Patrick, your post about your mom made me nostalgic for DH's (may she r.i.p.)-she called him one time and said "Son, I think they're selling my blood..."
Humor helps, yes?

Rave: It's raining in North Carolina! Hip Hip Hooray!

Rave: Carolina Hurricanes beat the Pittsburgh Penquins last night. Love the "new game".... Keep it up, 'Canes! And things are looking up with my UNC Tar Heels football team ... Go 'Heels!

Rave: My doggie's 16th birthday today, and we're doing it right: filet mignon, wild rice, layered salad with bacon on top , Emeril's coconut cake and homemade (hand-cranked) French Vanilla ice cream, and his favorite (human) friends!!!

OWJ, little five-year old girls LOVE dress-up stuff. You can buy a whole (lightweight) trunk at BJ's, or buy assorted sets of shoes, tiaras, boas .... they will play with them until they're BIG girls, I promise! My granddaughter is almost eight, never gets tired of dressing up with her friends ...and for me.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend!

bonniebroad, 16th birthday? That is increadible! My doggies have lived to only 10 to 12 years. And they got the best medical care through their lives. I have a pooch now who I got as a puppy. He's four and he is still my "puppy". You are so lucky to have your dog for so long.

Bonnie, you are lucky indeed. You have a Westie, don't you? My Kerry Blue lived to be 16 and all terrier all the time. Still miss that silly face.
You are so right, nothing a five year old girl (or a sixty year old girl for that matter) likes better than dress up. They go crazy over boas and hats.
Have a nice weekend.

Rave: Finally feeling better after two weeks of colds and flu for all in my household!

Rave: Just booked a quick trip to Disneyland for two weekends from now, it will be the baby's first time and his older brother's can't wait for him to meet Pierre in the Tiki Room!

Rave: I love my job!

Rave: Patrick, Scarlett, Kimamom,Kal and a few others whose posts never fail
to make me snile.

Jorr, cmcfong .... My doggie is a Cairn Terrier (a Westie looks like a snow-white version of him.) The amazing thing about his living so long (expected life span is 13 to 14), is that he had such severe Colitis from food allergies from the day we brought him home at six weeks ... to the point we doubted he would live very long. We had to cook lean lamb and rice for him for the first few years of his life (the only things he could eat). Then he was able to go to chicken breast and rice ... Finally, the Vet found a special food for dogs with this problem, and he's been able to eat that, and he is sailing right along. As he got older, he was able to eat "people food" scraps in small amounts, but any regular dog food of any sort would make him sick, so it must be the preservatives in them.

He really chose us. We went to the breeder to pick up a female pup (even had bought her the girlie bed ... with pink flowers ) BUT she was very shy and stand-offish, while Trissie stood up in the crate, "reaching" for me. I scooped him up, he snuggled his tiny head under my chin, then gave me the sweetest little kiss on the chin. WELL!!! That was it ... He didn't mind the girlie bed, and has always been the sweetest creature ever born ...

Jorr, they are always our puppies, aren't they? cmcfong, you always have a special place in your heart for them, I know. We lost two other Cairns, and we miss them to this day!

By the way, he loved his dinner and has enough filet scraps for a few more meals. He's happy ...

Would've posted sooner but from late Friday night through the day yesterday, I got a "down for maintenance" message every time I tried to get to Fodor's. I assume everyone else did too? I notice there seems to be a gap in posting times. But people seem to have been able to get on Friday night.

Anyway, does anyone notice any difference after the maintenance? (I hope I spelled that right. I'm on IE rather than AOL, so don't have my spell check!)

STW, it was a peaceful week until early Thursday evening....

RAVE: Our DD flew in for a long break. Because of the way Fall Break, her classes and Yom Kippur worked out, she wound up with a 10 day break. We originally thought we wouldn't see her from the time we dropped her in late August until she came home for Christmas. So we're quite pleased about this! A lot of her friends are also home this weekend. So we've had to share her company. But most of them are going back today!

Hope you're enjoying the weekend with your son, STW!

Patrick, I hope your mother is comfortable and at peace. Sounds like she still has her sense of humor! I know this has been a long road for you.

Because of all those hours that I couldn't get on and having a busy weekend, I haven't carefully read all of the previous posts. My apologies on not sending individual good wishes to all who need them. But I hope all of you have a great week!

Lovely story about how you met Trissie, Bonnie. Thanks for sharing. A sealyham, a wirehaired fox and a scottie have also spent their lives with me and I will always have a special place for terriers.

Just checked in to see what was going on while I was gone this weekend.

I was kind of wondering where you were Patrick. Hadn't seen a post for awhile. Your mom sounds wonderful..that must be where you get your wit. Hope she is more comfortable now. That's amazing about your meds, what good luck for you and what a nice friend.

Rave: I got my wine celler restocked at Concannon and Fenestre in the Livermoore Valley. Boy is that place growing. Will be like Sonoma in a few more years.

LoveItaly: I waived a few hours ago as I was going through Vacaville. Did you see me? I saw YOU you bad girl. I'll never tell.

stw,
Amen, but mammos are not enough: the men need prostate screens and we all need colorectal/oscopy exams every 5 years.
M

Rant: On the subject of lost jewelry, have been unable to locate my diamond and gold wedding ring that disappeared down a small hole/crack in the floorboards of our rented cottage (and as renters, we can't rip up the floorboards to look further). Waiting to hear what the insurance co says and wearing in the meantime a $15 fake from Dillards.

Rant: Over 8" of rain in the Lehigh Valley in 24 hours! My friends there say they almost wish they'd gotten the 8 feet of snow instead (if, as some say, an inch of rain is equal to a foot of snow).

Rave: Had a lovely trip in the Teutoburger Wald region of Germany and stocked up on yummy, fizzy federweisser wine. It doesn't keep more than 10 days, so have to get busy drinking it up.

Rave: Am back in Brussels for a few weeks, with day trips planned to Paris, Brugge, The Hague and Aachen, Germany.

Rave: Gorgeous fall weather, perfect for picnics, and unlike early fall in Pennsylvania, no uninvited guest yellowjackets!

Rave: Love hearing how Portland (OR) just keeps getting better and better...if we move back to the U.S., that's number 1 on our list.

Rant: The earthquake in Pakistan/Inda. So sad, a few of our neighbors in the UK have family there, hope they are all ok.

Oh BTilke, how sad about your wedding ring..that is terrible. What is it about us Fodorite lately and lost jewerly? I truly hope that somehow you can retrive your ring. Best wishes to you.

And Crefloors, for crying out loud!!! I tried to pretend that I didn't see you and you didn't see me...so you have to tell the whole Fodor's world! Thanks so much, LOL.

Not too worry LoveItaly, your secrets are safe with me...we'll just keep em' guessin"!!!!!! LOL

Hey crefloors, I will contact the Vacaville Chamber of Commerce Monday and suggest to them that their new motto be "What happens in Vacaville stays in Vacaville!" Of course the fact that nothing ever happens in Vacaville is besides the point, LOL. Take care, and have a good week! Glad you had a fun time in the Bay Area.

I'm not too upset, one of these days, I'll get to pick out a nice new one. Anyway, this was my second ring...my husband accidentally threw out the original! It was my fault--I heard it bounce off the nightstand when I went to bed and I was too lazy to get up and look for it under the bed. The next day, I forgot about it when I went off to get our morning cappuccinos at our favorite coffee shop in Eugene. While I was out, my husband decided that was the one day he was going to sweep out all the dust bunnies from under the bed and the ring went out in the trash with them. We could have gone dumpster diving to try and retrieve it but...anyway, I liked the second one better than the first, so the third should be terrific...who knows, at this rate, by the time we celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary, I may have a rock worthy of Liz Taylor ;-)

Hey BTilke, you know the saying. The third one is the charmer, LOL. You are a good sport! Take care.

CAPH, that's a nice long break for your daughter to enjoy - it's nice to have unexpected gifts such as visits from our kids. They love to spend time with their friends, don't they

We had a wonderful weekend. The oldest decided to also come home too. This time we went out to eat or ordered in so that way it would be a bit more relaxing for me. The one thing that I enjoy the most is the noise they make - brings big smiles to my face Always takes just a day or two for me to re-adjust once they head out.

Wishing you and everyone else a great week!

That does sound like a nice weekend, seetheworld. I'm off to work in the dust bowl this week. Tomorrow I have to get up at 5am to catch a 7am plane. UGH. I won't be able to surf during working hours, but I'm bringing my laptop so I'll be in touch in the evenings.

Happy week, all.

Have a good week PM. Look forward to seeing you online in the evenings

"The one thing that I enjoy the most is the noise they make - brings big smiles to my face"

At this point, even hearing the two of them argue has a bit of joy in it. At least it means they're both here!

For years my husband worked odd hours which, even though I was a stay at home mom and my kids were in school, meant that I had virtually no time alone. Now I find myself in a situation where my husband is still working long hours, my oldest is away at school and my youngest is out with his friends most weekend evenings and has organized activities other evenings. So, all of a sudden, I'm finding myself with lots of time alone! (Only a preview of what it'll be like when he goes off to school in two years.)

And that's not necessarily a bad thing. I'm getting more done and catching up on my reading! But it's an adjustment and one more example that the only constant in life is change!

And, STW, I do miss that noise!