Just want to say hello to everybody, I am so busy at work, accounting year-end.

Hello to you too, Faina. :-)

When I posted this morning I was in a hurry and trying to post on the sly from work. I'm sure many Fodorites can relate to that. :P I don't get a lot of free time on this job like I did at my old job, but that's OK, it makes the time go fast.

OWJ, why not just 'fess up, you and OWJ2 wore out that new mattress quickly, if ya know what I mean. ((K)) Lucky you, DH and I have had the same mattress for 4 years and it's still as good as new. Somehow having a sturdy mattress no longer seems like a good thing. :-(

Hi, stw!! DH likes his job very much, he is learning all sorts of new things. I am so glad to hear the news of your son, please keep us posted until the all clear is given. Hey, I just thought of something. In 6 months time there will be another Fodor's GTG in NY. Your son's all clear will be cause for celebration!! ((y))

JJ5, I'm still thinking of your sister.

Caph, I'm so glad you are going to Ireland. 2005 was challenging for me, but in no way does it compare to the difficulties you faced. I hope you have an incredible trip!!

LoveItaly, what a cute story of the kitties!! Aren't pets a joy?

Jorr, I'm glad the mailman going postal situation is resolved.

BuffaloGirl, I've been thinking about your accident all day and how smart it was to get away from that lunatic. What a wise decision to protect yourself and your children. Hopefully nothing like that will happen to me, but if it should, I will remember your story and leave if I feel threatened. It's not worth it to confront someone who is that unstable.

In my post above I said that 2005 was a bad year. It is certainly not a year I would care to re-live, but I regret saying it was bad. Although some bad things happened, a lot of good came from it and everything has now worked itself out. So instead I will remember 2005 as a roller-coaster ride. Roller-coasters are scary, but when you walk away from riding one, you feel a great sense of conquest and exhilaration. That's the way I'm feeling right now. All I can say is WHEW!! And I'm feeling quite optimistic about 2006.

And now for the biggest rave of 2005: All the new friends I made this year on Fodors. I don't want to name names, but you all know who you are. Thanks to all who offered your support through the challenging times I had this year. Hugs to you all. >:D<

HAPPY NEW YEAR, ALL!! ((d))

Happy Ney Years Everyone!!!

No Rants right now....

Rave - The whole family is home, we are going to watch corny movies and eat popcorn tonight, My 19 year old, 14 and 10 year old - ....I will have my glass of chardonay nearby!!! :)

It is always good to see eveyone - Hope you all have a great weekend!!

Hi Faina! I feel your pain :) My husband, who normally takes some vacation during this week has been in the office too. Tomorrow he needs to close Hong Kong. But I will assume GoT's outlook - the glass is half full - my DH could be IN Hong Kong, lol, but is not :D Happy New Year!

LoveItaly, thanks for your good wishes. I too hope that 2006 is a joyful one for you and your family. Best of luck to your grandson as he returns to school!

PM, hugs to you too :D

Happy New Year, everyone!! ((D))

Thanks for your good wishes, P_M and right back at ya! What a good way to look at 2005!

Hi there P_M, your description of 2005 being a roller coaster is good! I like that description. I too am so happy for the dear friends here that I have made this year.

And dear Caph, I am so happy you and your husband have a trip planned for Ireland this spring. That is joyous news and for sure well deserved! Happy New Years with wishes for nothing but good news for you and your loved ones in 2006.

And now everyone, I do love PM's comment to OWJ...yes OWJ...about that broken mattress \:D/ any comments dear friend. We are waiting!

Yes, OWJ, we're waiting, lol. I wished you "good luck" on your new bed - what the heck was I saying?? :D

Nothing but raves...

Putting in the extra time has paid off at work. Not that the 80-100 hrs a week has been a rave, but..

Leaving for the next big trip in less than 2 weeks. Got my Lonely Planet Siam and Kampuchea guides ready to go. I think they may be a tad bit outdated...

Rant:
As much as we enjoy Woodstock, the one drawback is not having a decent deli in the area. Does anyone have a recipe for chopped chicken livers?

Raves all around:

Daughter's wedding of century is in the past (10-15-05), the bills are payed (nothing left) and the bride and groom are on their own. Hooray!

Had a great Christmas visiting them and dogsitting for my brother in New York. Manhattan is always great for Christmas and we didn't run into any problems from the strike. Good fun and good food. Loved the dog.

Got wonderful presents: the 70s Soul Collection of CDs, and a 5 pound rolling carry on.

Things to look forward to: Italy in March, and then a new dog when we get back. Our darling dog died last March and we are ready now. He was with us for nearly 15 years and we needed time to grieve. But now, we are looking forward to having a new dog to love.

We're happy and healthy.

Happy New Year, everyone!

Thank you, LoveItaly! And I wish you a wonderful, happy, healthy 2006!

Got a kick out of your last post re your wishes for OWJ, stw!

When I was posting my raves, I should have added all of you. I hope you all know what a tremendous godsend you've been to me this year. As has been mentioned before, the "anonymous friendship", for lack of a better term, offered in a community like this is a wonderful refuge when you're going through something that, for one reason or another, can be difficult to discuss with those close to you. And I can't begin to tell you how grateful I am to have found Fodor's before all of this happened. All of your kind words and encouragement have helped more than words can say.

And as if all of that weren't enough, I now have the advantage of all you wonderful Fodorites to help me plan our trip. Imagine such a thing from a travel board!

Thank you for your comments about my dear ol' Dad, kind people. I'm happy to report that a physiotherapist got him walking the hospital hallways today and we're hopeful that he'll be able to go home soon. Moral: if there is the remote possibility that you or anyone you know has an infection, act fast!

Best wishes to your sister, JJ5.

Eeva & mah1980,
I thought Capote was well done but without reading any reviews, it wasn't the story I expected. A more light-hearted movie would have been welcome this week... but the acting was good.

Thank you everyone for the prayers and good thoughts for my sister. It does help. Now the hard part starts and it's shrinking my parents into nubs- although they do have positive spirits always.

Your kitty stories made me want to add another rave, and something for others to read that is light-hearted at the same time.

Rave: Our cockatiel Sydney was hysterical this week. We were putting in a new faucet and sprayer for the older sink at the Michigan house. The bird decided he had to get under in that small miniscule dark space to see the action. My guy fills the space to say the least, but he kept running up his back and going into the small dark spots over his head no matter how I tried to stop him. It was really funny- as I thought he was going to be crushed.. He has to check out all the cornors under the pillows or in the vents too. I call it his "checking for snakes" routine. He now will not come out and eat his rice on the table until I'm sitting down for dinner. If I get up to get a utensile or cup of coffee, he flys back to his cage and paces until I sit down. A very polite bird, and he just passed his 25th birthday. And he still looks smooth and handsome.

Another RAVE for John Stossel last night on 20/20- debunking the 10 myths about how things are getting worse on the earth with the actual facts. They are absolutely not- they have been getting better for centuries, but especially in the last 3 decades.
Thank YOU!

Okay folks, enuf said about OWJ2 and I wearing out beds--can't take a chance that Mattress Expo sees that :$ We're not sure why the bed fell apart so quickly but I know thanks to PM and her dirty little mind we have quite the rep around here. Thanks a lot, PM! ((A))

PS The reason it took me til today to respond is b/c yes, we were in bed--again :D

JJ5, I missed 20/20, but my sons were telling me all about it as I was yelling at one of them to put on their coat because it's cold outside.

My continued good wishes for your sister Nancy!

LOL, OWJ!!

STW, you wished OWJ good luck with the new bed, but it sounds like she had some luck just this morning. \:D/

And now to quote one of my favorite movie lines:

"I'll have what she's having."

JJ5, I have watched John Stossel for years and you have to be wary of some of the things he comes up with. Last spring he tryed to debunk Stranger Danger in regard to children. He cliamed it is overly emphisized and the danger really isn't so bad. He can be Very reakless and in this case cause an abduction. Don't believe everything that comes out of his mouth. He should make his segment into more of a Point Counterpoint so we could hear the other side of his claims in a one on one format.

Rain sleet or snow, or however that saying goes. I think UPS deserves that title, not the US Postal Service. As I said last week the mail carrier refuses to drive up my driveway and pick up a "click and ship" package through the window of his comfortable warm vehicle.

Last night after dark a female UPS driver walked through a foot of fresh snow from the road to my house which is about a block. She left the delivery truck on the road because she could not find the driveway under all the snow.

I could not belive it! A woman will walk a block through deep snow in the dark to a stranger's house in a very rural area and the mail man refuses to Drive up and pick up a "click and ship" package which is placed so that he doesn't even have to leave his vehicle. Can you say Wimp?

Viva UPS !

The Honolulu GTGs went well, on the first night we enjoyed sunset happy hour at Longhi's (with crabby Mr. Longhi himself trying to kick us off a table) and Kuranosuke from the Asia Board joining us.

Yesterday we had a lovely waterfront lunch at Don Ho's Island Grill--the Kals, me, lcuy and chepar. Weather's been perfect, sunny with volcanic haze (which makes for stunning sunsets).

At both GTGs, the conversation was sparkling. Lots of talk about travel, of course; about other places we post about travel; about posters we know and posters we wonder about; about certain fodor's staffers (ahem); and even fodor friends' recipes we've tried. With every GTG the world gets smaller. I love it!