Rant: It's snowing! At 7:00 this am it was 43 degrees. I just looked out the window and saw possibly the largest snow flakes I've ever seen in my life coming down fast and furiously. And, even more amazing considering how beautifully warm it was yesterday, it's sticking! My God, you'd think it was January in Chicago!

SeeTheWorld, not to worry, all those carots will make you look like a flamingo - my favorite bird

CaliNurse, congratulations again! And have you noticed some threads were deleted and some posters blocked? I am on your side regarding that last K9 post.

JJ5 - happy b-day and syber hugs! My friend just had a bad biopsy... And I live too far away to offer any practical help except phone calls and e-mails

Our older son found some old USSR posters and I got a nice frame for that red commy paper with hammer and sickle. Our sarcastic tribute to the communist past is now hanging shamelessly in the living room

My elderly father had an eye surgery for the cataract. He was home the same day, tired, nervous, blood pressure up, and went to sleep for the first time in many, many years without a sleeping pill – I guess they didn’t hold back the sedatives. The next day he felt fine already, had a post-surgery appointment, and for a month he’ll look like a pirate with a patch on his eye.

Our younger son is coming home this weekend after a month in Europe.

7 weeks till next vacation, should I start counting days? hours? pack the suitcase

And to those who miss ice skating, come on down to San Francisco, we have a year-around covered rink in the center of the city!

Rant?

Rave?

Going to Memorial Service for an almost eight year old who patient of mine had major medical problems from day one.

Hit a wrong button.

He always had a sunny disposition even at the worst of times.

As his Mom said "Now he can run and play like other boys"

Thanks for all the good wishes everyone.

Happy Friday the 13th, all!!

Rave: It's Friday the 13. I always considered this a lucky day. Not sure why, maybe I'm just a rebel.

Rant: Not much time to read these posts, so my apologies for not catching everyone's news.

Rave: CaliNurses' fantastic news. CaliNurse, I've walked down that road myself. It's a scary place to be, but I've been cured for 10 years now. I wish you continued good health.

Rave: In a few hours I will begin my 3 day weekend.

Rave: The courage, strength and determination of Dr. Martin Luthur King. He made this world a better place for everyone while using peaceful means. If only the people trying to change the world today would do the same. While we enjoy this holiday weekend, let's remember the significance and honor this great leader.

Well said about Dr. King, PM. I could agree more!

I was in Marquette Park in Chicago the day Martin Luther King, Jr marched there. I meet him with a small group in a school during that time period.

I was trying to get into U.of I. early then, and all around the times were troublesome where I wandered. If I told you all my stories, you wouldn't believe many of them. I would not want a child of mine doing all I did in those days. It was so tense and so complex. It was a very, very hard time- I hope I never live to see such animosity between neighbors, or brother against brother ever again.

Rave: Dad had a scary December but he's completely fine now and home again.

Rave: Just got my results from my doctor - the Lyme disease I was carrying for EVER (and didn't know that I had 'til they diagnosed me a year ago) is gone - finally showed negative. hooray! no more handfuls of pills morning and night.

Rave: heading back to Hilton Head this weekend. should be a fruitful visit.

Re: Dr. King, thank you to those post-ers who reminded us of his birthday. AMEN to the hopes that we never go throught that time again that JJ5 writes of.

Rave:Thanks for all the congratulations and good wishes !! They mean A LOT. This was dx'ed in May. I didn't want to say anything here until there was good news. From a travel point of view, the neurosurgeon said it was ok to take a pre-planned trip with my daughter to Europe ths summer, prior to surg (which of course, thought might be our last together) but had to re-think plans for trip to Costa Rica...a small price to pay to get the little monster out of my brain.

Buckeyemom, should we refer to him as
Big Teddy Bar?

Tiff, I don't know the book you mean, but do sympathize, knowing the disappointment, hurt, heartbreak,and outrage, of learning that someone you thought you knew is not that person at all. You feel so duped and used! Maybe it's a small comfort, but be glad it was a book author and not a personal relationship!!

Faina, great re: your Dad aka The Pirate's recovery! And thanks for the continued good wishes.

Evab, LOL re: your rave that you can now post from work!!

OldSouthernBelle, great about the adequate staffing. Know exactly what you mean--a rare treat at my hospital. Re: missing London/Paris trip (even though for a good cause) ... as they say in "Casablanca"(?) you'll always have Paris--she awaits you during a more opportune time.
Buffalogirl, have a fun Saturday night "date": with your son tomorow.
Mikemo, I'm taking my first ever (other than stopover at DFW) trip to the great state of Texas in March or April. I can get a shopping fix in Dallas??!! I can see there's lots of Fodors research coming up!

To all who are going through worry and pain due to the ill health of loved ones, sending many, many good wishes and prayers.

Calinurse--what absolutely wonderful news!! Way to go!!!

To the 'losers'--congrats on trimming down. ANY weight loss is an accomplishment! I need to move my butt and shut my mouth but can't seem to get motivated...There is noone who has less willpower than me at this moment!

Happy Bday JJ5! I hope you can find some time to pamper yourself in the midst of watching over loved ones.

Rave: Three day weekend! I love being off!

Rant: OWJ2 has to work.

Rant: We were going to go away this w/e to see friends who live 2hrs away but their toddler has pnemonia

Rave: Friends who know you so well that they know what you're thinking before you figure it out yourself)

Rave: My DH who juggled a nightmare of a day to make an appt. for me

Rant: Government and taxes--our county is saying we owe $458 more in property taxes on our new home than the Sept. bill showed but can't find anyone to explain why. I've spent too much time being shuttled from office to office, not getting any answers. One woman said to call our closing atty--do they really want this to get nasty??

Rave: Our closing atty was my friend's brother so I know he'll sort this mess out

Rant: Those sick teenagers that beat a Ft. Lauderdale homeless man to death and laughed about it. How they could have so little regard for life makes me almost physically ill.

Rave: They got caught on tape so hopefully justice will be served

Rave: Dinner with friend's tomorrow night

Rave: Friend's father who was declared days from dying 2.5-3wks ago is rallying--again. This man has been battling an aggressive form of cancer for several years and continues to shock his oncologists by beating some horrible mortality rates!!

Big wishes for good health and good times this weekend, Fodorsville!

RAVE: Amazing new job offer

RANT: "Divorcing" my current job which I love, with a boss that I adore.

RAVE: New job = LOTS more money, more money = more trips

RANT: New job = less time off, less time off= less trips

RAVE: Leaving tonight for a spa weekend in San Diego courtesty of darling husband...

RANT: Really stressed out about changing jobs from one I know I can do to a really challenging one...

RAVE: HAPPY FRIDAY 13TH Fodors Folks!

Thyra,
You CAN do it!!!

Rave: almost-18yo dd had a great week with all-State orchestra, and is on tour with her youth orchestra this weekend.

Rave: She drove herself to the tour bus so we didn't have to get up at o'dark hundred.

Rant: She woke us up at 6:55 when she opened her trunk and realized she forgot her violin and stand.

Rave: We got it across town by 7:30, when the buses were going to leave.

Rave: Mr. Pickle and I had a lovely relaxed breakfast out with all our extra time.

Rave: Beautiful sunny weather

Rant: No snow or rain for a month

Lee Ann

CaliNurse, I salute you! Thanks!

CaliNurse-Great news! I have had several friends who recently have had brain tumors removed. All benign and they are doing well. We were remarking how we never realized the problem affected so many until people around you are afflicted.

JJ5-Happy Birthday.

Clifton-I am sure you are gone but have a wonderful trip.

Faina-Glad to hear your Dad recovered so quickly.

Thrya-Enjoy your spa weekend here in San Diego. Looks like we will finally be getting some rain-but you'll be inside getting a massage!!

Flygirl-Great news about your Lyme's disease.

Swalter518-Good luck with your new baby! I am sure you are wishing the due date is today.

Bennie-Congrats on the new job. I know you will do great.

Rave: To all those doing such a good job loosing weight. I just started this week and the way it is going, I need inspiration from all of you.

Rave/Rant: All the wonderful weather we've been having here in So. Calif. It's been so beautiful here lately. Clear skies, the shimmering ocean to the west and beautiful mountains to the east. We are expecting a storm with rain starting Saturday. We really need the rain but it will be much colder.

Rave: Having the chance to sit down on Friday afternoon, read the FFR&Rs and having the time to respond.

Rant: My older daughter is back at her apartment after staying with me for months while she was in dinner theater shows. My younger daughter going back to college next week. My house is going to be so quiet.

Rave: Both of them are close enough that we can still get together for lunch, etc.

Rant: A cousin by marriage was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer. He stopped smoking over 20 years ago but that doesn't seem to help. He's fighting it but doesn't look good. What a nice guy and only 63.

Rave: Everything that everyone already said about Martin Luther King, Jr. My older DD and I will be in Memphis in a few weeks (1st trip) and I am looking forward to visiting the National Civil Rights museum.

CaliNurse: Ok, I really like to think of myself as a sophisticated woman who enjoys nature....Jeff Foxworthy???OUCH!!! (LOL)

Cali Nurse: Great news on your clean bill of health!
Tiff: I also read "A Million Little Pieces" and think the Smoking Gun stuff is just sour grapes. They didn't care how accurate the book was a few years ago when it was an unheard of paperback but now that Oprah shows interest they want to mess with it. I think the importance is the essence of his rehab experience, not the details. (just my opinion...loved the guy's writing style)
Flygirl: Yeah!!
Here's to all us lonesome college parents sending kids back after a great holiday visit!
Here's to ML King Jr. and divrsity and peace!

paula1470, that's interesting that you have several friends recently who have had brain tumors. I wonder if this is more common than it used to be, or if it's just more easily diagnosed. I would love to hear CaliNurse's opinion on this matter. I know there's been talk of cell phones causing tumors, but I didn't own a cell phone when it happened to me in 1995.

Brain tumors are one of those things that are only supposed to happen to others. When they gave me that news 10 years ago, I felt like the earth fell out from underneath me. It turned out to be benign and operable, but I didn't know that when they first diagnosed it. It was a longer recovery than I had expected, but it's been 10 years now and I'm still fine.

Rant, but with a happy ending, so Rave: Last Thanksgiving weekend I had to lend $500 to my sister because she was very sick and needed an outpatient procedure. Since she had no insurance, the hospital wouldn't treat her or make a payment plan with her unless she put up $500. I authorized her to use my credit card account to pay the bill, and I did this without the expectation that she would pay me back. I'm not rich, but $500 won't break the bank when it's for a good cause. Well, last week her DH got an inheritance that spent a year in probate, so she e-mailed me and said she would repay me. I told her it's not necessary if it will create a financial hardship. She said it's no problem anymore and she insisted upon sending a check. When the check arrived, she had added $40 more, saying we should go out for dinner. And best of all, she now has health insurance.


Hugs and happy weekend to all.

Rave: The insignificant details of our lives which we hold up to others. That we can flap our way through life on wings of banality is such a gift.




Rant: Sarcasm