getting the buses started. Go figure.
And we are in for 4-7 inches of snow Sat. through Sunday a.m., which means you can bet no school on Monday because they won't get the side streets plowed so the school buses won't get through to pick up/drop off the kids.

OO: I didn't realize that Tampa San Antonio post was yours when I saw the title. I went back and read it just now. My best and oldest friend relocated to SA a few yrs ago, in Live Oak. When I went to see her she took us to the coolest place, Blanco State Park, about 30 min. outside SA. Slow, wide, meandering tree lined river runs through it and there is a COOL rope swing that drops you right into the river. You need to check that place out this summer when it gets, uh how should I say this, "a bit warm"
Also the SA Art Museum is pretty good- they had the incredible Dale Chihuly glass exhibit while I was there visiting her.

OO
Good luck house-hunting. What will you do with your boat?

Rant: snow, snow and more snow
Rave: the wind isn't blowing (yet)

Rant: it might be too bad outside to meet my friend for lunch tomorrow (potential rave: we have a coupon for Lone Star)

Rave: football this weekend
Rant: no more Isaac Bruce (Rams #80) until next year

Rave: my life is pretty darn good most of the time!
Rant: if only I could get more sleep (rave-within-a-rant: Nickelodeon shows "Wings" at 3:00 and 3:30)

Have a great weekend everyone!

Jor,
emd said it was 20 on tuesday. I thought it was more like 10. Here in the valley it was 6 at seven a.m. and schools here also opened late because they thought the buses would have trouble starting.

RANT: like jor, i was was not going to comment, but I just received an email from my Canadian provider of DWs prescriptions. We get them from Canada because after canceling prescription insurance and not buying from ins. provider, we save $4000.00 a year.

The Canadian gov't. has just proposed a new regulation that may prohibit Canadian pharmicies from shipping prescriptions to the USA. This was done at the urging of president Bush. I guess freedom to purchase was not one of the freedoms being touted in his speech yesterday.

ANTS..my little cat got diabetes when he was 13, we learned to give the shots (easy) and fed him right and he lived until he was 18. A lovely little cat that I still miss.
It sounds scary but you can do it!
Big hugs to everyone, have a good weekend! Scarlett

Rant: A 18 wheel car carrier nearly drove me off the road - good thing the guy in back of me and to the right of me were paying attention. Every single profanity raced through my brain and not only in English, but multiple languages!

Rant: SNOW! Right now they're saying 8 to 12 inches...where are those kids when you need them

Rave: I'm so glad it's Friday. The fridge is nearly stocked. Making a special dinner for two - chicken in a wine sauce. A little wine for the chicken, the rest for us.

Missjanna: Good luck with your surgery. When I was young, my uncle had his gallbladder removed and he kept his stones in a jar to show us. Please don't do that

Ryan: How sweet is your little guy! They always seem to tell you exactly like it is My DH used to schedule his trip to Toronto in January until one year it took nearly a week to get home. Now he goes in April and November. Hope your commute gets better.

Patrick: I hope your mother finds some comfort in her surroundings.

Bonnie: I hope your back gets better soon

Cigalechanta: Stay warm and well!

Kim: Do you ever cook?

Wishing everyone a healthy and happy weekend!

The snow is coming...be careful and safe. And for all of you in the sunshine state, well....I promise I'll only have good, clean thoughts of you all while I wade through the snow

One more Rant: A Blizzard Warning has been posted for the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Long Island where 12 to 15 inches of snow is possible!

Scarlett -- I had a cat that passed away about 4 years ago that had diabetes too, so I have had experience with the insulin too. She lived for about 3 years after the diagnosis. I got through my fear of needles (with only one fainting spell!)because you have to do what is necessary to take care of your "furry children". That is why I was glad when the vet said that we might get away with diet only this time!! Also,it gets expensive to take trips when boarding at the vet becomes "hospitalization" just because they have to give them their insulin!!

LOL, Seetheworld, actually I'm allergic to the kitchen! I break out in hives every time I walk in one!

Seriously, my husband is the chef in our family. He's now experimenting with the French Laundry cookbook I got him for Christmas. But, guess who gets to wash all of those pots and pans???? Last night it was a spaghetti feast for seven, I'm just now getting the kitchen back in order.

His dinners are so yummy, it throws my whole diet off and lots of Sangiovese from Engelmann Cellars prevented me from going to the gym last night! (We'll just blame it on that for now!)

Tonight we'll probably take a bottle of Plum Wine to our favorite little Japanese place for steamed goyza and California rolls. I've already told my future DIL this rule: A woman's place is in the kitchen. (Giving orders to her maid!) ***kim***

Yeah, we were sooo lucky to find a service that came to our home,twice a day, gave him his shots and fed him, brushed him and brought in the mail!
That was while his sitter was at work
He had more company when we went away than when we were actually there LOL
I used the short needles..much easier on everyone!

Scarlett -- At least my parents were good sports when we went down to visit them...they let us bring the "furry grandchild" with us.

seetheworld, we too, are expecting a 12 inch blizzard tomorrow. We have had so many cold days here that we had to buy weather stripping for some windows and put up heavy drapes in front of two doors. The coldest year in a long time here.

Cigalechanta: I'm so glad my son decided to take his boots back to school - he will need them! He went for a run today, and he said it was brutal.

Well, with this cold and snowy weather on the way, you should really be sure to take care

Rave: wine

Rave - 4th week of going to the gym. Someone noticed the other day so that was encouraging. Feel good, have more energy and am sleeping better at night.

Rave - got a new hair style today. Hopefully I'll be able to make it look 1/2 as good as the hairdresser did.

Rave - Patriots are going to give us another fun weekend - win or lose.

Rave - Going to a wedding tomorrow. Having a get together at my house before hand.

Rant - now I have to finish cleaning the house.

bennie! I thought you were a he!

Bennie, know just what you mean about the hairdresser. I guess they have more practice...and it's not their own head either.

My DH always remarks (just to bug me) how nice it looks when she does it...as opposed to me!

Rant/Rave: Just returned from San Miguel de Allende where the cost of housing looks like LaJolla. More next week as I have several deals pending.

Rant: No Subaru dealers/mechanics in Mexico.

Rave: Two new adopted/rescued retired racing greyhounds in SMdA.

Rave: Willie and Lobo (Flamenco Jazz) in concert last Monday - perhaps their best ever live performance.

M

RAVE: Things have worked out for Patrick and his mother!!!!

RAVE: My son was accepted into the high school he applied too. He's happy, so I'm happy!

RANT: I don't have one!

emd, sounds like your bus drivers are wussies! They thought they couldn't get their buses started at 20 degrees? Wow.

OO,
Sorry, if you don't want to think about the snow in San Antonio, think about the Cock Roaches! They love people and they follow you around like a puppy following his mother.

Unless they are the big flying cockroaches like we had in Houston. Really. Now those are scary.