Rave: The annual Christmas Fruit Cake debate. I say there is a ninth fruit cake orbiting beyond Uranus.

Rant: Renewing Norton Antivirus on my computer. Three hours online and phone, and pages of hand written notes? And they double charged me.

Rave: My dog. ((&))

Rant: Driving down a narrow city street last night, a driver in the opposite direction clips my driver's side mirror. It could have been avoided if he had stayed on his side of the street. You can only park on one side of the street, and the parked cars were on my side, so I couldn't move right without hitting one of them.

Anyhow, I stop, the other driver backs up to me, accuses (sp?) me of hitting him. I tell him he was on my side of the street and I couldn't move over without hitting the parked cars. He continues to accuse me of hitting his car. He tells me he's calling the cops. I tell him the Buffalo cops have better things to do and are NOT going to respond any time soon to a broken mirror report and tell him I am leaving. We both have broken mirrors, let's just deal with it and go on. He gets out of his car all full of attitude and starts walking toward me (and my car full of kids). I'm not certain if he has something in his other hand or if I just see the beige lining of his coat. I'm not gonna stick around to find out. I say "buh bye" and drive away. He chases us down the middle of the street until I speed away. I drive home and tell my husband what happened before continuing on to the movies.

Idiot other driver memorizes my license # and calls cops. They show up at my house. Luckily, cop doesn't believe idiot, my husband gives him my side, cop says I did the right thing by leaving. Officer said idiot got into his face and gave him attitude, too. Idiot went knocking on doors looking for witnesses (witnesses to a mirror collision). He left his 2 year old daughter in the car....no car seat, no seat belt....nadda....nothing....and went looking for witnesses. He told the police officer that I got out of my car, threatened him and swore at him. NOT! I knew the idiot was trouble immediately and that's why I left. And no, I did not leave the scene of an accident!

I'm just not happy that idiot now has my name. I drove around the block tonight to make sure he wasn't parked in front of my house! (Jorr, maybe he's related to your mail man!)

Sorry, just needed to get that off my chest.

Rave: Harry Potter at the IMAX theater. Awesome!!!

Rave: Had a wonderful Christmas.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

Rant: My Dad being rushed to emergency Christmas night wasn't the kind of holiday I was looking forward to.

Big rave: He survived and is on the road to recovery. And that's all that matters.

Happy New Year, everyone.

What a frightening experience, Buffalogirl! You think the creep had been drinking? Or just has an anger management problem?

RAVE: We're going to Ireland in March!!!

No rants!

Happy New Year everyone!

Wow, Jorr, you're on top of things!

Buffgirl--Scary! Glad you're ok though!!

April--Sorry about your dad but happy to hear he'll be all right soon

BIG, FAT, HAIRY RAVE: I passed my Praxis (teacher certification exam). I have been teaching for eons but thanks to NCLB, had to take this #%$# exam. I walked out of there *positive* I failed miserably. I'm sure someone messed up but I have it in writing that I passed! Can't tell you how stressed I've been over this stupid thing.

Rant: We bought a new bed in July and the Simmons mattress was defective. Long story, short, dealing with the retailer Mattress Expo has been an absolute nightmare. It took 2mo. of phone calls, faxes and snailmail--and sending photos 2x--to get them to even respond to us. When they admitted this 5mo. old mattress was defective, they tried to rip us off after we reselected a new mattress. This other mattress set was $200 more than ours in July and $200 more last week yet they expected us to give them $750 for it! We had no problems paying the $200 difference and told them that right off the bat but the cust. service manager was unyeilding and ended up hanging up on my husband (who incidently would not reveal her supervisor's name). We've never filed a report with the BBB but did in this case. (And they're members of the BBB)

Rave: We got a new mattress today, not the one we reselected, but the original model. Hopefully this one will be fine b/c we never, ever want to deal with Mattress Expo again.

Rave: OWJ2 and I told eachother we weren't going to buy eachother holiday gifts because we bought the house this year but neither of us kept our word by a long shot. He surpried me with a gorgeous bracelet from Tiffany's and I got him a Tag Heuer watch. Maybe next year we should put a $$ limit on what we're not going to spend.

Rave: My husband already put in for vacation time for June--not sure where we're going but Italy is in the running (So is W. Canada, Meesthere!)

Rant: If he takes that other job (which is STILL on hold!) I doubt we'll be able to go away for 2wks.

Rave: 2006 is almost here. It's been a difficult and stressful 2005--happy to see a new year begin.

Best wishes to all for a happy, healthy and travel-filled New Year's!! May good things happen for all of us in 2006!

Rave: met the Kals again tonight.
Double Rave: Kuranosuke from the Asia board (here at fodors) made it!
Triple Rave: Another GTG here in Honolulu tomorrow at Don Ho's in Aloha Tower Marketplace (1130)

Rant: Wish you all were here. Happy New Year everyone!

April,

So glad to hear that your dad is on the road to recovery.

Rave: Our family has had a fabulous time in San Antonio this week and is heading home tomorrow (can't wait to see my pup!). Had the pleasure of watching our Huskers win an unbelievably exciting Alamo Bowl game last night. The Michigan fans were fun to meet and talk with--just a great bowl game atmosphere. I'm planning on posting a trip report as soon as we get home--tonight we did a ghost hunting tour! Cheesy but fun.

Rant: That my nocturnal teens are still up and peppy in the hotel room at 12:13 a.m. Even though we're in a suite, we're all starting to feel a little cooped up. Time to go home!

Buffalo girl, I am glad you got home safely, how frightening for you.
April, glad you dad is going to be alright.
OWJ- gifting is such fun though!! lol..we are doing it on NYE also Congrats on passing that test!

Rave:
I think life is a rave these days

Happy New Year!!

Congratulations, OWJ! I'm so glad to hear that you passed the test (not that I ever doubted it)!

What a nice rave, Scarlett! Kinda sums it all up!

Rave: A new year coming up and a chance for improvement!

Rant: Crazy driver that hit our new car while parked and drove away without so much as a note. Have to pay the $500 deductible due to someone else's carelessness.

Rave: Returning a bunch of Christmas presents to the mall this weekend and hopefully getting good stuff in exchange.

Rant: Going to the mall. I try to go to the mall as little as possible... too many people and parking is a mess.

Rave: In-laws finally settled with the insurance company over significant Katrina damage to their house. They got what they deserved!

Rant: FIL losing his job due to Katrina. Hopefully he'll get hired back within the next few weeks.

Rave: I will take next week off!!!!

Minor Rant: I was not sure if I would manage to do so, so I did not make any travel plans (besides I am flat broke after Spain vacation and Paris getaway).

Rave: I live in a vacation destination island so there are tons of things to do even if we dont go anywhere

Rant: I am going to HAVE to take next week off because the software that was developed for my project is full of bugs and needs to be fixed. The internal guy that can help fix it is on vacation in SPAIN!!!!!! While we were supposed to be running our informal testing! Obviously, he did not clear his vacation with me! But then again, how can you stay angry at someone that is in lovely Spain....I'm just green with envy.

Rave: My bad cold is finally going away so I am looking forward to our regular block party for New Year.

Rant/Rave: The government and the civic leaders are doing a wonderful job raising awareness of the dangers of shooting into the air on the New Year midnight. Every year innocent bystanders get killed this way in Puerto Rico. Why would anyone do this?!?!?! Barbaric....

Major Rave: 2005 was a wonderful year for me...I got an interesting new project at work that could lead to a promotion eventually...I walked 150 kms of the Camino de Santiago in Spain. (this had been a major goal for many years)...Several family health scares turned out to be nothing serious...I did my first real solo trip...to PARIS!!! I am looking forward to 2006

To all Fodorites: Best wishes and many frequent flier miles for 2006

To jorr:

Rave: Trend Micro make the best anti-virus software out there. The version I use is Trend Micro PC-illin (sp) (about $40-50/year).
I had Norton & it did not catch a virus on my PC while Trend Micro did. You know those weekly updates you get from Norton? Well Trend Micro updates come every day. It makes you wonder what Norton is doing in the mean time. I really recommend Trend Micro.

Greg

Rave: Just decided to take today off and have a 'me' day. Not sure what I am going to do, but I am not a work and that's a big plus.

To all my Fodor's friends, have a happy, healthy and safe New Year. Here's to 2006.

BG, thank God you are OK after an encounter with that idiot!!

April, glad your dad is OK.

mah1980, sorry about your car, that happened to me and it stinks.

OWJ, many congrats to you!! We knew you could do it!! I'll drink an extra glass of champagne in your honor tomorrow night.

Rave: This sucky year 2005 is ending!! HOORAY!!

Rave: Although it's been a bad year, it's ending on a high note for me.

Wishing all of my Fodor pals a happy and healthy 2006!!

BuffaloGirl, how scary! Glad to hear the authorities believe you and not the idiot.

April, so sorry to hear about your dad, but glad he's on the road to recovery.

OWJ, congrats on the exam!

Rave: A wonderful Christmas and Boxing Day holiday with my DH "OFF" for a change.

Rave: Barring any problems at work, he'll technically be off for New Years, too! I'm just not used to this!

Rave: Seeing the smiles on the faces of needy children on the island who we delivered toys to for Christmas. That is all we need each year for Christmas.

Rave: Wonderful holiday meals with dear friends.

Rave: A new year, a fresh start.

Rave: Having to only work until noon today....provided I get everything done that I need to.

Rave: Getting Monday off due to New Years falling on Sunday.

Rave: A good year with health, happiness, family, good friends, and travel. What more could one ask for?

Rave: Looking forward to an even better year ahead in 2006.

Wishing all of you, my Fodorite friends, a happy and healthy 2006, full of wonderful traveling adventures.

Rave: three-day weekend approaching (HNY to Fodorites!)
Rant: need to do housework during those days
Rant: snow fall yesterday -- but (rave) got numerous errands done before it started

Rave: had a nice Christmas -- just my spouse and I at my mother's

Sadness: a co-worker's spouse died yesterday

Looking forward to 2006!

Jorr--I went through that nonsense last year and now I keep getting the reminders to renew for this coming year Aaaaaahhh!!!

Sorry to hear about the auto mishaps (and random psychos in Buffalo).

Rave- Off work for the week.

Rant- Have to correct the 85 "Renaissance essays" I brought home with me!

Rant- Tried to see "Capote" last night at the only place showing it locally (50 seat theatre) and it was already sold out.

Rave-Instead walked the streets of the charming town chatting with a good friend. Weather was mild and we had a nice time amid the 18th century homes on the narrow streets.

Nothing else.

Happy New Year to everyone!

BuffaloGirl; how frightenin and you absolutely did the right thing.

Rave: I have my health.

Rave: My wonderful gorgeous silly husband is healthy as a horse.

Rave: The glass is half full.

Rave: I may be broke but my second stepchild is getting ready to graduate from college. What a feeling that is!

Rave: My stinky rotten spoiled kittys. My new one (from last year) was playing with my velcro rollers and got one stuck to her head and was running around the house with it on the side of her head. Silly girl.

Rave: The weather is wonderful.

Rave: I'm a happy girl and have a lot to be thankful for.

I've heard Capote is fantastic and that Phillip Seymour Hoffman is a likely Oscar pick.

Unfortunately, it's not playing here yet.

You'll have to give a report of the movie once you're able to see it.

April - more healing to your Dad.
BuffaloGirl - We were side swipped a few years ago and the guy just kept going, I wanted to turn around and give chase but my husband wisely said no for fear of him being an idiot like the one you describe. We had to replace the whole door at our cost but it was a dark country road and my husband's decision was a good one.

OWJ: Congratulations! I know it feels good to have that pressure off.

Rave: Family coming over tonight for dinner and a movie.

Rave: Friends coming over for dinner and a movie tomorrow night.

Rave: Monday will bring more family for pork and saurekraut (sp?)

Rant: No time to clean house...oh well, maybe that's a rave.

Happy New Year to all!