Good morning from sunny but cold Central New Jersey. Most of the leaves are now off the trees. I actually heard Christmas music on the radio in my car yesterday, as I was scanning the stations. Yikes...I'm not ready.

Rave- Kind people.

Rant- Medication side effects. I'll mostly be lurking for awhile because I'm having concentration problems. My MD wants me to hold on because I really need this med. Oh well...

Rave- DD#1 is in Europe visiting London and Paris. I envy her being 22 years old, gainfully employed, and footloose and fancy free.

Rave- DD#2 coming home for Thanksgiving on Tuesday.

Rave- DS#2 accepted to college for January. We went to visit Wednesday and complete paperwork.

Congratulations to all for the wonderful news and for those facing trials, hang in there. Again, I apologize for being unable to name people individualy in their achievements but I am foggy from my meds.

But do have a lovely and family filled Thanksgiving. God bless.

rave: Go I2, go! Have a fabulous anniversary weekend. Ditto your remarks about friends!

rave: My 20 second grade students! They amaze me daily. They are awesome human beings and give me hope for our future.

rant: This site is flat now where it used to have texture. I hate change.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

-Bill

Rave - Feeling better after what I think was the Flu. Is it flu season yet???
Sunny day, good freinds, great family!!

Rant- I agree with SandyBrit no direct flights between UK and St. Louis- weren't those the good ole days!!

Ridiculous bans on this forum!
Have a great weekend everyone and HappyThanksgiving a bit early!!!!

rave: barcelona was great! the flights, hotel, and food were top notch. trip report to come...

rave: thanksgiving! so much to be thankful for, and it's my favorite holiday. my friend, and bf are coming this year! double rave.

rave: my mom got a new cat! dear ((@))otto has my heart, but he was looking for the companionship. the more the merrier i say!

happy friday!
:D

Rant: same as others' -- banishments and deletions without comment, explanation or apology.

Rave: seeing so many friends on "the other side." But I feel exactly as MelissaHI -- disjointed now in both places, but Fodors is in any case no longer "home" for travel chat for me.

Rave: FFR&R
Rave: cool crisp weather

Greetings my FFR&R'ers ~

STW ~ So many congrats sweetie for passing your test, well done! =D>

PM ~ Yeah! So happy about your new job, what a relief that must be.

jersey ~ a hug for you!

Hi Jorr ~ I think the nice weather this weekend down here will melt all of our snow, what about up there where you are? :)

Indytravel ~ Bon voyage!

CD ~ Happy ((L)) Anniversary!

Ethel ~ You go girl, and have fun with those dresses.

SandyBrit ~ I am sorry, I know it is not easy to see the ones we love age, is it? My best wishes.

Iamq ~ I concur.

:(
I really can't even think about raving this week because Mr. Tiff and I received some very sad news that a friend of ours has terminal cancer. He is 44. He just went in a few days ago because "he wasn't feeling well". They found two large tumors, did biopsies and it so very sad that the type of cancer he has does not respond to chemo or radiation. I cannot tell you how this breaks our hearts for him and his family. He is the type of person that never has a bad word to say about anyone. Always a smile on his face, very kind, very loving.

Hug each other, hug your family. Call and tell those you love that you love them. Enjoy a blessed Thanksgiving with one another.

I will ditto STW and end with:
Peace & ((L)) Tiff

Rave: My brother and his fiancee are coming "home" for Thanksgiving. He's been living in Ireland for 25 years but for the past 10 years he's made the trip back for Thanksgiving.

Rave: Thanksgiving is such a wonderful holiday. One weekday out of the year to celebrate family and friends, to count your blessings. So very inclusive - no religious affliation but still spiritual in nature.

Rave: My Thanksgiving blessings include a happy healthy family and extended family. Enough money in the bank to not have to worry too much. Roof over our heads. Good jobs. Strong marriage.

Best wishes to all Fodorites at this time of year. Prayers for those who are struggling with health issues for themselves or their family.

PM - so glad everything is working out.
cd - 45 years! WOW
seetheworld - congratulations and enjoy your upcoming trip to Portsmouth.
iamq - bet your 2nd graders and their parents appreciate you too!

klr6773, great news about Frankie! ((&)) Give him a pat for us ...

Happy 45th anniversary to you, cd! @};- And happy anniversary to you as well, Iceeu2 ... ((l)) Many, many more to both of you ...

Congrats on your weight-loss, ethel! However, I'm sure you will be a gorgeous bride, in any case! :-)

Tiff, so sorry to hear about your friend! Many friends become like family, really ... I am losing my brother, as we speak, and so I know the pain you feel.

RANT: Situations that leave people feeling "disjointed," as noted above, and torn between because, somehow, things have spun out of control ... :-(

Again, have a wonderful Thanksgiving,all ...

Tiff
Thank you for the anniversary wishes.
I am so sorry to hear of your friends news. I'm sure your friendship and support will be a bright spot for him and his family.

RAve - Heading to the Big Apple next week !!! Rant - I have to go for work. Rave - We've already started planning 2006 vacations. Rant - That seems like a long way off but I know it isn't.

Rave--Fun weekend planned. Football, OMSI, and more football!

Rant/rave--At our sons Championship football game last weekend he had his best game of the year! The rant part is that his good friend had a serious foot injury.

Rave--Lucked out again this week and now almost all my Christmas shopping is done. Now if I can manage some will power and not buy any more unnecessary stuff, lol!

Rave--Heading to Seattle this week and will spend time with old friends as well as family.

STW--Congratulations!

iceeu2 and cd--Happy Anniversarys!

PM--So glad things have all turned around for you:)

Rant: Hurtful behavoir and name calling, be it from the powerful or the less powerful.

Rant: All censorship OR any alteration with "creative editing".

Rave: Winter that just blew in and finding the 26 lbs turkey I needed at 10pm at night- love occurrence of both.

Rave: Indytraveler's Paris trip and I get to hear about it on Dec. 10.

Rave: Dec. 10 GTG details fully in the works and so many people coming with multiples now, what fun to meet and give faces to all those names!

Rave: makai1 who is fantastic and took some great pictures of the other end of the White Sox rally (opposite from the end I was at) and so now I have GREAT photo wall for my Thanksgiving.
Thank you again, makai1.

Rave: Books- try Lisa See's new one "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan"- will take you to another time and place and you'll never complain about tight shoes again. Best new book in ages and its about friendship.

Rant: Having to go take a Driver's License Written test etc. at the farthest facility because my local doesn't give it and just "because". I just "love" the State of IL. That's exactly what I need to do right now- the week before Thanksgiving. It will take at least 1/2 of Saturday.

Rant: Medicine side effects, especially with statins. Health problems in general- especially chronic ones.

Rave: Life, travel and new places- yet being able to enjoy the tradition and memories of those over 80- with all their knowledge. Lucky me!

Happy Thanksgiving EVERYONE; all of us here have SO much to be thankful for.

Thanks bonniebroad, you made me blush.

Tiff--I'm so sorry to hear about your friend. My thoughts are with you.

Rave: The NC GTG tomorrow night.

Rave: Had a bit of rain this week.
Rant: Not enough rain to make a dent into the drought numbers.
Rant: Enough rain for the grass to grow so I'll spend tomorrow doing yard work before the GTG.

Rave: my brother is visiting for Thanksgiving.

Rant: major change in health insurance at work. Employees have decided it's best to just not get sick because I'm not sure if we can afford to visit health care professionals.

Congratulations to all who have lost weight. I think I found it if you want it back.

Happy Thanksgiving to all. I'll be away from the computer next week so I'll miss the next FFR&R.

Rave: I'm happy to see that some of the regulars haven't been banned (yet)and are still posting.

Rant: Still wondering where all these new people suddenly came from. Hmmmm....

Tiff--I think we posted at the same time. I am so sorry to hear this. I am sure your friendship will help him, but still I can only imagine how hard it will be for everyone.

Happy Friday!

Rave: Getting though today's workload & client meeting this afternoon... weekend will be better & with less stress.

Rant: Things here ain't what they used to be.

Wishing good things to all the good people here.

Jersey, hope your meds help what they need to & are worth the trade offs. Will be thinking of you.

Indy- have a great trip!

SAnParis - Planning trips for '06? I'm in to '07 already! No shortage of desired destinations either!

Cold here in NJ but at least the sun is shining.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! Trish

I don't know if its a Rant or a Rave but the mention of "Chestnuts" brought back a treasured memory. My wife hated Mel Torme who wrote Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire. So when living in Billings I bought some and pulled the BBQ out to the snow covered driveway, roasted them when my wife's car pulled in. My two little kids and I started singing the song in our Winter attire and the look on her face was amazement and love. I miss her.

hello all, I never ranted or raved before but will chime in with good wishes for all who remain. I feel bad for folks who were on vacation for a week and now come back saying "huh? what happened?" to the board. I am sad but at least I know what went on.

John, whenever I roast my chestnuts, I will think of you. The Velvet Fog always moved me with that song. Another was 'Gone with the wind," that was released at the time I lost a loved one.