Freaky Friday Rants and Raves 11-25
 

Rant: Brawls in Wal-Mart b-(

Rave: Brawls in Wal-Mart C:-)

Rave: seeing how much snow there is when it get light in about a half hour.

Rave: A "White" Thanksgiving morning :D Great food and fun with family on Thanksgiving!

Rant: Waking up at the crack of dawn when there is no need to b-(

There were brawls in Wal-Mart??? I swear I wasn't involved, lol :D

Happy weekend, everyone!

Rave: The generosity of citizens of our little town who continue to donate food and money to our community Food Pantry.

Our hospital emergency services held a month-long food drive and brought us (literally) a room full of food.

The delivery caused quite a stir in the neighborhood, when they brought the food to us in two ambulances! The neighbors all thought some calamity had happened in the Pantry.

The Rotary Club, the school children, and the Boy Scouts have also made contributions.

Big rave: We were able to diostrubute big bags of food to almost 200 people on Wednesday!

Maybe you can tell--the Food Pantry is our pet project!

Byrd

Rave: A balmy Thanksgiving. I am at my Dad's house in Houston for the weekend. Yesterday we swam in the pool. :-) But sometimes I wish we could get more snow. On weekends only, of course, since nobody down here can drive in it. :o

Rave: It was a fun day yesterday. I had a chance to catch up with relatives I hadn't seen in a long time.

Rant: One of my sisters and her DH have just moved to a new state. They are still broke from the move and they have no health insurance yet. About the time they arrived, my sister started getting sick and having severe stomach pain. Long story short, it's a "girl problem" and she needs a procedure to correct it. Because she has no insurance, she can't find a dr. who will do it right away. After making many calls she finally found one clinic that said they will make a payment arrangement but they want $500 down, which she does not have. These same hospitals told her if she starts bleeding, then they will take her in as an emergency patient and do the procedure immediately with no money down. So for 2 weeks she has been in excruciating pain. I wish she would have told me this 2 weeks ago because I would have sent the $ right away. But she just told me on Wednesday. I was going to send a check, but that would take several days and I want her pain to end ASAP. Instead I authorized her to use my credit card account and she is going in today.

But here's my real rant: A woman is in excruciating pain for 2 weeks, but that doesn't constitute an emergency. She must wait for the bleeding to begin before she can get any help. The doctor even said that bleeding WILL begin at some point, it's only a matter of when. Let's throw out the inhumanity of this situation and just look at cost. It seems to me like it will cost a lot more if they wait until the problem gets worse, doesn't it?? If it's going to happen sooner or later, why not fix it now?

Thanks for letting me get that off my chest. Now for more R&R's.

Rant: Wednesday was my last day at my old job. It was hard to leave such fine people.

Rave: I'm starting my new job on Monday. YAY!!

I hope you all enjoy the rest of your holiday weekend!!

I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving!

Raves:Finally feel like I caught up on a weeks worth of lost sleep last night.Hit the bed at 730 last night!

Woke up this morning to find that I won the bid on concert tickets I was hoping to get my sister for Christmas

Now I just hope all of those Black Friday shopppers don't clog up the roads and make me late for work!

Rave: Fabulous turkey dinner with all the trimmings on the beach last night. :)

Rant: I ate too much and felt like a sow. :(

Rave: First Thanksgiving Day with my DH in the past three years.

Rave: No snow here. ;)

Rave: I'm not in the maddness of Black Friday.

Rant/Rave: I'm not off work for the Thanksgiving holidays, but thankful I have a job to earn travel money.

Have a wonderful holiday weekend everyone! :)

P_M, sorry to hear about your sister. That must be terribly frustrating and worrisome. :(

Isn't the weather glorious in Houston right now? My DH just returned from there himself and loved the temps.

Rant: Sore throat started Monday

Rave: Sore throat feeling better today

Rant: We didn't travel to visit far away family this year

Rave: Had a quiet but nice Thanksgiving by ourselves (DH and I)

Rave: All far away adult children were together in October for oldest son's wedding and all will be home for Christmas

Rave: Although my mum's short term memory is failing she still remembers that I phone her every Friday morning at 1:30 pm UK time

Sandy

Rant: PM's sister's health problem. I hope she is feeling better very soon.

Rave: PM starts her new job on Monday!

Rave: PM, I have a job interview on Monday afternoon. PLease cross all of your fingers for me :) Since you won't be able to do any real work with those crossed fingers, (lol) you will just have to get by on your wit and charm :D

Statia, glad you were able to enjoy Thanksgiving with your DH!

P_M
At our hospital in our town, no one is turned away. A patient coming into ER is first triaged by a nurse, then signed in, seen by a doctor and treated, and if not admitted, pays when leaving. If they do not have insurance or the money to pay, a payment. schedule is worked out. Perhaps she spoke to the wrong person atthe hospital.

Thank you, Statia. She said she would call me later to tell me how it went, but I have a feeling she will be too groggy, so I hope my BIL calls.

Ronkala, I'm glad to hear that your hospital is a lot more caring. She told me that she made several calls, but you could be right about not talking to the right person. Sometimes you have to go up the ladder.

I have crossed my fingers, toes, and every possible extremity for stw's job interview on Monday. Should I braid my hair as well? :-))

jorr, I don't care much for Walmart, but we are supposed to get rain later this afternoon and tomorrow so we are looking for indoor activities. We had thought of visiting the art museum or Houston's new aquarium. But maybe we should go to WalMart and watch the fights!! That sounds like fun. Do they allow betting on certain fighters?

Rave_ Thaksgiving dinner went well. Smaller crowd than usual. Also no parents around. My DH's parents and my Dad have passed on and my Mom went to Birmingham to be with my brother and his family. It felt strange. But my nieces are so adorable and funny. Loved spending time with them. My girls were such huge helpers - they are really growing up on me.

Rave: Going to see Harry Potter tonight in Imax. Can't wait. DD is having 4 friends sleep over tonight as a belated birthday party.

Rave: Having friends over on Sunday to do our annual Christmas tree cutting party. No clue on what the menu will be.

P_M - Your sister is lucky to have you. I love my friends but its family that you count on.

Byrd - How wonderful!

seetheworld - good luck with the job interview!

Rave: Portugal next!

Rave: Best wishes to all.

Ciao.

Rave: My fabulous Thanksgiving! I never got out of my pajamas!

Rave: The cold weather!


What brawls in Wal-Mart?

Rant: Stupid Holiday commercials. Anyone remember that stupid Fran Drescher Old Navy thing?

Rave: Good holiday commericals in cluding Coke (I'd like to teach the world to sing), Budweiser horses, and the Hershey Kisses handbells.

Rave: First time I can remember that every single solitary blood family relation showed up for my Thanksgiving. We were 32. My niece came from Columbus OH all by herself. I think that everybody knows that yesterday was probably my Mom's last one. But it was terrific.

Rant: Never had it happen before, but of all ironic things, one person (who never brings a thing usually) showed up with the dreaded GBC. Green Bean Casserole if you know what I mean. The one that has never entered my house. LOL!

Rave: 3 days off to pick up the pieces.

Rave: Youngest generation helped much more than the average. Middle generation actually cooked; one deep fried the second turkey. Both are totally gone, 26lbs and 15lbs- and both totally wiped out by 6pm.

Rave: I don't shop.

Rave: I have time to go to my local public library and pick up 4 books and 3 books on tape that they are holding for me.

Rave: My brother is home from Iraq and looks to be only taking states-side jobs in the future.

Rant: Bad health news from my sister. Lumpectomy this week.

Rave: Life, always mountains to climb-but worth the ride.

Rant-People who act goofy shopping for Christmas.

Rave-Great Thanksgiving!

Rant-Elder relatives and failing health.


Have a great weekend everyone!

I have absolutely no business being on the computer right now. We're leaving to drive down to my MIL's as soon as my husband returns from chemo (his last one!!). Don't really think we should be making this trip as he was sick the entire weekend after the last chemo. However, he's determined!

Anyway, came on to clear some e-mail while waiting for a dryer load to finish. And, of course, couldn't resist checking this thread! Just had time to skim through it. But I wanted to take a second to wish you good luck with your new job on Monday, P_M. And you good luck with your job interview, seetheworld!

Great weekend everyone!

Greetings all my FFR&R'ers ~

STW ~ Good luck with you interview on Monday... I'd hire ya in a sec!

PM ~ You're a great sis. I am sorry for the pain your sister had to endure. Don't even get me started on health care in this country. I hope she feels better soon.
p.s. Good luck with starting your new job on Monday. You and STW have big Mondays!

JJ5 ~ A prayer for your sis.

CAPH ~ Yeah on your hubby's last chemo! Maybe the thrill of having it be his last one will help with his strength. His determination is inspiring.

OWJ ~ Sending you a hug today.

Rave ~ The wonderful attitude my friend (that was diagnosed with terminal cancer) has, it would make all of you smile. What a tremendous person, he is so brave, and every time I see or speak with him he laughs at my dumb jokes and makes me laugh too. Thank you all for all your good wishes in last week's FFR&R. They were a great comfort to me. He has an appointment at Mayo 12/2. There is always hope. I am bringing him fresh baked chocolate chip cookies this Monday for our visit.

Rave ~ Waking to a snowy morning with no place to go, it still makes me feel like a little kid.

Rave ~ FFR&R

No rants.

Everyone have a blessed and safe holiday weekend.

((L)) Tiff

Just got back inside after loading up a large truck mounted snow blower. It took an hour and my fingers are numb. Its 17 degrees and lots of wind and snow.....as I type without feeling the keys!

GoTravel, The brawl was in Orlando I think. Five men duking it out on the floor over a lap top computer and other lap tops being thrown on top of people who were fighting for them. Some people fled the building. Crazy People in Wal-Mart. Also did you know that anyone who knows your email address can google it and read anything you have written on this board or anywhere else on the internet you have left your email address? Just thought you and others might want to know. Instead of using @ you can type in [at]. Maybe many of you already know this, if so just ignore this!!!

I forgot another rave and rant.

Rave: The extent my parents do to make a nice Thanksgiving. And to all who had a nice Thanksgiving no matter where you were or who you spent it with be it family or friends.

Rant: my angry, impatiant, cranky alcoholic brother who once again blindly made the rest of us as uneasy as he could and threw a fit at the dinner table shouting at me, and later blowing off Mom when she was talking about some problems she was having....then shouting at her. Aaarrgggg. I'm almost dreading Christmas because of him.

Rave: I'm so thankful this thread continues!It's hard for some people to understand how we can all love each other on this crazy board, but I do!!

Good luck STW. I'm crossing my fingers and eyes for you!

To all with health problems (yours or your loved one): wishing you the best.

Joprr- a friend of mine video-taped an obnoxious, drunk relative at Christmas once. Sent him the tape later. He didn't show up for a while, but eventually quit drinking.

My biggest rave- I finally got at the hotels and transportation reservations locked up for my trip to India on Monday! Nothing like going at high season with only a couple of weeks to plan! But we got some awesome hotels in some great cities!

Rant: A white, cold, icy Thanksgiving day. A nightmare for me - my leg is still in a cast and crutches don't work well on ice!!!

Rave: A wonderful, delicious T-day with loved ones. Great food, too.

Rant: I can't get out of the house to shop.

Rave: I'm doing it all on line (and probably saving lots of $$$ doing so).

Rant: So many fodorites and their family/friends suffering from problems and illness! :-(

Rave: Long weekend!

Have a great weekend everyone!

PM, sorry about your sister. Hate to be a Mondy morning quarterback, but excruciating pain can justify a trip to the ER, where they probably would have treated first, then billed later. (Unless you are in some super small town with little oversight). Then when the bill comes, you can often negotiate the price down, hospitals will often do that for people w/no insurance.

THANKSGIVING RANT: Jesus H. Christ, I'm 37 years old, so Mom, stop with the unsolicited advice on how to live my life and raise my kid. Just because I don't do it the way you did it doesn't make it wrong.

Xmas shopping Rant: Why do people so much money on Xboxes? I just don't get it.

weather rant: Spring, spring, when do we get spring? It's not supposed to be 19 degrees in Tennessee.

Rave -- I'm lucky to live in this country, with a roof over my head, a healthy kid and people who care about me. I wish all of that for all of you.

Thanks to all who have wished my sister well. droolpatrol, I have been thinking about this all day, and if I had known what was going on sooner, I would have told her just to walk into a hospital and ask for treatment instead of making phone calls. I think it's a lot easier to turn someone away over the phone than to do it in person, especially when they can see the pain a person is in. Anyway, her procedure was scheduled for 1:00pm Fodors time, so I am anxiously awaiting the phone call that everything is OK.

Jorr, I'm sorry to hear that you brother is still being a jerk. If you haven't done so already, please join Ala-non. They really helped DH and me to deal with my BIL. As you may recall from a previous FFR&R thread, my BIL was causing a lot of trouble because he was a substance abuser. Ala-non cannot cure your brother, but they can help you and your family to deal with him. Good Luck.

Praying for all of you facing medical procedures and/or supporting those who do.

Rave: We had a great Thanksgiving feast on Wednesday. My oldest dd and her wonderful husband were here.

Rave: Slept in on Thursday and goofed around in general.

Rant: No money to shop at the moment.

Rave: It's a good thing we don't do Black Friday! :-) We did, actually, for the first time last year, but it's not necessarily something I'd want to repeat.

Lee Ann

Happy Thanksgiving weekend, all! Enjoy your new job, P_M, and good luck with your interview, STW! :-) P_M, so sorry for your sister's misery, and I do hope you have had good news by now!

RAVE: Wonderful Thanksgiving day with family in the North Carolina mountains. Two wonderful visits with my 91 year old Mom, who can remember very little anymore, but I can tell by the sweet sparkle in her eyes that she remembers me, her baby daughter! :-)

RAVE: Unlimited long distance when we have eight-year old granddaughters far away ... who want to talk to Granny on Thanksgiving and describe every Christmas ornament as they put it on the tree! :-d

RANT: Injuries to my beloved Carolina Hurricanes ...... losing about one guy a game! :-( Please, please, please, Hockey Gods!!! Let us beat Toronto tonight ...

Have a great weekend, all!

raves
72nd birthday Sunday.
Reached the two gallon mark as a blood donor this month.
The daily views of the Massanutten and Allegheny mountains east and west of us.

Rave: After Thanksgiving Day dinner (and dessert), our family finalized our itinerary for our trip to Italy in June! Ten of us - that's three generations folks.

Rant: Friday morning at 6:30, DH's new cell phone rang very, very loudly to the tune of "When the Saint's Coming Marching In" He's just got to change that tune.

Update: My sister called late yesterday afternoon. She was tired, emotional, and hadn't eaten all day but the procedure went well.

Happy birthday on Sunday to ronkala, and congrats on 2 gallons!!

PM, it sounds like your sister has been through a lot. I hope she recovers very quickly from her ordeal. Sisters are very special.

And yes, please braid your hair. And if you wouldn't mind, please yodel every hour on the hour, for added good luck. Best of luck to you on Monday -- I'm so happy for you!

I can see it now: It's my first day on the job. I show up with braided pigtails and I'm yodeling every hour. They will think they have hired the Swiss Miss girl!! But OK, I'll do it. Anything for my pal seetheworld. :-)

PM, I'm glad your sister's procedure went well. As for the Swiss Miss yodeling thing, humm, not so sure about that! Good luck to you and to your sister.

ronkala, Congratulations on your 72nd birthday. Yahoo and Happy Birthday.

Jorr

PM great news about your sister, but awful about what she went through to get to that good point. You're right--next time just walk into the ER . Where I work, there's a rule that if you show up at the ER they must see you. (That might be an medi-cal assoicated law).

CAPH--hope the last chemo went well for your husband, wihout too many nasty side effects. Working on an oncology unit, I'm amazed by advances in chemo in the last 20 years. Good wishes!
To BonnieB, SandyBrit, JJ5, and all who mentioned their parents--
how great that they are alive to share one more Thanksgiving with you. Bonnie,
loved that bit about your Mom remembering her baby girl!!
RAVE: To all, if you're saddened by end of this 4 day weekend , reminder that in few weeks, there'll two consecutive long weekends!!

Thanks, it was super.

And don't forget also that Dec. 10 is the GTG in Chicago. We have a large group coming.
Cafe Iberico 749 N. Lasalle 12:30pm
Reservations under Jeanette
Dec. 10 Saturday

RAVE: Having the privilege and honor of being the baby sister to my magnificent eldest brother for sixty-one years. He left us this morning, age 72, and I will so much miss the beautiful music he played for us, the incredible paintings that told all about his love for nature and his fellow creatures, and his joy in sharing the bounty of his incredible vegetable gardens every year. He was a treasure ... sweetness and kindness radiated from him, always. Thank you, Big Brother, you will always be in my heart ... @};-

Bonnie, what a sweet tribute. I know you must be feeling his loss terribly. May your faith support you and your family.

Bonnie, You are very fortunate that you had a big brother you have looked up to and admired. I only wish I could say the same.

I am sure he adored you as much as you adored him. Your post really shows your admiration of him. He sounds like he was a very nice person. I hope someone will be able to replant his vegetable garden next spring to keep his memory alive. I'm sure he would like that.

Jorr

Oh Bonnie, my condolences!

Hi Bonnie, your post brought tears to my eyes. My deepest sympathies.

Oh Bonnie, I'm so sorry about your brother. My big brother died 3 years ago and I feel his loss everyday. I'll add yours to my prayers.